Pitt Staff Is Not a Stranger To Option
Fullback Eric Kettani (318 yards rushing) will get the attention of a Pitt defense out to disrupt Navy's option offense.
(By Steve Ruark -- Associated Press)
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Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The demise of the wishbone offense can be traced in part to the performances Miami had against Oklahoma in the mid-1980s.
The wishbone was rendered too cumbersome with the advent of speedy defenses such as Miami's. The formation called for two halfbacks lined up five yards behind the line of scrimmage. Yet they were unable to block effectively or be receiving threats against fast defenses.
The defensive coordinator on those Miami teams was Dave Wannstedt; he now is the head coach at Pittsburgh. And he faces yet another challenging option offense when the Panthers (2-3) host Navy (3-2) tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Heinz Field.
The Midshipmen enter ranked No. 1 in the nation in rushing.
The Panthers are ranked ninth in total defense and have not given up 100 yards to a running back in their past six games, dating from last season.
"You don't get to be [ninth] in the country on defense after five games unless you're doing something right," Navy Coach Paul Johnson said.
Wannstedt said Pitt prepared for Navy much as his teams at Miami prepared for Oklahoma.
For one, he had the scout team run Navy's cut-blocking technique at full speed. He also had his defensive players wear shin guards for protection, according to published reports.
"If you look at our practice tape, about every other play I was looking away because guys were getting their legs cut out from under them," Wannstedt said. "There's no way of getting ready for that type of technique and that type of attack without practicing them. It's as simple as that."
In terms of a game plan, the Panthers' coaches have a history of two schemes against the option.
In victories over Oklahoma in 1986 and 1987, Wannstedt relied on a speedy nose guard to disrupt the fullback up the middle.
The middle linebackers flowed to the side opposite the nose guard. And the outside defenders used their speed to focus only on the run.
