Pushing this out early, because with the 3:30 start time that means some actual time to tailgate. That means pushing this post out and hitting the road to Pittsburgh almost as early as a 1pm start.
Thankfully they don’t administer sobriety tests on the way to the pressbox. I’m not saying I’ll be intoxicated, but this game does offer that possibility.
Fast links:
The offense wants more balance. Sure it does.
Defensive Coordinator Matt House claims he has life balance. Look for this story to be used against him on a message board, the next time the defense has a bad game.
Nice point from P-G beat writer Sam Werner on Pitt’s defense and stats.
Chris: Is Pitt’s defense as good as the stats indicate, or is a lot of it smoke and mirrors since they havn’t faced the top passing attacks on their schedule yet(which are right around the corner)?
Sam Werner: That’s a good question. I think Pitt’s defense is good, but the numbers are misleading. For instance, Pitt is ranked 4th in FBS in total defense (280.4 yards per game), which is great. But that number doesn’t tell anywhere close to the whole story. Because Pitt plays in such low-possession games due to their style of offense, of course their raw numbers in terms of yards and scoring (18.6 points allowed per game, 14th in FBS) is going to be lower. It’s not really fair to compare their defense to a team like Baylor or Oregon, which plays much higher possession games.
So it’s more instructive to look at per-play or per-drive stats. Pitt gives up an average of 1.86 points per opponent’s drive, which is good for 38th in the country. So, to answer your question, I think Pitt’s defense is good, and definitely good enough to stop the teams coming up on the schedule, but I don’t think it’s as good as the raw numbers indicate.
That seems about right.
Three of the 2015 recruiting class have filed their financial aid paperwork as part of their plan to enroll early to begin taking classes in January. Technically they could still decommit, but this sure makes it less likely.
The triple option is all about choices, and GT’s QB is surprisingly good at them despite being a first year starter. Someone, somewhere wrote a piece of dreck equating it to life. I never want to see that piece.
Artie Rowell is rehabbing, working to help the team, athletics and the school.
Where does the ACC Coastal Wheel of Destiny land today? No one is really out of it yet.
1.GT had scored 28 points within the first 6 minutes or so of the game. But they also scored 28 points during the entire rest of the game. Pitt also scored 28 points during that time. I think Pitt played equal to GT during that time.
I view the early fumbles and miscues as “flukey.” Without them, it was a tie game.
2. Anderson looked great his first series, scored a TD, rifle arm, etc.
But the second possession, he had two very close interception possibilities.
Before we put all our hopes on Anderson, we better be a bit careful.
2.
Anyone at the game venture to guess what the real attendance was?
SP was over ruled on the script and forced to make the change. He came on the radio pre game and snidely said it would not be on any other Uni or helmet and would definitely not be Pitt’s logo! What a jackass!
Getting ready for Stillers Colts….then back to MD. Can’t be as bad can it?
How much enthusiasm and good will was ruined yesterday??
Real attendance was 33,000 yesterday
HCPC is still learning to be a head coach. At this point he is not a very good one!!
No balls. Pitt had momentum and he personally…as head coach…as the one man who has total control of what happens..surrendered.
Thats all that needs to be said..
One more thing..as I think about it…Chryst quit twice. He quit right after the Anderson TD pass. He could have at least TRIED to go for an onside kick.
Nope not Surrender Paul…
I’m talking about the delay of game Ole Miss got when they lined up for what should have been a game-tying FG. It looked like they inexplicably allowed about 15-20 seconds to run off the play clock before they even sent the FG team out and even then, the FG team wasn’t in any sort of hurry to get set up. It looked like no one knew the play clock had run as low as it was. The FG team was still setting up when the clock ran out and the officials called delay of game, which pushed them back to a 47-yd FG. LSU called a timeout to ice the kicker, and on the ensuing play, Ole Miss decided to try for the win.
I don’t know…I’ll have to go back and watch it again, but it looked like brutal clock management that forced their hand at the end.
6 lost fumbles and playing GT’s run O, there was no way for Pitt to win. Pitt’s D will play better against a more traditional offense, they couldn’t play any worse.
Is Duke still a passing offense? They better bench Pitts and let a freshman start.
H2P!!!
It’s the fact that Conner continues to carry this team on his Back despite having the WORST QUARTERBACK PLAY of any of the other GREAT Backs before him.
IMHO
I saw them.
But let’s give him the chance Voytik has gotten, then compare.
