It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Panthers are built around an elite pass rush under Pat Narduzzi. They sacked Tennessee football five times last year. This year is no different, as they had three sacks in their opener against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
However, while their front seven is the story, that is where the Vols would seem to have an advantage. Pitt gave up 190 yards on the ground in their opener, while UT had over 200 rushing yards against the Ball State Cardinals.
Still, Josh Heupel is prepared for them to be committed to stopping the run. Since his offensive system is based off of being able to establish the vertical rushing attack, that could pose a problem if the Vols don’t manage it.
“Their personnel is big, long, athletic and physical. I’m just talking front seven,” Heupel said in his Thursday press conference. “I don’t care what formation you’re in. They’re going to load the box on you. That can be pre-snap, but on the snap as well.”
Yes, despite, or maybe because of giving up nearly six yards a carry on the ground, Heupel is focused on how Pitt will stop the run. What’s clear to him, as he mentioned, is they will stack the box.
When that happens, there will be more pressure on Hendon Hooker to be able to deal with pressure on passing plays. Also, the receivers will have to win their one-on-one matchups on the outside.
“You are going to see a bunch of press-man out on the outside,” Heupel said. “You have to be able to get off their jam technique and then you have to be comfortable with the body in your hip or on top of you the entire day.”
The good news for Tennessee football is they have the personnel to win those matchups. Obviously, Cedric Tillman is a star. Ramel Keyton and Walker Merrill both made lots of plays in the opener. Jalin Hyatt is huge in the slot.
Most notably, though, is the fact that USC Trojans transfer Bru McCoy had three catches for 42 yards against Ball State, six days after being ruled eligible. Heupel will rely heavily on McCoy and Tillman to make the key plays.
“We trust both of those guys,” he said. “They are big, strong and physical and play that way as well. It will be different for those guys than it was last week.”
Of course, a lot of this falls on Hendon Hooker. If there is a lot of pressure and man coverage on the outside, then Hooker should be able to cash in given the weapons he has.
All offseason, Tennessee football fans campaigned for Hooker to be a dark-horse Heisman candidate. If he’s going to live up to that, this is the game he needs to have a big performance.
Last year, Pitt was the game in which Hooker saw the first real significant action for the Vols after Joe Milton III went down. Heupel said the passing game should help from the coaches better understanding their personnel now than they did then.
“I think the longer you are with a quarterback and the more understanding of what you are trying to do and why you are trying to attack a defense that way, there is more trust from him, too,” he said. “If there is something new that is going in the game plan, he can understand the reason why behind it and probably feels more comfortable that he necessarily would when he is young inside of your offense.”
Simply put, this game is made for Hooker. Heupel is anticipating Pitt to sell out to stop the run, and Hooker is supposed to be a Heisman candidate with elite weapons on the outside. If those things are true, Tennessee football should make them pay.
