The key stat for Pitt's defense

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Pitt’s statistical improvement on defense from 2014 to 2015 wasn’t necessarily a drastic one.

The Panthers improved from 26.3 points per game allowed to 26.1. The rushing yard allowed per game dropped from 160.2 to 148.5. The total defense actually increased from 359.8 yards per game to 363.2.

But there was one significantly-improved statistic, and it was an important one: sacks.

Pitt recorded 37 sacks last season, the most in a single season since 2011 and nearly twice as many as the Panthers had in 2014, when they recorded just 19. And so far this year, Pitt is off to a hot start with 10 sacks - more than any other team in the country.

Sacks have become something of an indicator stat for Pitt under Pat Narduzzi. In the last 15 games, the Panthers have recorded at least four sacks eight times; in those eight games, they are 7-1. Conversely, Pitt has recorded one or zero sacks six times in the last 15 games; the Panthers’ record in those six games is 1-5.

Pitt’s sacks have come in clutch situations. 28 of the 47 sacks over the last 15 games were recorded in the third or fourth quarter, and 17 of those 28 were recorded in the fourth quarter. Pitt’s record when recording at least one fourth-quarter sack in a game under Narduzzi: 8-1.

Even more notable is where the sacks have come from in the fourth quarter. 10 of the 17 fourth-quarter sacks Pitt has recorded over the last 15 games were made by non-linemen. Linebacker Mike Caprara has three fourth-quarter sacks in that span, and Matt Galambos has two. Cornerback Avonte Maddox had two sacks against Villanova, linebacker Quintin Wirginis had one against Penn State, safety Dennis Briggs recorded one last year at Akron and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby had a fourth-quarter sack at Virginia Tech last season.

Not all of those non-linemen sacks necessarily came from blitzes or pressure packages. In a lot of those situations, Pitt was using its “Delta” personnel - a third-down package that features three down linemen and four linebackers (counting Briggs as the Star linebacker). In those packages, a linebacker generally rushes the passer to combine with the linemen for a four-man rush; technically, that’s not a blitz.

But Narduzzi and defensive coordinator Josh Conklin have shown themselves willing to bring extra pressure in tight situations, such as the blitz they dialed up for Wirginis’ sack on third-and-9 against Penn State, a play that turned a would-be game-tying touchdown into a field goal - keeping Pitt ahead by four points late in the fourth quarter.

Along the same lines, Pitt had two fourth-quarter sacks while trying to preserve the lead against Virginia last year, and both came from linebackers. Grigsby’s sack against Virginia Tech was also in crunch time as Pitt was holding onto a one-score lead.

As questions persist about Pitt’s pass coverage and holes that may exist there, the Panthers’ best chances for continued success are likely tied to the defense’s ability to get to the passer - and the effectiveness of that pass rush will be key on Saturday when Pitt faces Oklahoma State’s potent passing offense. The Cowboys have an experienced quarterback in Mason Rudolph and excellent speed at receiver with James Washington and Jalen McCleskey, but some question marks along the offensive line.