PITTSBURGH — Pitt didn’t show up against SMU, and the offensive line was particularly poor against the Mustangs. It’s led to some changes.
Ryan Baer has slid from right tackle to left tackle, with Isaiah Montgomery — who is making his first career start — taking over at right tackle. Terrence Enos Jr. has slid inside to left guard, filling in next to Baer.
Lyndon Cooper is still at center, and BJ Williams is still at right guard. Ryan Jacoby and Jason Collier Jr., who rotated against SMU, are on the bench.
It’s a battered unit, once again, but the issues were exposed against a good SMU defense.
Pitt is missing Branson Taylor for the rest of the season, which is a significant loss, but it’s an experienced offensive line nonetheless. And as SMU rushed three defenders, dropping eight into coverage, the line still struggled. It was a thoroughly poor performance.
“It starts with the protection,” Pat Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly press conference. “It starts with the trust up front. We’re missing blocks inside, as well, not just at left tackle or left guard. We just got to be better up front.
“Again, they’re talented. Let me tell you, they’re talented up front. They had some dudes that could rush the quarterback. Again, we sit here and can move on to Virginia. I don’t want to make excuses because all they are is excuses. We got to get it done as coaches, got to get it done as players. That’s the expectation. They have a good football team, and we didn’t play as good.”
The Pitt coaching staff needed to make some changes, and it decided to move some guys around and bring a first-time starter into the fold.
Baer isn’t looking good at tackle. His feet are stuck in cement he’s not a tackle he needs to play inside. Just awful o line recruiting for years.
Collier great kid I’m sure but he shouldn’t be out there.
New look isn’t working.