Pitt Panthers
Preview 2009 - Defense
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What you need to know: As the
defense goes, so goes the Pittsburgh program. Even after losing
All-American LB Scott McKillop to graduation, the Panthers are loaded on
this side of the ball, especially up front. With three legitimate
All-Big East contenders, they’ll control the line of scrimmage most
weekends, making life easier for the linebackers and defensive backs. On
the outside, Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard form one of the top 10 or so
scariest pass rushing tandems in the country. Add in DT Mick Williams, a
disruptive force in his own right, and Pitt has a chance to dominate
most games at the point of contact. If a suitable replacement can be
found for McKillop in the middle, the Panthers will hold opponents to
under 20 points a game this fall.
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Returning
Leaders
Tackles: Dom DeCicco, 56
Sacks:
Greg Romeus, 7.5
Interceptions: Aaron Berry, 3
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Star of the defense: Junior
DE Greg Romeus
Player that has to step up and become a star:
Senior LB Adam Gunn
Unsung star on the rise:
Sophomore LB Greg Williams
Best pro prospect:
Romeus
Top three all-star candidates:
1) Romeus 2) Senior CB Aaron Berry 3) Senior DT Mick Williams
Strength of the defense:
The defensive line, the pass rush, run defense
Weakness of the defense:
Lapses in pass coverage, uncertainty at middle linebacker
Defensive Line
Projected Starters:
Although you might get arguments from the pass-catchers, the defensive
line shapes up as the strength of this year’s Pitt team. Even without
three-year starting NT Rashaad Duncan, the Panthers are loaded up front,
especially at defensive end. Junior Greg Romeus has gone from a lightly-regarded 220-pounder to a 6-5,
265-pound force and one of the nation’s premier pass rushers. A terrific
all-around athlete with long arms and a bounce in his step, he had 51
tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks, en route to a spot on the
All-Big East second team. He also blocked three kicks, further testament
to his big-play ability.
The staff sort of expected a big year
out of Romeus in 2008, but the same can’t be said for 6-4, 250-pound
junior Jabaal Sheard,
who blossomed a little sooner than expected. A little smaller and a
little quicker, he has an explosive burst off the snap that’s often too
much for opposing tackles to handle. A year ago, he broke through with
45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and a team-best 11
quarterback hurries. Best of all, he’s still peaking, a scary thought
for the rest of the league.
Although he won’t post the same
numbers as the outside guys, senior DT
Mick Williams
is every bit as disruptive. One of the
program’s hidden gems, he’s only 6-1 and 285 pounds, but moves with the
quickness and burst of some ends. He consistently got penetration as a
junior, notching 25 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and seven
quarterback hurries. He should be doubled at times, but that’s just not
possible with Romeus and Sheard on the same line.
The newcomer to
the starting unit is 6-2, 275-pound sophomore tackle
Myles Caragein, an
infrequently used reserve last season. Trading prototypical size for
speed and strength, he’s a budding playmaker when not being tied up by a
330-pound lineman. A former wrestler, he uses his hands and his leverage
well, and plays with a level of intensity that hasn’t been overlooked by
the coaches.
Projected Top Reserves:
Although 6-3, 280-pound DT
Gus
Mustakas hasn’t panned out as expected, largely due to injuries,
he’s an outstanding veteran to have in the rotation. He has a great
motor and enough quickness to make frequent appearances in the other
team’s backfield. A three-game starter a year ago, he had 14 tackles, a
couple of tackles for loss, and a sack.
The Panthers have a bunch
of young risers just itching to become the next Romeus or Sheard. One of
those underclassmen, 6-4, 240-pound redshirt freshman
Shayne Hale, has a
combination of speed and strength that’ll make it difficult to keep him
off the field. An elite 2008 recruit, he’s going to be a real nuisance
for opposing tackles, especially on passing downs.
Watch Out For…
Williams. Most people fixate on numbers, which means Romeus and Sheard
will always get more pub than Williams. Too bad. Those who watch Pitt
film can’t help but rave about Williams, who’s going to be an all-star
in his final year, especially if opponents spend too much time on the
outside guys.
Strength:
Pressuring the quarterback. With the speed of Romeus and Sheard on the
outside, and the push of Williams and Caragein up the middle, the
Panthers are going to be hell on quarterbacks. After finishing No. 2 in
the league in sacks, they’re poised to move up a notch this fall.
