I am not looking forward to rolling out of bed on Saturday morning, even earlier than usual, to make the roadie. The true downside of the noon start. I still think of 3:30 start times as ideal. On the road around 9, tailgaiting by noon, game, then post-game ‘gating, and maybe head home around 9. Shame we never have any like that any more. That’s just a roundabout way of saying I won’t be looking at the final batch of stories on Saturday. On to today (which for some reason, already feels like a Friday).
Wide Receiver, Greg Lee, has his mysterious leg ailment return. He missed practice yesterday and looks to be questionable. I’d say Coach Harris is a little frustrated.
“He doesn’t have a hamstring; that went from the back of his leg to the front of his leg,” Pitt coach Walt Harris said, referring to what was later diagnosed as a quadriceps injury. “I don’t know what happened. He was limping early in practice, so we sent him in to get treatment.”
Since he has previously questioned Lee’s injuries in the press before, I am guessing that Harris believes Lee responds to being called out publicly. Either that, or Harris is trying to drive the kid away.
Looks like the Harmon forecast has Pitt pulling the upset — Pitt 19 Nebraska 17 — and that doesn’t sit well with Steve Smith of HuskerBlog. He even decides to call Pitt the “Pampers.” Get it? Panthers sounds like Pampers? So creative and innovative. I’ve heard better insults from a 7 year old.
That isn’t to say I disagree with what he thinks the Nebraska defense will do — blitz and bring pressure on Palko. Actually, I’m sure of it. Pitt is weak on the O-line and John Simonitis is still expected to be out. Add in the fact that Nebraska’s starting cornerback and defensive end are doubtful for the game, and it suggests that they don’t want to give Palko time to find an open receiver. Oh, and that is also what Nebraska says they are going to do.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, Nebraska left cornerback Fabian Washington had never seen Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko play.
Not that it matters much. Whether it was Palko or Dan Marino behind center Saturday, Nebraska’s prevailing sentiment on defense would be the same.
“Pressure,” Washington said before repeating himself for emphasis. “Pressure. All day long. He’s going to get a lot of it. I hope that team is preparing for it because I know our plan is to put pressure on him.”
This means that Kirkley and the running game has to be big. Pitt will need to establish the run if Palko is to get any kind of time to throw. I expect at least 2 3-and-outs from Pitt in the first 4 possessions on offense as they try to run the ball. And I think they have to. You also have to factor in the weather. The effects of Ivan are expected to make this a very wet game. Wet games are all about running the ball. Nebraska is well aware of how inexperienced the Pitt offense is, and that Kirkley will get the ball. It will be interesting to see how FB/RB Tim Murphy will be used. Will he get much chance to do more than block? Will he be effective as a RB to spell Kirkley? What about Furman? Will Freshman Brandon Mason play? Lots of questions, no real answers yet.
Of course on the other side of the ball, Nebraska is still adjusting to the West Coast Offense. They are piling up yardage, but their QB has struggled with interceptions as he leaves the option style behind. Nebraska appears to have a mighty mite at running back. He also catches the ball well, and is easily hidden behind the O-line.
Obviously, the Nebraska offense will be a huge test for Pitt. Let’s face it, Ohio was not much of a challenge for the defense. You could argue the defense proved nothing, as Ohio shot themselves in the foot on several drives where they made quick completions for 10-15 yards. Not a lot of yards after the catch, but they kept moving the chains until they made stupid mistakes, dropped the ball or turned it over.
I really don’t know how to predict this game right now. I just have no familiarity with Nebraska. Pitt’s offense played a lousy first game against a bad opponent, that may have had a bit to do with jitters or not. The weather will be a factor. We’ll see.
In a final note, the College Football Radio Network will not be broadcasting the Nebraska-Pitt game. They are based in Mobile, Alabama and could not get out before Ivan arrived. They may do a future Pitt game.
