GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: With Kenny Pickett coming alive as the Panthers’ signal caller, Pittsburgh might have a chance to throw the ball against Miami’s all-star secondary that includes safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson. The Hurricanes boast the No. 32 rush defense in the FBS (132.8 yards per game) and the No. 2 pass defense (141.7), so nothing will be easy, but Pickett needs to be successful taking some shots in order to help his running attack.
DRAFT SLANT
–RB Qadree Ollison’s up-and-down season continued against Wake Forest as he tallied 52 yards on 18 carries with no touchdowns. Ollison does have 1,106 yards in total this season, which will surely interest draft scouts in the later rounds. However, last Saturday marked the second time in three games he didn’t cross the 100-yard threshold.
ROSTER REPORT:
–OL Jimmy Morrissey is out for the season with an ankle injury.
–RB Qadree Ollison is one of just six running backs in Pittsburgh history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons.
–Pittsburgh has never had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season — Darrin Hall is 112 yards away from the mark.
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