. . . QB from the ESPN.go ACC blog site. Here are a couple of telling points about the 2014 Pitt pass rush from the article:
"This is really something of a necessity for Pitt. Last year's offense was excellent -- the Panthers averaged 2.63 points-per-drive, 16th-best in the nation and 11th among Power 5 schools -- but the defense was atrocious, particularly down the stretch.
The problems were numerous, but it started with the trouble getting to the opposing quarterback. Pitt ranked 105th in the country in sacks per game and just 53 of its opponent's passing attempts (14.2 percent) came under pressure."
So the those stats show just how glaring the deficiencies were/are. Few sacks relative to the rest of CFB and a weak pressure per opponents' pass attempt ratio (just 14.2%). A team could have the best def. backfield around (not that Pitt will), but if the QB has a lot of time and space he's either eventually going to find an open receiver or pull it down and take off running once the field opens up and the coverage is run off.
But last year is over and done with. This is going to be a significant challenge for 2015 and it will be interesting to observe to see how HCPN and his def. staff try to address it and overcome it. Some improvement - maybe even just a little bit - could help to make a BIG difference in the results this season.
Pitt's pass rush must improve
"This is really something of a necessity for Pitt. Last year's offense was excellent -- the Panthers averaged 2.63 points-per-drive, 16th-best in the nation and 11th among Power 5 schools -- but the defense was atrocious, particularly down the stretch.
The problems were numerous, but it started with the trouble getting to the opposing quarterback. Pitt ranked 105th in the country in sacks per game and just 53 of its opponent's passing attempts (14.2 percent) came under pressure."
So the those stats show just how glaring the deficiencies were/are. Few sacks relative to the rest of CFB and a weak pressure per opponents' pass attempt ratio (just 14.2%). A team could have the best def. backfield around (not that Pitt will), but if the QB has a lot of time and space he's either eventually going to find an open receiver or pull it down and take off running once the field opens up and the coverage is run off.
But last year is over and done with. This is going to be a significant challenge for 2015 and it will be interesting to observe to see how HCPN and his def. staff try to address it and overcome it. Some improvement - maybe even just a little bit - could help to make a BIG difference in the results this season.
Pitt's pass rush must improve