Weakness: Proven depth
at end. Sure, there’s loads of potential with the likes of Hale and
sophomores
Tony Tucker and
Brandon Lindsey, but are they ready to produce today? All three are
still green and significant drop-offs from the starters.
Outlook: If, indeed, it
all starts up front, the Panthers will be in great shape on defense this
season. Pitt has enough talent on the defensive line to dominate other
teams and force quarterbacks into mistakes. The Big East doesn’t have
many quality passers as it is, so the Panthers will enjoy a huge edge in
most games.
Rating:
9
Linebackers
Projected Starters: A
strange group, the linebackers lose two starters from 2008, but welcome
back two 2007 regulars, who missed almost all of last season with
injuries. One of those returners, 6-2, 230-pound
Adam Gunn, is being counted
on to replace All-American Scott McKillop at middle linebacker. Slated
to be in the lineup, he missed all but the opener last year with a neck
injury. While not nearly as instinctive as his predecessor, he’s one of
the best athletes on the defense, bringing more explosiveness and range
to the position.
At weakside, 6-2, 235-pound sophomore
Max Gruder has had an
outstanding offseason, earning the team’s most improved defender of the
spring. A versatile player, who seen time at all three positions, he’s
drawn comparisons to McKillop for his work ethic and instinctive
behavior. After making five stops as a reserve and special teams
performer, he could be ready for a standout season.
The lone
returning starter from 2008 is 6-3, 225-pound sophomore
Greg Williams, who’ll be
holding down the job at strongside. Thrust into the lineup after Gunn
was injured, he stepped up with 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5
sacks, and a pair of picks. A fantastic all-around athlete, he can be
used on blitzes or dropped back into pass coverage. After surviving
mostly on athleticism, he’ll be ready to flourish with a year of
experience behind him.
Projected Top Reserves:
Behind Williams at strongside is 6-3, 235-pound junior
Nate Nix, a two-time letterwinner, who had 14 tackles as a reserve a
year ago. Blessed with a good mix of size and speed, he has the range
and the experience to make plays all over the field.
Senior
Steve Dell
is another
long-time Panther, who brings much-needed experience to the opening at
middle linebacker. A 6-1, 235-pound veteran of 30 games, he has a great
feel for the defense, and won’t freeze up if he gets an expanded role in
his final year.
Senior
Shane Murray
is back after missing all but one game due to a knee
injury. As a starter on the weakside, the 6-1, 220-pounder had 60
tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles. A
former safety earlier in his career, he’s adapted well to linebacker,
and provides steady depth to more than one position.
Watch Out For… plenty
of shuffling. The Panthers have a mess of interchangeable parts, many of
whom would be comfortable with a starting role. Only three can be on the
field at the same time, but as many as seven or eight are light to earn
letters this season.
Strength: Veteran
depth. With the returns of Gunn and Murray from injury, the Panthers are
well-stocked in the two-deep, even after the graduations of McKillop and
Austin Ransom. A concern heading into the 2008 season, Pitt now boasts a
slew of players, who are no strangers to meaningful minutes.
Weakness: Lack of star
power. For the first time in years, the Panthers don’t have a bona fide
All-Big East player at middle linebacker. McKillop was a two-year beast,
and before him, H.B. Blades was a perennial all-star. There’s no one on
this roster, who looks capable of approaching either player this year.
Outlook: The last two
years, McKillop made a million plays, while many of his teammates got a
good view of the action. This year, however, the linebacker corps will
be more of a group effort with a number of players capable of amassing
50 or more tackles. If Williams and Gruder erupt a year earlier than
expected, the grade for this unit goes north.
Rating: 7.5
Secondary
Projected Starters:
Provided off-field issues don’t complicate matters, the secondary
returns virtually intact, with the exception of S Eric Thatcher. While
5-11, 175-pound senior CB
Aaron Berry
is the star of the group, he was suspended at the
end of spring practice for a violation of team rules. A second team
All-Big East selection, the Panthers need his lockdown ability and
athleticism in the last line of defense. In his best season at Pitt, he
had 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and a
team-best 10 pass break ups.
Opposite Berry at boundary corner is
senior Jovani Chappel, a three-time letterman entering his second year as a
starter. Last season, he notched 45 tackles and a couple of picks, but
should have had more big plays considering how much attention he
received. At 5-9 and 180 pounds, he’s at an instant disadvantage when
locked up with more physically imposing receivers.
