Football: Pitt’s offensive line looks to reach potential in 2013

Pitt head coach Paul Chryst identified winning the line of scrimmage as an aspect of football that would lead to success. That theory held true as FSU controlled the line of scrimmage for most of its 41-13 victory on Labor Day.

But the man playing behind the line of scrimmage and commanding Pitt’s offense that day was impressed with the way his offensive line protected him. 

“I think our offensive line did a great job,” said Tom Savage, Pitt’s starting quarterback. “Our tight ends, running backs did a phenomenal job of picking up blitzers.”

Savage took the blame instead — in direct contrast to what a certain former three-year starting quarterback would say — for the two sacks and two interceptions he threw against the Seminoles. 

“I take full responsibility,” Savage said. “I gotta get the ball out quicker so I don’t have to take those sacks.”

Now, over a week later, the offensive line looks to build off that first performance and continue to improve after being one of few bright spots in Pitt’s ACC opener. 

Redshirt junior guard Matt Rotheram has seen a lot now in his fourth year at Pitt, after he was recruited to play for Dave Wannstedt, played under Todd Graham and is now a bona fide starter in his second year under Chryst. For Rotheram, the takeaway from the Florida State game was not as much about what was, but what could be. 

“I just think our potential is amazing,” Rotheram said. “This is the most potential I’ve seen on an offensive line I’ve played on here, and it’s exciting.”

That potential was on full display on the first drive of the game, when the Panthers scored on a four-yard pass from Savage to Manasseh Garner to cap a nine-play, 80-yard drive. 

“There’s times in the Florida State game when we were out there and I could feel it. I could feel that we’re going to be a good team, I could feel it on the first drive,” Rotheram said. “I was like, ‘Wow, if we can put it together like this, move the ball, run the ball, protect the quarterback, it could really be special.’”

What happened on that first drive was special, as Pitt opened a 7-0 lead on the nation’s No. 11-ranked team. 

But as the game moved on, the Seminoles won out with a run that saw them score 28 unanswered points. On the offensive line, Rotheram attributed a great deal of Florida State’s defensive success to lapses on the Panthers’ behalf. 

“One time it’s a mental error, one time it’s a guy getting beat,” Rotheram said. “Those little miscommunications make it tough on guys. Knowing when you have help, who’s working with you, those little things make it a lot worse than it was.”

Flanking the offensive line is a trio of talented tight ends that saw significant playing time last week. Garner, J.P. Holtz and even true freshman Scott Orndoff will play an integral role in Pitt’s offense this season. 

And an integral part of that role is blocking. 

“The tight end position requires a lot of blocking,” Garner said. “So that’s always going to be something that you can always get better at.” 

For Garner, who recorded Pitt’s first score as a member of the ACC, the building block for improvement is a fundamental one.

“I felt like we’ve gotta come out there physical, number one.” Garner said. “That’s just a part of the game.”

From there, Garner says the key to continue improving during 2013 is execution. 

“We’ve got to execute our blocks, we’ve got to make the reads and the adjustments that are required,” Garner said. “That’s just something I know we can continue to get better at throughout the season with the different defenses that we will face.”

Garner’s faith will have a chance to improve itself, as will the desire of Rotheram, who couldn’t have picked a better way to start 2013 when it comes to the matchup of Pitt’s offensive line against Florida State’s defensive line. 

“We want to play good players. I want to be recognized as one of the best guards in the country, so I want to play the best defensive line in the country,” Rotheram said. “I think all of our guys, they want everybody’s best shot, too. They want to play good players.”

When it comes to giving other teams their best shot, the Panthers should refer heavily to their first drive of 2013 as a good place to start.

“If we do our job, if we do our part and everybody does their assignments, it should go the way it did the first drive,” Garner said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be.”