Pitt Kickoff: Panthers' strengths must take center stage vs. Clemson

Pitt faces an opportunity it hasn't had in quite some time with a Saturday showdown against Clemson at Heinz Field.

Not only is Pitt ranked at No. 23, but it gets a national audience on ESPN against Clemson, a program not at its peak but still highly respected as the class of the ACC. But at 4-2 with D.J. Uiagalelei not playing like Trevor Lawrence or Deshaun Watson, many see this as the year for the ACC to see a new champion as Clemson has won the conference for six straight seasons since Florida State won it in 2014.

Clemson may be vulnerable but it's far from helpless as it's still a major recruiting power. Their last two recruiting classes alone totaled eight five-star recruits brought to the football program. It would take the all the recruiting classes of all the other ACC programs dating back to 2017 to match that number.

The Tigers can still bring tough competition, but this is Pitt's chance to show that the Panthers shouldn't be overlooked anymore. After finally being ranked, Pat Narduzzi's Panthers have a chance to show that their 48.3 points per game average, second-best in the country only to Ohio State, is no fluke.

But to prove they're not, they'll have to put up points against Clemson's defense that has only allowed 12.5 points per game, also second-best in the country to Georgia.

Pitt started its ACC schedule with back-to-back wins over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech with margins of victory over 21 points in each game. If Kenny Pickett can show the offense he leads is ready for the big state, Pitt will get a lot more attention and respect for its efforts and Pickett will take himself from being a Midseason All-American to a more prominent Heisman Trophy candidate:

• What: No. 23 Pitt (5-1, 2-0 ACC) vs. Clemson (4-2, 3-1 ACC)
• When: 3:32 p.m. Eastern
• Where: Heinz FIeld
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: 93.7 The Fan
• Satellite: Sirius 85, XM 85, SXM App Channel 85
• Boxscore: Sidearm Sports
• Media notes: Pitt | Clemson

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Unstoppable vs. Immovable: Pickett and Pitt's offense has been explosive all season. Despite some of the Panthers' explosive offensive games coming against lesser equipped programs like UMass and New Hampshire, they've impressed by scoring 41 points against Tennessee and Western Michigan, as well as 52 points against Georgia Tech and 28 points against Virginia Tech.

For those who thought Pitt wouldn't show up against even the average ACC teams, the Panthers have proven them wrong. But Clemson's defense is different level of a challenge. They're not a defense that lives off splash plays to end drives as Clemson's 15 sacks and six interceptions both rank seventh in the ACC.

"It starts with talent," Narduzzi said when asked what makes Clemson's defense so good. "Schemes are schemes. But talent wins football games. It never comes down to the Xs and Os. It comes down to the guys out there making plays. Brent Venables is a heck of a defensive coordinator. They get after it and they are just well-prepared."

Clemson plays disciplined defense with fast, physical athletes who challenge offenses for long drives only to win in the red zone and force field goals. The Tigers' defense has allowed only 18 drives to reach their red zone, with only five of them resulting in touchdowns. That's the fifth-fewest red zone drives allowed in the ACC, and by far the fewest red zone touchdowns allowed in the conference.

"It starts with their middle linebacker, No. 47," Narduzzi said, referencing mike linebacker James Skalski.  "He seems like he's been there longer than Tre Tipton. He just continues to keep coming up, I don't know how many more years he's got left, but he's the computer of their defense. He gets it going and he gets them lined up and they know what's going on. They check a lot of things to formations, and it's something we have to do a good job of game planning on the other side of the ball."

Meanwhile, Pitt has the best red zone offense in the ACC with 28 touchdowns scored, with the next closest program being Virginia with 23. Much of that has come because of Pickett's ability to finish drives with his legs, or finding tight end Lucas Krull in the end zone or any of his talented receivers.

Despite being given more national recognition than any other point in his career and seeing his numbers skyrocket, Pickett isn't shaken from his focus of leading his team one week at a time.

"It's all about unplugging," Pickett said Wednesday when asked about focusing this week. "I put my phone down and focus on my preparation. I keep my main focus on what I need to do and watch film all day, work with coach (Mark) Whipple to make sure we're ready to go. I look at all outside noise the same whether it's positive or negative, it's just other people's opinions and I don't care about that."

We'll see that focus come into play when the Panthers are facing the toughest defense they may play all season.

Get Uiagalelei down: Pitt has faced mobile, athletic quarterbacks. But D.J. Uiagalelei is a different kind of athlete altogether. He stands at 6-foot-4, 250 lbs., and is a load to try to bring down while also possessing a cannon for an arm as a sophomore.

"You look at D.J., where he is now compared to where Kenny was as a freshman or a sophomore," Narduzzi said when asked to evaluate Clemson's quarterback. "There's always going to be growing pains, but you see him do more things you see him evolve in some of the things they are doing. He's got a cannon arm. He's got a quick release. He can run. We’re going to have to get him down when he does run the football. He can definitely test us down the field. They have some good schemes and they do some things to isolate you as a corner or safety. They are going to run the RPOs as good as we've probably seen since Western Michigan."

