{"id":32961,"date":"2019-10-16T22:41:40","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T02:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/?p=32961"},"modified":"2020-08-20T11:50:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T15:50:33","slug":"pitt-panthers-at-syracuse-orange-game-day-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/2019\/10\/16\/pitt-panthers-at-syracuse-orange-game-day-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitt Panthers at Syracuse Orange Game Day Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>14 Minute, 41 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

Welcome to the most comprehensive Pitt Panthers Game Day Preview<\/a> on the internet! This is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Pitt and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@SportsNationPGH) brings you inside the huddle for both teams, providing all fans with a Game Story, Pitt’s Path to Success, Score Prediction, Game Information, a detailed breakdown of each team, Individual Stats, and Team Stats. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff! The only thing you\u2019re missing is a game uniform!<\/em><\/p>\n

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PITT DEFENSE LOOKING TO PLAY A COMPLETE GAME<\/h1>\n

In 2016, these two teams met at Heinz Field and put up a scoring display like none-other, with Pitt topping Syracuse 76-61.<\/p>\n

Don’t expect to see anything resembling that game this Friday night when the Panthers (4-2, 1-1) travel to the Carrier Dome to take on the Orange (3-3, 0-2).<\/p>\n

Pitt’s defense ranks 4th in the ACC, and 19th nationally, giving up just 298.7 yards per game. They are tops in the ACC and 2nd in the nation with 27 sacks.<\/p>\n

That doesn’t bode well for Syracuse and their quarterback Tommy DeVito, who has been sacked 26 times this season. Pitt will be bringing the heat after DeVito.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey get the ball out quick, run a ton of screens, hard to pressure them, so we\u2019ve got to be careful when we do (blitz),\u201d Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve got to be able to get four-man pressure and get some coverage sacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest problem with the Pitt defense is playing an entire game. Against UCF, the defense couldn’t hold an early 21-0 lead, albeit bad turnovers and a punt return for a score certainly didn’t help.<\/p>\n

Last game at Duke, the defense surrendered 27 second half points after the offense built a 26-3 lead. A late touchdown by the offense saved the defense from a long two weeks of looking in the mirror.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt times they do and at times they don\u2019t,\u201d Narduzzi said after being asked if his defense was performing up to his standards. \u201cWe\u2019ll find out. Nobody cares what you did in the first half at Duke, which was really good (giving up only a field goal).\u201d<\/p>\n

What’s the biggest problem holding the Pitt defense from becoming a great one?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to get stops,\u201d Narduzzi said. \u201cGreat defenses play championship defense every play, every minute of the game, every quarter. That\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to get to.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks to an utterly ridiculous call in the Duke game, Pitt will be without stud safety Paris Ford for the 1st half this Friday night. Ford was called for targeting while making a tackle.<\/p>\n

Narduzzi was confused by the call as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just saw a lot of shoulder,\u201d he said. \u201cI saw (Bracey\u2019s) head go inside of our guy\u2019s head. It wasn\u2019t our head going into his head.\u201d<\/p>\n

With calls like that, even the coach doesn’t know what to expect anymore regarding what is a good or bad hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how to officiate anymore. I don\u2019t know what the calls are,\u201d he said. \u201cPlayers play, coaches coach, officials officiate and reporters report. That\u2019s my quote for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Ford out for a half, senior Jazzee Stocker will play in place of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel good him,\u201d Narduzzi said about Stocker. \u201cI think Jay will do a great job. He\u2019s back healthy, too. That\u2019s the important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Offensively, wide receiver duo Tasir Mack and Maurice Ffrench are carving up secondaries week after week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe make each other\u2019s jobs easier,\u201d Mack said. \u201cYou can\u2019t think about one without thinking about the other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mack has 41 receptions for 511 yards while Ffrench has 50 catches for 396 yards. Those 91 combined receptions are tops in NCAA FBS.<\/p>\n

Mack walks by replicas of Antonio Bryant and Larry Fitzgerald’s Biletnikoff Trophies every day on the way to practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tell myself, I\u2019m coming for this,\u201d Mack said.<\/p>\n

Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple’s offense is really rounding into form in his first year at Pitt, and his player’s dedication to their craft is paying dividends for their hard work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey see the system has given them opportunities they might not have had in the past,\u201d wide receivers coach Chris Beatty said. \u201cThose guys, they want to do well. They study. They work at it. It\u2019s important to them. Every little detail they try to write down and take notes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rest of the receiving corps, not to mention potential recruits see the potential they could achieve in Pitt’s new passing attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, everybody wants touches,\u201d he said, \u201cand that\u2019s what you sell people on \u2026 being able to get guys in so they can touch the ball and have opportunities to be Larry Fitzgerald or Antonio Bryant (Pitt\u2019s two Biletnikoff winners).<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope they notice that. I definitely bring it up.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Pitt’s Path to Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Bring the heat: <\/strong>Tommy DeVito has been sacked 26 times in 2019. Time to add to those totals Friday night.<\/li>\n
  2. Gang tackle:\u00a0<\/strong>Syracuse has some nice playmakers… as in previous games, the defense needs to swarm and attack. More turnovers will come as a result.<\/li>\n
  3. Get the run game going: <\/strong>Syracuse gives up nearly 150 yards per game on the ground. This is a good week to get the rushing attack going, which will give more space for Kenny Pickett to attack downfield.<\/li>\n
  4. Be bullies, but smart ones:\u00a0<\/b>Walking the walk after talking the talk is good, but know your limits. Don’t take any stupid penalties that you know the refs are itching to call.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Prediction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    This game is very simple for the Panthers. There shouldn’t be a gigantic crowd at the Carrier Dome, but their fans will be loud, nonetheless. The key to quieting them quickly will be a balanced offense and a swarming defense.<\/p>\n

    With the Orange giving up 149 yards per game on the ground, it would be nice to see Pitt grind out some yards with A.J. Davis leading the way, with Todd Sibley, Vincent Davis, and V’Lique Carter adding their contributions, when called upon.<\/p>\n

    A good rushing attack should force Syracuse to bring up a few defenders to help, and when they do, that will give the NCAA’s top receiving duo in Taysir Mack and Maurice Ffrench plenty of room to soak up some yards from Kenny Pickett. Attacking the middle of the field with tight ends Nakia Griffin-Stewart and Will Gragg will help, too.<\/p>\n

    It will be time to bring the dogs defensively, as Syracuse QB Tommy DeVito has been sacked 26 times this year, something that the Panther defense should be licking their chops in anticipation for.<\/p>\n

    The biggest key will be playing a full 60 minutes on both sides of the ball. This team has picked some bad times to fall asleep on both sides of the ball in 2019. If this team is going to pursue a 2nd consecutive Coastal Division championship, then this unit will have to learn that you can’t take plays off, let alone a series or two. You play all out and give 100% effort no matter what.<\/p>\n

    As long as Pitt doesn’t turn the ball over, they should be able to cruise to a comfortable win.<\/p>\n

    Pitt 34 Syracuse 17<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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    Game Information<\/strong><\/h1>\n

    Pitt Panthers at Syracuse Orange<\/h3>\n