Pitt Running Out Of Options To Slow Down Georgia Tech Offense, LINK!

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Call me crazy with no offense taken, but I think Coach Pat & Staff is going to have his Players ready for some Big Yellow Jackets Payback. Just thinking the Panthers from the Players to the Coaches are going to play there best game. Just a Hunch!

Article & Link:

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi may have to get his hands dirty if he wants to prepare the right way for Georgia Tech's triple option.
The only tape that shows how one of his teams defended it may be a bit dusty. After all, it's 12 years old.The year was 2003, when Narduzzi was in his first and only season as the defensive coordinator at Miami (Ohio) and he had to figure out Ohio University's option.“Exact offense,” he said, comparing Ohio to what Pitt's defense will see from Georgia Tech on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
One minor problem: The tape is an outdated VHS.
“I had to get Big D (Pitt video coordinator David Blaker) to pull it off VHS just to see what you did right and what you didn't,” Narduzzi said.
“(Blaker) looked at it, and said, ‘What's this?' ”
After Blaker made the conversion to modern-day technology, the tape revealed that the game turned out OK for Miami, the eventual MAC champion and No. 10 team in the nation that year. Narduzzi's defense held Ohio's option to 87 yards on 45 carries, and Miami quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw four touchdown passes in a 49-31 victory.
When Narduzzi was at Michigan State last year, the coaching staff believed it might play Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. The team spent two days preparing for the option, including one on the field, before it was picked to play Baylor in the Cotton Bowl.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has mastered the option, riding it all the way to the 2014 ACC Championship game where the Ramblin' Wreck nearly upset Florida State in a 37-35 defeat. In the seven years prior to this season, Johnson's Georgia Tech teams have rushed for more yards than any team in the nation, averaging 309.5 yards per game.
“He's the guru,” Narduzzi said.
Pitt had no answer for the option in games against Georgia Tech the past two seasons, allowing a combined 741 rushing yards (6.3 per carry) in 21-10 and 56-28 losses. Quarterbacks Vad Lee and Justin Thomas each threw only 10 passes per game, completing five.
“Defending the run will be No. 1,” Narduzzi said. “You have to get your 11 best run-stoppers out there. You're not necessarily worried about a spread-type offense where they're going to throw the ball down the field.”He suggested that little-used safety Jevonte Pitts, a 200-pounder, could get more opportunities this week. “He will lay the wood,” Narduzzi said.
“This will be a challenge for our football team. They line up in different formations. There's motion and they are (chop-blocking) you.”“You have to keep your eyes open and be ready for anything,” said senior defensive tackle Darryl Render, who will make his third consecutive start against Georgia Tech.
The problem is the option is tough to simulate in practice.
“The first quarter (of the game) will be the best look we get,” Narduzzi said. “Then, hopefully, we settle down and figure out what it's like.”
Georgia Tech, chosen to win the Coastal Division of the ACC in a preseason media poll, has struggled under the weight of a difficult schedule. The Ramblin' Wreck (2-4, 0-3) have lost four in a row to No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 25 Duke, North Carolina and No. 5 Clemson (composite record: 19-3).
Still, they lead the ACC and are ninth in the nation in rushing (271.7). Pitt is sixth in rushing defense (84.8).
“It's tough to run, tough to defend,” Narduzzi said. “But I can't see (Pitt offensive coordinator Jim Chaney) saying, ‘Put it in this week.'
“He hopes his offense is hard to defend, too.”


Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.

 

[Pittx9]

Call me crazy too, but if Narduzzi's defense played not so great but also really good at times against Baylor's O last year, I think Georgia Tech no matter how crazy their offense is, will not be as big of a problem for the Duzz as I think we would assume. Also, being the way the QB runs parallel to the LOS with the ball looking to pitch or tuck it in, if we can get to him early, I think Price may have a field day causing GT's QB to fumble a few times. Could we get revenge and force 5 early Tech turnovers this year?!?!

 

[JSSTartan]

Making sure the Dive play is taken care of is the #1 priority. If that is working, everything and I mean everything will flow from there.

After the Dive, the key is to make sure you are making the QB and RBs run side to side rather than cutting and turning north/south. Sure handed, open field tackling is at a premium defending this offense.

 

[Consultant Panther]

I think the key to stopping an offense like this is being disciplined. Being too aggressive can get you burned against a triple option team.

