Trench warfare to recommence

The numbers say it all.
The Rutgers football team ranks last in the Big East in sacks allowed, while the Pittsburgh defense leads the conference in sacks.
The Panthers are third in the nation in sacks per game, while the Scarlet Knights rank 100th out of 120 teams in sacks allowed per game.
When RU meets Pitt tonight, changing those numbers or continuing the trend could decide the game.
“I think every game is won in the trenches — whether or not your offensive or defensive line can control the line of scrimmage,” said senior center Ryan Blaszczyk. “If the defensive line controls it, the offense really isn’t going to be able to do much. Whereas if the offensive line controls it, they can do what they want.”
Since RU was last seen on national television, the offensive line worked to recover from the five-sack performance by Cincinnati.
When they return to the national stage tonight, it is against another dominating pass rush, but the offensive line does not believe there is any more to prove.
“I think every time you go out and play, you have something to prove,” said sophomore left guard Art Forst. “You play for these types of games, you play for these types of premier opponents. I’m excited about it.”
Twelve different Pitt players, including four linebackers and eight defensive linemen, have combined for their 26 sacks this season, led by junior end Greg Romeus.
Romeus has seven sacks on the season — good for second in the Big East — and all came in the past four games against Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) opponents.
Even though the Panthers have so many players with sacks this season, they do not blitz often but rely on their defensive line to create pressure, said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.
Defending against a four-man front and not the blitz does not make the challenge any more — or less — difficult, said senior right tackle Kevin Haslam.
“It’s really all the same, whether you’re going one-on-one with a defensive end or whether you’re picking up a blitz,” Haslam said. “They both have their difficulties for different reasons.”
Although RU has not lost to a Dave Wannstedt team in the four years since Schiano’s former colleague took over at Pitt, a strong defensive line is always the mark of his teams.
“Dave goes back a long way as a defensive line coach, so that’s always good,” Schiano said. “From Miami, to University of Southern California, to Dallas and the Bears, he always had guys who could rush the passer and he developed them.”
While the Pitt secondary only has three interceptions this season, its job is made easier by the defensive line.
“Their secondary is very good as well, but they generate such a pass rush that quarterbacks are forced into making poor decisions,” Schiano said.
Freshman quarterback Tom Savage is aware of the challenge ahead, but also confident that his offensive line can handle the Panthers. Nine of the line’s sacks allowed are on Savage, while senior quarterback Dom Natale has been taken down five times.
“Obviously it is a step up in competition,” Savage said. “I just have to get rid of the ball quicker and go through my progressions. I make it real difficult on the offensive line because I hold onto the ball for too long. I just need to stay calm back there because the protection’s awesome.”
Whether or not that shows in the primetime matchup, the Knights worked all week to get ready for the test.
“I think both teams know what they’re walking into,” Schiano said. “Both pride themselves on being physical teams, so there should be some high speed collisions Friday night.”