Immovable object for Mids
Preparation, talent define defensive stalwart Pittman
Jackson Pittman set the tone on the very first possession of the Army-Navy game.
Army ran the fullback dive on first down and Pittman easily shed an attempted block then stood up Sandon McCoy at the line of scrimmage for no gain.
On second down, quarterback Christian Anderson pulled the ball from the fullback with the intent of running a keeper to the right side. Pittman exploded out of his stance on a slanted angle and was in the backfield before any Army blocker knew what happened, dragging down Anderson for a 1-yard loss.
Navy defensive coordinator Brian Newberry didn’t even need to watch the game film to make a definitive declaration about Pittman’s performance.
“I thought Pittman played exceptional. That center couldn’t block him,” Newberry said immediately afterward.
Pittman finished with five tackles, four of which were solo, while having his way with Army sophomore center Noah Knapp. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound senior notched 2 ½ tackles for loss, which was a career-high. Even Army head coach Jeff Monken singled out Pittman for praise, stating during the post-game press conference how disruptive the Navy nose guard was throughout.
“Coach Newberry had some really good schemes that put me in good positions,” said Pittman, who also gave credit to his fellow defensive linemen – end Jackson Perkins and tackle J’arius Warren. “Jackson and J’arius were containing the quarterback option and giving me time to make the play.”
A review of the film confirmed what was obvious to Newberry from the press box high atop Lincoln Financial Field. Pittman did indeed have himself a game to remember.
“Absolutely! Pittman did a tremendous job with everything we asked of him,” Newberry said. “This was his kind of game because there were more opportunities to make plays. In that type of game, the nose needs to be a productive player and Pittman certainly was.”
Newberry was referring to how a triple-option team such as Army operates in terms of blocking schemes. Because multiple offensive linemen need to reach the second level to cut off the pursuit of the inside linebackers, the nose guard is not often double-teamed.
“When you run the option, you make a living of single blocking the nose in a 50 front. They struggled doing that with Pittman on Saturday,” Newberry explained. “We shade the nose, which makes it harder to block that guy.”
Pittman’s importance to the Navy defensive effort was magnified by the fact Army predominantly runs between the tackles with either the quarterback or fullback carrying the ball.
“We knew Pittman was going to have to dominate the line of scrimmage between the A and B gaps and he did just that,” Newberry said. “That’s where it all starts because Army is a quarterback-fullback interior team. If you can win those A and B gaps, you’re going to have some success stopping that offense, and we did that.”
Warren had a huge game as well with a career-high 11 tackles and helped seal the win by both forcing and recovering a fumble. Pittman, Perkins and Warren controlled the line of scrimmage, which allowed players like Fagot (eight tackles), bandit safety Kevin Brennan (nine tackles) and outside linebacker Jacob Springer (seven tackles, 2 ½ for loss) to roam free.
“I knew they were kind of worried about our inside linebackers. Diego and Paul were flying through to the ball,” Pittman said. “They were trying to get to them early, which left me one on one. I took it as a challenge that they weren’t going to block me one on one.”
Fagot’s response was short and sweet when asked during the post-game press conference about the men in the trenches preventing blockers from reaching him.
“Have you seen No. 99 play?” Fagot said rhetorically. “I’m up here on the podium, but I couldn’t do my job if not for those guys up front.”
Navy defensive line coach Jerrick Hall, who played nose tackle at a high level himself while at North Carolina State, was beaming with pride when asked about Pittman’s performance.
“I’m very, very proud, but not surprised,” Hall said. “He was always in the film room before everyone else, watching every single step that center was taking. When he got into the game, he was always one step ahead of him.”
It was Hall who helped set the stage for the tackle of the quarterback in the backfield on the second play of the game.
“I told him: ‘Pitt, this is what’s going to happen. They’re going to run this within the first 10 plays of the game.’ He was prepared for it and looking for it,” Hall said.
Pittman is a three-year starter at nose guard and has enjoyed an outstanding senior season. The Tennessee native has recorded 28 tackles, including a careerbest 4 ½ for loss, and also come up with two fumble recoveries.
Most importantly, the product of Brentwood Academy has routinely taken on double-teams while holding the point of attack.
“Pitt has been playing well and grading out high all season long, and I’m a tough grader,” Hall said. “I grade everything from the stance, to the get-off, to the hand placement, to the pad level. Pitt has been on point with all those things.”
Liberty Bowl NAVY VS. KANSAS STATE Memphis, Tenn. Dec. 31, 3:45 p.m. TV: ESPN Radio: 1090 AM