Luck against the Irish?

Just last week, the Pitt football team was ranked in the top 20 in every major poll and… Just last week, the Pitt football team was ranked in the top 20 in every major poll and garnering national attention. It appeared that the Panthers were ready to continue their winning ways against Rutgers. Fast forward to today, where Pitt is coming off a 54-34 loss to the Scarlet Knights. The defense was badly exposed, starting center Robb Houser was knocked out for the season with a broken ankle, and the health of quarterback Bill Stull is in question after he suffered a concussion and a stinger. Yet the Panthers (5-2, 2-1 Big East) can turn it all around just as quickly when they travel to Notre Dame, Ind., this week to take on the Fighting Irish (5-2) at historic Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Pitt will have to improve on last week’s defensive performance in which Rutgers did not punt in the first half and Scarlet Knights quarterback Mike Teel torched the Panthers’ secondary for 361 yards and six touchdowns.’ Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt expects his team’s opponents, especially Notre Dame, to throw more often because of its struggles in the secondary. ‘Notre Dame may throw it 60 times this week,’ said Wannstedt. ‘We expect them to come out and throw the football. They came out against North Carolina and ran the first 15 plays without a running back on the field.’ Notre Dame seems to be more comfortable with the passing game this season as highly touted sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen continues to develop and learn coach Charlie Weis’ offense. Wannstedt recognizes the difference between Clausen’s struggles as a freshman and his performance this year. ‘[Clausen’s] getting better,’ said Wannstedt. ‘I think you can see the talent. He’s a better athlete than what I first thought.’ Clausen, a consensus blue-chip recruit, has 1,832 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, which is already more yards than he had last season and twice as many touchdowns. His primary targets this season have been sophomore Golden Tate and freshman stud Michael Floyd. Both have 31 receptions, with Tate accumulating 565 yards and Floyd achieving 533. To defend the Irish passing attack, the defense, especially the secondary, has to improve. Wannstedt explained that he might shake things up there this Saturday. ‘Ricky Gary played a little bit, as did Elijah Fields [against Rutgers],’ said Wannstedt. ‘I’m not going to stand up here and tell you that we’re going to have changes, but we are evaluating everyone on what we’re doing and who we’re dealing with.’ Wannstedt is also aware that Notre Dame has another element to its offense with the running game.’ ‘ ‘ ‘They ran it 50 times last week against Washington for 250 yards,’ said Wannstedt. ‘They are very capable of running the football.’ Notre Dame’s ground game is a running back-by-committee attack with sophomore Armando Allen, sophomore Robert Hughes and junior James Aldridge all rushing for more than 75 yards in at least one game this season. The Panthers might lean more on their own running game, because backup quarterback Pat Bostick might possibly take over this week for Stull, whose status for the game is still uncertain. Wannstedt said that Bostick made some nice throws last week and that he has seen the sophomore grow as a quarterback since he’s been at Pitt.’ ‘I think he’s definitely more prepared today than he was a year ago today,’ said Wannstedt. However, if the Panthers do elect to run the ball more this week, they have the weapons to do it. Halfback LeSean McCoy leads the way on offense this year with for Pitt, with LaRod Stephens-Howling stepping up when needed. McCoy continues to light up opposing teams and is currently tied for fourth in touchdowns in all of Division 1 with 14. In seven games, he’s rushed for 835 yards. Also, Wannstedt said that quarterback Greg Cross could see some more playing time this week. Cross has the potential as a scrambling quarterback to add another dimension to Pitt’s rushing attack. The Panthers might need all these dimensions of their offense to be in sync tomorrow if they want to come out of South Bend with a win, as the Fighting Irish are 5-0 at home this season.