Meet the Press: Backyard Brawl Week

Nov. 22, 2010

Dave Wannstedt Press Conference
November 22, 2010
West Virginia Week

Opening Statement:

"Here we are, we've made it to the Backyard Brawl. I would just like to give a couple of comments on last week's game real quick before we move on. After viewing and watching the tape, defensively, other than the penalties, I was very pleased with how our defense played overall. They played with a lot of energy and ended up playing 86 plays in the game. Obviously when you get a penalty they get the automatic first down and you're going to have extra plays. That not only stresses the defense but it takes away opportunities from the offense. That was probably the only thing that really bothered me, and we need to clean that up from a defensive standpoint. I thought our special teams bounced back strong. I thought Kevin Harper did a phenomenal job kicking off. All four of his kickoffs had over a four-second hang time. The last one, when the game was on the line, was 4.6 seconds. Our coverage units were a lot better. Dan Hutchins punted the ball well. Cameron Saddler had as good a punt return as he's had all year - he broke the one for 23 or 24 yards. Overall, I thought our special teams bounced back like it needed too.

"Offensively, once we made a few adjustments, things got better. That happens from week to week. You go into a game with a plan and all of a sudden things aren't lined up exactly like you had anticipated, or they're doing something different and you have to make adjustments. I thought our coaches did that and our players followed suit. We were able to move the ball, make some first downs and get a couple of touchdowns. We got out of the game fairly healthy. On the short week here, you're going to have some guys banged up a little bit. For the most part the energy and focus is good, and it's going to need to be.

"We're playing a very good football team this week. When you look at the statistics, they're playing as well defensively as anyone in the nation, and not just in one single category. When you look at their scoring defense they're at 12 points per game. That's impressive. When you look at their rushing defense, their red zone, their third down - they're playing very well as a unit. They're not giving up very many big plays. They have experience and guys that have been in the system a couple of years and that helps them. Offensively everybody wants to talk about what's going on when you look at the players and talent they have with Jock Sanders, Noel Devine Tavon Austin and with their quarterback Geno Smith. They are capable at anytime of busting the game wide open. Because of their athletic ability they present some problems. Our defense will have to step up.

"It will probably come down to the team that doesn't make the biggest plays, but probably the team that makes the fewest amount of bad plays. That falls into turnovers and obviously penalties. We'll get off to a good start practice-wise and look forward to the challenge."

On Antwuan Reed:

"We'll coach him up. The thing about Antwuan Reed is that (the pass interference calls) could have caused him to just get in the car and drive home back to Johnstown. The thing that I will give him credit for, because it was such a high-intensity game, particularly at the end, was for him to keep fighting through it. His teammates, Ricky Gary and Dom DeCicco, everybody was supporting him. For him to keep competing…and then he ends up getting the interception at the end to win it. We've watched the tape and addressed it.

"Really, it's (pass interference calls) always a combination of different things. Usually, the biggest mistake is that the guy isn't normally looking back at the ball, and he was doing that. They want to see four hands in the air - that's the expression that the officials use. When one hand gets caught down here, which it was, they're going to call it. We have officials coming to practice, and they'll be here tomorrow. That will be a point of emphasis. We've watched the tape, and you learn. I'm glad that we went through that and had the chance to make a point of emphasis. We'll get it squared away. I'm very confident that it wont be a problem this week or the rest of the year."

On the conditions of the turf at Heinz Field:

"Last time we were there it wasn't bad. It has some wear and tear obviously, but we line up and play. I wouldn't even comment on it at this point. Whatever the conditions are both teams have to play on it. It could have an effect on how we kick, but you deal with it. Both teams are going to have to play on that field."

On the evolution of West Virginia's offense this season:

"Early on there was a lot of two-back offense, I-formation, very similar to what we do. They weren't, in their minds and with some of the comments in the news, being productive enough, scoring enough points and then they went to a little more of a spread. The quarterback, when you go to the spread, is involved in the option game with the possibilities of running it. Right now, when you really look at it, you have to defend both - the quarterback run game and you need to defend them lining up with the fullback, tailback and pounding the football.

