Trietley: Wannstedt fixed problems against FIU

It’s a fact that might as well be proven by science: when things go wrong, they go really… It’s a fact that might as well be proven by science: when things go wrong, they go really wrong.

Think about the criticisms of the Pitt football team through the first three games. Every position was a shell of its 2009 self.

Nothing went right.

Then, almost magically, Pitt emerged as a well-oiled machine against Florida International. What happened?

Before Saturday’s game, Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt slipped a fairly benign statement into his press conference: “Mike Cruz is probably 230-235 pounds right now.”

When Cruz lines up alongside the much-scrutinized offensive line with his jersey characteristically untucked, he looks more like a slot receiver than a tight end. He and his five career receptions are an afterthought to fans.

Games are won in the trenches, though, and Wannstedt pointed out that last year’s Nate Byham had a full 30 pounds and two years in the weight room on Cruz. He blocked most opponents’ defensive ends. Cruz, through no fault of his own, hasn’t reached that level yet.

Without Byham — or all-around tank Dorin Dickerson — the offensive line dealt with the brunt of the opposition’s front seven.

With a veteran tight end, maybe the line’s inexperience wouldn’t have shown through against Miami. But there wasn’t one around, so it did.

And that meant Tino Sunseri had less time to go through his progressions and step into his throws. When Bill Stull struggled in 2008, defenses sacked him 25 times. Last year, both he and Sunseri had time behind an experienced line, and they threw for nearly identical passer ratings  —150.61 for Stull, 153.98 for Sunseri.

Without time in the pocket against Utah and Miami, Sunseri struggled just as Stull did when he was coping with a young line. When he did have room and time to step into a throw, his overexcitement — and possibly surprise — caused the pass to sail high.And that, of course, translated to fewer touches for Jon Baldwin.

And that meant defenses keyed on the run. Dion Lewis hasn’t changed since last year, but the number of defenders that line up against him in the box did.

And that’s meant more three-and-outs, less time on offense, worse field position and more time on the other side of the ball.

Defense wins championships, yes, but offense can make things a whole heck of a lot easier on defense. It isn’t even about the points — guys need a breather. When Cam Saddler muffed a punt against Miami, the defense had to trot back out onto the field, after it had stuffed Miami at their own 20 and thought it was done for a while. The Hurricanes came back out and drove down for a nail-in-the-coffin touchdown and a 21-point lead.

That also put strain on the special teams.

Special teams are a mental game. It’s why coaches ice kickers — twice — and why it takes a brave soul to return punts. It’s a lot easier to punt when it isn’t from your own three with less than a minute to go, and it’s a lot easier to field punts when you don’t feel you have to make something happen, as Saddler — with his team’s offense struggling — surely felt against Miami.

So let’s revisit the original question. What happened? While we were panicking after the Miami game — Tino’s struggling! What happened to the running game? Why was that guy so open!? — did something magical happen? Did five members of the offensive line mature overnight? Did a switch flick on in Sunseri’s head?

Not really. Wannstedt found the problem, and he fixed it. That problem wasn’t Sunseri, or the defense, or Saddler or anyone really. The problem was relying on Cruz to be Byham. So he put “a big guy,” as Wannstedt called Jordan Gibbs, beside him at right tackle.

And that meant the line wasn’t so strained. And that meant Sunseri had time to throw, and throw for a 2009-esque passer rating of 141.29. And that meant the running game could roll. With Lewis injured, Graham reaped the full 277-yard benefit of larger holes and better blocking. And that meant the defense wasn’t left out to dry.

When things go wrong, they go really wrong. When things go well, though, they go — well, you get the point.