masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
October 3, 2008

Turning the Corner Redux

Filed under: Big East,Conference,Football,Media — Chas @ 2:43 pm

You can watch the ESPN.com highlights of the game here.

The 13-9 upset of WVU last year was supposed to be the watershed game showing that Pitt was coming together under Wannstedt. There was the talk of how the team hadn’t quit all season. That, but for the injuries, Pitt would have at least won one or two more of those close losses. That the team had turned the corner by the end of the season and that 2008 payoff would be there. That built over the offseason and suddenly Pitt was the trendy “darkhorse” pick of the Big East. Even getting into the top-25.

Of course the team went out and laid a tremendous turd in front of the home crowd and ESPN-U against Bowling Green. And the narrative shifted to, nothing has changed. The three subsequent wins really didn’t do much to alter that perception.

Now, another national win over USF on Thursday night and it is a return to the corner turning for Pitt.

There’s a lot of season left for Pitt, but on one redemptive night in the Sunshine State, a beaten and bewildered football team finally bathed itself in radiant glory. It couldn’t have come a moment too soon, for now the pressured and panicky Panthers might actually be able to view a football season as a joy, and not a burden.

Why is this win so cathartic for everyone involved in the Pittsburgh program? Very simply, the Panthers — much like Clemson, Michigan State, Arizona State, Cal, and a handful of other programs one could readily rattle off — have found themselves frozen and fearful in the face of old demon pressure. Suffocated and stifled in the face of massive expectations, Pitt has languished in the middle of the Big East over the past few years, behind the likes of West Virginia, Louisville, Connecticut, Rutgers, and South Florida. And while Louisville and Rutgers now stand beneath the Panthers in the Big East pecking order, the fact remains that the Cardinals and Scarlet Knights did enjoy moments of supreme satisfaction in recent times. Pitt has not enjoyed real postseason success since the days of Walt Harris … and that one run to the 2005 Fiesta Bowl proved to be an aberration. The words “Pitt football” and “underachievers” have belonged in the same sentence for most of this decade.

The Panthers haven’t fully arrived, but with this big breakthrough now in their pocket, they might finally be able to display a mentally liberated brand of ball that could bring big things to the school that brought America the likes of Tony Dorsett, Hugh Green, and Dan Marino. One game does not a program make, but one game can enable a program to experience a change of character and confidence. Everyone associated with Pitt football can only hope that Thursday night’s triumph in Tampa will prove to be such a turning point.

Plus the media really likes Wannstedt. He talks nice to them.  So they want him to succeed.

“We needed this one so bad,” Wannstedt said.

This might be the program-changing win that Wannstedt so desperately needed. He came into the game bowless in three seasons. The high from the West Virginia win quickly wore off at the beginning of this season. But the Panthers are 4-1 and on top of the Big East, ready to jump back into the polls.

There’s some personality to these inconsistent Panthers. LeSean McCoy has now surpassed 100 yards for the second consecutive game and Phil Bennett’s defense is showing some grit.

And now, along with UConn, Pitt is in (oh, how I fear typing these words) control of its own destiny.

Jan Wannstedt planted a kiss under that glorious soup-strainer above her husband’s lip late Thursday night. “What does this mean for your bye week?” she asked her husband. “It means I’m going to see my grandson in Chicago,” Dave Wannstedt replied.

Oh, Thursday’s 26-21 win at No. 10 South Florida means much more than one happy kid in the Windy City getting a visit from grandpa. It means Wannstedt’s Pitt team, left for dead after an opening week clunker against Bowling Green, sits in the driver’s seat in the Big East after two conference wins – both on the road. It means the Panthers, architects of three consecutive fourth-quarter comebacks and three consecutive wins against ranked teams, might be made of the kind of stuff it takes to survive a potentially wild conference race.

Only a little more than a month into the season and we’ve had huge downs and ups.





Game ball once again to Buddy Morris. We were superior in the 4th quarter. Same as the Iowa game and Buffalo game.

Comment by Gas 10.03.08 @ 5:43 pm

Yo Gas, are you sure you have his name correct?? His name was Buddy Wallace last night.

Comment by joel 10.03.08 @ 10:51 pm

My sister (PSU grad) was at the game (cheering for the Bulls of course just to piss me off) and she claimed that she came across a large group of PSU alumni that went dressed in their Penn State shirts and jerseys, but with those stupid USF Bulls viking helmet things on, for the sole purpose of rooting against Pitt.

The Nitters don’t care about Pitt anymore MY ASS!!!

