Some may look at Pitt defensive coordinator Matt House and feel he did an admirable job in his first season as the Panthers’ DC.
However the true test will come in his second go around on the job as this year he will have to do it without Aaron Donald in uniform to anchor the defensive front.
With Donald in a Panthers’ uniform, the Pitt defense wasn’t bad as they finished ranked 34th in the nation in average yards allowed (367.5) a season ago. Donald’s accolades and accomplishments are well documented, but the biggest thing Pitt could be missing is the fact that he was a guy that teams really had to game plan around.
Without him Pitt doesn’t have that guy.
However House and the rest of the Pitt coaching staff just won’t be without Donald in 2014, but without six other starters as well.
Gone are Bryan Murphy (6.5 sacks), Tyrone Ezell, Shane Gordon, Ejuan Price, Jason Hendricks and K’Waun Williams. Throw in the fact that Titus Howard, who started two games last year and was penciled in as a starter this season at cornerback and House has a ton of work to do with what will amount to a very inexperienced defense.
With Price out for the season, Pitt doesn’t have the depth on the defensive line that House was accustomed to having last season.
The Howard suspension also thins out an already thin secondary. Needless to say that depth could be a problem this season at many positions.
The good news is that while the Pitt defense was pretty good last season, the guys who won’t be around this year, other than Donald, had problems making the big play as the Panthers forced only 16 turnovers in 13 games last year.
That means or this Pitt defense to repeat or build off their success from last season, others are going to have to step up and make plays.
Plenty of new faces will have the opportunity to do so.
Someone will have to step up and fill Donald’s leadership void though.
The most notable candidates are linebacker Todd Thomas (23 starts) and cornerback Lafayette Pitts (25). Senior free safety Ray Vinopal was second on the team in tackles (83) and first in interceptions (three) last year and is also a guy that big things are expected from.
If linebacker Anthony Gonzalez can continue to grow as a player it would also be a huge lift for the Pitt defense.
At the end of the day the reserves are going to be key for this Pitt defense.
Guys who a year ago wouldn’t have been thought of as key contributors are going to have to play major roles on this defense for the Panthers to have any success in 2014.
If a couple of them step up and play productive football, this defense could end up surprising some people.
If they don’t, it could turn into a long season real quick.
House and the rest of the coaching staff are going to have to adjust to life without a superstar like Donald real quick.
Because make no mistake about it, this Pitt team may only go as far as their defense takes them.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
