With a dent into the armor that is the strength of Pitt's defense, the back line has done its part in stepping in and making up for a loss of that production up front.
The rim on the miniature hoop utilized for "turnover dunks" as celebrated by Pitt's defense might need a replacement soon, after being worn down over the previous several games.
Creating turnovers is one thing, and not only has Pitt excelled at doing that, they've also frequently cashed in immediately upon the creation of them.
And, it's coming during a time which the defensive line has experienced quite a bit of turnover itself.
"No matter who goes down, you be ready," cornerback Marquis Williams said. "All the older guys on the team -- the captains, the seniors -- we're always preaching to the younger guys (that) you never know when your time is going to be.
"Me, I know I'm the bell-cow of my group, the corner, and I'm always preaching to them every day, like, it took me three years to actually start, so it's about timing and waiting on your time, and when your time is presented, you just take full advantage of it."
The plays made by Williams' group have gone fully noticed -- and, why shouldn't they?
Pitt's defense has recorded touchdowns in five of its last six games, and it has returned a Football Bowl Subdivision-best six interceptions for touchdowns dating to the start of the 2021 season. Two have already been brought back to the house this season -- M.J. Devonshire's infamous "Pitt Six" in the Week 1 Backyard Brawl, and Williams' house call on Saturday against Western Michigan.
HOUSE CALL @wiliamsisland14
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The rest of the pick-sixes dating to the start of last season belong to Demarri Mathis (vs. New Hampshire), John Petrishen (at Georgia Tech), SirVocea Dennis (vs. Clemson), and Erick Hallett II (ACC Championship game vs. Wake Forest).
Hallett has particularly been on fire since his two-interception outing in the ACC Championship. In his last six games, Hallett has caught four interceptions, recovered two fumbles, and forced one fumble. He is the only player in FBS to have two interceptions and two fumble recoveries under his belt this season.
"Erick Hallett's a football player," Pat Narduzzi said after the Western Michigan game. "Go all the way back to last season, and he's a football player. That was a great (INT) in the endzone. Took seven points off the board and was a turning point for them. ... That's what great defenses do. They find a way to make plays."
On Tuesday, Hallett was named to the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week after his two-INT performance against Western Michigan. Pitt held the Broncos to 180 total yards -- 50 rushing and 130 passing.
"Just, play better, honestly," Hallett said of adjustments after the Tennessee game. "We've got to get it up another level."
"OUR BALL!" - @Erick_Hallett4
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As for the rest of the secondary -- one which I apparently, wrongly, and foolishly coined as a potential weak point of this roster in training camp -- it has done its part in keeping Pitt in all three games to begin the season. The Panthers' first two games were each decided by a touchdown, and had Pitt played the second half of the Tennessee game with a healthy quarterback, they likely would have won that game outright.
But there's no denying the secondary's ability to make plays, and its ability to limit the other team's passing attack. Pitt's three opponents are averaging 6.6 yards per pass and 11.7 per reception, compared to what Pitt's doing on its offensive end with 9.5 yards per pass and 15.9 yards per reception.
"Once you get on the field, make them plays to allow the coaches to not take you back off the field," Williams said.
As it has been shown from its two cornerbacks and one of its starting safeties, with Brandon Hill having racked up 19 total tackles for second on the team and cornerback A.J. Woods registering a team-high five pass break-ups, the secondary has more than done enough to support its defensive line, which has caught an injury bug through three games and certainly leading into its fourth.
Two-time team captain Deslin Alexandre has now missed two games in a row, Dayon Hayes and Devin Danielson did not travel to Kalamazoo, and Haba Baldonaldo and Tyler Bentley each were injured at points during Saturday's game. That forced deep-depth options like redshirt freshmen Nahki Johnson, redshirt junior Bam Brima, and redshirt senior Chris Maloney into prominent action.
"When you look at guys out there, I think Nahki Johnson was out there at the end playing football, and I think we've got some good football players," Narduzzi said on Saturday. "Obviously you'd like to have your starters out there, but you find a way to get it done, one way or another, just find a way, and our kids did."
After examining the tape, Narduzzi on Monday pointed out two more reserve defensive linemen which stood out to him.
"Bam Brima had a nice day just coming in, playing," Narduzzi said. "There's a guy that hadn't played a ton of football, but really did a nice job. Certainly worth noting how well he played. Chris Maloney came in and played a little bit. Those are some of the new guys, besides Haba playing three quarters, getting him out of there."
