Little sidebar venting. Since the wife told me her mom and step-dad were coming up today, I didn’t buy a month’s worth of Pitt/Yahoo! internet radio to listen to the game. Instead, I got roped into running a couple errands and we got back a little before 1pm. Around 4 pm, and still no in-laws, she realizes she goofed. They aren’t coming up until tomorrow. Arrrggghhh!!!!
Anyhow, once I got home I popped back to the computer. Go to ESPN.com to check the game cast activity. Pitt’s already down 13-6. Reyes already has 115 yards rushing. I’m starting to scroll backwards to see what happened when the phone rings. Caller ID tells me it’s Lee.
“Hey, Lee, what the hell is happening in this game?”
“Fire. Harris. Now.”
“That bad?” Then I look up at the computer screen and see why. The score is now 20-6, then quickly 21-6.
“What the fu–”
Lee cuts me off, “We can’t stop the run for s–t. They’re running on us at will.”
The conversation became more animated after that. Lee eventually went back to his attempts to watch that game, the OSU-Mich. St. game and Penn St.-N’western (his wife is a PSU alum) all at once.
We spoke several more times after that. I was basically glued to the computer the rest of the game. Waiting for little blue and orange lines on a football field to tell me what was happening.
So, my view of the game feels very simulated.
If the first half was all about why Harris needs to go, then the 3rd quarter and most of the 4th was all about why Syracuse fans want to throw Pasqualoni out in the snow.
Pitt showed no ability to stop the run in the first half. Syracuse compiled over 300 yards in the first half. Reyes and Damien Rhodes ran for over half of it. Rhodes has already shown he is a capable back in his own right, so when Reyes hurt his back early in the 3rd quarter, you expect to see Rhodes take over the load. Not with Pasqualoni in charge. Time to have the young QB, Patterson, shoulder the load.
This led to the Patterson fumble that led to the Pitt score to tie the game. Following a 45 yard kickoff return — by the way, when did Pitt become incapable of tackling and covering on kickoffs and punts ? I’m just wondering — they go 3 and out. Pitt gets another field goal (missing a big opportunity) and again, a huge kickoff return (by Rhodes). So, time to run the ball. Chew some clock, take advantage of the bad run defense. No. 3 straight pass attempts. The last being intercepted.
Pitt failed to get a 45 yard field goal. I understand Cummings had the distance on his misses, but… Was he just hooking them? Were they even close? Anyone care to fill me in?
You look at the play-by-play list, and you see that when they do run Rhodes, they get yardage, but then inexplicably they have Patterson throwing 2-3 times in a row. Leading to punts.
Of course, Pitt can’t put the game away. Kirkley and Murphy seemed to be running well enough, but Furman couldn’t do anything unless it was via catching the ball.
Finally someone must have smacked Pasqualoni, because the final Syracuse drive of the 4th quarter was all Damien Rhodes. 35 yards running and 5 more on a pass. Helped set up the game tying fieldgoal. Pitt doesn’t have enough time. Forced to take a 51 yard field goal that misses.
Leads to OT.
Pitt with the ball first, and scores quickly. Furman is the big weapon — by catching the ball. I get it. He has the best hands in the backfield to make him a versatile weapon. At least in theory. The problem is, going into OT he had 3 carries for 5 yards. Not a great yds/carry avg. That makes his usefulness, somewhat limited. If he is handed the ball, there isn’t much gained.
Unfortunately Pitt can’t stop Syracuse now. Lee told me after the game that the D just looked gassed. Sad since Pitt actually won the time of possession battle. New questions about their conditioning? Rhodes ran for 36 yards in the two OTs. Including all 25 yards on 3 carries in the 2nd OT. Pitt just couldn’t stop the run. Again. Same as last year.
Pitt’s D was embarrassed. They allowed two players to run for over 100 yards against them in the game. They allowed more running yards than passing yards. Plus a key penalty in the Syracuse drive to tie the game and in the 1st OT.
The offense had its problems. It failed to capitalize on some opportunities, and got off to a sluggish start. Obviously the running game was less than stellar. But the passing game was working, and Pitt still put up 24 points in regulation. The defense and special teams, though, hurt the team in a big way.
Well, now Syracuse has a good chance to make a bowl. They just need to beat BC or Temple. I wouldn’t be totally surprised to see them run the table. I kind of want them to. Take out BC.
Harris and Pitt lost the lame duck bowl. I’m guessing Harris won’t be taking calls on his radio show this week. Notre Dame, fresh off it’s big upset win in Tennessee is next. Anyone feeling real optimistic?