 

[Pittx9]

I think the key to stopping an offense like this is being disciplined. Being too aggressive can get you burned against a triple option team.

We were the exact opposite of aggressive under House and that didn't stop them at all. Agree though, you do need to be disciplined, especially at the LOS when trying to read what the QB is doing on an option play.

 

[cruzer]

I think there are two keys to stopping the option. First, Dline penetration. We need to disrupt the flow of their option immediately. Penetration does that. Secondly, if we get penetration, our LB's have to really pursue and run. We've got to get numbers at the point of attack.

I give us a good chance at slowing them down. I doubt we'll completely stop them but I also don't expect them to lay a huge number on us. I expect it to be another close game, maybe something like 28-24.

Cruzer

 

[Panther Parrothead]

I think the key to stopping an offense like this is being disciplined. Being too aggressive can get you burned against a triple option team.

There's a similarity between covering the triple-option and covering kickoffs: everyone on the defense has a specific job to do, and the key is to stay in your assigned area and do it. Freelancing while trying to defend against the T/O usually leads to trouble, as it opens-up the window for the big play.

 

[Consultant Panther]

There's a similarity between covering the triple-option and covering kickoffs: everyone on the defense has a specific job to do, and the key is to stay in your assigned area and do it. Freelancing while trying to defend against the T/O usually leads to trouble, as it opens-up the window for the big play.

You put it better than me. That's what I was trying to say. Everyone has to do their job. Over pursuing can cause huge problems.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Making sure the Dive play is taken care of is the #1 priority. If that is working, everything and I mean everything will flow from there.
After the Dive, the key is to make sure you are making the QB and RBs run side to side rather than cutting and turning north/south. Sure handed, open field tackling is at a premium defending this offense.

I played Linebacker and ince we play against a Team we did not prepare for the Option. Three Times I caught the Dive Fullback only to see he did not have the ball. Then the Defensive End grabbed the QB but he pitched the ball to the HB, and our Corner was out of place going after the QB too, and missed Tackle. I come off the field and coach grabs me and asked what happen, and before I could speak, the CB said to him, Coach you did not prepare us for any Option all week? Coach benched him! It got worse from there, by the time we adjusted and overcame the Diving and Pitches, it was too late, we lost 21-17!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I think the key to stopping an offense like this is being disciplined. Being too aggressive can get you burned against a triple option team.

Exactly, and just like you and JSSTartan said, Discipline. Once we adjusted at Half-Time we stopped it cold, but damage was done with losing the lead, and playing catch up against Ball Control running out the clock was too little and too late?

 

[sappycrease]

Key is watch pitch while eye stay qb. H2P!!!

 

[9nationalchampionships]

This is a must watch before Saturday


The True Wishbone Triple Option - Texas A&M vs SMU '77 ...

 

[pittzap]

Call me crazy too, but if Narduzzi's defense played not so great but also really good at times against Baylor's O last year, I think Georgia Tech no matter how crazy their offense is, will not be as big of a problem for the Duzz as I think we would assume. Also, being the way the QB runs parallel to the LOS with the ball looking to pitch or tuck it in, if we can get to him early, I think Price may have a field day causing GT's QB to fumble a few times. Could we get revenge and force 5 early Tech turnovers this year?!?!

My concern is more about the law of averages....GA Tech has some talent. They also just lost 4 games in a row. The chances on them losing 5 is small. Plus, they have an offense, as has been mentioned, is difficult to prepare for and one that we have had difficulties stopping.

I would not be surprised with a loss at all.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I think there are two keys to stopping the option. First, Dline penetration. We need to disrupt the flow of their option immediately. Penetration does that. Secondly, if we get penetration, our LB's have to really pursue and run. We've got to get numbers at the point of attack.
I give us a good chance at slowing them down. I doubt we'll completely stop them but I also don't expect them to lay a huge number on us. I expect it to be another close game, maybe something like 28-24.
Cruzer

Good points, we ran a 5-DL, 2-LB-1-Roving Monster LB/CB and 3-DBS Oklahoma Defense, whereby our DL had to stuff the Blockers so the Linebackers could make the Tackles and Still cover the Passes. However, our DL were just as fooled and their OL was hitting them and allowing the myself and the other LB to think we stopped the Diving FB wide open and behind the line of Scrimmage, each time we all thought we stopped them, only to see a split second later the QB ad RB were still running right or left and by the time we went after them, they were on to TDS!

