The difference between the two acts of force in question is obvious, but perhaps the end result is the same. At least, that’s the way Pitt hopes matters turn out after the decisive loss to SMU:
• Either you get punched in the mouth,
• Or you do the punching.
“Sometimes, you’re going to get punched in the mouth to see how you respond,” safety Javon McIntryre said. “That’s our mindset right now: We have to respond and punch the other team in the mouth this Saturday (against Virginia at Acrisure Stadium).
“It wasn’t ideal,” he said of the 23-point loss to SMU. “We don’t want to get punched in the mouth. We want to be the ones punching people in the mouth.”
Yet …
“It helps to let you know the main goal is the main goal, and that’s just going 1-0 every week and preparing at your highest level every week,” he said. “So, yeah, it kind of helps a little bit.”
Properly reminded that losing hurts, players — by all accounts — are preparing and practicing with the requisite enthusiasm.
“These guys are working their tails off,” secondary/cornerbacks coach Archie Collins said. “A lot of good effort, a lot of excitement, trying to get over what happened last week.”
Collins, who’s been on coach Pat Narduzzi’s staff since 2018 and worked with him at Michigan State, said sometimes adults take losing harder than student-athletes do.
“We put it on ourselves even more than the players do, but they care, too,” he said. “They’re at a point that they don’t want to be in the same light that they were last week. That’s what drives them. We came with a lot of fire (in practice this week). I expect to see a lot of fire (Saturday).”
Missed tackles were a problem in the SMU game, leading to the Mustangs amassing 467 total yards (306 through the air). Collins said fixing it is a matter of understanding angles and the proper use of a shoulder.
“That’s something we have done a great job of — tackling — the whole year,” he said. “SMU is a good ball club as well. With that being said, we have to get back to the fundamental piece of attacking the near hip and imposing our will.”
The tone for the game was set on the second snap when cornerback Rashad Battle threw down SMU wide receiver Key’Shawn Smith, who kept his balance and turned the play into a 43-yard gain.
“He didn’t throw his shoulder into that finish,” Collins said. “We have to be able to get that accomplished because that’s how we want to finish all the time.”
Battle went to the bench and played sparingly the rest of the game.
“He came in a little bit banged up, wanted to make it through,” Collins said, suggesting Battle was taken off the field to protect him from further injury.
“In this game, that just happens sometimes,” defensive end Jimmy Scott said. “There’s been a big emphasis on tackling and getting to the ball, not just two guys, not three guys, but all 11. We’ll definitely get that fixed.”
Next up for Pitt is the challenge of stopping Virginia wide receiver Malachi Fields, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound big body. Fields is third in the ACC with 654 receiving yards, more than double the next-most productive Virginia pass catcher. He also is fifth in the conference with 43 receptions in eight games.
“He goes up and utilizes his size and his leverage, poses an issue for defensive backs,” Collins said. “You have to be at our tip-top game and be great at technique.”
Collins said Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea likes to throw toward Fields in a variety of ways, including 50-50 balls, curls and slants.
“They keep the route tree open for him.”
But Collins emphasized that Pitt’s main goal is simply to “be who we are.”
Players and coaches believe similar thinking worked through the first seven games, and they feel it can work again.
“Play with a lot of good attitude, play with great effort, toughness and knowledge. That’s what we’re planning on doing this week.”