The 2020 Pitt defense played great in several games and played good for most of the other games.
As has been discussed, the Pitt defense was one of the best teams in the country for sacks (ranked 1st), tackles for loss (top 2 or 3), and interceptions.
However, the Pitt defense is high reward but also very high risk. The high reward aspects are listed above.
The high risk aspect of the defense is giving up big/explosive plays. Prior to the Pitt at Clemson game, Kirk Herbstreit stated that Pitt had given up more "big / explosive plays" than any other P5 defense. I think the stat was approximately Pitt gave up >20 plays of more than >30-40 yards. I tried to find the exact stat but I could not find it.
Can someone post the number of big/explosive plays that the Pitt defense gave up in 2020 and where they ranked against NCAA P5 schools?
Why does the Pitt defense give up so many big plays? Is the defense too aggressive for too much of the game (e.g. needs to play zone sometimes)? Is the defense too predictable in certain down and distance situations (leave MLB one-on-one on TE or RB on 3rd and long)? Is the defense too complicated?
For the Pitt defense to take the next step it needs to drastically reduce the number of big/explosive plays, but I am not sure of the exact problem(s) or cause(s).
FTP,
NGF
As has been discussed, the Pitt defense was one of the best teams in the country for sacks (ranked 1st), tackles for loss (top 2 or 3), and interceptions.
However, the Pitt defense is high reward but also very high risk. The high reward aspects are listed above.
The high risk aspect of the defense is giving up big/explosive plays. Prior to the Pitt at Clemson game, Kirk Herbstreit stated that Pitt had given up more "big / explosive plays" than any other P5 defense. I think the stat was approximately Pitt gave up >20 plays of more than >30-40 yards. I tried to find the exact stat but I could not find it.
Can someone post the number of big/explosive plays that the Pitt defense gave up in 2020 and where they ranked against NCAA P5 schools?
Why does the Pitt defense give up so many big plays? Is the defense too aggressive for too much of the game (e.g. needs to play zone sometimes)? Is the defense too predictable in certain down and distance situations (leave MLB one-on-one on TE or RB on 3rd and long)? Is the defense too complicated?
For the Pitt defense to take the next step it needs to drastically reduce the number of big/explosive plays, but I am not sure of the exact problem(s) or cause(s).
FTP,
NGF
