PITT’S WEAVER OUT FOR SEASON WITH TORN ACL
Unit loses perhaps its best player
Rashad Weaver was forced to watch. Sure, the Pitt defensive end, holding a rolled up practice script, voiced words of encouragement Friday morning. Weaver was there for his teammates, still wearing his helmet and shoulder pads. But the redshirt junior, arguably Pitt’s best defensive player, supported the Panthers from the sidelines — far from where the starter wanted to be.
Weaver, a preseason all-ACC pick, will miss the upcoming season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee in practice Thursday. The injury will require surgery and also casts doubt on a position group that already was thin.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Pitt center Jimmy Morrissey said Friday afternoon at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He’s one of the best players on the team and one of the best defensive players in the ACC. I was expecting a huge year out of him. But I know he’ll be back and better than ever next year.”
“This is one of those that just makes you sick to your stomach,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi added. “It’s not easy to sit with the doctor and hear that news come out. And then to go break it to (Weaver), it’s one of the ugliest days you can really have.”
Narduzzi said Weaver’s injury was “a non-contact deal” that took place at the tail-end of a thud period (not full-contact) Thursday.
The offense was working an inside drill that, according to Narduzzi, is a running play “99 percent of the time.” This time, it was a play-action pass. Weaver planted his foot awkwardly coming off a tight end’s block-and-go, and the pass-rusher’s knee didn’t hold up.
“Your heart breaks for him,” Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates said. “But it’s part of the game. He’s going to suck it up, and he’s going to be back.”
When Weaver returns, he might still have two years of eligibility remaining. Narduzzi hinted at a possible medical redshirt for the pass-rusher, saying, “We’ll fight to get another year back.”
In the meantime, the Panthers can’t afford to wallow in Weaver’s loss. Pitt’s season opener against ACC Coastal foe Virginia is three weeks away, and finding out how to replace Weaver — who led the team in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (14) and fumble recoveries (three) in 2018 — is paramount.
Wednesday afternoon, a day before Weaver went down, redshirt sophomore Deslin Alexandre was described by defensive line coach Charlie Partridge as Pitt’s “third guy.” Now, he appears to be one of the guys, starting opposite Patrick Jones II.
Alexandre worked at both defensive tackle and end before settling in at the latter in spring ball. Since then, the Florida native, who played in 13 games last year as a reserve, has his body ready to play on the outside. Through the first week of camp, the 265-pounder is “moving better” and “playing with more confidence,” Partridge said.
“It’s the best I’ve seen him on the field,” Partridge added. “He’s pulling the trigger when he sees something happen, making full-speed decisions.”
That will be tested in 2019. Alexandre was expected to produce like Jones did last year as the team’s third pass-rusher (7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks). But the Panthers will need more than that from him if they are to carry on without a dip in production. That, however, might be an unreasonable ask.
Regardless, Alexandre declared himself “ready” and said, “I’m going to do everything for my brothers.”
“It’s Des’ turn,” Bates added. “But we have plenty of young guys behind him.”
Redshirt freshman John Morgan — who has “come a long way,” according to Partridge — is slotted in as Jones’ backup on the opposite side. Narduzzi also mentioned redshirt freshmen Kaymar Mimes and Habakkuk Baldonado as players who have to step up.
Wednesday, Partridge said Pitt needs at least four defensive ends to fill his rotation. Without Weaver, it looks like Morgan, Mimes and Baldonado are the next players up after Jones and Alexandre.
Another name worth mentioning? Redshirt freshman walk-on Chris Maloney. Narduzzi brought him up when asked about defensive end depth Monday, and Partridge gave him a shoutout two days later.
“That kid at some point — I don’t know when and I don’t know how — but that kid is going to play football for Pitt,” the defensive line coach said. “Maybe something crazy happens.”
Well, something crazy did happen. And the Panthers need all the help they can get to replace Weaver.
“Guys were texting me, ‘Coach, we’re going to play our tail off for Rashad,’” Narduzzi said.
“You use it as motivation to get the guys going.
“Each day is there for you, but it’s not a given. You step out there, you might have one play. It might be your last.”