A week of 1st TEAM SNAPS in practice might go a long way.
A little Birdy has just told me it COULD HAPPEN against Duke.
1. He clearly understands the offense better than Voytik and reads progressions much better 2. he throws a better ball than Voytik.
I lived in Texas for 9 years and if this kid was the starting QB on teams that won 5A titles in Texas he’s got something. At this point I’d let him play just to see what he can bring to the table.
It is pretty evident to me and has been when they fired Walt Harris after he was in the only BCS bowl game PITT got to. Then they fired Dave Wannstedt right after the best three year run of seasons we had in decades.
And those firings weren’t to “get to the next level” as PITT stated at the time. If anyone believes then I have a bridge for sale. They fired those two because of the off-field problems and that was it.
Two of the winningest coaches since the early 1980’s and both fired.
@ opitt 10:33am – I tried to leave after both of those HCPC surrender moments, but my wife wanted to stay. Homecoming is her favorite game – had to see the halftime show…
Attendance not bad (43k seemed about right) and the fans stayed through Sweet Caroline (while the GT band tried to drown us out) – when HCPC elected not to go the on side kick route, the stadium began to empty.
When we arrived inside the stadium, I immediately looked for the “script” Pitt at mid field – SOP.
Coaching staff DID NOT have this team focused – SOP
7 fumbles – 6 lost
3 dropped passes (Voytik’s stats not bad – leadership & decision making not too good)
3 defensive stops – 8 TD’s surrendered
No urgency the entire game – SOP
Refs – 2 blown calls (at the very least – after replay reviews) – I believe GT would have scored regardless of how the calls were made
GT was so confident they could run on our D that their HCPJ went for it on 4th down twice in their own territory – we elected to punt when it was 4th down in their territory (behind by two TD’s)
I lost my optimism yesterday – need help getting it back
As my wife and I were leaving the stadium with a few minutes to go in the game, I encountered Coach Majors as he too was leaving too. My eyes lit up and I walked over to him, patted him on the back and said “thanks for the National Championship and the great memories”.
I haven’t given up, but I believe a lot of fans might have, as our coaches and players displayed some of the worst football ever yesterday against GT.
We need changes now.
Note to HCPC and Manessa Garner – with that display of football yesterday – WE DON’T WANT YOU “PLAYING” FOR US ANYMORE!!!
If this team only wins 4 or 5 games this year, which is where they are headed, I guess you wait about half way through next season, see where the team is and either fire or extend him.
I think Shawn made an excellent point at 8:47 pm. The most alarming thing is how down everyone is on this program right now. Anytime Pitt has a chance to get or create a little buzz or enthusiasm in the program they promptly kill it. If the weather is lousy and this team is 4-6 heading into the Syracuse game, there may be 10,000 at that game.
This is the most down and least optimistic I have been about Pitt football since the last couple years of Major’s second go round.
I really like Paul Chryst. I think he is as genuine, honest, and loyal as you can be as head football coach. Sadly, after yeasterday I am pretty much convinced that he is going to be able to turn this around.
I’m not ready to give up and say he should be fired yet. I think anyone that inherits a program that is “rebuilding” deserves 4 years, and more so I don’t think Pitt can afford another coaching search again…
EE, as for no onside kick, here’s what Riverboat Pauly had to say about his first half idiocy:
On the Panthers’ next drive after the touchdown, with a chance to make it a one-score game heading into halftime, coach Paul Chryst elected to punt from the Georgia Tech 43 rather than go for it on fourth-and-3.
“If I had known we’d [get] it, I’d go for it, for sure,” Chryst
What a genius….and we’re stuck with this clown for another year at least. I had been giving him the benefit of the doubt, but he’s so stupid he doesn’t even know that GT has no defense. They gave up over 500 yards to Pitt and gave up over 500 yards the week before too.
Zero chance Pitt wins going into the 2nd half down by 14. Our young Pitt kids needed another score just for the lift…instead he tells them he doesn’t trust the offense (or defense).
Did he really think Pitt was going to shut them down defensively in the 2nd half? Is he really that stupid? God help us…
Ah…but then there’s Cyanide Steve lurking in the shadows. Who’s of course the real problem at Pitt that has to go.
BTW…is there anyone out there selling a Cyanide Steve mask I can use for Halloween? Or that too scary for the kids? (and alum)
So if you don’t mind, I’m still gonna complain…loudly.