The enforcer
of the secondary is junior
Dom
DeCicco, a 6-3, 220-pound strong safety wrapped in a linebacker’s
body. He excelled in his first season as a starter, making 56 tackles,
breaking up seven passes, and pulling in a team-high four picks. For a
player his size, he has good hands and surprisingly keen instincts as a
pass defender.
Junior
Elijah Fields
is expected to be elevated into the opening at free
safety. Like DeCicco, he has great size at 6-2 and 220 pounds, and will
make receivers think twice about crossing through the middle of the
field. He played a reserve role last year, starting a pair of games, and
chipped in with 18 tackles. If he can begin to put it all together in
2009, he’s got the physical gifts to spend next year auditioning for NFL
scouts.
Projected Top Reserves:
Putting some heat on Chappel is 5-9, 175-pound junior
Ricky Gary, who’s basically like having a third starter at
cornerback. He’s been in the lineup eight games over the last two
seasons, making a dozen tackles and five starts in 2008. He has good
cover skills, and at worst, brings experience and quickness to nickel
packages.
Last year, 5-11, 175-pound sophomore
Andrew Taglianetti
established himself as a special teams prodigy, blocking punts against
Iowa, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati. This year, he’s the first safety off
the bench, serving as the backup to Fields. Quick, tough, and about as
smart as any player on the team, he’s got a knack for being close to the
action.
Watch Out For…
the status of Berry. Everything changes if for some reason his
suspension keeps him away from the field. He’s the best pass defender on
the roster, and the type of cornerback, who can cut off half the field
for opposing quarterbacks.
Strength: Pass defense. Little has been lost from a team that
was a solid 35th nationally in pass efficiency defense a year
ago. With Berry, Chappel, and Gary clamping down on receivers, there
usually isn’t a lot of room for quarterbacks to make plays.
Weakness:
Inconsistency. In total, the Panthers did a solid job in pass defense,
but there were too many lapses and big plays yielded. In a four-game
stretch from Oct. 25 to Nov. 22, Pitt allowed a whopping 13 touchdown
passes. Yet, in the final three games, including the Sun Bowl, it
allowed none. Go figure.
Outlook: If they can avoid some of the breakdowns that plagued
them last year, the Panthers are in nice shape in the defensive
backfield. There’s a good mix of athletes, with Berry and Chappel, to go
along with the thumpers, DeCicco and Fields. Throw in the rush that’ll
be generated up front, and it’ll be very tough throwing on Pitt this
year.
Rating: 8
Special Teams
Projected Starters: If
the season started today, junior
Dan Hutchins would be a very busy—and important—young man. Until
proven otherwise, he’s slated to succeed Conor Lee and Dave Brytus at
placekicker and punter, respectively. Lee is the most accurate kicker in
school history and Brytus was a two-year starter. Hutchins, in contrast,
is a walk-on with no relevant experience at this level.
Providing
stiff competition at kicker will be redshirt freshman
Kevin Harper, one of the
top-rated kickers of the 2008 class. He flashed a dynamite leg in high
school, kicking for distance and accuracy, and routinely forced
touchbacks on kickoffs. He still needs some fine-tuning, but is quickly
gaining ground on Hutchins.
Watch Out For… senior
punt returner
T.J. Porter.
Porter made the most of his 16 returns a year ago, turning them into 184
yards and a Big East-best 11.5-yard average. Dangerous in space, he’s
capable of aiding the Panther offense, provided he can make it back to
the team following a spring suspension.
Strength: Blocking
kicks. Pittsburgh had 10 last season to lead the country and establish a
new school-record. Opponents better put an extra man on DE
Greg Romeus and DB
Andrew
Taglianetti, who got their hands on three each.
Weakness: Uncertainty
at kicker and punter. Replacing both in the same year is tough,
especially Lee, who was often the next best thing to LeSean McCoy in
terms of offensive weapons. Hutchins has been around for a while,
patiently waiting his turn, but is he ready to handle one, let alone two
key jobs on special teams?
Outlook: It’s a tale of two worlds for the Panther special
teams. On one hand, no one really knows what to expect from the new
kicker or punter. On the other, however, Pitt will block a ton of kicks,
does an exceptional job in covering kicks, and has one of the league’s
top punt returners. Hutchins and Harper are huge. If one of them is
consistent on field goals, this group will have few worries.
Rating: 7.5