The run-pass option was a factor Pitt had to take on last week against Virginia Tech, as I stated in the Pitt Kickoff leading up to the Panthers' win over the Hokies. They showed they were much more ready to stop it than they were against Western Michigan, but that challenge won't go away just because they had success against it one time.

"So it will test our RPO defense and what we've learned from the past and how we can get better in the future," Narduzzi continued. "He can definitely test you, throwing it deep, and I think our corners are playing okay. Yeah, they can test us and we are going to have to play really good at corner and that's how they will beat us, with big plays."

Uiagalelei is athletic and has a big arm, but hasn't put it all together for Clemson yet. As a sophomore, he's averaging only 162.3 passing yards per game with only four touchdown passes and three interceptions in his six starts this season. His size makes him a challenge to bring down, but that's something Pitt's leading sack man Habakkuk Baldonado, who's recorded 4.5 sacks in six games, looks forward to facing.

"I love playing against bigger quarterbacks," Baldonado said of Uiagalelei. "The bigger they are, the more to grab. The little ones can slip underneath you and that's harder. This guy has good athleticism though, so it's going to be a good game. You really have to read your keys and stay disciplined."

Staying disciplined is no easy task. Pitt's defense thrives on being an aggressive bunch that gets after the quarterback and pushes the pocket. The Panthers' cornerbacks and safeties are often left in single coverage to allow for that aggression to be at its most potent coming after quarterbacks more and more throughout games.

Baldonado says the group has improved a lot this season in how they rush the quarterback, while also making sure to maintain their gap integrity.

"We've improved a lot in our technique, reads and communication," Baldonado said of the defensive line. "We've been faced with a lot of challenges with teams knowing what we like to do. But we've been playing better with communication and follow through with great technique. Our twists have improved and that's given us a big advantage against offensive linemen."

If Pitt allows Uiagalelei to break loose of his pocket, extend plays and get clean one-on-one shots down the field, it could lead to the best offensive showing for Clemson yet. It would also put Pitt in a major bind with its offense taking on the second-best defense in the country. A lot will ride on getting to, and bringing down, Clemson's big quarterback.

Players to watch

Israel Abanikanda: He's been the emerging running back Pitt has needed the past three games, averaging more than four yards per carry in each of those contests. Last week against Virginia Tech, he ran for 140 yards on 21 carries for the most by a Pitt running back this season. Narduzzi indicated this week that Abanikanda would be the Panthers' definitive starting running back this week barring any setbacks in practice.

"Those ‘Ors’ will be taken off Friday," Narduzzi said when asked about Abanikanda's play, indicating he would be the starter as Pitt prepares to face Clemson 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field. "Every defense is a little bit different. We're playing the best defense in the country in my opinion. I mean, maybe Georgia is right there, but this is a top-notch defense that we've got to be able to pick up all the pressures."

Narduzzi readdressed Abanikanda's week of practice Thursday, saying he had a strong week of practices leading up to Clemson. Despite the prowess of Pickett and the Panthers' passing offense, Narduzzi, Pickett and company see this game as a situation where they'll need all hands on deck to balance the offense and throw everything they have at Clemson.

"You have to have balance," Pickett said this week. "You can't be one-dimensional, especially against a defense like Clemson. They'll key in on certain things, pin their ears back and come after us. (Abanikanda)'s done a great job, as has the whole running back room and definitely our guys up front."

Beyond Abanikanda's improved presence as a runner, his pass protection for Pickett will be crucial as well. Narduzzi also indicated this week that the sophomore from Brooklyn had made very good strides in his pass protection, and that notion was supported when Pickett was asked about Abanikanda protecting him as well.

"It's really the reps in practice and on film with coach (Andre) Powell," Pickett said of Abanikanda's improvement in pass protection. "To see all those different looks, scan the defense and make big pickups on the blitzes. He doesn't make those blocks then we can't make those big plays on the field."

Calijah Kancey: Kancey is just a redshirt sophomore but he asserts his presence up the middle for Pitt's defense every week. His three sacks are tied with Phil Campbell for second-most on the team and his four tackles for loss is the third-most on the team behind Baldonado's seven and John Petrishen's five.

But it's the way Kancey has been getting the job done up the middle that's the most impressive. He's consistently grown in his ability to disrupt plays as a wrecking ball in the middle of offensive lines, thinking less and firing off fast. This was his sack against Virginia Tech when he twisted up the middle of the line, bulldozed the running back and sacked the quarterback all in one move:

"Man, I watched it live," Baladonado said of Kancey's sack against Virginia Tech. "It was right next to me and it was crazy. He makes these insane plays and he's so talented. He's a great athlete and I love playing next to him. Watching him make plays is awesome."

Kancey's role in Saturday's game is huge in both collapsing the pocket in on Uiagalelei and making sure he can't escape pressure by simply stepping up. Watch for when he's on the field in key passing downs to see if he steps up again for the Panthers. Those could be some of the more game-changing plays.

