My starting defense

[Salempanther2015]

I'm going with
Lbers- Brightwell, Wirgins and Pine/ I think Pine is athletic enough to play inside or outside. He can become a great pass rusher to compliment Hendrix and Carter.
Yes I said Carter. I think he could play tackle or dend. If it's truly about getting the best players on the field I think he would have to be considered. I'm not sold on Blair, but I do like Allen and think Allen can be a very good player for us this year..
Dline- Hendrix, Carter, Talenti, Watts
Secondary- Whitehead,Coleman,Hamlin,Motely.. but Ford will more than likely change this.
This is just how I see things as of now. But I may be way off.

 

[ksquared33]

I'm going with
Lbers- Brightwell, Wirgins and Pine/ I think Pine is athletic enough to play inside or outside. He can become a great pass rusher to compliment Hendrix and Carter.
Yes I said Carter. I think he could play tackle or dend. If it's truly about getting the best players on the field I think he would have to be considered. I'm not sold on Blair, but I do like Allen and think Allen can be a very good player for us this year..
Dline- Hendrix, Carter, Talenti, Watts
Secondary- Whitehead,Coleman,Hamlin,Motely.. but Ford will more than likely change this.
This is just how I see things as of now. But I may be way off.

No sign of 3 year starter Avonte Maddox. I'm amazed at the total disregard & lack of respect this young man get's shown.
The kid's a player & would be a contributor on just about any program in all of P5 football. There is a reason Coach Duzz & PC before him had Avonte out on the field. He is a damn fine college football player.
WTF has Damar Hamlin done that he is constantly put on a throne....I'm a big proponent of Damar & I hope he can live up to half of what some suggest but not until he does a thing out on the field in a actual game will I suggest he is better than Maddox.
Maybe we need to start expecting these young kid's to actually do something out on the field in games before we start crowning them as starters over players who have busted their butts & contributed to wins over St Penn, Clemson, etc.

H2 PITT !!!

 

[PantherDave724]

No sign of 3 year starter Avonte Maddox. I'm amazed at the total disregard & lack of respect this young man get's shown.
The kid's a player & would be a contributor on just about any program in all of P5 football. There is a reason Coach Duzz & PC before him had Avonte out on the field. He is a damn fine college football player.
WTF has Damar Hamlin done that he is constantly put on a throne....I'm a big proponent of Damar & I hope he can live up to half of what some suggest but not until he does a thing out on the field in a actual game will I suggest he is better than Maddox.
Maybe we need to start expecting these young kid's to actually do something out on the field in games before we start crowning them as starters over players who have busted their butts & contributed to wins over St Penn, Clemson, etc.

H2 PITT !!!

I've seen enough of Maddox to know he's not a great starting CB. Maybe a slot or Nickel CB, but not talented enough to start on the outside.

 

[Swervin27]

No sign of 3 year starter Avonte Maddox. I'm amazed at the total disregard & lack of respect this young man get's shown.
The kid's a player & would be a contributor on just about any program in all of P5 football. There is a reason Coach Duzz & PC before him had Avonte out on the field. He is a damn fine college football player.
WTF has Damar Hamlin done that he is constantly put on a throne....I'm a big proponent of Damar & I hope he can live up to half of what some suggest but not until he does a thing out on the field in a actual game will I suggest he is better than Maddox.
Maybe we need to start expecting these young kid's to actually do something out on the field in games before we start crowning them as starters over players who have busted their butts & contributed to wins over St Penn, Clemson, etc.

H2 PITT !!!

ksquared, I always enjoy how you stick up for the elders. I mean it, no sarcasm, you are the voice for the experienced upper classmen and not shy to shout down any over-enthusiastic pitt fan who is calling for great things from a freshman. Dare I say, I've actually tempered down my expectations for first year players quite dramatically and I do believe you have had something to do with that.

 

[cpc247]

No sign of 3 year starter Avonte Maddox. I'm amazed at the total disregard & lack of respect this young man get's shown.
The kid's a player & would be a contributor on just about any program in all of P5 football. There is a reason Coach Duzz & PC before him had Avonte out on the field. He is a damn fine college football player.
WTF has Damar Hamlin done that he is constantly put on a throne....I'm a big proponent of Damar & I hope he can live up to half of what some suggest but not until he does a thing out on the field in a actual game will I suggest he is better than Maddox.
Maybe we need to start expecting these young kid's to actually do something out on the field in games before we start crowning them as starters over players who have busted their butts & contributed to wins over St Penn, Clemson, etc.

