{"id":49030,"date":"2021-10-01T14:44:19","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T18:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/?p=49030"},"modified":"2021-10-01T14:44:19","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T18:44:19","slug":"pitt-georgia-tech-game-day-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/2021\/10\/01\/pitt-georgia-tech-game-day-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitt – Georgia Tech Game Day Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
The University of Pittsburgh has a rich tradition of football that dates back to the early 1900’s. The Panthers are nine-time National Champions and some of the greatest players in the history of football have called Pitt their alma mater. Pitt has 25 members in the College Football Hall of Fame and nine have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
NGSC Sports<\/a> brings you the best Pitt Game Day Preview you will find anywhere! This is where true Panther fans come to find out about Pitt and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation) brings you inside the huddle for both teams, providing all fans with a weekly game story, Pitt’s game plan for success, score prediction, crucial game day information, and a detailed breakdown of each team.<\/p>\n Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff! The only thing you\u2019re missing is a game uniform!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If there’s ever a game where the Pitt run defense will be challenged, it will certainly come this week when the Panthers (3-1) take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-2) on the road at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, this Saturday at Noon.<\/p>\n GaTech QB Jeff Sims came off the bench to lead his team to a stunning 45-22 thumping of UNC last week. Sims completed 10 of 13 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 128 yards and three more touchdowns.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can change a game with his feet as well as his arm,\u201d said Panther strong safety Brandon Hill. \u201cKeeping him bottled up in the pocket and forcing him to make those throws, I feel like we have a good chance.\u201d<\/p>\n The Panther defense bounced back well last week, allowing just one touchdown, albeit vs a FCS school in New Hampshire.<\/p>\n Hill and the Pitt defense are still looking to atone for the beating they took vs Western Michigan, who torched them for 357 yards through the air in week three.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the type of image we want to put on TV as the Pitt defense,\u201d Hill said. \u201cWe took that under the chin and corrected it.\u201d<\/p>\n Pitt fared well in their first road game of the year when they defeated Tennessee 41-34. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi knows that the crowd in Atlanta will be just as hostile as the one they faced in Knoxville. Especially after their team carved up UNC.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t care where we\u2019re playing,\u201d Narduzzi said. \u201cYou\u2019re looking for guys who like to go into a different atmosphere, different stadium and like to get booed. I don\u2019t think there are any athletes that don\u2019t like that. It\u2019s kind of a fun atmosphere to go into somebody else\u2019s house and disrupt things.\u201d<\/p>\n Offensively, there may be a new weapon available in the run game, especially after his game last week vs New Hampshire.<\/p>\n \u201dThere\u2019s a place for Rodney Hammond, for sure,\u201d Narduzzi said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Hammond made the most of his work in relief last week, rushing for 100 yards and three touchdowns.<\/p>\n Israel Abanikanda will start and Vincent Davis will get his carries, but Hammond will definitely be in the mix.<\/p>\n The Panther air attack has been virtually unstoppable, but Narduzzi would like to see his rushing attack up it’s game and start making more contributions to the offense.<\/p>\n \u201dIt would be a waste to keep running it up in there when you trust your passing game,\u201d Narduzzi said. \u201cBut sooner or later, that runs out. If something goes bad, you have to be able to run it.\u201d<\/p>\n Narduzzi was referring to the plethora of times his RB’s have gained just a yard or less per rushing attempt.