On the bright side, my daughter and I had a very nice day together. I just want to get my own thoughts down and out before reading comments and recaps. Tired and disjointed though they may be.
In the abstract, this could have been considered a positive. No Chris Jacobson on the O-line. A ND team that scored 82 points in their first three games. There wasn’t a lot of confidence in Pitt to win this game, so the fact that it was so tight could be considered a good sign going forward. But…
No. It felt, instead of more of the same so far this season.
Neither team “deserved” to win this game. They both played bad football. Both failed to capitalize on opportunities and the mistakes of the other team.
In the end, Pitt missed more opportunities. In the end, the same problems we have seen in the first quarter of the season happened in this game. It is hard to say that they won’t keep happening.
The defense wilting in the 4th quarter after playing so well for three quarters.
The defense not able to stop the underneath pass
The secondary not getting the turnovers.
A very questionable coaching choice that looks foolish for being too aggressive.
A quarterback that freezes in the moment when he needs to be decisive and make the play.
Where to start?
The defense. Once more a 4th quarter rolls around and the defense cannot hold. It was only for one drive, but in this game, that was all it took. We all knew it was coming, and it was a feeling of such helplessness as it unfolded. Notre Dame started moving the ball on that drive, and you could see the confidence of the defense sag.
I haven’t seen Coach Graham’s post-game comments yet. From where I watched the game, the defense looked gassed. Coach Graham has insisted that it wasn’t physical exhaustion in previous games, but mental mistakes and confusion. When you are tired, you make mistakes. That was a tired defense.
Notre Dame really does have a good, big offensive line. And as the game went along, you could see that the Pitt D-line was getting worn down. Unable to get the same pressure they brought in the first half, and even in the 3d quarter to make Rees struggle. On that game-winning drive, Rees was 8-8 and untouched. Something we saw last week with Iowa. The guy next to me bitched through the entire 4th quarter about the lack of pressure. But that was as much do to ND’s size and strength as anything. They could push Pitt back, and that was also apparent on the short surges needed to pick up first downs on 3d and short (anything under 3 yards) situations.
With all the time Rees had in the 4th quarter drive, it shouldn’t be a shock that Pitt was picked apart. Michael Floyd washeld in check, but TE Tyler Eifert and WR Theo Riddick continued to find spots underneath and over the middle.
The secondary played stronger today, but they continue to drop interceptions. Jason Hendricks came up with one, and that just felt like it was because the law of averages said they had to hold on to one at some point. Missed chances to get off the field. Missed chances to help the offense.
Then there is Tino Sunseri. Sigh. It’s not that he played a terrible game. It’s that when the game becomes tight, so does he. He forgets to play in the system. Holding the ball. Not being aware of anything. Throws that lacked touch. After the ND score, he moved the team, but was holding the ball longer. When Pitt finally moved into ND territory, it caught up to him with two sacks. Rather than even having a chance to tie with a FG or win, Sunseri sent Pitt backwards. On the bright side, he didn’t toss an interception or turn the ball over.
And there is the decision by Coach Graham to go for 2 after Pitt scored their only TD of the game in the 3d quarter. It would have given Pitt a 14-7 lead rather than 13-7. That one was second-guessed right away. Chasing points too early. Being too aggressive once more.
I do get that, but I don’t have a problem with it. With the 4th quarter coming and how Pitt’s defense has performed in that quarter, I all but assumed ND wouldn’t at least get one TD. Kicking the extra point meant still trailing by 1 if/when ND scored a TD and converted the extra point. The thing that makes it galling was seeing ND easily convert their 2-point conversion for a 3-point lead.
There really isn’t much time to dwell on the game. Big East play starts on Thursday night with USF coming to town
Frustrating and tiring…
One issues that bugs me. Pitt controlled the clock a little better including the 8 1/2 minute drive to open the 3rd quarter. Yet the defense still tired. Do you think the tiring defense wasa sign of the up-tempo pace of our own offense, just the size and strength of ND wearing us down, or poor conditioning? Or lack of substitution?
