2018 Pitt Defense Preview

There’s been a lot of experts, pundits, media and fans that have studied the Pitt Panthers defense over the past 3 seasons under Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. In almost all of these cases, the focus and perhaps blame for their dismal performance has been squarely placed on the shoulders of the Pitt secondary. The logic goes something like this: the Pitt defense surrendered an average of 254 yards per game last season (2017) and more specifically the Pitt secondary simply couldn’t handle the man-to-man coverages assigned by former Pitt DC, Josh Conklin. The year before it was roughly 332 yards per game to even further cement the point.

But in reality, that has not been the true culprit of Pitt’s defensive woes.

Pitt’s defense has been the victim of one massive flaw: a non-existent pass rush. Think of this, Pitt only recorded 23 sacks all season last year. Aaron Donald alone recorded 29.5 sacks in his 4 seasons at Pitt and that was from the DT position (by one player) by comparison. The leading sack specialist last year for Pitt was Sean Idowu with a whopping 5 sacks from his Star LB spot.

That’s right, both starting defensive ends Rashad Weaver and Dewayne Hendrix recorded a mere 3 sacks each for the entire season. Pitt legendary LB Hugh Green used to sometimes record 3 sacks a series in some games it seemed in 1980, if memory serves.

So despite all of this talk, criticism and focus on the Pitt secondary, the truth is even former Pittsburgh Steeler and NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount in his prime couldn’t cover receivers with that much time. If you watch the tape from last season, Pitt opponents averaged over 7 seconds per pass attempt on 5 step drops or greater. This means, when opposing QBs were in obvious passing downs and distance, they basically had all day to throw. That number should be no greater than 5 seconds on average.

The only way Pitt mustered any sort of pass rush at all was to blitz. To their credit, Pitt blitzed often from the back seven which explains Idowu’s 5 sacks.

If you rewatch the Pitt-North Carolina game in particular, you’ll see evidence of this all game long. UNC’s QB, Nathan Elliott, threw for 235 yards on 20 for 31 attempts. But more importantly, he tossed 2 TDs. A freshman, who never played a down of college football before the game, had nearly 7 sometimes 8 or 9 seconds or more to throw. I’m sorry but high school QBs could find receivers open with that much time.

This allowed Pitt opponents to convert roughly 41% of their 3rd downs (69 conversions on 170 attempts). That was good for 82nd best in college football behind the likes of even Kansas. Yes, folks even Kansas’ defense could get off the field easier than Pitt in 2017 on 3rd down. Are you kidding me? Most of those 3rd downs were in passing situations.

So the big question for the 2018 Pitt Panthers Defense that Head Coach Pat Narduzzi, new Defensive Coordinator Randy Bates and DL / Assistant Head Coach Charlie Partridge have to answer is can they find a pass rush?

In my estimation probably not enough. Lets break down the positions:

DE:
Aforementioned Dewayne Hendrix and Rashad Weaver. In Hendrix, Pitt got a former 4 star DE transfer from Tennessee that has battled injuries throughout his college football career. While he did amass 21 total tackles (including a fumble recovery in the big upset over the #2 Miami Hurricanes), he was largely ineffective last season. Hendrix tends to overrun plays and overshoot QBs on passing downs. In sum, its not his size or speed that’s the issue but his technique. He’s far too vertical and this allows offensive tackles to push him out of plays.

Conversely, Weaver has a very strong nose for the football and fairly solid technique. A bit undersized for a DE, at 6’3″ 285 Lbs, Weaver has decent speed and a really nice spin move. But since Hendrix isn’t much of a threat, Weaver gets double-teamed and neutralized a lot as a result.

If Hendrix can’t provide much of a pass rush, Bates and Partridge should consider Deslin Alexander and Patrick Jones on a trial basis. But they too seem tall, lean and thin for the position and will probably have trouble against ACC tackles.

2017 Grade: F
2018 Preview: D

DT:
Shane Roy and Keyshon Camp will man the interior of the Pitt Defense in 2018. Both struggled last year to provide much of anything in what matters most for interior players – tackles for loss. Yes, they recorded 14 and 19 tackles respectively but they only managed 1 TFL all season each. An entire season with 1 TFL for 2 starters. That’s not getting it done.

Amir Watts and Jaylen Twyman will provide depth at both spots but its a bit perplexing how neither of these guys could supplant Roy or Camp on the depth chat out of the 2018 summer camp.

There may be some improvement with Twyman but Pitt desperately needs a menace inside like it once had with Aaron Donald and right now the roster seems a bit devoid of that guy.

2017 Grade: D
2018 Preview: C

LB:
When MLB Quintin Wirginis went down with the injury and suspension in 2017 that pretty much sealed the destiny of the Pitt LB corp for the season. But despite having players play out of position (Saleem Brighwell filled in at the MIK or middle linebacker spot for most of last year), the Pitt LBers weren’t terrible but perhaps performed quite average.

Sean Idowu was certainly the biggest bright spot of the group recording 94 tackles, including 11.5 TFLs and 5 sacks. 58 of those tackles were solo efforts. Not bad for a converted walk-on safety playing Star LB.