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to take 1-yard gain, 1-yard gain, 1-yard gain, 2-yard gain, 1-yard TFL to get that 40-yard run,\u201d he said. \u201cHaving some patience, but not too much patience. I don\u2019t have a whole lot of patience.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps this will be the week the Panther offense will find some consistency on the ground.<\/p>\n If not, Pitt QB Kenny Pickett is ready to put this team on his back and lead the Panthers to victory.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery game is like a championship game because of how crazy it is in the conference,\u201d Pickett said. \u201cWe feel like it\u2019s wide open for anybody. Every week, it has to be a championship mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n Pickett, who has only been sacked seven times this year, knows Georgia Tech’s defense was able to get to UNC quarterback Sam Howell eight times last week.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t tighten up. You take note of it and see why (Howell) got sacked,\u201d he said. \u201cYou try to figure out and learn from his mistakes and try to better yourself. We\u2019re going over those plays and those looks they gave.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Offense<\/strong><\/p>\n Defense<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s the ACC opener, and the first of eight straight conference games that Pitt will take battle in. The Coastal Division crown is what the Panthers are aiming for, and it all starts this Saturday in Atlanta. A win Saturday would certainly ease the pain from the Western Michigan loss, and get the Panthers back on track and focused on making a big run, especially with UNC and Virginia already having two division losses in the books.<\/p>\n This game will come down to Pitt’s defense stopping the very talented Jeff Sims, the freshman QB for GaTech who can hurt you both from the air and on the ground. The defensive front of Habakuk Baladonaldo, Calijah Kancey, Keyshon Camp, and Deslin Alexandre will need to get low and be disruptive all day against the Yellow Jacket offensive line.<\/p>\n Expect a physical game between these two teams with Kenny Pickett and the offense being too much for Georgia Tech to handle. Jordan Addison is primed for another big day, as is tight end Lucas Krull. Pitt defense makes amends for the bad day a few weeks ago and keeps Sims under wraps… Pitt 38 Georgia Tech 27<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Overall Record:\u00a0<\/strong>3-1 | ACC Record:<\/strong> 0-0 | Rank:<\/strong> n\/a<\/p>\n Previous Game:\u00a0<\/strong>Pitt 77 New Hampshire 7<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Head Coach:<\/strong> Pat Narduzzi (7th Season with Pitt)<\/p>\n Pitt Links<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strengths:\u00a0<\/strong>Strong passing game under the leadership of Kenny Pickett who has a bevy of weapons at his disposal, including WR Jordan Addison and TE Lucas Krull.<\/p>\n Weaknesses:\u00a0<\/strong>A consistent running game.<\/p>\n Offensive Stats<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Starting Quarterback: <\/strong>Kenny Pickett | Back-ups: Nick Patti and Davis Beville.<\/p>\n Starting Running Back: <\/strong>Israel Abanikanda | Back-ups: Vincent Davis, Rodney Hammond, A.J. Davis, Todd Sibley, and Daniel Carter.<\/p>\n Wide Receivers: <\/strong>(Outside) Taysir Mack, Shocky Jacques-Louis , Jared Wayne, Melquise Stovall and Tre Tipton.<\/p>\n (Slot) Jordan Addison and Jaylon Barden.<\/p>\n Tight Ends: <\/strong>Lucas Krull and Gavin Bartholomew.<\/p>\n Placekicker:\u00a0<\/strong>Sam Scarton<\/p>\n Extra Points: 23-25<\/p>\n Field Goals:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Left Tackle:<\/strong> Carter Warren<\/p>\n Left Guard:<\/strong> Marcus Minor<\/p>\n Center:<\/strong> Owen Drexel<\/p>\n Right Guard:<\/strong> Jake Kradel<\/p>\n Right Tackle:<\/strong> Gabe Houy<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strengths:<\/strong> Superb pass rush.<\/p>\n Weaknesses:<\/strong> Aggressive defense sometimes get caught in the attack, giving up long plays through the air as corners are usually in one on one coverage. Sloppy tackling at times. Need to clamp down on ensuing drives after an offensive touchdown is scored.<\/p>\n Defensive Stats<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Defensive Line: <\/strong>Habakuk Baladonaldo, Calijah Kancey, Keyshon Camp, and Deslin Alexandre.