Pitt ran for just 55 yards at Iowa, and here's what Pat Narduzzi said today about the issues in the run game:
"I still think it goes back to fundamentals when I watch our offensive line block. Iowa’s got a run-stopping front. Phil Parker does a great job of defending the run and playing square up front and playing with leverage, and we had problems moving their inside guys. If we have problems moving those two defensive tackles in there, then the inside run game isn’t going to work. We’ve got to somehow move some people inside. As you watch the tape, we didn’t move anybody. Alex Officer is a 330-pound offensive lineman who’s got to get movement. So we worked hard on that this morning. It’s one of our focuses. I think they know what to do, but I don’t think they’re…because they’re maybe still thinking, and I think overall offensively and defensively, you can still see the knowledge factor out there that we have, but you have to be able to have that knowledge and also play fast. I’m not sure our offensive line is being as fast and physical up front as they need to be and still know what they’re doing. I don’t want to say ‘slow motion,’ but they’re thinking too much: ‘Hey, I have to take this nose tackle and knock him back three yards off the ball and then I have to come off on the linebacker.’ I think they’re too focused on coming off on the linebacker and not getting any movement on the d-tackle."
It's interesting that Narduzzi mentioned Officer by name, because he later made it sound like Alex Bookser is competing with Officer for the RG job. He even said that Bookser had beaten Officer for the spot last Tuesday, but Officer won it back the next day. So that will be something to watch.
"I still think it goes back to fundamentals when I watch our offensive line block. Iowa’s got a run-stopping front. Phil Parker does a great job of defending the run and playing square up front and playing with leverage, and we had problems moving their inside guys. If we have problems moving those two defensive tackles in there, then the inside run game isn’t going to work. We’ve got to somehow move some people inside. As you watch the tape, we didn’t move anybody. Alex Officer is a 330-pound offensive lineman who’s got to get movement. So we worked hard on that this morning. It’s one of our focuses. I think they know what to do, but I don’t think they’re…because they’re maybe still thinking, and I think overall offensively and defensively, you can still see the knowledge factor out there that we have, but you have to be able to have that knowledge and also play fast. I’m not sure our offensive line is being as fast and physical up front as they need to be and still know what they’re doing. I don’t want to say ‘slow motion,’ but they’re thinking too much: ‘Hey, I have to take this nose tackle and knock him back three yards off the ball and then I have to come off on the linebacker.’ I think they’re too focused on coming off on the linebacker and not getting any movement on the d-tackle."
It's interesting that Narduzzi mentioned Officer by name, because he later made it sound like Alex Bookser is competing with Officer for the RG job. He even said that Bookser had beaten Officer for the spot last Tuesday, but Officer won it back the next day. So that will be something to watch.