"They've always done that, even when Pat White and Steve Slaton were there. They really have the same offense. Things change year to year depending on personnel. I don't think they've really changed anything. It's really just a matter of what you're going to emphasize this year, and what you're going to emphasize this game."

On the success of West Virginia's defense:

"They're sacking the passer. They have Keith Tandy, who has some of the top interception numbers in the conference and one of the top in the country. I would say that they're very disciplined. As reckless as they play, they have good athletes, and they know the system - it's nothing new for them, and they play within the system. They don't make many mistakes either. I would like to think that when you look at our defense, people would say the same thing. They have good players and we don't get out of position very often. If you don't do that and you're playing hard you're going to play good defense."

On West Virginia's 3-3-5 defensive scheme:

"It is different because of the three-down linemen scheme. Obviously South Florida was four-down and Louisville was four-down — most of the teams in our conference are four-down lineman schemes. Some of them are a combination of both, so they do present your offense with a challenge - particularly with a week like this when you're one day short preparing to block that. That's a big challenge, and then when you combine that different style with good players, it gives you problems."

On preparation during a short week:

"Today (Monday) will be a Tuesday for us. We just moved everything up one day. We won't have as much contact (hitting) with the players as we generally would have. We'll back off a little bit. We'll go out in shells today. It will be a full practice and we'll go full speed, we'll just back off the contact a little bit. At this point in the season, you can do that."

On the emphasis during practice this week:

"There is no question on defense it is tackling. I think when we beat them the last couple of times, I think the one year we had seven missed tackles and the other year we had three. Because of their quickness and athletic ability that will be a primary concern.

"On offense you have to minimize the negative plays whether it is sacks, tackles for a loss behind the line of scrimmage, or penalties. These types of things from an offensive standpoint are a concern. In the first half against South Florida we were 0-for-5 on our third downs. One time I think we were third-and-22 and another time I think we were third-and-eighteen. You have no chance, and they were after sacks and penalties."

Reflecting on the 1970 Backyard Brawl, won by Pitt, 36-35:

"I remember that I stayed for the whole game. I was a freshman and back then the freshmen couldn't dress so I was sitting in the stands. All I remember is looking up to the scoreboard and trying to figure out how it was the fourth quarter and we were within ten points of tying this thing. It was a remarkable game. Everybody talks about the offense and all the guys that scored the touchdowns, but Pitt's defense that day rose up, time after time, to give the offense opportunities."

On Pitt's ability to convert longer field goals:

"Dan Hutchins is capable of kicking 50-yard field goals depending on the conditions. Kevin Harper does have a stronger leg and he is available. If we got into a situation where it was a long field goal and we didn't like the conditions, that would always be a possibility. But I have all the confidence in the world in Dan Hutchins."

On challenging the fumbled blocked punt return at South Florida:

"Yes (I had contemplated challenging it). I was talking to the official the whole time, and he was telling me that it was being reviewed. They were taking all the time on the field; they waited as long as they could to make sure that the guy upstairs had a good look at the situation. If the challenge meant that the referee was going to come over and he was going look at the TV and there was going to be a discussion about it, then you're more apt to challenge it. But if one guy is looking at it upstairs and he says that's not how I see it — or it is how he sees it — it's tough with the challenge to overcome that. If they come right to the line of scrimmage and they're not waiting for it to be reviewed then you have to challenge it and use the timeout.

"I was standing there with the official and he told me that they were looking at, and that's how he saw it. You could challenge, but the same guy is looking at it again. I don't know if he's going to change his mind."

On the high stakes attached to recent Pitt-West Virginia games:

"When I played in the game, the rivalry was what it is because they were 70 miles down the road. We would see their players in the off-season, they would see us and the coaches recruited against one another. That was really the force behind the rivalry. Now all of a sudden, you have the Big East Conference and if both teams are good enough, as we are this year, to be competing for the championship then that just adds to it, making the game more exciting and that much more meaningful."

