While the Pitt D is know for having a great DL and pass rush (near the top of college football in sacks and TFL), the Pitt D is not near the top of the rankings in points allowed and total yards (I think 2nd point is also correct).
The problem has been, especially the last 2 years with very good DLs, is that Pitt gives up too many big plays. It appears that most of the big plays in that Pitt plays man-to-man pass coverage a very high % of the time, and even in 3rd and long (e.g. see Pitt at BC last year).
This is even the case where Pitt's MLB is in man to man D vs RB or TE in the backfield and gives up long TD pass (e.g. Pitt vs UPS in the past, Pitt vs Duke 2 years ago, Pitt at Miami last year).
The best D in the NFL regularly switch between man and zone D to confuse the QB.
Why doesn't Pitt regularly switch between man and zone pass coverage D?
With this question in mind, I thought it was very interesting the type of pass D used by the best Ds in the Big 12 last year. The Iowa St Cyclones was 2nd best D in Big 12 and ranked last in the country last year playing man coverage only 7% of the time. That actually translated to excellence. In 2020, Iowa State posted its best defensive season in 16 years, allowing 340 yards per game (second in the Big 12). The Big 12's best defensive team, West Virginia, played man only 8% of the time.
What % of the time did the Pitt play man or zone pass coverage the last few years? As a guess I bet Pitt played zone <20-30% of plays.
FTP,
NGF
The problem has been, especially the last 2 years with very good DLs, is that Pitt gives up too many big plays. It appears that most of the big plays in that Pitt plays man-to-man pass coverage a very high % of the time, and even in 3rd and long (e.g. see Pitt at BC last year).
This is even the case where Pitt's MLB is in man to man D vs RB or TE in the backfield and gives up long TD pass (e.g. Pitt vs UPS in the past, Pitt vs Duke 2 years ago, Pitt at Miami last year).
The best D in the NFL regularly switch between man and zone D to confuse the QB.
Why doesn't Pitt regularly switch between man and zone pass coverage D?
With this question in mind, I thought it was very interesting the type of pass D used by the best Ds in the Big 12 last year. The Iowa St Cyclones was 2nd best D in Big 12 and ranked last in the country last year playing man coverage only 7% of the time. That actually translated to excellence. In 2020, Iowa State posted its best defensive season in 16 years, allowing 340 yards per game (second in the Big 12). The Big 12's best defensive team, West Virginia, played man only 8% of the time.
What % of the time did the Pitt play man or zone pass coverage the last few years? As a guess I bet Pitt played zone <20-30% of plays.
FTP,
NGF
