A couple of teams at completely difference
ends of the Big East spectrum clash at Heinz Field this weekend, as the
Pittsburgh Panthers host the Syracuse Orange.
The Orange have had little success in the Big East over the last few years, so
it's not all that big of a surprise to see the team start off 0-3 in 2009. To
Syracuse's credit, it has faced three of the better teams in the league and
that includes highly-ranked Cincinnati, which captured a 28-7 decision at the
Carrier Dome last weekend.
"Obviously, another disappointing loss," said head coach Doug Marrone, whose
Orange club fought valiantly against the undefeated Bearcats. "At the end of
the day, we're not a good enough football team to not execute at a very high
level and stay in a game or be able to win a game against the No. 5 team in
the country."
The loss was the third in four games for the Orange, who finished their
lengthy six-game homestand an even 3-3. Syracuse is now set to play just its
second road game of the campaign and first since losing at nationally-ranked
Penn State (28-7) all the way back on September 12th.
For Pitt, it is coming off a much needed bye after opening the season with
eight straight weeks of football. The Panthers continue to climb the rankings,
as they have won seven of their initial eight games for the first time since
1982. Included in those victories is a 41-14 trouncing of South Florida in
the team's most recent outing on October 24th.
"It was a great team win today," said head coach Dave Wannstedt of the team's
rout of USF. "We constantly talk about trying to improve every week and
playing as a team. I don't know how it could have come together any better
than what happened today."
The Panthers have won their last four games, all against league foes, since
suffering a 38-31 setback at NC State, and they are tied with Cincinnati for
the top spot in the Big East standings. Pitt however, hasn't defeated a ranked
team yet this year, but it will get its chances to do so down the stretch,
finishing the season with games against Notre Dame, West Virginia and
Cincinnati.
Pitt and Syracuse have clashed every year since 1955, with the Panthers
clinging to a narrow 31-30-3 lead in the all-time series. The Panthers have
taken six of the past seven encounters from the Orange, including a 34-24
decision at the Carrier Dome last season.
Despite being limited to just 283 total yards, Syracuse had its chances
against Cincinnati last weekend, but committed a pair of red-zone turnovers
that proved costly.
"You have to keep hammering it home and coaching it," said coach Marrone about
ball security in the red zone. "I would say that without a doubt, we never
take that for granted, but those are things we have to do."
The Orange doesn't posses an offense that can overcome turnovers, especially
in the red zone, as the unit is averaging just 312.6 ypg, with 20 miscues on
the season.
Quarterback Greg Paulus has been guilty of some major mistakes in scoring
situations this season and he was picked in the end zone against Cincinnati.
He finished the game 12-of-17 for 85 yards and a score, while backup Ryan
Nassie showed some potential with 97 yards on 7-of-10 throws. Paulus, a former
Duke basketball standout, is still the starting quarterback, but he needs to
cut down on the mistakes, throwing 11 picks against just 10 touchdowns.
To make matters worse for Paulus and the rest of the offense, star wideout
Mike Williams quit the team on Monday. He was suspended against Akron for
violating team rules, but was still among the top receivers in the Big East
with 746 yards in seven games. The 6-2 junior, who had four catches last
weekend, compiled 133 receptions for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns in three
season with the Orange.
"There's no one individual, including myself, that is more important than the
program," Marrone said Monday. "The program is heading forward."
Facing an elite offense in Cincinnati, the Orange stepped up its game on
defense, although the 28 points and 422 total yards it surrendered might not
say so. Still, Syracuse kept the Bearcats, who are averaging nearly 40 ppg, in
check and if not for a few spectacular plays by Cincinnati, the defense's
performance would have looked even better.
"Frustrating is a good word," said coach Marrone when about the missed
opportunities on defense. "It's not just me; I think the players get
frustrated also. I think we all do, I think our fans do. When we look at the
scheme and we stop a play and all of the sudden, someone makes a play. We'll
talk to our football team about finishing the play."
Syracuse has given up its fare share of big plays this season, allowing 363.1
total ypg, and most of them have come through the air, where the team is
permitting 274.2 ypg. Of the team's 28 touchdowns yielded, 19 have come via
the pass.
Derrell Smith has been the team's top producer on defense thus far and he
paces the Orange with 71 stops. He is also first in TFLs (10.0) and sacks (6.5
sacks) as well as forced fumbles (four).
The Panthers have been nothing short of solid on the offensive side of the
ball, as they are generating 179.5 ypg on the ground and 219.9 ypg through the
air. The offense has done a good job in protecting the ball as well as the
quarterback, committing just eight turnovers and surrendering only seven
sacks.
The solid protection has helped quarterback Bill Stull flourish and he has
completed an efficient 67.3 percent of his pass attempts, with 16 touchdowns
and only four interceptions. Stull wasn't sacked last game and was terrific in
the win over USF, converting on 18-of-25 throws for 245 yards and a pair of
scores.
"Our offensive line was just unbelievable," said coach Wannstedt. "To protect
Bill Stull like they did throughout the game might have been the difference."
With plenty of time to throw the ball, Stull picked apart USF's defense and
that led to a big game for Jonathan Baldwin, who pulled in six passes for 144
yards and score. Tight end Dorin Dickerson also enjoyed a solid day, catching
five balls for 58 yards and a touchdown. Baldwin is now averaging a healthy
20.4 yards per catch this season, giving Stull a deep threat, while Dickerson
has been a reliable target in the red zone, notching a team-best nine
touchdown catches.
While the aerial attack has certainly come along, it is the ground game that
has received a lot of attention thanks to the emergence of Dion Lewis. A
possible Heisman Trophy candidate, Lewis is in the midst of a remarkable
freshman campaign that has seen him rush for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns
behind a 5.6 yard per carry average. He has a good combination of speed and
size and went for 111 yards and a pair of scores last game versus USF.
Defensively, Pitt has been steady this season and is limiting foes to 18.0 ppg
and 314.1 total ypg. The unit has been especially tough against the run,
allowing only 2.9 yards per carry to opponents, and has also excelled in
bringing down quarterbacks, racking up 33 sacks.
Last game, the Panthers' defense turned in a stout performance, as they held
USF to just 212 total yards and only 11 first downs. The defense also came up
with three interceptions and four sacks, while limiting USF to just a 3-of-11
effort on third-down conversions.
Mick Williams and Greg Romeus have been two big factors in the unit's success
to get into the backfield this season and they have combined for 19.5 TFLs and
10 sacks. Expect them to bring the pressure all game long this weekend.
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