If the defense was tired, it was because our offense once again didn’t come through.
This team is going nowhere with Sunseri at the helm. It just comes down to that. We’ll play well enough based on the talent of the rest of the team to win a lot of Big East games. But when it comes down to it, we’ll fall short of a BCS game again if Sunseri is running this squad. It’s becoming clearer then every that he just doesn’t have the talent or the smarts to perform at this level.
It’s not just that he is making some mistakes here and there. That would be OK, everyone makes mistakes. But he just can’t make any plays (outside of 10-15 yard completions). If you’re going to make mistakes, you need to come back on the other end by making some place, threading some balls into tight spots.
Outside of that, a few things cost us this game. Devin Street dropping the pass changed the game for Pitt. We go from being far across the 50 with a first down to punting. That is likely points off the board. Even worse was the sweep call on 3rd and 1 from the 2. Just go straight ahead and get the one yard and take 3 more shots at the end zone. That call is 100% on the coaches and was a 4 point swing. Then there were two passes missed by Pitt receivers- both slightly over thrown, that would have been touchdowns. We leave too many points on the field. With the way the offense held the ball in the fourth quarter, we get more points on any 1 of those 4 drives and we win the game.
And, of course, Tino taking those sacks didn’t help.
My final concern has been the lack of getting Hubie Graham involved the last two games. Or even Zach Brown. There was talk of saving trick plays for our real competition, but we seem to be doing less offensively now than we did against Maine and Buffalo.
How would have this game played out had usually sure handed Shanahan made that catch on Anderson’s 40 yard pass in the 2nd quarter. And had Pitt scored in that drive. Even if they don’t
score, the kid would have completed the longest pass, actually in the air at Pitt since Stull was QB. Does Trey became the QB or would TG sit him back down. He did his job, he laid the ball out there, it wasn’t short armed, underthrown or overthrown by 10 yards. It was where ONLY Shanahan could catch it. And that is what real QB’s do. Perhaps Shanahan was amazed that the ball actually was thrown on target for 40 yards, having played with Tinny for the last several years.
All I got to say, Tino was saved there by Shanahan not catching that. That would have electrified the crowd and maybe have been the end of Tino as a starter.
But alas it was not to be.
The Tino tragedy continues. It will only end when he uses up his eligibility.
Fin
Comment by kanyon40 09.25.11 @ 2:34 am
Ok so we’re going to judge the kid based on 3 plays.
And we’re NOT going to judge another young man based on 17 games and countless plays.
Makes sense to me.
Pitt lost this game because the offense failed. Three key plays were (1) the missed 2 point conversion – I don’t have a problem with the decision, but the play call itself was ridiculous. It looked JV. You had momentum, just run a play; (2) Street’s drop in the 2nd drive of the 3rd Qtr, which would have given us a least a reasonable field goal opportunity. Absolute killer; and (3) The sack-4yd pass-sack combo on Pitt’s last drive – it just encapsulated the problems that the offense is having. Tino couldn’t decide who to throw, so he decided to stand there and do nothing, as if he was afraid to throw a pick, so he wouldn’t let go.
Took one of the top receivers in the country out of the game.
Yes, one long run, but pretty much held ND running game in check.
Was happy that Coach Graham was not afraid to make at least a couple adjustments. QB sneaks several times instead of a shotgun, no back set. Also, lining up in the “I”. So, he can adjust, and is not totally stubborn.
Still don’t get the love for Tino. He wasn’t terrible today, but, something isn’t there. Throwing the ball away too quickly now, when at times, you have to make something happen. Taking terrible sacks at inoppurtune times.
What I still don’t get, whether it’s Tino or somebody else, they should be told, at least 7 or 8 (just picking some numbers) they have got to keep the ball and run. Even if only for a couple yards, to keep the defense honest. Hell, he even took off for 10 yards once.
Once or twice doesn’t keep them honest, you have to be a threat to really do it if the lane is there.
