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November 3, 2006

Zeise Q&A: Still Looking Back

Filed under: Football,Media,Tactics — Chas @ 10:26 am

No discussion in the Q&A about the Bulls. Zeise in his intro states that he thinks Pitt should and will win this one.

I guess if Coach Wannstedt and DC Paul Rhoads aren’t going to answer the question about stuffing the box to stop the run — other then to give a “because, I say so” response — Zeise is going to have to keep answering for them.

Q: What are your thoughts on the game plans against Rutgers? Why no hurry up offense? Why no eight men in the box?

ZEISE: The Panthers did some hurry-up offense and to some degree it worked.

I thought on defense, the game plan was pretty solid ?? they were losing 13-10 with about 10 minutes to play. The idea that there were so many different things the Panthers should have tried on defense to me is a little silly given the fact that they held Rutgers — despite giving up a huge edge in field position — to six points in the first half. The defense did the job and finally just wore down.

The offensive game plan seemed to be sound, it was the execution that was terrible. I know that is coach-speak but in this case it is true. The Panthers were their own worst enemy. They had penalties, they had dropped passes, they had a lot of negative plays. They seemed to be in terrible field position and third and long the entire first half. It is hard to call plays when that is the case.

I will concede the offense bears a lot of responsibility for doing a poor job in execution. Missing opportunities, making mistakes and drops. No question. It also allowed the Rutgers defense to take more chances and get more aggressive.

Having said that, the defensive game plan was anything but solid.  They held them to only 6 points in the first half, in large part becaues Rutgers brokedown at the very end of those drives and a missed a 35 yard FG. As for the defense wearing down, sure because that’s what happens when you continually bend but don’t break. Rutgers held the ball for over 18 minutes in the first half (10:24 in just the second quarter) and converted 3-6 on 3d downs in the second quarter.

I don’t want to keep rehashing the same thing. It’s just that it defends the indefensible and offers flawed logic. If you allow a team to continually get better field position, you keep the offense further back and don’t do anything to help change field position and it is no shock later in the game that the D is wearing down.

Q: There is a movement among Pitt fans to have a “Blue Out” for the WVU game, where all students and fans wear blue to the game. What do you think?

ZEISE: I think it is noble and all, but doesn’t West Virginia also wear blue? So how can you tell who is cheering for either team because a lot of Mountaineers fans will be wearing blue? I mean, it would make more sense to me if Pitt still wore the blue of the old uniform colors.

You know, I make no promises as to what color I wear to a night game in November other then to be certain it is quite warm.





Ziese also thought WVU would win handily last night.

Comment by Reed 11.03.06 @ 2:43 pm

Maybe if we are lucky, half of the lights at Heinz will go out too and then we’ll win.

Comment by Joey T 11.03.06 @ 2:56 pm

Bring back the old uniforms for the LVille and WVU game.

Comment by jimbo b 11.03.06 @ 4:48 pm

I know this is not going to be popular here….but, while I do think that we should have packed the box against RU, I am not so sure that is the right thing to do against WVU. The fact is RU had one threat in it’s backfield, WVU has two. As fast as the Louisville defense is, White and Slaton were breaking off 8 to 15+ yard runs with ease last night. I think our best bet is run our base defense and spy the QB…I’m not looking past USF or UC, both of which we can lose if we don’t play well. It just struck me that the WVU running game is such a machine that it beats 8 and 9 guys up front with ease. Keeping them from the big plays may be a better way to go. Does anyone else see it this way?

Comment by Frank 11.03.06 @ 6:22 pm

Frank,

I wish it was as simple as “spy the QB”, but WVU’s running spread option is a much more difficult monster to contain.

Even if you spy Pat White, he is incredibly fast and elusive. The 2 headed monster that is White-Slaton will be extremely difficult for Pitt to stop. Louisville showed how to beat them, and that is by capitalizing on WVU’s mistakes, and constantly putting up points while your own offense is on the field.

Comment by Ryan M 11.03.06 @ 7:28 pm

I think the bend but don’t brake BS is our best option against WVU. Let’s face it, WVU is going to crush us. Might as well keep the score to a minimum.

Comment by Jon C 11.03.06 @ 10:08 pm

The only good defense against WVU and Ville is run the ball on offense and control the clock. We can not and will not stop these teams from scoring. We need to limit there posessions and try to maintain a field position advantage.
I’m encouraged that we will be able to throw on both teams, but we MUST be able to run the ball to win!!

Comment by TMGPanther 11.04.06 @ 1:14 am

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