For pretty much every personnel question about what we see on game days from Pitt comes down to two answers:
1. Injury
2. This quote from Rob Harley:
"All that stuff is based on practice. How many reps you get is strictly based on how well you know our game plan and how fast and how physical and how well you execute in practice. Practice, practice, practice is important. Most people don’t see that. We’re the ones that get to see that all week. The game comes and everyone’s wondering, 'Hey, why is this guy playing?' Well, it’s because of his execution and preparation during the week."
Harley said that today, and after I transcribed it, I realized that that's the answer right there. Whether it's running back, offensive line, receiver, linebacker - any position, that's the answer: the coaches are basing their personnel decisions off that week of practice.
This probably isn't advanced football strategy; most coaches will make similar decisions. But given the fact that, at a few positions, nobody has really separated themselves, this staff seems to be taking the focus on practice even further.
1. Injury
2. This quote from Rob Harley:
"All that stuff is based on practice. How many reps you get is strictly based on how well you know our game plan and how fast and how physical and how well you execute in practice. Practice, practice, practice is important. Most people don’t see that. We’re the ones that get to see that all week. The game comes and everyone’s wondering, 'Hey, why is this guy playing?' Well, it’s because of his execution and preparation during the week."
Harley said that today, and after I transcribed it, I realized that that's the answer right there. Whether it's running back, offensive line, receiver, linebacker - any position, that's the answer: the coaches are basing their personnel decisions off that week of practice.
This probably isn't advanced football strategy; most coaches will make similar decisions. But given the fact that, at a few positions, nobody has really separated themselves, this staff seems to be taking the focus on practice even further.
