Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/204831
Game Preview: pittsburgh a span of two weeks. The team's average of 3.43 sacks allowed per game ranked 115th nationally heading into November. On the opposite end of the spectrum, veteran defensive tackle Aaron Donald evens the balance of backfield tackles with the Panthers defense. Donald, a senior, ranked in the top five in the nation in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (eight) through games of Oct. 26. "He's probably their best player at any position, and he's been playing like it this year," Werner said. Donald's group is also in transition in its first year under defensive coordinator Matt House. House ran the team's secondary last season and had a lot of success with talented cornerbacks K'Waun Williams and Lafayette Pitts locking down receivers in man coverage. This year, House has tried to employ more zone defense, which has given the corners and new starting 2013 Pittsburgh Schedule Date Sept. 2 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 29 Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Florida State (ESPN) L, 41-13 New Mexico W, 49-27 at Duke W, 58-55 Virginia (RSN) W, 14-3 Virginia Tech (ESPNU) L, 19-9 Old Dominion W, 35-24 at Navy (CBSSN) L, 24-21 at Georgia Tech L, 21-10 Notre Dame (ABC/ESPN)TBA North Carolina TBA at Syracuse TBA Miami (ABC/ESPN) TBA safety Ray Vinopal — a transfer from Michigan — a few growing pains. "The secondary has been a little bit of an enigma this year because they were really good and talented last year and brought pretty much everyone back," Werner said. "I don't want to say they've taken a step back, but definitely not taken a step forward this year." The Panthers' struggles to tie all the different elements of their rebuilding project together reached a peak at the end of October. Pitt let a seven-point lead slip away in the final eight minutes against Navy, which kicked a game-winning field goal with no time remaining. The loss dropped Pitt to 4-3 on the season and cast a small shadow of doubt on its bowl hopes. With four games left on the schedule now — Notre Dame, Syracuse, North Carolina and Miami — there are no gimmes to get them to the required six wins for a postseason berth. ✦ 2013 Notre Dame Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Aug. 31 Temple (NBC) W, 28-6 Sept. 7 at Michigan (ESPN) L, 41-30 Sept. 14 at Purdue (ABC) W, 31-24 Sept. 21 Michigan State (NBC) W, 17-13 Sept. 28 Oklahoma (NBC) L, 35-21 Oct. 5 vs. Arizona State^ (NBC) W, 37-34 Oct. 19 USC (NBC) W, 14-10 Oct. 26 at Air Force (CBSSN) W, 45-10 Nov. 2 Navy (NBC) W, 38-34 Nov. 9 at Pittsburgh (ABC/ESPN) TBA Nov. 23 Brigham Young (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at Stanford (FS1) TBA ^ Shamrock Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas