Tim Benz: Steelers, Pitt starting successful seasons on similar tracks
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There are many parallels with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers to start their 2020 seasons.
• Both are 3-0.
• Both have a tremendous pass rush.
• Both managed to win a tight game at halftime at Heinz Field last weekend.
And both are chasing the perception that they are still a step behind two powerhouse teams in their respective conferences.
In the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs are the runaway favorites to play in the AFC Championship game. The Steelers are battling a swath of teams such as the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots to elevate into that stratosphere.
In college football, the ACC is expected to be dominated by Clemson and Notre Dame. The 24th-ranked Panthers want to be viewed as at least the third-best team after those perennial blue bloods along with the likes of Miami, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.
The difference is perception matters in college football when it comes to rankings, bowl berths and potentially the college football playoffs. In the NFL, winning and losing takes care of all of that. The record matters. Opinion doesn’t.
Pitt can help itself in that regard. They do play Miami (Oct. 17) and Va. Tech (Nov. 21). And no law says they can’t upset the Fighting Irish (Oct.24) and Clemson (Nov. 28). Some combination of those victories will certainly give the program the national traction it is so desperately craving.
Oh, and — for once — avoid that “typical bad Pitt loss” somewhere along the way to counteract any progress.
In this pandemic-addled 2020 season, the Panthers appear to be gaining that nationwide attention more quickly than they might if a full slate of teams happened to be playing.
Wes Durham is calling Pitt’s game against N.C. State Saturday for the ACC Network (12 p.m., Heinz Field). And, after Pitt beat Louisville 23-20 last week, he says Pat Narduzzi’s team belongs in that conversation about being atop the second tier of ACC teams.
“I believe Pittsburgh is in that cluster of teams,” Durham said. “The question is how big is the cluster?
“Look at them on paper. Look at the experience level. Look at the way things set up from a program standpoint. You think, ‘OK. Maybe this is our chance.’ And once they get there, they are going to be competitive year in and year out.”
The biggest reason that Pitt is threatening to crack into the ACC penthouse is because of an outstanding defense. Consider these national rankings.
• Second in total defense (177.0 yards per game)
• Second in rushing defense (56.0 yards per game)
• Third in passing defense (121.0 yards per game)
• Sixth in scoring defense (10.0 points per game)
Narduzzi’s team has been particularly good in the second halves of games. Louisville got a third-quarter field goal last Saturday. That was the only score allowed after halftime so far this season.
Most of that success is due to the Panthers’ heralded pass rush. It has produced 17 sacks through three games. Defensive ends Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver have 3.5 each.
Imagine what that group would look like if Jaylen Twyman hadn’t opted out before the season began because of the coronavirus uncertainty surrounding college football.
Durham says he’s spoken with friends who do radio in the Big Ten. They tell him that Narduzzi’s defense is starting to look like the defenses he had when he was the coordinator at Michigan State.
Durham asked Narduzzi about the legitimacy of that comparison.
“He said, ‘Well, that’s a nice compliment. But, in some respects, our front may be better here.’ And he’s right,” Durham said.
Again like the Steelers, Pitt needs to start beating top-notch competition. The Steelers’ foes are a combined 0-9. Pitt’s are 2-7.
In our Thursday podcast, Durham talks about what kind of threat N.C. State (1-1) may pose. We get into the evolution of the Panthers offense as well. And we discuss what ingredients may need to come along the most on Pitt’s defense to make the rest of that unit legitimately comparable to Narduzzi’s former Michigan State teams.