Randy Bates: Pitt defense took Western Michigan loss personally

Randy Bates is usually a jovial man, quick with a quip and a smile, a 61-year-old coach who likes to do push-ups and sit-ups in front of his players to motivate them.

But while chatting with reporters Tuesday, Bates’ voice fell to a sober tone when a certain subject was raised:

Pitt’s 44-41 loss to Western Michigan, which stands as the only shred of negativity between Pitt (6-1, 3-0 ACC) and a perfect season.

“We don’t forget that game,” said Bates, Pitt’s defensive coordinator. “We want to move by it, but we’ve not forgotten it. We will not.”

In that game, Pitt had no answer for Western Michigan’s RPOs and ended up surrendering 517 yards, 200 above what its average has become.

“When you’re 18 to 21, you have to learn from your mistakes,” Bates said. “When you’re 50 and 60, like me, you have to learn from your mistakes because if you do it again, it’s pretty silly.

“I believe that’s what we’re doing. One week at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time. It’s going to be personal the rest of the year.”

Since that game, Pitt has allowed a total of 52 points — only a touchdown and 2-point conversion more than the Panthers allowed in one afternoon against Western Michigan.

Pitt has a top-20 defense, allowing an average of 318.7 yards per game (20th in the nation, second in the ACC). The Panthers also are second in the conference, 21st in the nation, in run defense — Pat Narduzzi’s specialty — giving up an average of only 109.3 yards.

Mix that stinginess with thievery — 11 turnovers in seven games —and the Panthers might have the offensive/defensive balance to defeat Miami on Saturday at Heinz Field and do what the computers say they will do: win the ACC.

When linebacker SirVocea Dennis intercepted a Clemson shovel pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, an ESPN camera caught Bates in the coaches’ booth with a triumphant look on his face. He called the blitz that put Dennis in position to make the game-changing play.

“Fortunately, sometimes, even I get one right,” Bates said. “I was just happy for him. We spent a lot of time studying that. Those specific shovel passes were a big part of their game. That was part of Friday’s preparation.

“You feel good that the kids are taking what you’re teaching to the next level, and that’s what he did. I celebrated for a second.”

But only for a second.

“Just like with winning the game, you have to turn right around and do it again because that’s a team that can turn right around and go the other way 50 yards.”

Bates said “the beautiful thing” about Pitt’s defense is how players take what they learn in the classroom into games.

“They’re understanding why something would be done and taking it to the game.”

After losing six defensive players who ended up in NFL training camps this summer, Pitt reloaded and built an even better unit. With four super seniors on defense — tackle Keyshon Camp and linebackers Phil Campbell III, John Petrishen and Chase Pine — Pitt has players tracking down ball carriers and shedding blocks from opponents who are as much as seven years younger.

“That extra year is like a rookie-in-the-NFL type guy,” Bates said.

That doesn’t mean Pitt automatically owns an edge on Miami’s 20-year-old redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. He has started the past four games, including a 31-30 victory against then-No. 18 N.C. State last Saturday when he threw for 325 yards.

“I think he’s a really mature guy,” Bates said. “Every week, you see him getting better.”

Actually, Pitt started to prepare for the Hurricanes in the spring — the staff does that with each ACC opponent — but the change in quarterbacks after D’Eriq King had shoulder surgery gave Narduzzi and Bates more work to do.

“Quite frankly,” Bates said, “we’re going to have to put some new things in to defend what they do.”

Notes: Narduzzi is among 21 coaches named to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year watch list. … Pitt’s Cal Adomitis is one of four long snappers named to the Mannelly Award Midseason Top Performers List. The Mannelly Award is presented annually to college football’s top long snapper.