<\/p>\n Linebackers:\u00a0<\/strong>Phil Campbell III, Wendall Davis\/SirVocea Dennis, and Cam Bright.<\/p>\n Secondary: <\/strong>Marquis Williams, Brandon Hill, Erick Hallett II\/Rashad Battle, and Damarri Mathis.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Punter:<\/strong> Kirk Christodoulou<\/p>\n Kickoff Returners: <\/strong>Jaylon Barden and Isreal Abanikanda<\/p>\n Punt Returner: <\/strong>Jaylon Barden and Melquise Stovall<\/p>\n Scouting report: <\/strong>Jaylon Barden is the primary kick returner and is averaging 20.8 yards per return. Melquise Stoval has averaged 0.4 yards per punt return, so some improvement is drastically needed in that area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Overall Record:\u00a0<\/strong>2-2 | ACC Record:<\/strong> 1-1 | Rank:<\/strong> n\/a<\/p>\n Previous Game:\u00a0<\/strong>Georgia Tech 45 North Carolina 22<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Head Coach:<\/strong> Geoff Collins (3rd Season with Georgia Tech)<\/p>\n Links<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strengths: <\/strong>Rush attack… Jeff Sims is a dual threat at QB. GaTech has a trio of RB’s that all contribute during the game.<\/p>\n Weaknesses:\u00a0<\/strong>GT quarterbacks have been sacked 12 times.<\/p>\n Offensive Stats<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Starting Quarterback: <\/strong>Jeff Sims | Back-up: Jordan Yates<\/p>\n Running Backs: <\/strong>Jahmyr Gibbs, Jordan Mason and Dontae Smith<\/p>\n Wide Receivers:\u00a0<\/strong>Kyric McGowan, Malachi Carter, Kalani Norris, Peje Harris, Adonicas Sanders, and Nate McCollum<\/p>\n Tight Ends:\u00a0<\/strong>Dylan Deveney and Dylan Leonard<\/p>\n Kicker:\u00a0<\/strong>Brent Cimaglia<\/p>\n Extra Points: 13-13<\/p>\n Field Goals: 6-6<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strengths:\u00a0<\/strong>The Yellow Jackets defense got to UNC QB Sam Howell eight times last week.<\/p>\n Weaknesses:\u00a0<\/strong>The right quarterback can expose this secondary.<\/p>\n Defensive Stats<\/strong><\/p>\n Scouting report:\u00a0<\/strong>Linebacker Quez Jackson leads the team with 34 tackles and one sack. He has also recovered two fumbles. The Yellow Jackets have caused eight turnovers so far, six on the ground. LB Charlie Thomas has a team leading two and a half sacks, 32 tackles and has both of the team’s interceptions. Juanyeh Thomas leads the secondary with 23 tackles.<\/p>\n Kyle Kennard has chipped in two sacks on the defensive line.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pitt Panthers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets<\/strong><\/p>\n Venue:<\/strong> Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA.<\/p>\n Tickets: <\/strong>Pitt Panthers Ticket Office<\/a><\/p>\n Game-time:\u00a0<\/strong>Saturday, October 2nd at 12:00 pm<\/p>\n TV:<\/strong> ACC Network<\/p>\n Local Radio:<\/strong> Pittsburgh- 93.7 The Fan<\/p>\n Alternate Broadcasts:<\/strong><\/p>\n Weather at Kickoff:<\/strong> 77 with partly cloudy skies. Winds out of the south at 5 MPH.<\/p>\n ACC Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Series Began:<\/strong> 1918<\/p>\n Overall Record:\u00a0<\/strong>10-5<\/p>\n ACC Series: <\/strong>5-3<\/p>\n Streak:<\/strong> Pitt has won the last three games.<\/p>\n Last Game: <\/strong>Dec. 10, 2020 (Pitt 34, Georgia Tech 20)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did You Know?*\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nPanthers defense faces tough test in Atlanta<\/h1>\n
Pitt’s Game Plan for Success<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Prediction<\/b><\/h1>\n
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Scouting at the Pitt Panthers<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Pitt Offense (Pro Style)<\/h1>\n
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Offensive Line<\/h3>\n
Pitt Defense (Base 4-3)<\/h1>\n
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Pitt Special Teams<\/h1>\n
Scouting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Georgia Tech Offense (Pro spread)<\/h1>\n
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Georgia Tech Defense (4-2-5)<\/h1>\n
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Game Day Information<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Pitt vs Georgia Tech History<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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