Pitt Vs. USF: Breaking Down The Two-Deep

Pitt looks to get Big East play started on a good note in a Thursday night game against the South Florida Bulls, who have looked impressive over the first four weeks of the season. A win and Pitt is in good shape to contend for a conference title. A loss and the possibilities at a BCS berth drop. Pitt released the game notes on Monday for this week's game, which can be found here.

Previous two-deeps:

Buffalo

Maine

Iowa

Notre Dame

QB: Tino Sunseri, Trey Anderson OR Mark Myers

Reaction: No change from last week. A lot of fans were glad to see Anderson get in for a series on offense. I was impressed with his throws. Despite both being incompletions, they both were catchable by the receivers instead of being overthrown like Tino tends to do.

RB: Ray Graham, Zach Brown, Corey Davis OR Malcolm Crockett

Reaction: No change from last week. The question this week is will Ray Graham get back on track after failing to crack the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive game.

HB: Hubie Graham, Anthony Gonzalez, Drew Carswell

Reaction: Gonzalez is now listed as the sole backup to Graham. The trick play he was involved in was a big dud against Notre Dame, but with more practice and better timing it can work.

FB: Mark Giubilato, Khaynin Mosley-Smith

Reaction: No change from last week

X-Receiver: Devin Street, Ed Tinker

Y-Receiver: Mike Shanahan, Salath Williams

Z-Receiver:  Cam Saddler, Ronald Jones

Reaction: No change from last week. Several receivers got in on the action last week, with Tino completing passes to 8 different receivers. It's much better than last season, when on any big pass play it was assumed that Tino would either pass to Baldwin or Shanahan.

LT: Juantez Hollins, Justin Virbitsky

LG: Cory King, Matt Rotheram

C: Ryan Turnley, Greg Gaskins

RG: Lucas Nix, Ryan Schlieper

RT: Jordan Gibbs, Greg Gaskins

Reaction: The big change from last week is the injury to Chris Jacobson. King replaced him in the starting lineup last week. Other changes were Gaskins listed as the backup center (another Jacobson replacement) and Schlieper, a redshirt sophomore, as the backup guard. The previous backup was King.

DE: Brandon Lindsey OR Aaron Donald, Justin Hargrove

Reaction: No change from last week. Pitt failed to record a sack last week against the Irish, which is a bit surprising when you see Lindsey, Price, Donald, Caragein, and Alecxih on defense.

DT: Chas Alecxih, Tyrone Ezell

Reaction: No change from last week.

NT: Myles Caragein, Aaron Donald, Khaynin Mosley-Smith

Reaction: No change from last week

Panther linebacker: Juan Price OR Brandon Lindsey, Joe Trebitz

Reaction: No change from last week. Again, no sacks last week. Something that has to change for the defense to be successful.

Spur linebacker: Todd Thomas, Shane Gordon, Carl Fleming

Reaction: No change from last week. I was impressed with the pass defense last week, limiting the passing attack of Notre Dame to 216 yards. Let's keep up the good play this week against dual-threat QB B.J. Daniels.

SAM linebacker: Tristan Roberts, Shane Gordon, Nicholas Grigsby

Reaction: No change from last week.

WILL linebacker: Max Gruder, Tristan Roberts, LaQuentin Smith

Reaction:  No change from last week. Gruder led the team in tackles last week against Notre Dame.

Cornerbacks: K'waun Williams AND Antwuan Reed, Buddy Jackson, Saheed Imoru, Lloyd Carrington

Reaction: No change from last week. Really impressed with the secondary last week, limiting Michael Floyd to just 4 catches for 27 yards.

Bandit Safety: Jason Hendricks, Lafayette Pitts, Brandon Ifill

Reaction: No change from last week. Great job by Hendricks on the interception in the second quarter, preventing a Notre Dame touchdown.

Free Safety: Jarred Holley, Andrew Taglianetti, Brandon Ifill

Reaction: No change from last week

Special Teams: Kevin Harper (K), Matt Yoklic (P AND holder) OR Mark Myers (P), Kevin Barthelemy (LS), Corey Davis (KR), Ronald Jones (PR)

Reaction: No change from last week.