ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 5: There’s a Hurricane brewing
By Dante Pryor
4. Pitt Panthers (3-0, 2-0)
“We want it all.” Those are the words of senior defensive end Patrick Jones II in reference to his aspirations for Pitt’s defense. Jones wants the Panthers’ defense to lead the country in every statistical category. After their dominant performance against the Louisville Cardinals, they re off to a good start.
They held the Cardinals defense to under 200 yards of total offense, forced three turnovers and sacked Louisville quarterback Michale Cunningham seven times last weekend. If defense gives a team a punchers chance in every game, the ACC should worry. This Panthers defense is legit.
After three games, the Panthers have three defensive linemen with at least two sacks. Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones have a combined seven sacks. There is little argument the Panthers have the best defensive line in college football.
Where the Panthers have to improve is the offense. Kenny Pickett has looked better this season. Pickett seems to have gotten better at not throwing the ball to the wrong jersey this year. The head scratcher for Pitt is their struggles running the football. A program that has produced the likes of Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin, Dion Lewis and James Conner have not produced a big time running back in years is surprising.
If the Panthers want to contend, the offense has to improve.