Pitt's Color Analyst Pat Bostick Previews Backyard Brawl
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- It's a big day for local college football fans as the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia University Mountaineers meet tonight in the Backyard Brawl.
Ahead of the big game, Pat Bostick, the color analyst for the Panthers, joined The Fan Morning Show Friday to preview the matchup.
He detailed out what the Panthers need to do to secure a victory in this key Big East matchup from Mountaineer Field in Morgantown.
"I think you've got to play a little bit of a game of keep away," said Bostick. "You can't afford three-and-outs. Every possession is going to count. Offensively, you've got to control the clock, got to win the time of possession. You've got to get points every time you have the opportunity. This team relies on yards after the catch, West Virginia does. Got to tackle well … can't afford missed tackles, they'll make big plays out of it."
Listen to the full interview here:
Podcast
Bostick also talked about the keys to stopping West Virginia's talented quarterback Geno Smith.
"I think the key is to disrupt their timing. They throw a lot of screens; he does a good job selling those screens," he said. "He's got good eye discipline. He's able to look things off and get the ball to Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and those guys and let them do magic with it. I think disrupt the timing, kind of like what the Steelers did to the Patriots, kind of get up in their face a little bit and try to knock them off a little bit."
He also discussed what the Panthers' offense needs to do to keep focused in hostile territory.
"First things first, you've got to get through the bus ride and pre-game warm-ups; it's like a horror movie. Things getting thrown at you, it's like playing a game of dodgeball in the beginning," he said. "Once that ball is kicked off, that first drive is going to mean a lot if they start on offense. It's difficult to shut the Mountaineers' fans up, but if you're going to get down there and put points on the board and take some time off the clock that will go a long way in doing that."
The game kicks off today at 7 p.m. in Morgantown.
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