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 10.04.08 @ 1:11 am

This post reminds me of this Flash cartoon:
link to toostupidtobepresident.com

Comment by Joshua 10.04.08 @ 1:45 am

Chas, you (and other media writers) wrote:

“It means Wannstedt’s Pitt team, left for dead after an opening week clunker against Bowling Green…”

I’m wondering if most PITT fans really felt this way. I guess I’m curious about how others felt about PITT’s chances for a decent season after that loss. I know that I hadn’t thrown in the towel – I was nervous about BG going into the game and afterwards, aside from anger at DW for the two punt decisions, felt that a loss is a loss and that PITT could move on.

So I guess I’m asking what does “left for dead” mean in this context – did you and other fans really feel like PITT would tank the whole season because of that one loss?

Comment by Reed 10.04.08 @ 5:37 am

Reed, yes, not because they lost but how they lost. Play-not-to-lose as opposed to play-to-win coaching permeated both the BG and the Buffalo games. Depressing for a fan (luckily hoops entered the picture). The Iowa game, with Cross scoring, charged my engine.

The thing about the first two games was that the coaching looked so much like all of last year’s games – except one.

Comment by steve 10.04.08 @ 8:01 am

Reed—no, although I came to understand that Stull was not nearly as seasoned as we were led to believe, and that the maturation of Stull and the o-line would be the key to our season. I never lost faith in the defense, WR/TE and RB’s.

Stull looked a lot better in the pocket vs. USF. Stepping into his throws, moving up into the pocket, throwing over the middle when it was open…sure, he had his mistakes, but he is improving.

Comment by apostles03 10.04.08 @ 8:52 am

I was extremely disappointed with the Bowling Green loss. It was tough, but I didn’t think the season was over. I remember being at a sports bar afterwards and talking to some Pitt fans. I continued to remind them that Michigan lost to App. State in the first game last year and still had a decent season. They ended up beating Florida in their bowl game.

The thing I was most worried about was the attendance at the next game. But out of nowhere it was a really good turnout and the participation was great at the Buffalo game. That gave me some hope and then the Iowa game was a lot of fun.

This team plays hard and doesn’t give up. How can you not root for them?

Comment by Omar 10.04.08 @ 9:22 am

Reed,

I personally did not, especially since by Week 3 of the season, it was obvious how horrible so many teams on the schedule, in the conference, and frankly, in the nation are this year.

I think if BGSU was Week 2 or Week 3, the damage is only a fraction of the size. It’s just that a team like Pitt who has been so up and down for so long has one commodity to sell and trade to its fan base; hope. We’ve hashed and rehashed it so many times here and on other message boards, but I sincerely think the timing (opener coming off a big win, Wanny extension, and Pederson’s PR Blitzkrieg) was the more damaging aspect than the result.

Looking to positives, I think it is undeniable that the team is improving from week to week and they have not hit their ceiling. Congrats to them for the win, but now it’s time to focus and stay focused and 16 days off will demonstrate how long their attention span is.

The players and coaches realize we owe Navy, just as we owe Rutgers. I wish to pay off those debts with compound interest. Those wins make us bowl eligible. I refuse to look any further down the schedule.

HTP!

Comment by johnny 10.04.08 @ 10:29 am

I have been as frustrated as anyone with the BG loss and then the closeness of the subsequent games this year. The USF was a pleasant surprise in that Pitt clearly dominated some aspects of the game against a strong opponent. No matter how much of a “Debbie Downer” you are, you have to be impressed by Pitt’s (mostly) effective containment of Grothe, the team’s best player (who will undoubtedly be playing in the NFL in the future).

As I reflect on the team, I am struck by a number of things —

1. Pitt is actually 5-1 over its last six games, with two wins over top-10 teams. That’s an impressive record.

2. As Omar noted, this team does not quit. Going back as far as the middle of last year, I have really liked the character of this team. That “loss” to Rutgers (in quotes because they should have won; only the horrible (and unfair) call versus Pitt at game’s end marred an otherwise great comeback effort), the near trunarounds versus MSU and Louisville, and even Navy, and the win versus Cinci were all signs of a team that does not quit. We saw more of the same thius year versus Syracuse and USF.

3. I would reather have a team that starts out a bit shakey and then comes together over the course of the season than one that falls apart late in the year.

4. The coaches appear to be opening things up. I doubt they will completely “revert to form” given the talent they have, even though we may at times complain that they have once again become more conservative.

Who knows how the season will unfold, but I think we have a good shot at a bowl game this year (best guess: 8 – 4 or 9 – 3 final record). Just as importantly, though, I think the team has given us reason to be FAMS. They may not win, but they are going to play hard and not give up. As Omar says, how can you not root for them?

