It’s a lyric from a song. Figure it out.
I realize a win’s a win. And no offense to Rutgers fans, but…
There was a lot to still worry about after that game.
Pitt had a 42-7 halftime lead. They failed to score in the second half and held on for a 42-32 win.
What has happened to Kicker David Abdul? He went into the season as one of the best kickers in the Big East. He missed both field goal attempts that were eminently makeable — 39 and 40 yard attempts. He is now 4-10 for the season.
The running game is still lost without Brendan Miree. Don’t let the stats fool you. Jawan Walker ran 16 times for 81 yards, but 55 of the yards came on one run. This means the rest was really 15 for 26 yards. Breaking it down further, Walker had 6 carries for negative or 0 yards, 4 carries for 1-2 yards, 1 carry for 3 yards, and 3 carries for 4 or more yards (excluding the 55 yard run).
The inability to provide a sustained drive means the defense is out on the field a lot more. Sure Pitt scored 6 touchdowns in the 1st half, but out of the 18 possessions by Pitt there were only had 4 drives of 7 plays or more (including punting on 4th down). They had 7 series where they went 3 and out. Pitt never held the ball for more than 4 minutes at a time. Little wonder the defense started giving up points and ground so much in the second half. (By comparison, Rutgers had 7 drives of 7 plays or more. Rutgers also had 5 series of 3 and out, but only 1 came in the second half.)
[I’m starting to feel some sympathy for the defense. Sure, they are still trying to hit rather than tackle, but it is becoming apparent that they are getting gassed from being out on the field so much.]
3rd down efficiency was abysmal. 3-12.
No defensive pressure. Only 2 sack for the Pitt D.
Being shut out 25-0 in the second half also suggests that Rutgers made adjustments at the half; and Pitt did nothing in response. Another longtime complaint about Harris at this blog (Longtime? This has only been up and running since August. — ed. So? It’s long been a complaint of the participants before the blog).
Even Coach Walt Harris knows that they won only because they were playing Rutgers.
“We’re thankful we won,” Pitt coach Walt Harris said.
Even the good stuff comes with the knowledge that it was mostly just from the first half. Rutherford was 22-38 for 381 yards overall, but in the second half was 2-10 for 34 yards. For the second straight week, Larry Fitzgerald was shut out in the second half. Of course that just makes his 8 catches for 207 yards and 2 TDs that much more ridiculous.
The offensive line did, however, give Rutherford protection this game, even as the running game was stillborn. He was sacked only once. More importantly, and something I have been screaming for, TE Kris Wilson wasn’t forced to stay and block. He had a big game with 9 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Wilson is an excellent weapon that must be utilized more often.
Next up, Pitt is at home against Syracuse. It will be homecoming. Noon start. Damn. Looks like I’ll be on the road by 7 am.
