I included this in my Five Notables column from after the game last night, but I wanted to mention it again:
Pitt used 24 players on defense against Duke. And while that was one of the rare games this season where Pitt was able to empty the bench, most of those 24 played before the game got out of hand. In fact, Pitt used 20 in the first quarter alone.
They started with this lineup:
DL - Ejuan Price (1), Shakir Soto (2), Jeremiah Taleni (3), Rori Blair (4)
LB - Saleem Brightwell (5), Matt Galambos (6), Oluwaseun Idowu (7)
CB - Avonte Maddox (8), Dane Jackson (9)
S - Terrish Webb (10), Reggie Mitchell (11)
On Duke's second series, Brightwell was replaced by Mike Caprara (12) and after a couple plays, Allen Edwards (13) replaced Blair. On Duke's third drive, Mike Herndon (14) lined up at defensive tackle and Quintin Wirginis (15) was at middle linebacker. That drive saw Duke attempt its first third down, which brought out Pitt's "Delta" package - including safety/nickel-back Dennis Briggs (16).
The next Duke possession saw Bam Bradley (17) and Ryan Lewis (18) take the field for the first time. And for that drive's third-and-8, the coaches once again used the "Delta" package, which saw Devon Edwards (19) line up as the tackle in a three-man defensive line. Two plays later, James Folston (20) took a couple snaps for the first time in the game.
20 players - all before the first quarter ended.
After Pitt went ahead 42-14 in the third quarter, Maurice Ffrench (21), Jay Stocker (22) and Shane Roy (23) all came into the game, and in the fourth quarter, the coaches sent Jalen Williams (24) out at linebacker.
"It was good to get some backups in the game at all spots," Pat Narduzzi said after the game.
Pitt used 24 players on defense against Duke. And while that was one of the rare games this season where Pitt was able to empty the bench, most of those 24 played before the game got out of hand. In fact, Pitt used 20 in the first quarter alone.
They started with this lineup:
DL - Ejuan Price (1), Shakir Soto (2), Jeremiah Taleni (3), Rori Blair (4)
LB - Saleem Brightwell (5), Matt Galambos (6), Oluwaseun Idowu (7)
CB - Avonte Maddox (8), Dane Jackson (9)
S - Terrish Webb (10), Reggie Mitchell (11)
On Duke's second series, Brightwell was replaced by Mike Caprara (12) and after a couple plays, Allen Edwards (13) replaced Blair. On Duke's third drive, Mike Herndon (14) lined up at defensive tackle and Quintin Wirginis (15) was at middle linebacker. That drive saw Duke attempt its first third down, which brought out Pitt's "Delta" package - including safety/nickel-back Dennis Briggs (16).
The next Duke possession saw Bam Bradley (17) and Ryan Lewis (18) take the field for the first time. And for that drive's third-and-8, the coaches once again used the "Delta" package, which saw Devon Edwards (19) line up as the tackle in a three-man defensive line. Two plays later, James Folston (20) took a couple snaps for the first time in the game.
20 players - all before the first quarter ended.
After Pitt went ahead 42-14 in the third quarter, Maurice Ffrench (21), Jay Stocker (22) and Shane Roy (23) all came into the game, and in the fourth quarter, the coaches sent Jalen Williams (24) out at linebacker.
"It was good to get some backups in the game at all spots," Pat Narduzzi said after the game.