Had the DE stopped the QB or kept them from running outside, that would have stopped them, but on the other plays then when the CB grabbed the HB, the QB still had the ball and went in inside away from te DE that was keeping him from going outside. There QB scored once and HB twice and we were all dumbfounded until Half-Time adjustments?

After Half-Time and we started to stop the options, they switched their Offense and we were Disciplined but not as Aggressive, and they started to Wham Us The Linebackers after the Offense Line Up Wide!

This meant the again the DL kept the OL from the LBs, but then their Two HBs would just come right at us and Wham right over us, allowing the 3rd Back gaining 3 to 4 yards a play, and now playing Ball Control, getting First Downs every 3rd Play while running the clock and keeping our Offense off the field.

Our Coaches Huddled us up later to adjust to that and just told us, when one LB is about to be Whamed just see it and fall down and trip up the 2 HBs. Then let our Monster Man, and other LB or DBs Tackle the Runner and that worked great!

We were able to get the Ball Back and scored points but they started then to make short out passes but they Wideouts would fall to the ground before going out of bounds and not stopping the clock.

Again, by the time we stopped that we just ran out of time and lost 21-17! They perfectly executed the Option and when we adjusted, they perfectly executed the Whamming, and then Short Passing. We had an Offense that took time to score too, and they prevented the Big Plays and we ran out of time.

Just damn good Coaching Game Day Planning, Game Day Players execution, even though our own Coaches taught us great adjustments that we executed too, but we had little time to score to overcome that 21-0 lead!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

This is a must watch before Saturday The True Wishbone Triple Option - Texas A&M vs SMU '77 ...

Won't miss it at all, it will be a defining game, Pitt wins and just gets better, or we could have a setback for the season?

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

My concern is more about the law of averages....GA Tech has some talent. They also just lost 4 games in a row. The chances on them losing 5 is small. Plus, they have an offense, as has been mentioned, is difficult to prepare for and one that we have had difficulties stopping. I would not be surprised with a loss at all.

There is One Sure Way to beat the Triple Option at Anytime........Just Score way more points on Big Plays and let them run the clock to score eating up their own time.

If Chaney has Peterman & Voytik ready, Pitt can score big and often and in that way, Pitt can win too! Just don't let Special Teams beat Pitt either?

Chryst had the Pitt Players unprepared to play last year, and the year before their Special Teams did their jobs, while Pitt did not, as usual under Chryst? A Chryst's Coaching Trademark when he was at Pitt?

Notice how Coach Pat & Staff are saying how tough this game will be, and even indicate they are having trouble just finding Tapes of old games?????? Not much mentioning of Pitt's Offense?????

Me Thinks Coach Pat, Chaney & Conklin are planning a GT Bushwhacking whereby, the Pitt Offense, Defense, and Special Teams will be stomping on Pitt March to the Sea, like Sherman did in the Civil War burning the Yellow-jackets and confusing and taming them with smoke!

Don Duzzi is planning big hits as he plans to be in Atlanta and The Don will be having Pitt's Button Men ready to give Coach Johnson a New Baptism about the Pitt Program under him! This time Pitt Players take care of Game Day Executions!

Just a Hunch!

Don't know of I am right, but I won't be late for Kickoff!

We shall see?

 

[Pittx9]

My concern is more about the law of averages....GA Tech has some talent. They also just lost 4 games in a row. The chances on them losing 5 is small. Plus, they have an offense, as has been mentioned, is difficult to prepare for and one that we have had difficulties stopping.

I would not be surprised with a loss at all.

Would not be surprised with a loss at all either, because of the law of averages you mentioned. But throw that aside and look at the games this year, very winnable game for Pitt, one they should expect to win. But also, any road game is tough, so it will be a close, hard fought game.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Would not be surprised with a loss at all either, because of the law of averages you mentioned. But throw that aside and look at the games this year, very winnable game for Pitt, one they should expect to win. But also, any road game is tough, so it will be a close, hard fought game.

Earlier all Predictions had Georgia Tech in the Top 25, and said an outright loss by Pitt to them until Pitt can show they can beat Johnson. This was mainly due not knowing how Coach Pat & Staff would be coaching in their first year???

I went from this game going to be a Loss to Toss Up Loss, to Toss Up to Toss Up Win!

But now I think Pitt has a good chance to beat them, but it is a first year coaching measurement game, we shall see?