After-hours video study brings Pitt offensive linemen together
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Every Tuesday and Wednesday after the evening meal, Dave Borbely’s offensive linemen (at least the ones without a night class) return to Pitt’s practice facility.
Borbely programs the computer in his office to show videos of the opposing team’s defense, instructs the guys on what’s important and walks away.
“If you have any questions,” he tells them, “come see me.”
Two weeks ago, the ritual worked so well that, a couple of days later against Virginia Tech, Pitt totaled a season-high 496 yards, including running back Izzy Abanikanda’s record-setting day.
After practice Tuesday morning, Pitt’s 23-year-old left guard Marcus Minor approached Borbely.
He said, “Coach, when you’re done with us, can I say a couple words to the guys?”
“I said, sure,” Borbely said, recounting the story to reporters. “We talked about practice for a minute, and I said, ‘Do you need me here?’
“Uh, no,” Minor answered, almost sheepishly because this was to be a players-only meeting.
“I really didn’t want to be there,” Borbely said, “because I felt like it was a player message to the players. I didn’t feel like I needed to be there.”
Those two stories describe the collective diligence and accountability all good offensive lines develop — not just the one at Pitt — if they want to be successful.
The nocturnal trek back to Borbely’s office was started by former center Jimmy Morrissey (now with the Houston Texans), who used to return at night to watch video, eventually bringing the entire starting unit with him.
Will all that study help when Louisville turns on the lights at Cardinal Stadium on Saturday night and there’s a snarling defensive end on the other side of the line of scrimmage?
It better. This might be Pitt’s most difficult test in pass protection. Louisville leads the ACC with 23 sacks.
The hope is players can take the notes scribbled while sitting in comfortable chairs during video study and apply them when tangling with another 300-pound man.
Borbely, though, believes there’s more to all those nights than just learning an opponent’s tendencies.
“I think power of the unit — with every unit, and particularly with the offensive line — is huge,” he said. “Those guys have to take ownership. They have to be accountable to each other, on the field, off the field. They do a great job of that.”
Perhaps no group of Pitt players will be more closely scrutinized over the next six games than Pitt’s offensive linemen, who, only days ago, found out they must play the rest of the season without injured captain and offensive left tackle Carter Warren.
“He’s been my mentor ever since I got here,” said sophomore Branson Taylor, who has started the past two games in Warren’s absence. “I was sad to hear that news, but he’s still leading us to this day.”
Taylor (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) brings a body type to the line almost identical to that of Warren. All he’s lacking is Warren’s six years of experience.
“For a young player, he’s been very composed,” Borbely said. “He’s a talented guy, and he’s really developed very nicely, kind of right on schedule for what I thought he’d become. Being able to tell me what’s happening out there … to me, that’s a huge factor.”
Said Taylor: “I have to be better. I’m not perfect. It just comes with experience.”
Injuries have made it difficult for the five starting offensive linemen to build cohesiveness. But the line of Taylor, Minor, center Jake Kradel, right guard Blake Zubovic and right tackle Matt Goncalves could be together Saturday for the third consecutive game. Goncalves could move to left tackle to give Taylor a breather, opening a spot for senior Gabe Houy, who grappled with injuries all summer and missed the first three games.
Houy, who would have been the regular starter at right tackle, played 52 snaps against Georgia Tech but only 25 the following week. Borbely said he pulled him when his Achilles got tight.
“I didn’t want to chance it. As soon as he’s ready full-time, I want to get him back in the lineup,” the coach said.
Also, highly regarded freshman tackle Ryan Baer, who hasn’t played this season, could get his first taste of varsity action at some point. But Baer (6-7, 335) might not play in more than four games in the interest of preserving his redshirt season.
Like a proud parent, Borbely likes to get them all together in his office to watch video and talk ball.
“(The learning) really starts on those nights when they come in and watch tape together,” he said, “and it carries over on the field.”