Article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
True NFL inspired arrogance and one of the few reasons I think we have a shot in this game if the defense can show up at all. If that team comes out in base 4-3 and we don't do something to exploit that immediately we're fools. Put some speed in the slot and attack downfield. Get them out of that base set and then break out the running game.Although the Falcons use a spread offense, Wannstedt said it's likely the Panthers will open the game in their conventional base 4-3 defense.
Pitt's strength on defense is their front 7 (especially the DL). Why would they go away from their strength on defense just because the opponent plays a "different" offense?hammb wrote: True NFL inspired arrogance and one of the few reasons I think we have a shot in this game if the defense can show up at all. If that team comes out in base 4-3 and we don't do something to exploit that immediately we're fools. Put some speed in the slot and attack downfield. Get them out of that base set and then break out the running game.
That's like saying BG should go away from the spread because they might not be able to handle Pitt's defense up front and will need to keep more guys in protection.
Pre-capitulation-speak if ever I heard it. Wannstedt is prepared for defeat. Opportunity knocks."the first game is always one of a little uncertainty because of substitutions and special teams."
Coach Wannstedt says BGSU is well coached. So now we know. BG is well coached. It is settled before the season has even started."They're well-coached. If you look back at their history, they've opened up with big games on the road and won."
Defending our offensive scheme from a 4-3 base set is almost undoable. I'd have to rewatch films of our games against OSU in recent years to know for sure, but I cannot think of too many teams that even tried to sit in a 4-3 base against our offense...it's just not doable (and FWIW, we moved the ball pretty well against OSU both times we've played them in the past 5 years). The whole point of the offense is that it cannot be stopped by a base set, forcing defenses to go to Nickel/Dime where they might not be as comfortable. If our guys execute, we will move the ball on any team that is sticking in 4-3. As to protection, I don't generally worry about that, because the ball is out of our QB's hands very quickly...especially if you're trying to cover our WRs with LB's. If it does look as though we need to keep somebody back for protection you can bet we will do it, although doing so severely handicaps our offense's gameplan.ej6687 wrote:Pitt's strength on defense is their front 7 (especially the DL). Why would they go away from their strength on defense just because the opponent plays a "different" offense?hammb wrote: True NFL inspired arrogance and one of the few reasons I think we have a shot in this game if the defense can show up at all. If that team comes out in base 4-3 and we don't do something to exploit that immediately we're fools. Put some speed in the slot and attack downfield. Get them out of that base set and then break out the running game.
That's like saying BG should go away from the spread because they might not be able to handle Pitt's defense up front and will need to keep more guys in protection.
It's not being defeatist to realize that your base defense does not and can not match up to this offensive scheme; it's being arrogant to think that it can.
