Pitt linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator Rob Harley is in his sixth season with Pitt. In that time he's seen several groups of players come and go, but sees this year's group as a different chance to play together and give an advantage the program hasn't had during his tenure.
"This is a whole different group," Harley said Wednesday via Zoom to Pittsburgh media. "We had guys that were dealing with three different systems. We've had some great defenses and they did a great job, but this is a group that knows nothing but our system. When you have that it's a little apples and oranges to compare it to the old guys, but they only know are system. So now it's fast checks and those guys are right together and mind-melding and a lot of things is what you want. That's why we scheme it up so these guys can play it together and they don't have hiccups because you made it too hard for them."
Pitt's linebackers were on full display in the team's 55-0 in its opener over Austin Peay. The team only allowed one rushing yard and 137 passing yards in the shutout. The linebackers saw starting outside linebackers Phil Campbell III make a tackle and Cam Bright with two, including half a sack. But they also saw Wendell Davis' debut as the starting Mike linebacker, commanding the defense and making three tackles.
"I thought he did a great job," Harley said of Davis' performance. "Those top six guys did a heck of a job and it was a good first step. It's really [about] consistency. Especially him personally with his consistent effort, leadership and guidance he provides for the defense. That's really what the Mike's about. The leadership quarterback role that gets everyone lined up. He was consistent every day and never wavered."
Chase Pine was who I projected to be the starter for this season as a senior with plenty experience in the program, but Davis, a sophomore, won out because of his command of the defense every day in practice throughout camp. Harley made it clear that the competition is ongoing, as the complications that come with Mike linebacker responsibilities will change week to week.
"It was a great competition," Harley said. "And remains a competition because those Mike spots tweak every week with new game plans and it's about who gets it down the best. He's done a really nice job and Chase Pine has done a really nice job as well."
It's also not the only competition, as Harley noted that there are outside linebackers fighting for playing time as well. One of those linebackers is SirVocea Dennis, a sophomore who had three tackles against Austin Peay.
"SirVocea is a really intelligent player," Harley said. "He has a little bit of an older mind. He's intelligent, he can understand those things when we scheme up some people and that lends itself. He's a heck of an athlete with great speed and great change of direction which is what you need obviously in run and blitz passes. He lends himself to that package and some of the skillsets he has. He's work really hard at it."
That helped him be featured more in Pitt's defense, even with the first team, on third downs. That explosiveness was on display as Pitt held Austin Peay to convert 4-16 third down plays.
"SirVocea is on our third down unit," Harley said. "He's really stepped up and I've been impressed in his growth from year one to year two. I think we've got a heck of a room which continues to get better and push each other, which is awesome."
What might be most awesome for Harley's linebackers the consistency across the board. There's consistency in him being the same linebacker coach for six seasons, as well as having Pat Narduzzi in his sixth season and the entire coaching staff being the same.
"Continuity, obviously, in any business is awesome," Harley said about having the same exact coaching staff from last year. "You've got so much time wrapped up in this thing and now you're able to speak without speaking to each other. It's a nod here, a nod there, and the kids understand what everybody is looking for. It's not a new random coach and not some new expectations set. Like the Steelers say, 'the standard is the standard.' The standard is set by every coach. They know what to expect and we know what to expect and I know what coach Narduzzi knows what to expect. I think there's something very comfortable for us as a staff and with our players."
That chemistry had led to not just the coaches communicating better, but the players themselves. Dennis explained via Zoom on Wednesday how that's helped his growth in Pitt's defense by talking to linebackers experienced and new.
"I talk with all the linebackers," Dennis said when asked who he's close with in the linebacker room. "I try to gain knowledge being a sophomore with a lot of older guys in the room. Phil Campbell is a great guy who teaches me a lot. Cam Bright teaches me a lot as well. I try to pick Wendell's brain because he's the Mike and knows the whole defense. I try to get in his head every day to see where we are see all the different checks and be a student of the game when I'm in the room."
As Pitt prepares to face Syracuse, Harley knows the defense will be fighting to rack up more sacks after recording three against Austin Peay. Syracuse gave up seven sacks to North Carolina on Saturday in their 31-6 loss to the Tar Heels. And Harley remembers last season, when Pitt recorded nine sacks against Syracuse in their 27-20 victory over the Orangemen.
