After struggling last season, D’s the key for Pitt

Warren Harding graduate Mike Phillips will look to lead an improved unit.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — For all the questions about a Pitt offense that will have a new starting quarterback for the first time in four seasons, the Panthers have plenty of worries on defense, too.

Safety Eric Thatcher, returning from a bad injury a season ago, is certain that he and fellow safety Mike Phillips aren’t among them.

Pitt has yet to have a winning season under third-year coach Dave Wannstedt, and defensive breakdowns during the second half of the season help explain the 5-6 record in 2005 and last year’s 6-6 season that ended with five consecutive losses.

Pitt was vulnerable to both the pass and the run past the midpoint of last season, a combination that all but guarantees defeat. The Panthers were 107th in the country against the run, with West Virginia’s Steve Slaton and Pat White having much to do with that.

Pitt was a much better 29th overall against the pass, but was much worse in the second half of the season than the first.

An average Connecticut team totaled 481 yards in a 46-45 overtime victory in which the Huskies threw for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and overtime. West Virginia passed for 204 yards in a 45-27 win at Heinz Field even as White (220 yards) and Slaton (215) were running for 435 yards between them.

Key absence

Thatcher, a junior from Cincinnati, thinks his absence for those games played a role in the outcome. One of Pitt’s defensive leaders, Thatcher broke his left ankle in practice before the Syracuse game, when Pitt was 4-1. The Panthers went on to lose five of their last seven.

“I’m sure losing me was a little bad. It was just a little pass here and a pass there that kept us away from a bowl game and a better season,” Thatcher said.

Or a lot of passes.

Pitt allowed 11 touchdown passes during those five consecutive losses that ended the season, even as opponents were gaining most of their yardage with the run. Remarkably, Pitt gave up all those scores despite having an NFL first-round draft pick at cornerback — Darrelle Revis.

Thatcher believes all that will change this season, even though Pitt was picked in a media poll to finish sixth in the eight-team Big East Conference.

One of the defense’s biggest weaknesses last season was at safety as both Thatcher, the free safety, and strong safety Phillips were injured. Phillips, from Warren Harding, played in all 12 games but started only five because of lingering effects of a severe ankle injury that occurred in 2005.

Deep on the line

Pitt also looks to be deep along the defensive line, led by Gus Mustakas and Rashaad Duncan.

“This is the first time since I’ve been here that I like our depth on the defensive line,” Wannstedt said. “I like our secondary play.”

Pitt needs improvement at cornerback and linebacker, where sophomore Dorin Dickerson could provide an upgrade after being switched from wide receiver.

Dickerson scored 32 touchdowns during his senior season at West Allegheny High near Pittsburgh and is one of Pitt’s most athletic players.

“I’m excited to see him out there and see him finally be on the defensive side,” Thatcher said. “It was a struggle trying to hit him sometimes [during practice].”

Thatcher and Phillips must be productive and stay healthy because the No. 3 safety, Elijah Fields, was suspended for the season because of a violation of team policy.

So far during Pitt’s first 10 days of preseason camp, the defense has dominated the offense — something that Wannstedt likes as a one-time defensive coordinator but worries about as a head coach. The inexperience at quarterback, where neither Bill Stull nor Kevan Smith has played much, factors into that.

Despite that, Thatcher can already sense a difference between this season and last, and he likes the change.

“It’s going to be different, the camaraderie is a little different,” he said. “People had a tougher offseason, and they got used to it, seeing how high intensity we have to be to be a really good football team. So we’ll see what’s up.”

Good enough to win at places such as Rutgers, Louisville, West Virginia and Michigan State?

“We definitely got the confidence that we can go into a couple of places and play hard and come out with a victory,” Thatcher said.