Comment by hollowpanther 10.04.08 @ 10:38 am

PITT is also 7 of its last 11 and somebody wrote that 6 of those 7 have come from behind wins. Was it the ‘neers that PITT did not have to come from behind i the 4th qtr? Just once it would be fun to lead em the whole way. The Fox article says SFU looke tired but failed to give PITT credit for not looking tired – lets all thank Buddy Morris for that. Who was the brilliant guy who hired back Buddy? Bennett seems to making progress with the defense. With 5 coaching staff changes, did anybody ever think there might be a litle time required for the team and all those coaches to adjust to all that change? My gut tells me the real PITT team is going to start showing up regularly for the pcoming games. Lets hope they walk with a little swagger this weekend (they earned it), then work hard to give Navy some payback.

Comment by IronmanEE68 10.04.08 @ 12:02 pm

this bulls fan was sickened by the Thursday’s game:

link to blogs.tampabay.com

Comment by karen 10.04.08 @ 12:49 pm

I’m watching the Rutgers-WVU game. Both have bad defenses that we should be able to run on. Obviously we need to prepare for Navy’s offense but I hope our OC tapes this game.

Comment by Panthoor 10.04.08 @ 1:35 pm

There’s that damn green glitter guy again in that USF blog, Ahh, nightmares!

Comment by Dugdog 10.04.08 @ 2:21 pm

Shon Green tearing it up again today.

Comment by alcofan 10.04.08 @ 2:42 pm

Guys, I spend the day today re-watching the USF game on DVR – reran every play in slow-motion time and again (I’m laid up in bed w/ the flu). Here’s some after game impressions:

Our defense played better than at first glance – we had pressure on Grothe from the first snap and I counted only two times where he dropped back and had time to really set and throw (both in first quarter). Every other time he had to at least move in the pocket before throwing, or scramble.

Our OL was excellent at getting downfield off the ball on rushing plays, and John Malecki is very good at this and as a pulling Guard. On McCoy’s runs Malecki is often ahead of him as he cuts into the second level. Thomas played very well against USF, sometimes pile driving his guy on running plays. Byham had an excellent day blocking also – he lays into people and they get up off the turf looking at him like he’s a serial killer or something.

I love the guy, but Baldwin is somewhat lost when not on the receiving end of the football. If you concentrate on watching him when rushing plays are being run it’s evident that he needs to learn what he’s supposed to be doing out there. Also, and surprisingly, he’s tentative in following through on a downfield block when he is in the position to make one. I truly believe this is what the staff has been talking about when discussing Baldwin needing more time and work to become an every down player. Compared to our other WRs out there he really looks like a rookie at these times which is understandable as that is what he is. I counted three plays where a defender ran right past Baldwin to make a downfield tackle on McCoy, once on that nice 19 yard run McCoy would have broken for a TD if Baldwin makes his block. Our WR downfield blocking is crucial when you have two RBs like McCoy and LSH. Baldwin has to improve on that.

Watching Stull throw the ball Thursday night I came away feeling like a lot of other fans – that he was inaccurate and missed a lot of passes. After watching again, without any emotion attached, he really wasn’t too bad at all – in fact his passing was much better Thursday night than it has been up to that game. Aside from some poor deep passes, he put real speed on the ball and was threading the needle in some cases. He had two passes to Byham that were excellent – risky but accurate, Nate dropped the first one when he got hit right away, and caught the second for a first down. Our passing game is still missing some opportunities by both the QB and the WRs, but I think there has been some real progress there.

Ransom played a hell of a game. He takes a lot of heat from the fans and I think it’s not so much his actual play that fans don’t like, but the fact that he wasn’t a LB to begin with. The four obvious plays aside where he blew in a killed the ball carrier/QB, he was great at shedding blocks and pursuing laterally and downfield. If he wasn’t in on the tackle he was right there almost every time.

Our DL stunts way more than I thought they did. It’s hard to notice just what they are doing when your at the park, or watching in real time. But I was kind of shocked at the movement and the switches after the snap. The are really working in concert and the results are evident. Sacks aside, they are beating the crap out of the opponents DL and RBs.

Watching the demeanor of the opponent’s lineman in the fourth quarter it was obvious we were whipping them physically. They were very slow getting up off the turf and our guys were popping right up. You could tell the PITT players felt they were going to win that game, even when USF went ahead – it was like that was no big deal to us.