Harley talked about how the coaching staff plans out their usage of different linebackers and how they're not letting the team's blowout of Austin Peay get ahead of them.
"Partly it's in our structure, how we do and how hard we work to scheme up people," Harley said. "It's partly our scheme with the guys we've got in our room with their speed and quickness and who they are is really going to lend itself to trying to get that done. We've played one game. So I don't know if we know who we are yet. We've seen these guys at practice and know their potential and what they're capable of, but Syracuse week two is another opportunity for these guys to show what they can do. Week one, was week one. I know Cam got one in that first game and now it's on the other guys to show what they got. Their talent level and their attributes lend itself to getting after the quarterback, but consistency and execution is what it's going to be about."
Harley further elaborated how Pitt was approaching this week and noting there's no difference in how serious takes their opponents week to week.
"Obviously you want to know where they're coming from," Harley said. "But we don't preach it. Whether our guys look at it or not, I know my guys don't talk about it. Our goal is to get after the quarterback whether we're playing the Dallas Cowboys, the LA Rams or the Syracuse Orangemen. It doesn't matter to us. Our goal is to scheme them up, and get back there and to have the most sacks possible we can have in whatever game we're playing. This week it's Syracuse, and that's the name of the game when we're trying to get after them. Stop the run, sack the quarterback. Our guys aren't talking about it, we're just focusing on our jobs for week two."
Harley said as a recruiting coordinator, the aggressive style of defense Pitt plays had aided them to get access to different levels of athletes as Pitt puts out tape of hard-hitting defenses that sack the quarterback and put up highlights.
"There's no secret, when you win games and you play really good defense," Harley said. "In our case, you're going to have access to different types of dudes. Their attention has been caught by what we've done in the blitz game and obviously what we did throwing the ball on offense. It's your production that determines those things and we were lucky enough to have good enough production there. Every week we're trying to prove who we are and show we're trying to take the next step."
Dennis faces a unique opportunity to prove himself when Pitt plays Syracuse, his hometown team, this Saturday.
"It's very exciting," Dennis said. "Not just because it's Syracuse but because it's the next game. That's how I approach every week. I play the same every Saturday no matter who I go against."
Dennis grew up in Syracuse, Ny. where his mom raised him to be a fan of the local college team. After tearing his achilles tendon in high school, he wasn't sure he would be able to play football again and is excited that he's able to play against Syracuse.
"It's going to be surreal," Dennis said of the prospect of playing Saturday. "My senior year I didn't think I'd be playing at this level or playing football at all. But to be here, I'm very excited and to play my hometown team I'm just very excited. My body has improved. I went through a series of injuries my senior year. My last year I didn't play because of a series of injuries. Coming to college they helped my nutrition and get my body ready for the physicality of this game. I tore my achilles my senior year of high school. I was out for 3-4 months. I rushed back and played basketball my senior year even though I wasn't supposed to."
Dennis noted that the team's study has shown Syracuse's ability to play quickly on offense, led by quarterback Tommy DeVito, but that he feels prepared to face them.
"They play fast and they have a tempo team," Dennis said of Syracuse. "If I read my keys the coaches give me I'll be good and we'll be good to go."
Dennis also mentioned his time as a quarterback for Christian Brothers Academy in high school, noting how he was a scrambling quarterback.
"I was more of a scrambling quarterback," Dennis said of his high school playing days. "I liked to run around and do something things. They called me 'Houdini,' as a matter of fact, because I made some crazy plays at quarterback. I was an athlete at quarterback."
That perspective of being a scrambling quarterback in high school is something Dennis sees as an advantage to better understand Syracuse's quarterback DeVito this Saturday.
"Definitely," Dennis said when asked if his own experience helps in his planning for Syracuse. "Those types of quarterbacks always try to make a play and see downfield. But there's a little edge to it that you can get under their skin. If the line isn't blocking too well and they have to escape every 2-3 times a drive they get tired of it. I know how to get under their skin a little bit."