Pitt debuts a new-look offensive line against Virginia

PITTSBURGH – Pitt didn’t compete against SMU and the offensive line was particularly bad against the Mustangs. It has led to some changes.

Ryan Baer has moved from right tackle to left tackle, while Isaiah Montgomery — making his first career start — has taken over at right tackle. Terrence Enos Jr. moved to left defense and came on next to Baer.

Lyndon Cooper is still at center and BJ Williams is still at right back. Ryan Jacoby and Jason Collier Jr., who rotated against SMU, are on the bench.

It’s once again a struggling unit, but the problems were evident against a good SMU defense.

Pitt is missing Branson Taylor for the remainder of the season, which is a significant loss, but it is still an experienced offensive line. And when SMU rushed three defenders and left eight in coverage, the line was still struggling. It was a thoroughly poor performance.

“It starts with protection,” Pat Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly news conference. “It starts with trust in advance. We’re also missing blocks inside, not just at left tackle or left guard. We just have to get better up front.

“They are talented here too. Let me tell you, they are talented up front. They had some guys that could rush the quarterback. We’re sitting here again and can move on to Virginia. I don’t want to make excuses because they are just excuses. We have to do it as coaches, we have to do it as players. That is the expectation. They have a good football team, but we didn’t play that well.”

Pitt’s coaching staff had to make some changes and decided to move some people around and add a first-time starter to the roster.