I don’t know, weren’t embarrassed, but, another win easily had, escapes us again.
Sunseri did OK in that regard yesterday but he’ll never be the real running threat that this offense needs.
And to point to Anderson’s poor low pass as some sort of negative? How many times have we seen Sunseri do that in just one game? For a while last year I thought Sunseri was bowling cricket out there.
Get Anderson time with the 1st string during practice and make it a point to work him in. Maybe he’s not ready to start yet – we won’t know until he does, if ever. But we damn sure better get him ready to come off the bench if needed.
Trey made a good, but not quite awesome throw. He should start next week, if there’s any justice. The throw Tino made that was flagged for interference (which was a lucky call for us) was a poor, inaccurate heave, to the wrong side of the receiver. His 10-15 yard throws are usually fine. Sure he ran well a few times, but only because he did a few times; the D was so surprised and spread out that his slowness didn’t really hurt.
Bad call by coaches on the sweep at the one; TV guys were amazed as well. Dumb. Finally, some decent LB play, but also too many slow, goofy arm tackles or close your eyes and try to run into someone tackles. Also the O-line looked bad in the 4th; really overwhelmed at times.
Tino can not and will not threaten any D we play, with his arm or legs. Give Trey or anyone else a chance
Let’s put to rest the kid has a weak arm.
TG plays little ball from his days at Tulsa and Rice where he was going up against Ok.and Tex and had to surprise the bigger opposition. That explains why he calls a sweep from the 1 yd line against ND and takes a 4 yd loss rather than tighten up the chin strap and run up the middle twice if necessary.
TG thinks he has to outsmart your opponent on every play (ie Pitt’s 2 point conversion attempt). Pitt’s not Ok or Tex but they are bigger than any Tulsa or Rice so on offense tighten up the chin strap and hit someone don’t rely on finesse.
We waste timeouts on offense leaving the defense without any timeouts to work with to get the ball back.
TG appears to be Dick Rod 2 not working with what he has until he can collect the players to make his system work, and we know how Dick Rod turned out. Look at Michigan today, Brady Hoke is a pro set coach who planned to convert Mich back but he looks at the talent he has , abandons his system , and wins with the spread offense. Will Hoke stay with that system ? NO! But will evolve into his pro style sets.
TG be a coach not a computer programmer trying to develop an automated system.
Tino’s ball to Devin — the one that Devin straight-up dropped — was underthrown by like seven yards in double coverage. It was an opportunity only because Devin came back on the ball and out-leapt the two d-backs to make a play on it.
With two of the first 3 games played against scrub teams Buffalo & D2 Maine, how in the world can Pitt first in sacks allowed in the NATION.
Oh,,,,,I forgot…..tinni
Comment by kanyon40 09.25.11 @ 2:34 am
Ok so we’re going to judge the kid based on 3 plays.
And we’re NOT going to judge another young man based on 17 games and countless plays.
Makes sense to me.
Comment by melvinbennett 09.25.11 @ 3:23 am
melvin, it is easy to try to make me look foolish if you don’t actually quote all of what I said. I said from the beginning of that post that Tino has made unacceptable, costly plays. My point was simply that just because Tino makes bad plays doesn’t mean that Trey Anderson (or any other QB) is automatically the answer. You went on about how Trey Anderson threw this beautiful pass that Shanahan missed. You left out that on the same drive he threw one straight into the ground on a shorter pass.
I want our QB situation rectified as much as the next guy, but Tino didn’t single-handedly lose us the game against ND- though his taking two sacks at the end certainly hurt. Likewise, even with his interceptions against Iowa, the defense lost that game. I hope Trey Anderson really is as good as you are certain that he is. Those three plays against ND were sure hard to draw a conclusion on- which is actually what I said. Somehow you took my “the jury is still out” (as I said I am not sure he is that QB *YET*) approach to Anderson as “he is a bum” while assuming that somehow I think Tino is the next Tom Brady. But I guess that it comes down to making everyone look stupid who doesn’t agree with everything you say.
