Pitt vs. Clemson on ABC, huge chance in toughest challenge

A season that was once in free fall now has a chance to bounce back and affirm that the program is headed in the right direction with Pitt's game against Clemson 3:30 p.m. this Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

That chance got even bigger when it was announced Thursday that Pitt's game would be moved to a national audience to be aired on ABC:

This game isn't as much about winning to improve Pitt's record from 5-4 to 6-4, but to put on a performance in front of millions of viewers, and hundreds of potential recruits, that shows the program is one that more people will want to play for and watch.

Winning would be great, but even an inspired performance that shows Pitt can hang with a national powerhouse like Clemson would raise eyebrows. Especially during a season where a four-game losing streak tossed the Panthers out of national rankings after starting 3-0. 

Bouncing back with two convincing ACC wins after Pitt lost Paris Ford when he opted-out has stabilized things for Pat Narduzzi. Both those wins against Florida State and Virginia Tech featured Pitt doing what it does best this season, playing aggressive defense and attacking through the air.

In those two wins, the Panthers' defense racked up nine sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and forced five turnovers. And that included their 47-17 win last Saturday over Virginia Tech, when the team was missing 16 players due to COVID-19 and eight starters.

The passing game also was led by Kenny Pickett, who missed the team's only two losses that weren't by a single point against Miami and Notre Dame, but returned to lead the team in both wins. 

He threw for 614 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and a touchdown on a quarterback sneak across the two games. He also set up Nick Patti with two quarterback rushing touchdowns from the 1 against Florida State, when Pitt was opting to protect Pickett from contact as he was fresh off his injury.

But now the Panthers face No. 4 ranked Clemson after the Tigers traveled to Tallahassee last week only to be told hours before kickoff there would be no game. Clemson is 7-1, rested, and featuring the best player in the country in quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

"You're going to face the No. 4 team in the country in Clemson," Narduzzi said Monday in his only press availability during the week. "They’ve got weapons everywhere, on offense and defense, they have got depth, they're long, they're fast and obviously they're well coached. Dabo (Sweeney) does a great job, got a lot of respect for him and always have and how he operates his business down there."

Clemson ranks first in ACC offense, scoring 44.8 points per game and third in defense allowing just 22.6 points per game. The Tigers rank in the ACC's top three in passing yards per game, rushing yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed per game. 

"We know Trevor Lawrence and (Travis Etienne) on offense are explosive," Narduzzi continued. "Both offensively and defensively Clemson, they have got a top-20 offense and a top-20 defense. Those are two really, really good ratings when you're both. A lot of times you see a team that's got a top-rated offense and maybe not as good a defense and vice versa, but they're good at everything they do. We know they're a talent-rich football team."

Clemson was just as talented, and maybe even more so, in 2016 when Narduzzi's Panthers upset the Tigers 43-42 in Death Valley. But what helped the Panthers win that game was leaning on their strengths to the point that it leaned on challenging areas for Clemson, as Nathan Peterman threw five touchdowns and Pitt's defense forced three interceptions on Deshaun Watson.

But there are ways that Pitt can dig into the weaknesses of Clemson that could create big plays and highlight opportunities that make this game competitive and raise more eyebrows at the potential of Narduzzi's philosophies on both sides of the ball. 

For one, Pitt's MO is getting after the quarterback, and that's something that could rattle Lawrence. He's only been sacked eight times this season, and Pitt's ACC-best 47 sacks on the season would be the toughest challenge Lawrence has faced this season in that department. Pitt also leads the conference with 15 interceptions, while Lawrence has thrown only two interceptions.

But Pitt can pounce on an opportunity with Lawrence maybe needing to knock off some rust. Due to him testing positive for COVID-19 in October and Clemson not playing last week against Florida State, Lawrence hasn't thrown an in-game pass in over a month.

