Pitt-Houston. Interim coaches all around.
Noon start on a Friday on ESPN. Hope you took an extra day off from work. That or you are like me trying desperately to get the work done as early as possible and get home just in time.
Pat Narduzzi will be on hand for the game. He was asked after the Cotton Bowl, and made it clear that he would be attending.
For fans of both programs, the game itself has taken a backseat to the coming changes.
But for one time this season, there is still an actual game to watch. To see what James Conner can do to an opposing defensive line. To see what kind of amazing catches Tyler Boyd can produce.
To have one last chance to complain about Matt House’s defense.
No, no I don’t see them winning.
I hope I am completely wrong.
If we win, it will pump me up for the season.
If we lose, it will be just what I thought.
I really hope I have to eat my words, would love nothing more.
While there may be no such thing as shut down defense anymore, I think great defense is still what makes the great teams. The SEC has had had the biggest, strongest, fastest D-lines and linebackers for the last ten years. You have to have D-backs that can cover, intercept, and make open field tackles.
I have been whining for two years that we have not been recruiting any stand-out defensive players, especially d-ends and linebackers.
That is why I am pleased that we have one of the best defensive coaches in the country coming to Pitt.
Lewis was another one I noticed out there just singing and dancing while the game was going on. I do have to give kudos to the kid that caught the 4th and 13 for a touchdown as he slid out of the end zone. That, was a great catch in a critical situation.
Boyd kneed the guy in the shoulder/chest and should have been flagged for the infraction, but wasn’t. It would have cost us the game,but instead the drop was the final dagger!
Attention, all incoming freshmen on defense. You have an opportunity to start for us as true freshman. When does spring practice start?
HCPN has an easier task now – stay with me – he only needs to prepare his game plan and players to beat YSU and Akron. Any other team we play next year will be an expected loss after yesterday. HCPN doesn’t have to reveal this strategy to the public, but it sure does lower expectations and make his job easier.
I believe HCPN will set expectations MUCH higher, but remember, he has never, ever been a HC.
Like many of you, I’m lowering my expectations for the BB game today – a close loss would feel like a win – oh how low we have fallin.
Good news though – we start fresh today without Pederson, X HCPC and Outhouse. We are a more pleasant “smelling” FB program this morning.
Remember this is the Team that BEAT Miami in Miami, though nearly everyone thought it would NEVER happen.
The Offense is a 9-10 WIN Offense.
If Narduzzi does HIS THING with the Defense… and is SMART ENOUGH to leave the Offense ON TRACK… you’ll be AMAZED what a difference a Year makes.
Michigan State lost to only two teams this year. Both of which will play in the national championship.
Pitt players made a lot of dumb mistakes in this game, but I’m very confident HCPN can coach that out of them. How hard is it to walk away from an onside kick that doesn’t go 10 yards?
Vinopal was quoted as saying they were NOT prepared for what Akron was doing Offensively.
Upitt, don’t remember if you were on the record predicting that one?
Remember pretty much being ALONE saying a Pitt Win was a LOCK.
Of course, I started saying it back in August.
Boyd- Tyler what were you thinking when you attempted to feild a punt running the wrong direction at full speed while the ball was bouncing within ten yards of our own goal line?
What were you thinking when you kicked the fallen defender while he was trying to get up, the play before you dropped the game winning catch?
Conner- Where was your desire to finish our opponent. You looked kind of silly running out of bounds inside the 15 yardline in a situation that had seen you storm into the endzone all season long. The defenders were tired and ready to tumble but you opened the door to letting them off the hook by ducking the contact. That led to a feild goal. You obviously thought you had done enough. That’s how losers think but All Americans finish the job. There is all kind of talk about you turning pro at the end of next year. I hope that works out. I suggest you have an agent go for as much up front money as possible because from what I saw yesterday you have no pro future. You are too slow and not near tough enough to play with the big boys.
Anybody on defense- When the other teams best pass catcher has just made 2 huge catches in a row because nobody attempted to cover him couldn’t one of you (no matter how poorly coached) have insisted someone cover him on the next play? Aparently not because the only players near him on the games deciding play were only in proximity because he wandered in their direction.
We have more than coaching problems that need fixed. We should have won yeseterdays game by 40 points and won 10 or 11 games this season. Good coaching would have gotten us closer to both but focused team leaders with heart and desire would have helped too. Our hot dog stars were the heroes of this embarassing chapter of Pitt history too. We can’t just blame coaching no matter how bad.
My bad…I forgot about the defensive prep for Akron…
That’s why the guy should have been hiring staff for the last week rather than coaching MSU in their bowl game. I’m glad he was there in person to see that most recent Pitt abortion delivered in person. It would have been even better to have had the newly hired DC there also so that he could see and smell the stink that this house defense puts out up close and personal prior to his first attempts to exorcise those entrenched demons from this current squad.
Never forget Houston!
JK
Spirit – I’m going to remember that you felt we should have won 10-11 games this year, which I assume means that you feel we had the talent on the roster to do so.
I just wonder what PITT fans are going to say when Narduzzi goes 6-6 next year also… will it be ‘the cupboard was bare’ for him also?