Comment by Reed 10.04.08 @ 5:20 pm

you got to appreciate that USF blogger giving some credit to PITT for a good game. The ‘neers got so nasty with their own kinfolk they drove off RR and they never gave PITT credit for a great game. PITT needs to just keep improving and tightning up as a team.
It seems PITT’s coaching staff is now getting acclimated after all the staff changes in the off season. This is a team that has worked very hard and suddenly things are clicking. Suddenly PITT FB is fun again. Keep it up PITT!!

Comment by IronmanEE68 10.04.08 @ 5:26 pm

Reed, Great post. This is the type of analysis that is always missing from us arm chair types. Watching tape is the only true way to rate an overall performance. NFL, college and HS coaches always reserve judgements on a players performance untill they review the tape. We should be no different. Thanks for taking the time to break it all down and hope you are feeling better.

Comment by TMG Panther 10.04.08 @ 5:44 pm

I have been a staunch supportive of Pitt FB since my son attended the university several years ago. I have an uncanny ability to predict some games that have startled my family, and myself at times. I called the Bb win of Pitt over Duke and the great Backyard Brawl win last year. My son has told me that I quite “nuts” and should get professional help soon, in spite of my winning predictions. I also predicted this latest apitt win but was somewhat wrong as I predicted only a 2 point win. My son again suggested help for me. I am on record, at home, that Pitt will go 11-1 or 10-2 this year. My greatest fear is that we will lose to the dreaded mountaineers. I truly hope this prediction is wrong and we can go out 11-1 and win a bowl game. This is the beginning of all things sports for Pitt (men & women)…my bones tell me so…The Bear

Comment by The Bear 10.04.08 @ 5:58 pm

Ditto, Reed. Thanks.

Comment by steve 10.04.08 @ 6:04 pm

I gotta say that SFU looks like a fun place. I would not be surprised that Stripping 101 is a major there. How about that for analysis!

Comment by Freebird 10.04.08 @ 9:33 pm

Although I may be wrong on this issue, but I think the away Notre Dame game on Nov 1 is Pitts toughest game left. I don’t think they are that good (also I can’t stand them, rank a close 2nd behind inbred WVU) but I think they will give Pitt some trouble…. I think we get past Navy and Rutgers. We win at N.D. and I think 9 wins are almost a lock and a 10-2 season a real possibility. I wish but I can’t see us running the table.

Comment by BeanBoy 10.04.08 @ 10:28 pm

Bear, I don’t know about 11-1 or 10-2 but the more I watch our remaining BE opponents I think we can run the table in-conference.

ND scares me though – they just whipped a pretty decent Stanford team and Clausen passed for a ton of yards (giving up big passing plays may be our Achilles Heel this year). Also, I am always very wary of Navy – I had that game pegged as a loss last year, and they are just as good rushing the ball again this season as ever.

As long as the staff and team take each game one at a time we’ll be OK I think.

Comment by Reed 10.05.08 @ 4:30 am

The same message board turds, not you guys, who helped run off Walt are now going full bore on Wanny. They all suck especially the fucking asshole Souf Oakland for Life.

Comment by Lickme 10.05.08 @ 7:54 am

Pitt is #24 in the AP poll and #33 in USAToday/Coaches.

Comment by matt 10.05.08 @ 2:15 pm

In “Wildcat” news, the Dolphins are running it to perfection today against the Chargers.

Damnit! I wanted Pitt to be known as the team that made the Wildcat famous, but now most casual football fans will only know it from the Dolphins.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 10.05.08 @ 2:22 pm

um Jimbo, I think you missed Arkansas the last two seasons… that’s where the Dolphins got it from.

Comment by Jamie H 10.05.08 @ 3:17 pm

@Lickme,

I wouldn’t worry too much about those jokes. They are the type of high-rolling big shots who donate $0 to the University and reminisce about the 70’s while fellating themselves over Pitt Stadium and Script Pitt. My advice to them is to enjoy the team and the season. This is the first time Pitt has been nationally relevant since I began following them. The ceiling is higher for this team than it was even in Larry’s big season.

Some clowns just can’t be satisfied, and if assembled a coaching staff of Majors and Lombardi in their primes along with the Ghost of Jock Sutherland, they would still bitch.

Comment by johnny 10.05.08 @ 3:25 pm

Pitt is now ranked #21…
…objectively-speaking, that is.

For proof, see http://ripbcs.com

Good luck next week!

Comment by R.I.P. BCS 10.05.08 @ 4:42 pm

Driving down to Tampa from Georgia, I was happy to see how many Pitt fans made it to the game. I don’t get to many games so the fans at the away game was nice to see. The team hotel was full of fans and the players noticed the support.
I too noticed quite a few PSU fans that were proudly cheering against us…. and they quickly left before the game was over.

