Sorry, very late start this morning. Missed the first few minutes trying to finish other things.
Hmm. The Pitt white jerseys. Don’t really like those gold shoulder accents.
McCoy looks good running so far.
12:27: Aargh. Damn, that was a gift that Phillips dropped.
12:33: Oh, my god, a sack. A real sack. Clermond got there. The MSU O-line not exactly assertive early.
Crap. Soft coverage allowed nearly 20 yards to at least give them a FG or even go for it. Going for it. Wow. No trying to draw offside, but Cox jammed receiver 3 yards and he dropped it.
Mick Williams can’t stay healthy can he?
12:38: (^^$&#$@%@%. Interception. Smith threw that poorly right to the defender.
Was that Smth’s first pass attempt?
12:40: Then Hoyer scrambles to buy time and hits a receiver down at the 3. End of the 1st Q and MSU has 1st and goal. If there’s any silver lining to what I’m seeing to this point is that MSU will stay conservative and that will keep the score close. That, at least will give Pitt a chance.
12:44: Almost a big stop inside the 5, but no. Instead the Caulcrick just busted through the arm tackle of Phillips for the score.
7-0 MSU 14:15 left in the half.
12:49: Holy crap! McCoy blew past a sealed block to the outside. An actual, goddamned block. And then he really hit it and went 64 yards for the TD
7-7 13:54 to go in the 1st half.
1:00: Aiigghhh! Interception. High and away from Turner, off his hands. Returned for a TD. 0 passing yards.
14-7 MSU 11:00.
1:04: Wow. McCoy gets outside and nearly 20 yards.
Dare I suggest to help Smith, that they roll him out and let him run? Give him a chance to use his athleticism to do something and maybe get his head back into the game.
Have to admit, Andre Ware is dead-on with his observations from the booth with Smith. He just got happy feet about the pocket and didn’t look downfield at all.
1:10: Tough decision for Cavanaugh. He needs to have Smith get his confidence, and maybe throw in something other than on 3d and long — when the Spartans know it’s coming. But that would mean not giving the ball to McCoy .
1:11: Jeez. Pitt has its 3d sack. What the hell? I’m seeing the line and the linebackers getting into the backfield? How is that happening?
Berry has a nice return on the punt to get it to about mid-field.
1:13: Yeah! A reception by Pestano for positive yards in the passing game. Great Pinkston “shaken up.” Just what the O-line needs.
1:17: I’m surprised to see Smith struggle mentally so much. His head/confidence seems so shaken.
1:20: Ergh. Screen worked beautifully for MSU. Picked up the 1st down on 3d and 10.
There! What Hoyer did for MSU on the roll-out. Just run a little. I’d like to see Smith give that a shot just to feel like he is actually contributing to the offense.
1:30: Two straight false start penalties, just as Pitt moves a little in the two minute drills.
Then Smith sacked. That ends the half.
14-7 Michigan State.
Wannstedt was asked about whether Bostick will be coming in for the second half. Completely non-committal.
2 INT. One returned for a TD and the other leading to the score.
