Pitt is coming off an open week and is well rested, and that's a good thing according to coach Dave Wannstedt because he knows the Panthers will need all the energy they can muster in order to match the intensity of their next opponent -- Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights (6-4, 2-3 Big East) are a physical team that is relentless, especially on defense, and they've manhandled Pitt (4-5, 2-2) in each of the past two seasons.

"Rutgers is an outstanding football team and they play a style of defense, from a pressure and movement standpoint, that can give you a lot of headaches," Wannstedt said yesterday at his weekly news conference. "We've got to be physically ready for a physical game and at the same time be sharp mentally to be able to handle what they throw at us. And from an offensive standpoint, they'll run on the perimeter some, but for the most part [Rutgers tailback Ray Rice] is a between-the-tackles runner and their offensive line is huge.

"I mean, they are big and physical and strong. That was a foundation that they set a couple of years ago and that will be our challenge."

Rice, who is the third-leading rusher in NCAA Division I-A and averages 150 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry, is a tough runner who gets stronger as the game wears on and gets many yards after initial contact. He is not a burner, but he gets his number called often -- averaging 29 carries per game -- and he gets as many tough yards as any back in the country.

Wannstedt said the key to stopping a player such as Rice will be the Panthers' ability to win the one-on-one battles up front on the defensive line.

"For a player his size [5 feet 9, 160 pounds] he is very powerful, and he has great balance," Wannstedt said. "He can make a 4- or 5-yard run that when you look at the tape you would say that there's no space for a back to make 4 or 5 yards. And he doesn't bounce a lot of things outside -- he'll make big plays, but he does not force the big play.

"And if you look at the stats, he is carrying what seems like 30 or 35 times a game and they think nothing of giving it to him that many times. He has shown he is a tough guy, he is durable and it is going to be a challenge for our defense."

Although the Panthers are well-rested and some of their injured players -- such as starting guard Joe Thomas (hamstring) -- are trying to recover from injuries, Wannstedt said he has worked hard to avoid the team taking a step back. The Panthers went into the off week with plenty of momentum as they had won two of their previous three games and were playing some of the best defense they've played in a number of years.

And extra time off hasn't translated into better results in recent years. The Panthers are 2-4 in games when they have had more than a week to prepare for a game under Wannstedt. They had 10 days to prepare for Navy's triple-option offense and ended up with a 48-45 double-overtime loss.

Last year, the Panthers had one true off week -- after the Rutgers game -- and came out and played one of their most lackluster games of the season in a 22-12 loss at South Florida. Wannstedt is obviously hoping that is not the case this week.

"I think you need to do enough full-speed work during the course of the week to stay sharp," Wannstedt said about using the extra time wisely. "If you are working just against the scout team where the pace isn't what it will be on Saturday, you might have a tendency to come out and start slow. We have it structured so that we have enough first-team vs. first-team [offense vs. defense] full-speed work to try and keep our edge that way.

"I do know we can't afford to come out and start slow, we can't afford to be flat and our players need to understand that. Coaches, players, everybody needs to understand the urgency of this game and come out and play as good as we can play."

NOTES -- The South Florida-Pitt game Nov. 24 at Heinz Field will kick off at noon. The game was selected as the Big East Conference game of the week and likely will be televised locally on WTAE. ... Other than Thomas, the only other player who has a significant injury is tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling (shoulder) and Wannstedt said he is probable for the Rutgers game. ... Wannstedt confirmed he will be on the sideline Friday for the first time since the Navy game. Wannstedt is recovering from surgery on his Achilles tendon.