Amazing what winning 2 straight can do for your optimism.
Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko is starting to get that old feeling again, and that’s good news for the Panthers, whose offensive struggles early in the season have cost them a chance to win at least two games.
Palko played his best game of the season Saturday in the Panthers’ 31-17 win against the South Florida Bulls at Heinz Field as he completed 15 of 21 passes for 203 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Not coincidentally, the Panthers’ offense was more efficient than it had been all season.
Palko’s performance, in fact, was somewhat reminiscent of the way he played down the stretch last year when he led the Panthers to six wins in their final seven games and a berth in the Bowl Championship Series Fiesta Bowl. He said the reason he and the offense have played increasingly better each week is simple: Experience.
“I’m still learning things but I am getting more comfortable,” Palko said, “and we as a team are getting more comfortable. I know people don’t want to hear excuses, but we’re in a new system with new coaches, and sometimes it takes a little bit of time to settle in and get a good feel for what we’re trying to get accomplished on offense.
“You have to remember, I am almost like a rookie in this after playing three years in a different system. I’m starting to settle in, though, so it won’t be long before that guy you remember from last year is back.”
Isn’t it startling the difference when the offensive line gives him a little more time to throw? Palko was still sacked 5 more times — bringing the season total up to a conference worst 24 — but on about 3 of them they were more the result of him holding the ball too long then simply the O-line getting run over.
Next, is Syracuse. Last year was the legendary “Lame Duck” game, which exceeded my expectations as both teams lost coaches. I always worry about Syracuse. I feel like I’m channelling Lou Holtz with on of his “Temple scares the hell out of me,” type pronouncements in the week leading up to the game.
Sure they are 0-3 in the Big East and have only a win against Buffalo. Still, I did see them play a good, close loss against UVA. I just see a very desperate team that Pitt, far too often has not put away when given a chance.
They are, though, struggling horribly in the first year under Greg Robinson. They are still trying to adjust to a West Coast Offense. And how desperate is Robinson for trying to excuse the bad performance? He’s actually using Pitt and Coach Wannstedt as a positive model in a press conference yesterday.
Robinson on keeping the team confident:
“That’s probably the biggest task of all. I like our players. They’re resilient. I’m not going to take that lightly and I’m not going to assume that it’s all huggy-kissy and all that. No. We all have to dig in. I talked to our team. Pitt was 1-4. They were 1-4 and one time ranked 23rd in the country. They hung in there, now all of the sudden, they won two in a row. I guarantee you they didn’t feel very good. I think that we have those kinds of people. Like I say to you, it’s an issue; one that we’re sensitive to.”
That’s inspiring. And sensitive, and very tender.
Syracuse has their game notes available (PDF). A simple tale of the tape comparison:
SU OFFENSE — UP DEFENSE
15.3 ——- Scoring ——– 19.9
264.5 — Total Yardage —- 322.6
117.3 — Rushing Yardage — 158.6
147.2 —Passing Yardage — 164.0
63.6 —– Total Plays ——- 69.7
36.5 —- Rushing Plays —– 42.1
27.2 —– Passing Plays —– 27.6
4.2 —— Avg. Per Play —– 4.6
3.2 —— Avg. Per Rush —– 3.8
5.4 —— Avg. Per Pass —— 5.9
11.0 —– Avg. Per Catch —– 12.1
2.3 ——– Turnovers ——— 1.2SU DEFENSE ————— UP OFFENSE
22.8 ———- Scoring ———– 25.1
339.7 ——- Total Yardage —— 347.7
168.2 —— Rushing Yardage —- 121.1
171.5 ——- Passing Yardage —- 226.6
68.3 ———- Total Plays ——– 69.1
41.8 ——— Rushing Plays ——- 37.0
26.5 ——— Passing Plays ——- 32.1
5.0 ———- Avg. Per Play ——– 5.0
4.0 ——— Avg. Per Rush ——– 3.3
6.5 ———- Avg. Per Pass ——– 7.0
12.4 ——– Avg. Per Catch ——- 12.9
2.5 ———– Turnovers ———- 2.0
According to the numbers, ‘Cuse isn’t particularly good on offense or defense.
