Pitt Defense Focused on Run Against Western Michigan

The Pitt Panthers are preparing for a trip to Kalamazoo to play Western Michigan.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have revenge right in front of them this weekend. With a visit to Western Michigan scheduled for this weekend, the Panthers want to hit back against a team that blemished an otherwise brilliant season. They've talked all week about the extra motivation they have for this game and now it's time to back it up on the field. 

After Western Michigan racked up more than 500 yards of offense and 44 points in their win at Heinz Field a year ago, the Panther defense will be put under a microscope and they know it. Earlier in the week, safety Erick Hallett and defensive lineman David Green said the Broncos caught them "off guard" during the 2021 game and it's a point of pride to make sure they don't get burned like that again. 

Narduzzi said the top priority for Pitt will be stopping the run. He thinks an effective running game will open up the run-pass-option plays that the Broncos ran to perfection in 2021. 

“We have to stop the run," Narduzzi said. "That’ll be the number one key. Those RPOs — they can’t run the ball and then throw RPOs. ... They weren’t really running the ball early. They were just throwing it and I think it frustrated our kids to the point where then we didn’t stop the run. So we’re going to be sold out on stopping the run."

Stopping the run is a classic Narduzzi-ism that will be put to the test against the talented and balanced running back tandem of Sean Tyler and La'Darius Jefferson that Narduzzi likened to two Pitt rushers. One brings speed and the other, power. 

“One really fast guy and a bigger, 238-240-pound back," He said. "Kind of like a Vince Davis and Daniel Carter combination that we’ve seen in practice quite a bit in fall camp."

The Panther corners will also have to contend with Corey Crooms again, the same reciever who hung 161 yards and a touchdown on them in the first game of this series.

“He’s their go-to guy on almost every down," Narduzzi said.They’ve got other playmakers as well but he’s tall, he’s rangy and he catches the football. … They’re going to try to get the ball to him as much as they can.”

When Pitt has the ball, it will be like they're looking in a mirror. The Broncos finished fifth in sack percentage a year ago, right among the likes of Oklahoma State, Alabama, Wisconsin and Pitt. While their pressure rates through the first two weeks of the season have been inconsistent, Narduzzi expects a lot of pressure. 

“They brought 60% pressure against Michigan State and about 35% pressure against Ball State. I expect more in the 60s. ... But they’ll bring pressure on Saturday, that’s for sure. We expect it, we’ve prepared for it. They think they can get home and we expect a lot of pressure.”

There's been a lot of talk around this Pitt team about the embarassment they suffered last year, but it's not being done by Narduzzi. He thinks his team should already know what's at stake. It's about rebounding and getting revenge on this road trip. 

“It’s like I’ve said earlier — do I have to say anything?" Narduzzi said. "I think the game speaks for itself. So I don’t really need to say much.”

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