Virginia Tech is a challenge for Pitt as the Panthers return from their bye week after starting off their ACC schedule with a road win over Georgia Tech.
But winning in Blacksburg, Va. has been a serious challenge for Pat Narduzzi's Panthers in recent years as they haven't won there since 2015. They've lost twice there since, including a 28-0 shutout loss in 2019 the last time they visited. It's a competitive environment that Narduzzi doesn't underestimate, playing Virginia Tech's pump-up the crowd song, Enter Sandman by Metallica, through practices.
"No doubt about it," Narduzzi said Monday when asked about if his players are aware of the tough environment. "I think Notre Dame found out it's not an easy place to go play. It's loud. Fans are into it. They'll be pumped up. Again, it's not an easy place to play. We got a little used to that. Even Georgia Tech was a good crowd. Obviously Tennessee on the road. We've kind of gone through those issues already, so it's not going to be new to us."
Kenny Pickett saw his first considerable amount of snaps at quarterback for Pitt against Virginia Tech back in 2017, but Narduzzi has taken several steps to make sure all of his players understand the stadium they'll enter to play the Hokies Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
"You see some teams on TV where they struggle with the noise," Narduzzi continued. "The crowd, jump off-sides on offense, all that stuff. We didn't do that down in Tennessee. Don't expect to do it in Blacksburg this weekend. We’re well-coached. Just got to go out and execute and make plays."
But on top of the noise, Narduzzi also knows that the Panthers' defense will be on alert for Virginia Tech's offense that bases itself in the run, but also the run-pass option.
"They love to run the football," Narduzzi said of Virginia Tech. "They love to run it against us as well, especially when we get into our three-down stuff. Check the run. See us putting in that sub-nickel package, love to run the ball on third-and-long, third-and-medium."
Virginia Tech's starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister also plays a role in their plan to run the ball and how to find success off that. Narduzzi seemed less concerned about Burmeister as a player and more concerned about the Hokies' offensive concepts that have hurt the Panthers in years past.
"They ran a quarterback lead, quarterback step back, they ran an over route which we didn't play great," Narduzzi said recalling Pitt's 2019 loss to the Hokies. "A big pass on us a couple years ago down there. As a matter of fact, two years ago they hit us on a spread out over-route. We were in cover three, which would have been pretty good, but we played it like cover four, which is an issue."
But beyond just the run-pass option plays or anything that might trick defenders, Narduzzi knows there's a major emphasis on limiting Virginia Tech's big plays.
"We have to eliminate the explosives," Narduzzi continued. "You get graded game by game. I don't want to say they've always tricked you, but last year even one of their bigger plays was they came out, we call it the 'fight song' where they put an eligible tight end at the tackle position, try to trick you. The backer saw it. We just didn't cover it properly. They've always seemed to try to get one or two of them on you a game. We have to eliminate the big plays, for sure."
Beyond Virginia Tech's abilities on offense, Narduzzi knows the Panthers' defense has put out bad tape of how the defend the run-pass option and that opponents will try to exploit it.
"Defensively, obviously we know the one issue we have with RPOs," Narduzzi said. "Those guys like to run RPOs as well. We'll see the same slant route that other people run. They will run some skinny posts on the outside, run something we call glances, run some dragons or slants inside. We’ve got different things in to take care of that stuff. We've been tested a little bit. We'll continue to be tested."
The main position group that will be tested will be the safeties, namely Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett II.
"I've been happy with Erick Hallett," Narduzzi said. "He's played well. Brandon Hill has played well. Those two guys have come in and have played solid football. Last year in this game at home, they kind of attacked our safeties. We had Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett both started. Seemed like we put Damar (Hamlin) into the boundary, Hallett in the field. They went after Hallett then we had to switch them. They didn't know where they were."
"But Hallett is a much different player than he was a year ago," Narduzzi continued. "He's improved greatly. Hill's been a big hitter, a guy we can count on. Both those guys are guys we can count on, our two best safeties."
Whether Hallett and Hill can live up to that praise could be the biggest factor in Pitt's defensive performance Saturday. Their mistakes proved costly against Western Michigan, and if the Panthers haven't fixed those problems, Burmeister might get a chance to exploit them.
Here's a play where you can see Hallett come in late on a run-pass option play over the middle, only to be taken out by Hill in a hit that sprung a touchdown for the Broncos:
The Panthers' defense, and particularly their safeties, will have to read and react.
But those safeties have to read and react faster than they did against Western Michigan. Caleb Eleby was able to pick his way through Pitt's secondary as Hill and Hallett hesitated more and more as the game went on. That resulted in plays like this, where Hill was close to making a play, but couldn't get there:
We know Narduzzi doesn't abandon his defensive game plan that leaves his safeties and cornerbacks on islands, so this is going to play a big role in whether Pitt can advance to 2-0.
But if Hill and Hallett can come through and limit the Hokies from big plays, the Panthers might be in for a big win as their offense should continue their high scoring efforts all season as they lead the country averaging 52.5 points per game.