Comment by pittgirl05 10.05.08 @ 6:17 pm

Lickme – Walt’s agent essentially ended his career at Pitt. His comments about Pitt’s inability to ever become a big-time program didn’t sit well with the brass at Pitt. And when Walt didn’t fire the clown, he forced Pitt’s hand. They both had to go in different directions after that incident.

Comment by LGP 10.05.08 @ 7:30 pm

pitt #24 in AP poll, but only #32 in coaches’ poll?? what’s up with that?

Comment by scott 10.05.08 @ 8:59 pm

Reed, i’m going to have to disagree with your analysis of the offensive line blocking. I watched the Uconn game against UNC because their RB has A TON of yards this year…and it turns out UConn is GREAT at run blocking. For example, the very first play of the second half, their oline was still blocking people downfield 8 yards, allowing the RB to just stay behind the blocks and get an 8 yd gain. So i went back and rewatched our game, specifically the first half, and charted how many people were in the box, how far downfield our oline got on throwing a block, where our RB first got hit, and how many yds we got. Results:

7 in box – farthest 2 – confusion, stull down
8 in box
7 in box
9 in box – farthest 2 – hit -1 – 0 yd gain
7 in box
8 in box
7 in box – farthest 1 – hit 3 – 6 yd gain
10 in box – farthest 1 – hit 1 – 1 yd gain
7 in box
7 in box
7 in box – farthest 2 – hit 3 – 4 yd gain
9 in box
7 in box – farthest 2 – hit 2 – 3 yd gain
7 in box
7 in box – farthest 5 – hit 2 – 5 yd gain
7 in box – farthest 0 – hit 0 – 3 yd gain
7 in box
7 in box – farthest 3 – hit -1 – fumble
8 in box – farthest 3 – hit 3 – 3 yd gain
7 in box
7 in box – farthest 2 – hit 6 – 8 yd gain
7 in box – farthest 3 – hit 3 – 5 yd gain
8 in box – farthest 4 – hit 0 – 5 yd gain
7 in box – farthest 2 – hit -1 – 0 yd gain
7 in box
10 in box
7 in box – farthest 5 – hit 12 – 19 yd gain
7 in box – farthest 1 – hit -1 – -1 yd gain
7 in box
9 in box – farthest 1 – hit -3 – -3 yd gain
9 in box
8 in box – farthest 1 – hit 0 – 2 yd gain
8 in box
10 in box – farthest 2 – hit 0 – 1 yd gain
10 in box
10 in box – farthest 5 – hit -2 – 6 yd TD
9 in box
7 in box – farthest 1 – hit 2 – 8 yd gain
7 in box
7 in box
8 in box
7 in box
7 in box – farthest 2 – hit 2 – 2 yd gain
6 in box
8 in box – farthest 1 – hit -2 – 0 yd gain

So, the furthest we had anyone blocking downfield was 5 yards twice. The average seemed about 2 yds. If we Uconn’s run blocking, Shady would be exhausted from running all day.

If someone wants to see a team that is pretty good at run blocking, take a look at UConn. Too bad for them they suck in every other aspect of the game.

Comment by Stuart 10.05.08 @ 9:39 pm

BTW, the two times we got guys downfield 5 yds, we got the two best runs of the half – 19 yds, and a TD.

Uconn seems to get guys down field 5 yds every other play…

If we could open holes like USC, that’d be one thing…but i still think we need to work on getting to the second level…

Comment by Stuart 10.05.08 @ 9:42 pm

PITT cracks AP top 25 at number 24!

Comment by PITT Fan in Atlanta 10.05.08 @ 10:10 pm

Jamie,

I know Arkansas used it first, and that I believe their coaches actually taught the Wildcat to ours a few years ago.

I just needed a way to make my post relevant to Pitt.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 10.06.08 @ 1:02 am

Stuart, wow – that’s a lot of work. You concentrated on more detail than I did – I was pretty much looking for something white in front of our LOS!

Huh, well then, to find silver lining in that cloud – as our OL keeps getting better we should really start piling up the yards.

Comment by Reed 10.06.08 @ 5:01 am

Stuart, interesting stats. I wonder if the data are available nationally and standardized to moderate for the length of the actual run.

Comment by steve 10.06.08 @ 7:13 am

i guess NFL fans will know it from the Dolphins, college fans will always know it from Arkansas

Comment by Jamie H 10.06.08 @ 8:58 am

[…] Is Pitt back on track? […]


Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter