Panthers come up stronger in the end
Line conditioning, depth provide edge
Monday, September 22, 2008
By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Iowa's offensive line got the better of Pitt's defensive front for most of the first three quarters Saturday in the Panthers' 21-20 win against the Hawkeyes at Heinz Field.
Then a funny thing happened in the fourth quarter -- the Hawkeyes' offensive line appeared to get worn down and the Panthers' defensive line took control.
That is the opposite of what is supposed to happen when bigger, stronger players are leaning on an undersized defensive front for so long. Usually, the bigger guys wear down the smaller guys.
"This win was all [Pitt strength coach] Buddy Morris," said Pitt defensive end Tony Tucker, who assisted on a key sack late in the game and then forced the fumble that sealed the win. "I mean, he pushes us so hard, he conditioned us, he kept us working so hard in the offseason that you could tell we were in better shape, and all of it paid off.
"I mean, they have two extraordinary tackles, both of those guys are really good, but we knew if we just kept chopping at the wood, we'd eventually break through. Buddy, to me, is the best strength coach in America and today, it really showed when it counted."
"Our defense got stronger as the game went on and I think that's a credit to Buddy Morris," linebacker Scott McKillop added, "In the third and fourth quarter when it counted most, we were the best team."
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