DURHAM, N.C. — Outside linebacker Mike Caprara recorded two sacks, a fumble recovery and broke up a pass Saturday to help hold Duke to zero touchdowns in the final 47 1⁄2 minutes of Pitt's 31-13 victory.
So, what was he thinking after the game?
“I'm itching to watch this tape,” he said. “We are far from where we want to be.”
Maybe that's the fate of Pitt's defense this season: Good in several long bursts, not so good in shorter time frames (such as Duke backup quarterback Parker Boehme's 77-yard run), but smart enough to follow the game plan.
The strategy Saturday involved a lot of blitzing from linebackers, and Duke's Matt Skura, one of the top centers in the ACC, noticed. Later, he said he and his teammates couldn't do much about it.
“They are very physical,” he said when asked about Pitt's defensive line. “But on top of that, they (linebackers) were blitzing a lot. One of the things they do is blitz linebackers, which forces us to not be able to stay on double teams as long.
“Also, they like to move their guys laterally, which can make us get off balance.”
Pitt's defense, humbled a bit by nationally ranked North Carolina and Notre Dame the past two weeks, recovered in a big way.
Three times in the first half, Duke moved inside the Pitt 10-yard line, but managed only a 1-yard touchdown run by Boehme — the only time it crossed the goal line all day — and Ross Martin's 27-yard field goal. The Blue Devils also tried a fake field goal after Boehme's long run, but walk-on linebacker Matt Steinbeck swatted the pass to the ground.
Sirk sits out
Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk (upper body injury) warmed up before the game, but didn't play.
“We just went with it,” Caprara said. “We didn't change a thing.”
Boehme hit some big pass plays, finishing with 248 yards, but Pitt broke up nine of his passes.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Josh Conklin and coach Pat Narduzzi did what they do best — make adjustments and plans at halftime.
“Coach Conklin came in, drew a couple things up for us, let us know what their tendencies were and we were confident,” Caprara said.
Duke recorded only 78 total yards and one field goal in the second half.
Whitehead stays busy
Strong safety Jordan Whitehead almost became the first Pitt player in memory to score a touchdown and intercept a pass in the same game.
His 18-yard run to the 1 in the fourth quarter set up Qadree Ollison for a short touchdown run. On Duke's next series, Whitehead intercepted a pass at the Pitt 7, his first collegiate pick.
Overall, Whitehead carried four times for 38 yards, and had a team-high nine tackles.
Beat-up line
Pitt played without defensive tackles Tyrique Jarrett and Mark Scarpinato, and for a brief time, backup Jeremiah Taleni went out with a minor injury. Also, safety Reggie Mitchell had his first extended playing time since the opener and had three tackles and a pass breakup.
So, what was he thinking after the game?
“I'm itching to watch this tape,” he said. “We are far from where we want to be.”
Maybe that's the fate of Pitt's defense this season: Good in several long bursts, not so good in shorter time frames (such as Duke backup quarterback Parker Boehme's 77-yard run), but smart enough to follow the game plan.
The strategy Saturday involved a lot of blitzing from linebackers, and Duke's Matt Skura, one of the top centers in the ACC, noticed. Later, he said he and his teammates couldn't do much about it.
“They are very physical,” he said when asked about Pitt's defensive line. “But on top of that, they (linebackers) were blitzing a lot. One of the things they do is blitz linebackers, which forces us to not be able to stay on double teams as long.
“Also, they like to move their guys laterally, which can make us get off balance.”
Pitt's defense, humbled a bit by nationally ranked North Carolina and Notre Dame the past two weeks, recovered in a big way.
Three times in the first half, Duke moved inside the Pitt 10-yard line, but managed only a 1-yard touchdown run by Boehme — the only time it crossed the goal line all day — and Ross Martin's 27-yard field goal. The Blue Devils also tried a fake field goal after Boehme's long run, but walk-on linebacker Matt Steinbeck swatted the pass to the ground.
Sirk sits out
Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk (upper body injury) warmed up before the game, but didn't play.
“We just went with it,” Caprara said. “We didn't change a thing.”
Boehme hit some big pass plays, finishing with 248 yards, but Pitt broke up nine of his passes.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Josh Conklin and coach Pat Narduzzi did what they do best — make adjustments and plans at halftime.
“Coach Conklin came in, drew a couple things up for us, let us know what their tendencies were and we were confident,” Caprara said.
Duke recorded only 78 total yards and one field goal in the second half.
Whitehead stays busy
Strong safety Jordan Whitehead almost became the first Pitt player in memory to score a touchdown and intercept a pass in the same game.
His 18-yard run to the 1 in the fourth quarter set up Qadree Ollison for a short touchdown run. On Duke's next series, Whitehead intercepted a pass at the Pitt 7, his first collegiate pick.
Overall, Whitehead carried four times for 38 yards, and had a team-high nine tackles.
Beat-up line
Pitt played without defensive tackles Tyrique Jarrett and Mark Scarpinato, and for a brief time, backup Jeremiah Taleni went out with a minor injury. Also, safety Reggie Mitchell had his first extended playing time since the opener and had three tackles and a pass breakup.