On comparing the Backyard Brawl with the old Penn State rivalry:

"As a player, Penn State was obviously a huge rivalry because it was in-state. But as a player I can remember getting ready for the West Virginia game no different than preparing for Penn State."

On last year's game not impacting the Big East standings:

"It was definitely different last year knowing that a week later was the more meaningful game (in terms of the standings) against Cincinnati, and we were coming off of a big win against Notre Dame at home and West Virginia was really sandwiched in between there. You would really like this to be the last game of the year. But the way the scheduling falls, that's not possible. You'd like to end with your rivalry game, but that's not the case."

On Pitt scoring more in the second half compared to the opening two quarters:
"The only thing that I would say is 'youth.' You don't want to use that word, but they (USF) gave us examples that we're new last week. You get out there, and we had some new offensive linemen and we had to make some adjustments and talk about what we were going to do. There were a couple of coverages that we weren't anticipating last week that they gave us. Tino Sunseri came off, we talked about it, we got it solved and we moved it forward.

"There has to be a little bit of youth. You're not using it as an excuse, but it is a fact. You can't pretend like it's not (a factor) when you have as many underclassmen and new starters as we do. It's all a mater of getting them adjusted on the sidelines a little bit. This week we can't afford to wait around until the second half. We need to come out with the opening gun and play in all phases."

On whether Pitt's offense has evolved to a satisfactory point:

"Where we're at from a balance standpoint, yes. Consistency wise, it's a challenge every week. The thing that can sometimes make an offense look not as effective is it could be is that just one guy could be off. All it takes is pressure from one lineman who misses his block or doesn't read it right, everybody else is perfect, the route is perfect, the quarterback knows where to throw the ball and you throw it away.

"We're still a work in progress, but we have made progress. If we don't turn the ball over, if we protect the football, we have a chance to go out there and be productive on offense. I think we need to let West Virginia know that Jon Baldwin is capable of breaking the game open, as is Mike Shanahan, Dion Lewis and Ray Graham. I think both offenses have enough talent that you just can't let your guard down."

On alternating Dion Lewis and Ray Graham :

"We've kind of been doing it both this year and last year. The third series is when we try to rotate them depending on how many plays the first series takes. We played Dion Lewis a lot more last week. Once we got into the game a little bit, we felt that Dion Lewis had a little hotter hand and was seeing things quicker, so we went with him more. He had 22 carries, and Ray Graham had 10 so we kind of went in the direction with Dion."

On recruiting West Virginia's Don Barclay and Robert Sands:

"Don Barclay had an uncle that played at West Virginia. We wanted him, and we made him an offer. I remember making a home visit down with Robert Sands in Florida. I thought we were in it. We wanted him. He was a good player and he ended up going to West Virginia."

On Robert Sands:

"Anytime you can get a guy that is (6-foot-5), 220 pounds, and that can run 4.6 or 4.5, compared to a guy that is 5-9, obviously that gives you an advantage from a run standpoint. He's very aggressive and involved in the run. He's got a lot of range back there. He can cover ground sideline to sideline, which makes him very versatile. I give him a lot of credit because he's still playing safety. I thought he would outgrow the position."

On being an emotional coach from the sidelines:

"We were kidding about that the day after the game. I'm just trying to give support anyway I can."

On keeping in touch with past Pitt players:

"LeSean McCoy has texted me back-and-forth throughout the year. I didn't get to watch the game last night, but I did read this morning that he had a 50-yard run. I'm sure that I'll text him later on today before it's over. It was great to hear that he did so well. I saw his introduction (on NBC); it was only something LeSean can do. "

On anticipating a low scoring game:

"The kicking game will be a major factor. It has been in the last three games. I remember two years ago, that T.J. Porter had his best punt return of the year to set us up for our final score. Last year they kicked the field goal with no time. (Three years ago) we strip them on a kickoff return. There have been scenarios in both games when the kicking game has been a key factor. Whether it's a low scoring game, I don't even go there because both offenses have enough explosive players that the minute you start thinking or saying that it goes the other way. It will just be a game that every play will count for four quarters."