Getting to know the Pitt Panthers

It’s Big Monday. No. 15 Notre Dame jumped up a spot in the Top 25 rankings this morning, but will face their toughest test of the season tonight when they take on the No. 2 Panther in Pittsburgh. You can watch the game on ESPN starting at 7 p.m.

The Irish are less than 48 hours removed from a gutsy, come-from-behind victory over Marquette, but the win means the team has little time to refuel for tonight’s big game. Irish senior Ben Hansbrough admitted to reporters that he was “dead” after leading the team with a career-high 28 points Saturday night. Notre Dame no doubt will be revved up for a chance to knock off Pitt on a huge national stage, but whether or not their legs will be fresh down the stretch is another question.

Pitt (19-1, 7-0) is as hot as any team in the country after destroying DePaul and knocking off then-undefeated Syracuse last week. The talented Panthers’ backcourt is as strong as any and senior center Gary McGhee is a big reason why they currently lead the nation in rebounding. While surviving a Big East schedule unscathed is pretty much impossible, it isn’t too likely Pitt’s run will end tonight — especially since Notre Dame has yet to win a game on the road this season. But let’s see what the Irish are up against… (more…)

Notre Dame winning with defense

With 12 minutes remaining in Notre Dame’s 23-17 win over Pittsburgh, Irish fans caught a fleeting glance of what many people imagine Brian Kelly’s offense will eventually look like.

Dayne Crist and the offense marched 69 yards on 9 quick plays before Pitt had a chance to catch their breath. In less than two minutes of clock time, Crist threw four completions for over 50 yards and four first downs. He made quick decision to get the ball to his playmakers, who in turn made plays. Then the running game kicked in. Cierre Wood and Armando Allen combined to get the Irish into the red zone with another first down.

But then, they sputtered. A short pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph and a few incomplete passes later Notre Dame had to settle for another David Ruffer field goal. It was a great example of the “growing pains” we’ve heard so much about during the first six weeks of Coach Kelly’s regime. Several times Notre Dame had the ball with a great chance to put Saturday’s game out of reach but failed to do so. Luckily, Notre Dame’s defense is growing like a weed. (more…)

Notre Dame vs. Pitt Predictions

Pitt started the year at No. 15 in most preseason polls and one of the biggest potential challenges on Notre Dame’s schedule. Since then, they have lost a pair of games — to Utah in overtime to open the season and a 31-3 embarassment against Miami — and fallen out of the national spotlight.

Preseason voters were enamored with the hype surrounding sophomore Dion Lewis, who ran his way onto Heisman watch lists with an impressive 1,800 yards rushing during his freshman year. What they missed, and what Pitt now misses more than anyone, was the way fifth-year senior Bill Stull quietly lead the Panthers to a 9-3 season at quarterback. Stull combined with NFL prospect Jonathon Baldwin kept opposing defense from selling out on the run and gave Lewis a chance to get into the open field. With the inexperienced Tino Sunseri stepping in this season, the Panther’s one-dimensional attack has yet to impress.

Notre Dame proved last weekend that a team without a quarterback would be in trouble against the Irish defense. Not to say that Pitt’s offense will be as anemic as Boston College this season or even against Notre Dame, but without an effective passing game Dion Lewis becomes much less intimidating.

Lewis torched the Irish for 152 yards and a touchdown last year when Pitt handed Notre Dame its second straight loss in the series. Since then, Pitt has added the No. 3-ranked rusher in the league in Ray Graham, so they are certainly not a walk-over win coming into Notre Dame Stadium. With playmakers like Graham, Baldwin and Lewis and a Notre Dame’s defense still very susceptible to giving up the big one, this game is the most dangerous stumbling block on the Irish schedule this month. So, how will things turn out?

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Irish opponents look fallible on opening night

Three teams representing three of the toughest challenges on Notre Dame’s schedule opened their seasons last night — none looked like world-beaters. No. 14 USC pulled away from Hawaii for a 49-36 win and Utah upset No. 15 Pitt in an overtime thriller.

Despite being the only unranked team in the group, Utah looked the most impressive on Thursday night. The Utes went largely without the usual first game mistakes on their way to a very balanced offensive attack. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn finished with three TDs and a 146.3 passer rating.

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He also had help from running backs Eddie Wide and Matt Asiada. Asiada has the combination of quickness and power that has given the Notre Dame defense major problems in recent years. Finally, the Utes defense did a good job of taking advantage of a young offensive line and a rookie QB (sound familiar?). (more…)