Pitt defense shows it’s here for good

For one play Saturday, it looked like Navy’s offense was primed to give the Pitt defense a… For one play Saturday, it looked like Navy’s offense was primed to give the Pitt defense a relapse of nautical nightmares from last year’s 48-45 loss. Midshipmen running back Shun White took a pitch from quarterback Jarod Bryant and scampered 40 yards for an easy touchdown on Navy’s first drive. At that moment, the Pitt defense could have sulked, faltered and drowned in Navy’s patented triple-option rushing attack, much like the year before. Instead, the Panthers got tough. They got stronger. And they hit Navy like a cannon, at rapid speed and with continuous, devastating ferocity. When all was said and done, Pitt limited Navy to 194 rushing yards, a season-worst for the Midshipmen, on 47 attempts. Navy only passed the ball eight times. Pitt’s 42-21 triumph in front of the largest crowd in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium’s history provided revenge for the squad after last year’s debacle and also staked its claim as the team to beat in the Big East. Pitt’s offense totaled 499 yards, thanks to LeSean McCoy’s 156 rushing yards and Jonathan Baldwin’s first 100-yard receiving game. But that was expected against an undersized Navy defense. The real story was the Panthers’ defense. Dave Wannstedt’s unit gave up 331 yards on the ground to Navy last year. But defensive coordinator Phil Bennett had the defense prepared to eliminate the chance of a sequel. ‘I thought our defensive coaches had a real sound scheme,’ said Wannstedt. ‘I think we kept it simple, and we let some guys make plays and use the athletic ability they have.’ Senior middle linebacker Scott McKillop definitely wanted no part of another defeat to Navy. ‘It was embarrassing,’ said McKillop of last year’s loss. ‘They came into our house on national television and punched us in the mouth. We looked forward to this game this year, we had two weeks to prepare for it, and hats off to Coach Bennett and Coach Wannstedt with the game plan.’ Navy is a good football team with an impressive offensive scheme. Coming into Saturday’s contest, the Midshipmen were second nationally in rushing offense, with 313.5 yards per game, and they averaged 29.2 points per game. In fact, the Panthers nearly held Navy to single digits. One touchdown came after Bill Stull’s pass was intercepted by Rashawn King and returned 91 yards to the Pitt 8-yard line. The other score came in a last-gasp drive when Pitt’s backups were on the field. So, Navy won one play. The Panthers emerged on top for the rest. With this week’s news that outside linebacker Shane Murray will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, Navy tried to attack his replacement, Greg Williams, and fellow outside linebacker Austin Ransom. But both played exceptionally against the Midshipmen. Teamed with McKillop, the linebackers closed off outside holes and tackled Navy’s runners before they could get a full head of speed. ‘[Williams] and Austin will have sore knees tomorrow,’ said Wannstedt. ‘They were chopped. [Navy] got after them pretty good. Those guys did a nice job.’ The line stepped up as well. Without stalwart Mick Williams, Gus Mustakas had his best game of the season, making four stops and clogging the middle so Navy fullback Eric Kettani never found room on dive plays. Ends Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus wreaked havoc as well. Pitt recorded only one sack ‘- Navy only passed eight times, remember ‘- but Sheard’s hit on Navy quarterback Jarod Bryant jarred the ball loose. Pitt recovered, and three plays later, a LaRod Stephens-Howling touchdown run put it ahead, 21-7. ‘ At 5-1, the meat of Pitt’s schedule lies ahead. Five Big East games and a showdown at Notre Dame loom. Right now, the offenses of Pitt’s conference opponents aren’t exactly the most potent. Injuries ravaged Connecticut and Cincinnati at quarterback. Rutgers and Louisville have been inconsistent. And West Virginia looks a shade of its former self with Rich Rodriguez struggling at Michigan. Whether Pitt’s offense continues to pour on the points, the defense proved it’s here for the long run. At the finish line, a BCS game just might be the grand prize.