Each week, former Pitt QB Pat Bostick gives Panther-Lair.com an in-depth breakdown of the matchups. Today he's looking at Pitt's Saturday game at Virginia.
Virginia's offense
They are a spread team that wants to displace you from sideline to sideline and try to spread the field. They run a lot of three and four-receiver sets, but they do try to run the football as well. The quarterback, Kurt Benkert, isn't necessarily a runner, so it's more of a spread in the traditional sense - not one that involves triple-option. The running back, Taquan Mizzell, is a great runner and a good pass-catcher, and they've got a good group of wideouts and tight ends. Benkert does a good job of dealing the football to those guys, and they have a veteran offensive line to protect him. They seem to have adapted very well to Bronco Mendenhall's offense and how they want to deploy things.
Virginia's defense
They're a 3-4 but they're very multiple. They'll move their fronts around a little bit, but they're strong on the defensive line, where they have some veterans. They also have some linebackers that have played a lot for Virginia, with Micha Kiser being the best of them. And Quin Blanding Kelvin Rainey are two good safeties on the back end; between Kiser and Blanding, they're really directing traffic in this new scheme. This system allows them to be very multiple and adjust to formations and shifts, and they'll see a lot of that against Pitt.
Player to watch: Offense
Taquan Mizzell is a guy who can do it all for Virginia. He hurt Pitt a couple years ago and he can catch the ball out of the backfield; that's probably his strongest suit, so he catches screens, perimeter throws, bubbles. They want to get the ball in his hands as often as possible and it will be a challenge for Pitt in the open field.
Player to watch: Defense
Quin Blanding was the freshman defensive player of the year two years ago and he has had a good career. He's very active in the run game and a strong tackler, a lot like Jeremy Cash was for Duke. Blanding is really the leader of this defense and a very good football player.
Favorable matchup: Virginia's offense
They have an ability to spread the field and get the ball to Mizzell in space, and that's going to be a challenge for Pitt when they have to get into the open field and tackle him. Virginia does a nice job of getting the ball to their playmakers in space and forcing open-field tackles.
Favorable matchup: Virginia's defense
Their linebackers and safeties are very good players. With Pitt trying to do so much to confuse teams defensively, having veterans at those positions can help prepare for that. Virginia does have a new defensive scheme, but it seems like Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding have a good feel for it and they're able to make adjustments very quickly.
Favorable matchup: Pitt's offense
The strength is up front and this week they're facing three down linemen, so with Pitt having so much size, they're going to get bodies on people. I wouldn't be surprised to see Virginia try to get an extra lineman in there because of how heavy Pitt can be up front. So there should be an advantage for Pitt in the trenches and in the run game.
Favorable matchup: Pitt's defense
You have to point to Ejuan Price and Pitt's edge rushers and perimeter pass rush. Pitt has to get after Kurt Benkert and they should be able to do that as a result of guys like Price winning one-on-one battles.
Bostick's attack: Offense
As always, Pitt is going to want to run the ball and get it to the playmakers. Obviously, James Conner and Chanwtez Moss and Qadree Ollison and Quadree Henderson, but there are also young cornerbacks on both sides for Virginia, so it will be important to attack them early and try to steal some plays with Jester Weah and Aaron Mathews and Tre Tipton. Try to get down the field early. Virginia is going to blitz and likes to load the box in their 3-4, and that creates one-on-one opportunities. It will be important to take advantage of those.
Bostick's attack: Defense
This is one of those games where you have to make sure you account for every eligible receiver. Virginia's going to spread the field and you want to stop the run, obviously, but it's very important to get pressure on Benkert early and often and hit him. He has shown a propensity for turning the ball over, and if Pitt's going to win this road, winning the turnover battle will be key.