H2 PITT !!!

Maddox is to Pitt as Ike Taylor was to the steelers. He has the hardest and worst looking job on the field, which is to man up against the best WR each week with limited help. I don't care who you are there are about 5 guys on the planet at corner who win that battle every play. I have been fortunate to watch maddox battle the last 3 years. If we had his level of play at LB and FS, and the other CB spot we'd been a 1 or 2 loss team.

 

[ksquared33]

ksquared, I always enjoy how you stick up for the elders. I mean it, no sarcasm, you are the voice for the experienced upper classmen and not shy to shout down any over-enthusiastic pitt fan who is calling for great things from a freshman. Dare I say, I've actually tempered down my expectations for first year players quite dramatically and I do believe you have had something to do with that.

Very kind of you to say so.....Thank You.
p.s. It's not so much I am eager to knockdown the young guy's but I have seen it far too often where people dismiss what it takes to actually get out onto the field & expose oneself to the competition(good or bad) in favor of some kid who has never taken a single hit, tackled a runner, broke up a pass, etc., etc.
Maddox is better than many on sites such as this proclaim & I cannot just stand by & allow them to go on w/o letting them know that there are others out there that disagree wholeheartedly. I just have never been one to disparage a person for doing something I myself have never done.
And the crazy thing is Avonte Maddox has been a very productive football player for Pitt despite his physical frailties & limitations.

 

[Jordanredhead]

Barring injury, there's no way Maddox won't be starting.

I think the defense will be much deeper this year as Narduzzi's recruiting classes start to take possession of the team.

Here's my two deep

Hendrix/Blair
Taleni/Watts
Carter/Camp
Edwards/Folston

Brightwell/Pine
Wirginis/Reynolds
Zeise/Idowu

Maddox/Jackson
Whitehead/Garner
Stocker/Ford
Motley/Hamlin

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Barring injury, there's no way Maddox won't be starting.

I think the defense will be much deeper this year as Narduzzi's recruiting classes start to take possession of the team.

Here's my two deep

Hendrix/Blair
Taleni/Watts
Carter/Camp
Edwards/Folston

Brightwell/Pine
Wirginis/Reynolds
Zeise/Idowu

Maddox/Jackson
Whitehead/Garner
Stocker/Ford
Motley/Hamlin

Agree but think Coleman and Ffrench will see the field often. Pugh at DE too.

 

[PantherDave724]

If Maddox starts at CB....I don't see how the secondary is any better

 

[vegasgreed]

Maddox is going to start at CB.

 

[vegasgreed]

Against ACC competition he gets toasted on a regular basis.

No sign of 3 year starter Avonte Maddox. I'm amazed at the total disregard & lack of respect this young man get's shown.
The kid's a player & would be a contributor on just about any program in all of P5 football. There is a reason Coach Duzz & PC before him had Avonte out on the field. He is a damn fine college football player.
WTF has Damar Hamlin done that he is constantly put on a throne....I'm a big proponent of Damar & I hope he can live up to half of what some suggest but not until he does a thing out on the field in a actual game will I suggest he is better than Maddox.
Maybe we need to start expecting these young kid's to actually do something out on the field in games before we start crowning them as starters over players who have busted their butts & contributed to wins over St Penn, Clemson, etc.

H2 PITT !!!

 

[PantherDave724]

Maddox is going to start at CB.

Then it's going to be another very long year for the pass defense. He's incapable of playing the press in man to man coverage because nearly every WR he goes against is physically more gifted.

 

[Salempanther2015]

Very kind of you to say so.....Thank You.
p.s. It's not so much I am eager to knockdown the young guy's but I have seen it far too often where people dismiss what it takes to actually get out onto the field & expose oneself to the competition(good or bad) in favor of some kid who has never taken a single hit, tackled a runner, broke up a pass, etc., etc.
Maddox is better than many on sites such as this proclaim & I cannot just stand by & allow them to go on w/o letting them know that there are others out there that disagree wholeheartedly. I just have never been one to disparage a person for doing something I myself have never done.
And the crazy thing is Avonte Maddox has been a very productive football player for Pitt despite his physical frailties & limitations.

