ODU progresses in loss to Pittsburgh, prepares for Norfolk State

NORFOLK — The weekly aim, obviously, is to win. The broader goal is progress. Consider Old Dominion 1-for-2 after a trip to Pittsburgh.

The Monarchs' 35-24 loss to Pittsburgh last Saturday felt far different than their previous encounter against a Football Bowl Subdivision, and ACC, opponent. Maryland chew-toyed ODU in a 47-10 win the second week of the season.

Four FCS wins later, amid angst and dyspepsia and player suspensions and franchise quarterback Taylor Heinicke's bruised brain, the Monarchs were eager to test themselves against another FBS opponent.

On the Steelers' home turf, ODU was within 28-24 after three quarters and afterward played the mighta, coulda, maybe, if-only card, with some validity.

"Very disappointed with this one," ODU head coach Bobby Wilder said Monday during his weekly couch session with reporters. "We felt like this was a game we were capable of winning. A lot of things were going to have to go right, but we felt like it was a game that we were capable of winning. When we look back at it, particularly at the self-inflicted wounds that we incurred, particularly with the penalties, that that was the biggest difference in us not being able to win."

The Monarchs (4-3) face city rival Norfolk State (2-5) 1 p.m. Saturday at Dick Price Stadium, the first of two more games against FCS opponents before a trip to Idaho and their next FBS test.

ODU outgained Pittsburgh (405-370) and ran 10 more plays. The Monarchs limited Pitt quarterback Tom Savage and the passing game to 104 yards. Though, in fairness, the Panthers relied on their offensive line and running game, where they outmanned ODU. Isaac Bennett rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns, and the Panthers totaled 266 yards on the ground.

But the Monarchs hurt themselves with 14 penalties for 109 yards. Several flags scuttled drives or put them off schedule. One critical roughing-the-passer flag extended a Pitt possession that led to the eventual clinching touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

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Wilder, bless his optimistic heart, said that the Monarchs probably left three scores and 200 yards of offense on the field. Despite a world of trouble stopping the Panthers' running game, he was most encouraged by the defensive performance, compared to the Maryland game.

"I feel like we have a better handle on who we are as a football team," he said. "I feel like our players have a much better understanding of what their roles are and what they're being asked to do. I feel like our coaches have a better knowledge of what we're capable of doing.

"East Carolina and Maryland were both unknowns because we were playing so many new players. What a difference some experience makes, particularly on defense. I don't mean to make it sound like we've done anything remarkable. We haven't. We're 0-3 versus FBS teams."

The difference is that ODU defensive coordinator Rich Nagy now has some flexibility. He can devise schemes tailored to particular opponents and make in-game adjustments, rather than employ the base defense and hope that everyone lines up properly.

"I think we're at a point now where I really believe the kids understand defense, they understand the schemes, and more importantly, they understand techniques," Nagy said. "We're able to fit pieces together better because they understand techniques, they understand where they are in relation to the defense, they understand how everything fits together.

"Because of that, we're playing a lot faster. Guys aren't afraid to make mistakes. They're being more decisive. Those things have come a long way. We still make mistakes. We still have to clean some things up. After watching the tape, I felt like we've made progress, but I really feel like we need to make more progress. We've narrowed the gap."

Against Pitt, the Monarchs played a slew of man-to-man pass coverage. Cornerbacks Reggie Owens and Eriq Lewis often checked wide receivers one-on-one, so that the Monarchs could devote another defender or two to stopping the run.

"Results weren't anywhere near where we wanted in the run game," Nagy said. "But if we couldn't have committed more people to the run, it could have been worse. It's something we've got to continue to do and something we're going to keep building upon."

Nagy said that six weeks ago, he couldn't have schemed the way he did versus Pittsburgh, or adjusted on the fly. He was coaching his version of Defense 101. East Carolina totaled 481 yards and scored 52 points versus ODU in the opener. Maryland totaled nearly 600 yards, averaged 8.5 per play and scored 47 points before taking its foot off the gas. The Panthers and ODU played a 60-minute game.

"We're starting to develop some confidence," Wilder said, "and that's critical. Over the course of these next five games, we've got to make sure we keep gaining confidence in what we're doing schematically, and the players trusting the coaching they're getting."

Fairbank can be reached by phone at 757-247-4637