Defense tries to plug holes at linebacker, cornerback

Pitt lost two players to the NFL draft – linebacker Gerald Hayes and cornerback Torrie Cox -… Pitt lost two players to the NFL draft – linebacker Gerald Hayes and cornerback Torrie Cox – from a defensive unit that finished No. 12 in the nation in total defense last season. But Pitt’s defensive unit looks to enjoy similar success in 2003, as it returns six starters from last year’s squad.

Defensive linemen

If Claude Harriott can stay healthy following an ankle injury in the spring, big things are expected this season from the fifth-year defensive end.

Harriott, a preseason candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Ted Hendricks Award and the Rotary Lombardi Award, led the Panthers last season with 9.5 sacks and 21 tackles for losses. In addition, Harriott’s ability to create turnovers enabled him to finish second in the nation in forced fumbles, with seven.

“[The hype] is very flattering,” Harriott said. “I enjoy it, and my family enjoys it. But you can’t believe everything you read.”

Harriott will line up next to some familiar faces this season; both of Pitt’s starting interior linemen are back for 2003. Senior nose tackle Vince Crochunis added 71 tackles and 2.5 sacks to his team-leading three fumble recoveries last season. The six-foot-two-inch, 295-pound Dan Stephens is a third-year starter for the Panthers at defensive tackle. His 52 tackles and ability to fill gaps helped the Panthers to finish No. 24 against the run in 2002.

“Our defensive front is pretty strong, and it’s exciting to know that you’re going to be playing next to the guy you did last year,” Harriott said.

The only newcomer to the Panthers’ starting front four this season is six-foot-four-inch, 275-pound junior Thomas Smith. Smith battled sophomore Andy Aleman for the job of starting rush end, and, after an impressive spring and solid camp, Smith earned it. Aleman, a six-foot-four-inch, 260-pounder who lettered as a true freshman, will rotate in to the rush end spot in 2003.

Linebackers

At the outset of camp, Pitt head football coach Walt Harris said, “I’m looking forward to watching the defense play with the attitude and the mentality of flying to the football that we’ve had in the past.”

That responsibility will fall largely on the shoulders of some inexperienced linebackers in 2003.

Pitt’s linebacking corps is, without question, its largest defensive question mark this season. In losing Hayes and “Will” – or weakside – linebacker Brian Beinecke to graduation, the Panthers lost a combined 212 tackles, four sacks, 28 tackles for losses and four interceptions.

Moving over from “Sam” – or strongside – linebacker to replace Hayes in the middle will be fifth-year senior Lewis Moore. The six-foot-two-inch, 245-pound Moore is the lone returning starting linebacker for the Panthers, and his 94 tackles ranked third on the team last season. Senior Malcolm Postell will assume the “Will” linebacker duties. The six-foot-one-inch, 230-pound Postell backed up Beinecke last season after converting from running back. He played all 13 games last season and has good speed, but is untested as a starter.

The biggest question mark for the Panthers at linebacker this season will be Brian Bennett, who just won the “Sam” starting spot last week.

The redshirt freshman will make his regular-season debut for the Panthers as a starter against Kent State next weekend. Bennett, who is a native of Delanco, N.J., played tackle in high school, but at six feet, 230 pounds, moved to linebacker when he was recruited by Pitt.

Pressing Bennett hard as a backup will be freshman H.B. Blades, who was impressive in his debut camp.

Secondary

“Safeties first” is the motto of Pitt’s defensive backfield this season.

Both strong safety Tyrone Gilliard and free safety Tez Morris return as second-year starters.

Gilliard, a five-foot-eleven-inch, 195-pound junior, had 49 tackles and six passes defended in his first year as a starter. The five-foot-ten-inch, 190-pound Morris, also a junior, was all over the field as a run stopper last season, accumulating 119 tackles to finish second on the team and picking two passes in 2002.

The cornerback position, however, is another story. With the exodus of Cox, Pitt’s most experienced cornerback is undoubtedly Shawntae Spencer. The six-foot-two-inch senior has been an on-again, off-again starter over the past two seasons, but is the Panthers’ established starter on the left side this year. His 11 passes defended and three picks led the team last season.

The right side of the field will be covered in tandem this year, but the leading candidate for starter at the moment is sophomore Bernard Lay.

Lay saw limited action last season, and senior William Ferguson, who was the favorite to start in the spring, may have lost the job in the wake of Lay’s impressive camp. Ferguson had 33 tackles and a sack last year, and has started eight career games. In order for the Panthers secondary to be successful in 2003, Lay and Ferguson will have to learn quickly on the job.