I haven't heard a lot about Maddox coming out of camp. He started last season and couldn't hold his own against bigger receivers and our schedule is loaded with them. I thought he was going to get a look at nickel, maybe I'm wrong. The kid has heart, but not the physical tools.

 

[raleighpanther]

I'm going with
Lbers- Brightwell, Wirgins and Pine/ I think Pine is athletic enough to play inside or outside. He can become a great pass rusher to compliment Hendrix and Carter.
Yes I said Carter. I think he could play tackle or dend. If it's truly about getting the best players on the field I think he would have to be considered. I'm not sold on Blair, but I do like Allen and think Allen can be a very good player for us this year..
Dline- Hendrix, Carter, Talenti, Watts
Secondary- Whitehead,Coleman,Hamlin,Motely.. but Ford will more than likely change this.
This is just how I see things as of now. But I may be way off.

Just curious...is this a prediction of what you think the starting D will be, based on what you might have read, or is it - as the 'My starting D' title implies -- who you think SHOULD start?

If its the latter, what in the world are you basing this on?

 

[raleighpanther]

Jordan, I think your probable starting D will be fairly close to your list, but based on what I've heard and read, I'm guessing that the opening day two-deep will be:

DE:
1- Hendrix 2- Folston
1- Blair 2- Edwards
I can see Pugh getting in on third down passing situations to get after the QB.

DT:
1-Taleni 2-Carter
1-Watts 2-Camp
Coaches have said that Taleni, a senior, is playing at a different level than the others, so he seems to be the only near sure starter. I think Carter will contribute and could be very good eventually, but I doubt that he will jump ahead of players who have been here to start the season. Also, Roy is a vet who will be in the mix too.

LB:
1- Brightwell 2-Pine
1-Wirginis 2-Pine 3-Reynolds
1- Zeise 2-Idowu
Pine seems to be moving to the middle, but will probably play outside too.

CB:
1- Maddox 2-Jackson
1- Motley 2-Coleman
Hamlin needs to get healthy before he can make the two-deep.

Free Safety:
1-Whitehead
Sounds like Whitehead playing at FS in spring practice may be a permanent move, rather than just him getting reps for player flexibility. They now have guys who can play SS, guys who can tackle and provide the run support that Whitehead is so good at, and Whitehead may have the best cover skills of all the safeties.
Who backs him up? I'm guessing Stocker and Garner, and Miller who was just moved from CB.

Strong Safety:
Briggs/Campbell/Stocker/Garner
No idea who will start, but none of these guys would surprise me. Narduzzi just mentioned how well Briggs was playing, Whitehead mentioned Campbell first when talking about guys who can really hit and tackle, and then said that Stocker was really smart (and experienced).

Where does Ford fit in? Ridiculous talent yes, but those of you who think that will instantly jump over guys who are also talented and have been coached for 1-3 years are probably going to be surprised, and I guess disappointed. I think he'll play, and I can see him playing the nickel back where he can make plays. Also see him playing special teams and doing some damage there.

I think Whitehead moving to FS will help the D a lot. He should be immensely better than what we had last year at that spot, and I think the options at SS will be as good as Whitehead was last year as he struggled through his injuries. And there will be depth at that position, so no one will be asked to play with injuries this year; the next healthy guy will be good enough to take over.

 

[PhPanther1]

If Motley starts, i'll eat my shoe.

 

[Big Marty1]

Maddox is going to start at CB.

Then it's going to be another very long year for the pass defense. He's incapable of playing the press in man to man coverage because nearly every WR he goes against is physically more gifted.

So you identify him as a lost cause with inferior talent ?. It's impossible to improve in college ? Wow. Lots of good players would have disappeared. Our staff disagrees with your view.

 

[Swervin27]

He's a good cover guy but has no business trying to jam a bigger WR at line. It's a lost cause and consistently puts him at a disadvantage. Maybe move him in nickel to cover slot guys.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

My starting defense:
Missle cruisers
A couple aircraft carriers
Cruise missles
Tactical nukes
F-22 Raptures
B2 Stealth Bombers
Killer drones
Throw in some Army Rangers and Navy Spec Ops Seals

 

[Salempanther2015]

Just curious...is this a prediction of what you think the starting D will be, based on what you might have read, or is it - as the 'My starting D' title implies -- who you think SHOULD start?

