There is no shortage of experience on the Pitt defense.
From the trenches to the defensive backfield and all areas in between, the No. 24 Panthers (2-1) entered the 2022 season with a bulk of returning talent from last year’s ACC championship-winning squad.
So far, it’s been veterans like Erick Hallett II, SirVocea Dennis, John Morgan III and M.J. Devonshire who have led the way for Pitt, coming up with big plays when needed in each of its first three contests. While success from those four, plus a handful of others, was expected, it’s the development of the players behind them on the depth chart that has those within the Panthers locker room excited.
“We’re definitely growing,” Dennis said of the team’s defense. “We’re growing as a group and individuals.”
Dennis last spoke to reporters following Pitt’s win against West Virginia on Sept. 1. Although the senior captain was happy to leave the Backyard Brawl with a victory, he was quick to admit the defense had significant room for improvement, starting with his own position group.
Since then, Bangally Kamara and Shayne Simon — both newcomers to the starting lineup — have stepped up their play. Dennis feels the improvements are simply a product of getting a better feel for an actual game-like atmosphere, which isn’t limited to starters.
“Our focus every week is coming together as a group and playing together,” Dennis said, “playing football and having a winning performance.”
Week by week, Pitt is receiving more production from its rotational players.
Within Dennis’ group at linebacker, backups Brandon George and Solomon DeShields each made an impact against Western Michigan, with George tallying a team-best four tackles and DeShields contributing two tackles and a sack.
Saturday’s matchup against Rhode Island could mean more opportunities for others looking to make a name for themselves on the Panthers defense. With a notable amount of key contributors banged up from the first three weeks, along with facing an FCS opponent, Saturday could be, for some younger players on the depth chart, a great opportunity to show they, too, can be counted on to perform.
“They’ve got to show that they belong on the field,” secondary coach Archie Collins said. “As soon as they can show that they can put it together on the field, then we have no problem [playing them]. I don’t care what game it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s Rhode Island, it’s whomever they’re facing. It’s about how they practice, how they prepare for that game.”
The secondary is perhaps the area of the defense that’s had the least amount of rotation through three games. With Hallett and Brandon Hill returning at safety, plus experienced corners Marquis Williams, A.J. Woods and Devonshire all back, Pitt has been very calculated when giving some younger defensive backs a chance to see the field, especially in the first two weeks where it faced notable talents at quarterback.
However, Collins hinted Saturday could be different. The Panthers secondary coach mentioned a cluster of underclassmen who have caught his eye the past few weeks, saying their time could be coming soon.
“You’ve got Khalil Anderson; you’ve got Stephon Hall; you’ve got Javon McIntyre who’s been doing very good,” Collins said. “P.J. O’Brien has also been great in practices. [Ryland] Gandy has been doing some unbelievable things as far as his smarts and what he brings to the table as a freshman. ... Those young guys right there, they’re going to be really, really good players here.”
Some of the names Collins listed — like O’Brien, who blocked a punt against Tennessee — have already shown glimpses of what they can do. Others continue to work for those chances.
Don’t be shocked if the Panthers’ final nonconference game of the season serves as that first opportunity for a young member of the Pitt defense.
Noah Hiles: nhiles@post-gazette.com and Twitter @_NoahHiles
First Published: September 21, 2022, 7:08 p.m.