Jared Wayne: Wayne got his first touchdown of the season last week against Virginia Tech when he also caught six passes for 94 yards. But he's been a factor for Pitt in several games. He recorded 100 receiving yards against Western Michigan, caught a 40-yard bomb from Pickett and threw a touchdown all in the same game against Tennessee.

As a 6-foot-3, 210 lbs. junior from Ontario, Canada, Wayne is a big physical receiver who's gotten better at winning the jump balls Pickett likes to throw his way. While Jordan Addison has been the star of Pitt's receivers, Wayne has emerged as a different kind of target for Pickett.

"Consistency," Pickett said about how Wayne's improved the most. "That was the one thing I've been preaching to him to be the same guy every day. Now I can count on him to be in all the spots he's supposed to be. He's huge and you have to have trust in guys to come down with those 50-50 balls. I have to see it to trust it, and Jared's a guy that's consistently going up and getting the ball."

Wayne's physical style of play could be a huge factor when Pitt gets in the red zone and has to win in tighter spaces. Look for jump balls in the red zone to go his way, as well as Krull and Gavin Bartholomew.

Behind enemy lines

Physical secondary: Clemson doesn't have the top intercepting defensive backs in the ACC, but the Tigers aren't short on athleticism among that group. Senior cornerback Mario Goodrich has four pass breakups this season and challenges receivers both at the line of scrimmage and downfield well into their routes. 

"I'm watching their defense all week," Pickett said. "Their defense is one of the top defenses in the country. They've got great players at every level and it's our toughest test so far. Seems like things just get tougher every week in the ACC. Last week was a big game and this week is an even bigger game."

What's going to be a big factor is how coordinated Clemson's secondary can be in their communication and execution. Along with Goodrich, the Tigers have graduate Nolan Turner playing free safety, junior Andrew Booth Jr. at cornerback, and true freshman strong safety Andrew Mukuba who leads the team with five pass breakups and has the third-most tackles with 28.

The group is fast, physical, coordinated, and will be the biggest challenge Pitt's receivers have faced yet to get open for PIckett.

"They play together," Narduzzi said of Clemson's secondary. "They're smart, well-coached and it's not about the stats to them. They smother you and they smother everyone on any given play. The No. 1 team in the country didn't score a touchdown against them. We just watch them every game and they do a lot of different things. It's going to be a challenge."

If you see Pickett and his targets put up big numbers against this group, know that it will be a big statement, and there might not be a bigger change to show their true potential against another ACC opponent this season.

Trench war: The ACC's best recruiting football program is still loaded with talented big men up front on both sides of the ball. But it will be how Clemson's defensive front takes on Pitt's offensive line that could be the biggest factor in Pitt finding a balance on offense between Abanikanda running the ball and giving Pickett time to be the big-time passer he's been this season.

After a strong showing against Virginia Tech, Pickett thinks Pitt's offensive line is taking the right steps, but still has a good distance to travel before reaching their potential.

"They're heading in the right direction," Pickett said of his offensive line. "I wouldn't say we've arrived yet though because we're not where we want to be. But that's a good thing because it lets us keep working to get better every week."

Clemson won't rest on just one group up front, and will rotate between defensive linemen like sophomore defensive end Myles Murphy, who has 2.5 sacks, ad graduate defensive end Xavier Thomas who leads the Tigers with 3.5 sacks. But it's also Clemson's linebackers who are willing to throw themselves into the fray at the line, as mike linebacker Skalski and will linebacker Baylon Spector both lead the Tigers with 49 tackles.

When Clemson's defensive front comes after Pickett and Abanikanda, it will be a concerted effort from several directions.

"They have the largest volume of a defense we'll see," Pickett said of Clemson's defensive front. "Compared to different teams, they throw a lot of different looks at us and that's one of the things they do very well."

But Pickett feels confident about how his offensive line has performed of late and even cited their improvements when asked if he's able to cycle through all of his reads during passing plays.

"I'm getting to the fourth read and going all the way through it," Pickett said when asked how many progressions he goes through on different plays. "That's more of a credit to the offensive line to give me the time to do that. If they're not doing that, I can't go through my progressions and I have to scramble a lot more. We're good at that too but it's good to not have to do it all the time."

If he gets to his fourth and fifth progressions in this game, Pitt's offense stands a good chance to put up some big points.

Prediction: Pitt 28-24

The Panthers' offense has grown more balanced than it was to start the season, and now gets the biggest measuring stick of the season in Clemson's defense. The Tigers won't let Pitt run wild, but expect Pickett and company to still get into the end zone when needed.

Clemson's offense hasn't been anything special this season and doesn't look like a group that will find consistency moving the ball. But Uiagalelei's big arm and athletic receivers pose major home run threats for Pitt and I see them connecting on a few in this game.

Expect this to be a game that goes down to the wire, but with Pickett and his offense having a chance to put up a major comeback drive late that shows they're for real. If they do that on a national stage, even though Clemson's unranked, it will change the perception of this Panthers team and start to force questions as to just how far they can really go this season.