I think Voytik sits next week because of “concussion like” symptoms, exhibited after his last series. That is the best way to change qb’s. Trey Anderson is not the answer either. Let’s not sit there and say how well he threw the ball when the game was in hand and there was no blitzing. We can’t compare situations, so let’s stop trying to do that. If Anderson takes first team snaps all weak, his arm will be sore by Saturday.
Me, I burn Bertke’s redshirt and give him the keys for the rest of the year. Why? He is a Paul Chryst recruit. Let’s see if his recruits are the answer. What is the worst that can happen? We lose a year of his eligibility. So what! Voytik is here for three more years right. Hornibrook is coming in and thankfully Repischak is on board. Nothing to lose. Everything to gain. If the fanbase is convinced that Voytik is not the one, than Anderson isn’t either as it is the same look.
The main difference I saw was that he threw to different receivers. Great. Problem was that he wasn’t being pressured like Voytik, so again, let’s not try to compare as it is impossible to replicate. Offensive line was terrible picking up blitzes and Clemmings and Rotherman struggled on their side of the ball.
Defensively I have said this all year. If we are relying on “Big Play” Ray and Pitts and Thomas to bail us out, we are in trouble. The quote above is Vinopal trying to point blame at the other players which is cowardly. Point to yourself first Ray. Watch the film. You were out of position and tried many arm tackles that weren’t successful. Before jumping on me folks, he did make a couple of nice tackles after the game was well in hand as did Todd Thomas.
Our defensive coaching game plan was a mess. To beat GT, it’s all about penetration. Rori Blair, did he see the field? Tyrique Jarrett? I would have put Jarrett over their smallest lineman and said…”your goal is to push him back every play” . Every time you fail to do it, you sit. Let’s face it. We don’t have the talent. Don’t believe me, watch the draft.
All this said, I think we come back with a strong performance next week and win. We shouldn’t set a new record for fumbles and perhaps the defense starts getting their manhood called into question a little more. We are, soft! Almost girly with our tackling. If Pitts tries any harder to grab a blocker so it looks like he was engaged and couldn’t get to a strong runner, I will bust. Practice them hard PC. Teach em to tackle and to quit playing like girls. Pitt is not far off. We are.
I want to see Jennings on the field more – 3 passes thrown his way this year and he caught all 3. Many drops this year from the WR’s not named Boyd – make the change.
HCPC was clapping and trying to shake the player’s hands coming off the field in the horrendous 1st qtr. Nice guy. Instead, he should have sat the players who fumbled, who missed tackles and got in their face with some criticism.
Come on man!
Have you heard the name Bertke?
If HCPC isn’t a good leader than let’s use him for what he was good at (OC).
Screaming in players faces doesn’t make them play better or harder, or keep them from fumbling… that’s bs.. doesn’t work and never did. Making guys accountable by sitting butts on the bench and playing guys that make plays is what works. Especially these kids nowadays… they tune you out, start pouting, or Sprewell ya. Didn’t the kids in Arizona mutiny a few years ago because the coach was yelling at them too much. If as a D1 player with 1st place in the conference on the line doesn’t fire you up then all of the yelling in the world by coaches isn’t going to help.
Vinopal is right… guys were waaay out of position… including him (who over ran several long runs). Todd Thomas was SCREAMING at both Grisby and Bradley on nearly every play becasue they were both out of position… on almost every play. That’s mental not coaching… I’m sure none of the coaches told those guys to miss tackles, and not be in the correct spots, and get blown off the ball. Talent and football mental ability. That’s why Grisby and Bradley don’t get on the field except for passing situations. They have no idea what they are doing. And Gonzalez had his head up his butt too…surprised to see him make so many mistakes. Blame the coaches all you want but players make plays period.
One problem is Pitt doesn’t have any leaders.. they’ve got guys that talk about leading but no leaders. They want to get on twitter and hype themselves and the team but I never see the guys leading on the sideline after bad plays… I see the hype after good plays but nothing after bad plays. And I know it’s getting old but these are still sophmores and freshman. I personally think 6-6, 5-7 is about right for this year. After another year in the weight room, and in the system, and another year of maturing I’d expect to see a big jump next year. yeah I know not what we want to hear but it is what it is. They just aren’t ready mentally and that takes time and maturity.
Six years, couldn’t even win a Big East championship, the worst conference by far.
Only one year out of six did we finish in the top 25.
He had his share of laying eggs too.
This sucks, but so did that.
I’m not anywhere near pining for DW. LOL
