PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Think of how quickly you could do anything in 12 seconds. It’s not a lot of time, but through one game it’s how long it takes Tennessee to get set after a play and run the next.
It’s an incredibly quick amount of time for 11 guys to get set and run a productive play. They were outstanding in their opener scoring on nine of their first 10 possessions for a 59-10 win over Ball State.
“If you guys are up in the box, don't step away because you'll miss three plays if you turn your head,” said Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. “It'll be fast. They're athletic.”
Pitt timed it out that the Volunteers are about four seconds faster at snapping the ball than last year. It would make sense as they’ve played in 14 games since the first time they saw Josh Heupel as the Tennessee head coach.
“This group is different,” said Pitt Assitant Head Coach Partridge. “They have it down to a science. When you are getting that thing off at an average of 12 seconds, you are operating at a level that can’t get much faster within the rules.”
“We learned a hard lesson in Orlando that first year (noting losing to Heupel while he was coaching at Central Florida). Whatever your plan is you better make sure it’s tight and concise and you don’t get too cute in what you are trying to do schematically so the kids can operate and communicate extremely quickly.”
“Getting home, getting to our spots,” said safety Brandon Hill. “Erick (Hallett) and I can communicate well, SirVocea as well. We will communicate to the whole defense and we will be in great position.”
Hill had a pick last year against Hendon Hooker who came in relief of Joe Milton to throw a couple of touchdowns and keep it a one-touchdown game that Pitt won 41-34 in Knoxville.
“Extremely athletic, he can really make you miss in the open field,” Partridge said. “He has hard, violent cuts when he goes to change direction. He’s an accurate passer. I feel like we’ve seen him for 13 years when you consider his time at Virginia Tech. Last year he did some really special things against us. We know we absolutely have our hands full with him in the throw game and his ability to run.”
Since relieving Milton in the second half against the Panthers, Hooker has thrown 31 touchdowns to 2 interceptions and rushed for 579 yards and seven touchdowns. He has six career TDs against Pitt with two interceptions.
“He's got a great arm,” Narduzzi said. “He's smart. You look at where he is right now compared to where he was two years ago when he was at Virginia Tech, two totally different guys. That's obviously a tribute -- that's no slam on what Virginia Tech did with him, but he fits into that offense, and his quarterback coach is coaching the heck out of him, and I think he's really, really sharp.”
Pitt coaches have praised the job the scout team has done getting them ready for Saturday afternoon. Another test at Acrisure Stadium Saturday, kickoff at 3:30 on 93.7 The Fan.