The Lair and Triblive have the same Video Up that talks about ULou and Petrino, difference between ACC & Big Ten, and Pitt Defense & future Players for Pitt!
Article Link:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9459473-74/narduzzi-defense-pitt
VIdeo Link:
https://pittsburgh.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1828076
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi is not dissatisfied with his defense. He just prefers great to good.
The defense is ranked 25th in the nation in yards allowed (340 per game) and is aiming toward its first top-30 finish since 2012 when it was 17th under one-year coordinator Dave Huxtable, a coach who pushed his players hard. It's only a slight exaggeration to state the Pitt defense hasn't been able to hold a lead since.
This season, under a more aggressive system installed by Narduzzi and coordinator Josh Conklin, sacks (29) and tackles for a loss (67) are up 53 percent and 24 percent from last year, even with three games left. Pitt is ranked 13th and 46th in the nation, respectively, in those categories. Last season, Pitt was 102nd in sacks and 120th in TFLs.
Narduzzi's reality, however, is that full understanding of the defense takes time — much more than Pitt has left this season. “Are they there yet? Probably not,” he said. “Will they be there this year or next year? Probably not.” He said factors continually change, citing new opponents and various offensive systems. “Offenses change, so really reads and keys change, too,” he said. “That's why you have to be smart to play defense.”
Narduzzi is trying to balance the use of his base 4-3 defense against a look that is heavy on blitzes and emphasizes pressure on the quarterback. “You have to be able to play both and be 65-35, 70-30 (percent) base to pressure,” he said. “You have to have a change up. If you throw a fastball all day, someone is going to get a hold of it.”
North Carolina and Notre Dame made solid contact with almost everything Pitt threw at them, but the defense finally found proper alignments in a 31-13 victory over Duke. “It's about angles and being in the right position,” Narduzzi said. “If we put them where they are supposed to be, we don't have to have Joe Greene out there and Jack Lambert playing middle linebacker.”
Personnel does matter, though, and Pitt's four busiest linebackers — Nicholas Grigsby, Matt Galambos, Bam Bradley and Mike Caprara — are playing well. Backups Quintin Wirginis and Matt Steinbeck have had their moments, too. “Last week in practice and even the week before,” linebackers coach Rob Harley said, “you really started to see the guys understand their roles.
“Not just, ‘I'm doing my job because coach told me this is what I'm supposed to do.' You are really starting to see these guys learn these little nuances.” That bodes well for the rest of the season and next year — even though Narduzzi probably won't be satisfied then, either.
Eight of 11 defensive starters are expected to return, if previously injury-plagued defensive end Ejuan Price (a team-high 12 TFLs and 6½ sacks) gets another year of eligibility from the NCAA. Plus, Narduzzi seems eager to see transfer defensive ends Dewayne Hendrix and Allen Edwards get on the field after they sat out this season. “They are going to be special guys next year,” Narduzzi said. “They are going to help us out a bunch.”
Notes: Defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett, who started every game before sitting out last week with a lower body injury, is listed as probable on the injury report. ... Backup defensive tackle Mark Scarpinato (upper body) is doubtful.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Article Link:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9459473-74/narduzzi-defense-pitt
VIdeo Link:
https://pittsburgh.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1828076
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi is not dissatisfied with his defense. He just prefers great to good.
The defense is ranked 25th in the nation in yards allowed (340 per game) and is aiming toward its first top-30 finish since 2012 when it was 17th under one-year coordinator Dave Huxtable, a coach who pushed his players hard. It's only a slight exaggeration to state the Pitt defense hasn't been able to hold a lead since.
This season, under a more aggressive system installed by Narduzzi and coordinator Josh Conklin, sacks (29) and tackles for a loss (67) are up 53 percent and 24 percent from last year, even with three games left. Pitt is ranked 13th and 46th in the nation, respectively, in those categories. Last season, Pitt was 102nd in sacks and 120th in TFLs.
Narduzzi's reality, however, is that full understanding of the defense takes time — much more than Pitt has left this season. “Are they there yet? Probably not,” he said. “Will they be there this year or next year? Probably not.” He said factors continually change, citing new opponents and various offensive systems. “Offenses change, so really reads and keys change, too,” he said. “That's why you have to be smart to play defense.”
Narduzzi is trying to balance the use of his base 4-3 defense against a look that is heavy on blitzes and emphasizes pressure on the quarterback. “You have to be able to play both and be 65-35, 70-30 (percent) base to pressure,” he said. “You have to have a change up. If you throw a fastball all day, someone is going to get a hold of it.”
North Carolina and Notre Dame made solid contact with almost everything Pitt threw at them, but the defense finally found proper alignments in a 31-13 victory over Duke. “It's about angles and being in the right position,” Narduzzi said. “If we put them where they are supposed to be, we don't have to have Joe Greene out there and Jack Lambert playing middle linebacker.”
Personnel does matter, though, and Pitt's four busiest linebackers — Nicholas Grigsby, Matt Galambos, Bam Bradley and Mike Caprara — are playing well. Backups Quintin Wirginis and Matt Steinbeck have had their moments, too. “Last week in practice and even the week before,” linebackers coach Rob Harley said, “you really started to see the guys understand their roles.
“Not just, ‘I'm doing my job because coach told me this is what I'm supposed to do.' You are really starting to see these guys learn these little nuances.” That bodes well for the rest of the season and next year — even though Narduzzi probably won't be satisfied then, either.
Eight of 11 defensive starters are expected to return, if previously injury-plagued defensive end Ejuan Price (a team-high 12 TFLs and 6½ sacks) gets another year of eligibility from the NCAA. Plus, Narduzzi seems eager to see transfer defensive ends Dewayne Hendrix and Allen Edwards get on the field after they sat out this season. “They are going to be special guys next year,” Narduzzi said. “They are going to help us out a bunch.”
Notes: Defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett, who started every game before sitting out last week with a lower body injury, is listed as probable on the injury report. ... Backup defensive tackle Mark Scarpinato (upper body) is doubtful.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