That could create an opportunity for Pitt to disrupt Lawrence's rhythm, however elite he might be. And Clemson's offensive line is susceptible to getting beat by athletic edge rushers. Here's the Tigers' left tackle Jackson Carman getting beat off the edge with a simple move that Lawrence never feels, leading to a sack:

Carman is the only offensive lineman Clemson has that projects as a prospect to be picked in the upper rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

He'll have to go up against the likes of Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver, who have been the catalysts of Pitt's defense all season. Jones' eight sacks is the second-most in the country, while Weaver's 5.5 ranks him 22nd. Both are extremely explosive off the snap and diversify their approaches with various pass rush moves to challenge offensive tackles to be technically sound.

And both are willing to chase down Lawrence if he wants to use his athleticism to try to escape. Here's Jones using a good rip move to gain leverage on his man against Boston College, then disengaging at the right moment to bring down Phil Jurkovec right when he tried to bail on the pocket:

That's been there all season for Pitt.

And that needs to be there Saturday for Narduzzi. Pitt's pass rush and dominance up front is what has led to each of the team's winning performances. Even if Clemson is able to put up scores to get their points in the 30s, Pitt can change the game with big plays that stem from pressure to get Lawrence to either take huge losses or throw errant passes that add to Pitt's 15 interception total.

Narduzzi and none of the players will ever admit their goal on Saturday is any lower than winning. And that's real, but from the outside looking in, Pitt showing the world that its style of play can put the Panthers in competition with the best football program over the past five years could inspire confidence.

And that's what finishing this season is really about at this point; putting together performances that help Narduzzi and his recruiters when they call future recruits via Zoom or visit them in a world that's survived COVID-19. Inspired performances on national television stick with parents and young high school athletes who watch on Saturdays. 

And Pitt isn't limited to showing off one of its strengths against Clemson, as Pickett has played very well for the Panthers in 2020. Despite missing two games, Pickett has totaled ten passing touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns with only four interceptions on the season.

And his willingness to air it out and trust his receivers has begun to open up opportunities for Pitt's rushing offense that has ben mostly non-existent this season. While throwing for 404 yards against Virginia Tech, Pickett backed off the Hokies' defense top open up opportunities for Pitt's rushing offense to have its second most yards of the season with 152.

Clemson's passing defense does rank second in the ACC, giving up just 204.9 passing yards per game. But its secondary is young and lacks any talent that will be rushed to the NFL this year with high picks. Cornerback Sheridan Jones and strong safety Lannden Sanders are sophomores, while junior cornerback Derion Kendrick and senior free safety Nolan Turner are the players that carry the secondary.

But the group is beatable with athletic receivers that can put on double-moves downfield. Here's Notre Dame's Ian Book firing deep to Avery Davis for 52 yards. The play works when Clemson leaves freshman backup safety Ray Thornton III in single coverage and he bites on Davis' double move:

Again, beatable.

Pitt has its own athletic receivers who can make people miss on long routes. D.J. Turner just recorded 15 catches, most in a game for the program since 1968, for 184 yards and a touchdown against Virginia Tech. And the team's leading receiver is Jordan Addison with 611 yards and three touchdowns on 52 receptions. 

Addison missed the game against Virginia Tech due to injury, but if he returns against Clemson it would give Pickett two athletic receivers who've proven dependable this season.

Here's Turner getting open downfield against Virginia Tech for a 64-yard bomb from Pickett. He combines his ability to get open with quick explosiveness when the ball's in his hands to finish the play:

But also look at the setup of the play with the offensive line. 

Like Pitt, Virginia Tech had made its defense look good this season with sacks, recording 32 on the season, second-most in the ACC. But the Hokies' four man rush was stoned by the Panthers' offensive line that only allowed two sacks on the day.

Clemson is tied with Virginia Tech for 32 sacks on the season, so Pitt's protection group coming up big for a second week to protect Pickett could give the Panthers' passing offense a chance to create big plays.

Pitt must go into this game swinging its best weapons in the face of Clemson. Whether or not the Panthers win, looking confident in the face of a more talented and better opponent could change the entire outlook on the season. And that outlook is what could help Pitt win more favor in the eyes of the recruits that could build the program in the near future.