If its the latter, what in the world are you basing this on?

Just my opinion

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Gonna need a ton of sacks and hurries. Will be an all out air assault.

 

[sonofabit]

My starting defense:
Missle cruisers
A couple aircraft carriers
Cruise missles
Tactical nukes
F-22 Raptures
B2 Stealth Bombers
Killer drones
Throw in some Army Rangers and Navy Spec Ops Seals

Forgot a border wall..........

 

[thebadby2]

I'm going with
Lbers- Brightwell, Wirgins and Pine/ I think Pine is athletic enough to play inside or outside. He can become a great pass rusher to compliment Hendrix and Carter.
Yes I said Carter. I think he could play tackle or dend. If it's truly about getting the best players on the field I think he would have to be considered. I'm not sold on Blair, but I do like Allen and think Allen can be a very good player for us this year..
Dline- Hendrix, Carter, Talenti, Watts
Secondary- Whitehead,Coleman,Hamlin,Motely.. but Ford will more than likely change this.
This is just how I see things as of now. But I may be way off.

You will be way off.

We play a 4-3 so we don't really have an "outside" LB, and the LBs don't rush the passer from the edge, just on blitzes. The pass rush in our D comes from the DL, specifically the DEs. Of course we blitz as well. I suspect Zeise or Idowu will be one of the starters. Brightwell and Wirginis are likely to start. The young guys will see reps but not starter reps.

Carter is an interior DL all the way. He can;t play the edge. Blair and Edwards are 1/2 on the depth chart at one end, Hendrix is the other unless he's not healthy.

Camp will be a factor on the DL, likely starter over Carter.

Secondary is a true unknown outside of Maddox and Whitehead. You may not like it, but Maddox will be the starter all year unless he gets hurt. Hamlin is not healthy and is a real question mark. There are numerous intriguing players in the secondary. The coaches are high on Dane Jackson and he will be in the mix. Coleman looks good but is untested. Miller, Campbell and Garner have all impressed. Motley is experienced and will see reps.

 

[oldpantherfan]

I'm going with
Lbers- Brightwell, Wirgins and Pine/ I think Pine is athletic enough to play inside or outside. He can become a great pass rusher to compliment Hendrix and Carter.
Yes I said Carter. I think he could play tackle or dend. If it's truly about getting the best players on the field I think he would have to be considered. I'm not sold on Blair, but I do like Allen and think Allen can be a very good player for us this year..
Dline- Hendrix, Carter, Talenti, Watts
Secondary- Whitehead,Coleman,Hamlin,Motely.. but Ford will more than likely change this.
This is just how I see things as of now. But I may be way off.

I think Wirginis is out at LB and it will be Brightwell, Pine and Zeis.

 

[vegasgreed]

There is no way they go with Brightwell, Pine and Zeis. That is next to almost zero experience. Wirginis is going to be in there playing.

LBer has not exactly outperformed in the recruiting aspect. It's time for Harley and his unit to step up.

 

[oldpantherfan]

There is no way they go with Brightwell, Pine and Zeis. That is next to almost zero experience. Wirginis is going to be in there playing.

LBer has not exactly outperformed in the recruiting aspect. It's time for Harley and his unit to step up.

I think Wirginis will start but won't finish as the starter.
So your saying experience should play over athleticism, something Pitt fans (and posters here) are always claiming we don't have, but now that we have it keep it on the bench ?
With that In mind Zeis was starting last year after being a third string receiver. athleticism is why he was converted to get the better athlete's on the field.

There is no way they go with Brightwell, Pine and Zeis. That is next to almost zero experience. Wirginis is going to be in there playing.

LBer has not exactly outperformed in the recruiting aspect. It's time for Harley and his unit to step up.

 

[3genpanther]

I think Wirginis will start but won't finish as the starter.
So your saying experience should play over athleticism, something Pitt fans (and posters here) are always claiming we don't have, but now that we have it keep it on the bench ?
With that In mind Zeis was starting last year after being a third string receiver. athleticism is why he was converted to get the better athlete's on the field.

Wirginis certainly looked athletic when he was out there last year (at least when compared to Galambos). I'll be shocked if he's not a starter all year long.