However, Brightwell also recorded 73 tackles at the MIK, 5 TFLs and 1 memorable INT against Virginia in a home win. Brightwell has a knack for the football and somehow makes big plays in very important times for Pitt. Lets not forget his incredible INT at the goal line in 2016 versus Clemson that pretty much was the reason (besides Chris Blewitt’s incredible kick) that Pitt won that game that year. He nearly returned it back to the house.

But Brightwell is a little too small and too slow to play MIK at this level. Yet I’d venture to say he’s a step quicker than former Pitt MIK LB Matt Galambos was at a similar moment in his career. The two have one thing in common, they both can tackle.

The problem is Brightwell can’t penetrate offensive lines. And his 5 TFLs were very pedestrian if non-productive in 2017.

That’s not his fault though since we wasn’t recruited to play MLB and there really wasn’t a suitable backup to replace him last season.

This season Brightwell will slide back to the Money LB spot and platoon with senior Elijah Zeise. In 2017, Zeise recorded 49 total tackles, 5 TFLs but 33 of those tackles were solo. That’s not bad.

But like Brightwell, Zeise has trouble finding running backs in the backfield. Its not due to his lack of speed but oftentimes there are some issues with taking poor angles and simply overrunning plays. The entire Pitt LB corp have this issue at times.

This really begs the question is LB Coach Rob Harley (a very solid recruiter) a solid position coach? After 3 seasons, the answer has been no. Like former Defensive Coordinator Josh Conklin, his prior boss for those 3 seasons, he’s shown very little in terms of player development and that’s a big question mark for the Pitt defense going into 2018.

One can only hope some of the depth from players such as Anthony McKee, Cam Bright, Elias Reynolds or Chase Pine will turn the Pitt LBs into a position of strength.

2017 Grade: C
2018 Preview: C+

Corners:
When Avonte Maddox graduated in 2017, Pitt lost perhaps its best corner in years. His 11 pass breakups and 3 forced fumbles were the team’s best along with 27 tackles (20 solo) for a kid that’s basically undersized to play at this level.

Now Pitt will see if Damarri Mathis or perhaps Pitt’s best recruit from 2017, Paris Ford, can supplant Maddox and pick-up where he left off.

If anything, it could be argued Mathis or Ford will eventually outproduce Maddox and the answer will be a resounding yes. For now, its TBD.

On the flip side, Phillipie Motley and Dane Jackson will pick up from where they left off a year ago. Jackson had 41 tackles last year and 9 pass break-ups, good for second best on the team. Motley was largely injured for most of last year but emerged during the 2018 summer camp to seize the starting job from Jackson for the moment. Motley always had a very strong nose for the football and strong technique.

2017 Grade: C
2018 Preview: B-

Safeties:
When Jordan Whitehead decided to become a Tampa Bay Buccaneer in the offseason (forgoing his senior season at Pitt), Pitt’s defense basically became a no-name defense instantaneously. That’s because Whitehead was Pitt’s big two-way star (he played offense at times) and a big loss to the safety position for the Panthers.

Whitehead had 60 tackles last season including 1 INT and a 4 pass break-ups. The problem wasn’t that Whitehead made 60 tackles, the problem was you don’t want your Strong Safety making that many tackles.

To replace him, Randy Bates and new secondary coaches Archie Collins and Cory Sanders will turn to senior Dennis Briggs and my personal favorite Phil Campbell. I’m a bit biased though cause Campbell hails from my hometown South Brunswick, NJ (winners of their 3rd state title last year over Manalapan – Central Group V champs I might plug). Need I digress?

Anyway, Briggs is smart player who seems to be in the right position at the right time. Like Campbell, they both have strong technique and understand their roles rather well.

But neither is a heavy hitter like Whitehead was and not nearly as athletic. So the replacements in this case are a bit underwhelming due to who they are trying to replace.

At Free Safety, Damar Hamlin returns along with his 41 tackles but zero pass break-ups and only 1 INT. Hamlin was a huge deal for Pitt (4 star recruit) when he signed out of high school but injuries have slowed him down from reaching his true potential.

Hamlin can deliver the mail but hasn’t had the chance or demonstrated he can do so at the college level. He’ll need to provide some nastiness in the Pitt secondary that’s been sorely lacking it for many years. I think he will.

While Jazzee Stocker and Bricen Garner are fine alternatives at free safety, its really up to Hamlin to seize the job and deliver on his college recruiting rankings.

Overall, the Pitt secondary should be better. Yes the losses of Maddox and Whitehead were big but not insurmountable. If the front seven can start making more tackles for loss and sacks, it will free up the secondary to provide better run and pass support.

2017 Grade: C+
2018 Grade: B

In sum, the no-name Pitt defense will play against a very tough schedule with some very unproven players. If the Panthers can muster any sort of pass rush, 7 wins is still very much in the offering. If not, expect Pitt to not win any more than 5 games. That said, I expect improvements in some of these numbers for this season. If only due to more experience in Narduzzi’s system and a better mind at the helm in DC Randy Bates.

Overall 2017 Defense Grade: C-
Overall 2018 Defense Preview: C+