masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
September 23, 2007

You know what makes this game so truly humiliating? (Well, lots of things but this really sticks out for me.) UConn only bothered to play offense for the first half. They rolled up 234 first half yards and ended the game with 289. Once again, the defense couldn’t actually get off the field as UConn was 5-9 on 3d down conversions in the first half. Don’t look at the total stats, they are very deceptive for this game.

UConn could essentially just sit on the ball the entire second half. During halftime, my friends and I discussed the likelihood of a comeback. Sure it was 27-7, but there was another half. Then, I asked a question, “Has Pitt comeback from any game in the second half under Wannstedt?”

“No.”

That was deflating and took a lot what little hope we had and crushed it under the heel of reality.

Even LeSean McCoy was limited by the coaches (not playing him much) and by an O-line that can’t block or do much that is good. McCoy had 70 yards on 11 carries, but 43 of the yards came on 2 carries. The other 9 carries went for 37 yards.

Moving on to media recap.

Coach Wannstedt put this loss on everyone.

The Panthers lost, 34-14, to the Connecticut Huskies last night before 40,145 at Heinz Field in one of the low points of the Dave Wannstedt era.

Pitt had six turnovers that contributed to 17 Connecticut points, was penalized eight times for 57 yards, converted 4 of 17 times on third down and allowed three sacks. It was exactly the kind of performance the Panthers (2-2, 0-1) could not afford in their Big East Conference opener. After the game, Wannstedt apologized for the way the team played.

“Speaking from my heart, I take full responsibility for that disappointing game,” Wannstedt said. “The fans came out and it was disappointing that we could not muster up a more effective attack. We have to be accountable for that and it starts with me.

“We started off with a couple of foolish penalties, we were late getting plays into the huddle, some formations were not what they should have been and then we turn the ball over a couple of times. I mean, with six turnovers, we’re lucky this thing wasn’t 60 instead of 34.”

1/3 of the way through the season and this team still has no clue and neither do the coaches.

Kevan Smith showed that it was the Grambling game that was the aberration not the Michigan State game with absolutely no clue or confidence as a QB. I believe his elbow problem is legit, though, I’m not sure if it happened in the game or if he was jumped on the sideline by teammates to force the change.

That led to the attempt in the local stories to try and find the silver lining because Pat Bostick showed at least signs of being able to throw the ball.

Pitt might have found a quarterback in true freshman Pat Bostick, who completed 27 of 41 passes for 230 yards in the second half, with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Oderick Turner. But Bostick threw three interceptions, including one that was returned 51 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Lawrence Wilson.

Wannstedt said Bostick will get the start next Saturday at Virginia.

Of course the O-line is a complete wreck. Again. Chris Vangas might as well hike the ball and curl into a ball. At least then, he might trip the defenders as they run straight up the middle. As it is now, they just go around him. Jason Pinkston is still out and Joe Thomas has looked clueless all season. McGlynn simply hasn’t been very good. Aside from Jeff Otah, there are no other bright spots on the line. The fact that no one behind them on the depth chart can or has moved up is probably more terrifying. It’s hard to imagine that the guys behind them are worse.

So how long Bostick lasts back there until he gets carted off is a legitimate question.

Bostick, who coach Dave Wannstedt announced as the starter at Virginia Saturday, completed 27 of 41 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. Bostick did throw three interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown, but appeared to grow more comfortable with each throw.

“Pat’s confidence, you could see it grow greatly,” tight end Nate Byham said. “I talked to him after the first two drives, I told him to calm his nerves a little bit, and he did and he started making great plays. That touchdown pass he threw was a great play, it reminded me of Tyler [Palko] last year.”

Hopefully he’s as durable as Palko. That Palko never got hurt playing behind the Pitt O-line is a true oddity.

As bad a loss this was for Pitt, it was big for UConn as they notched their second career Big East road win since becoming a full member in 2004. That year was also the last time they won a conference road game.

It was the first road victory in the Big East for UConn (4-0) since beating Rutgers on Thanksgiving 2004 and could be considered the biggest victory for the program since the victory over Toledo in the 2004 Motor City Bowl.

Yes, that’s right. One of their biggest wins. That theme got repeated in various Connecticut stories.

This was UConn’s most significant win since Dan Orlovsky’s last game against Toledo in the 2004 Motor City Bowl. Fittingly, the 27 points the Huskies ran up on Pitt in the first half are the most they have scored in a half since that game.

“As good a half since I’ve been here,” said coach Randy Edsall.

This win ranked among the handful of most important victories since UConn dared enter major college football. The shocker at Iowa State in 2002 … the only previous Big East road win, which came at Rutgers on Thanksgiving morning and led to a bowl berth … the Motor City bowl itself … that Big East win over the Panthers under the lights, on national TV, at Rentschler Field …

This one probably fits right in after those four. The Huskies are babies in terms of big-time football, but at the same time it had been 33 months since anybody could really go, “Wow, let’s sit up and take notice of them.”

“We walked in last Sunday and there was a sign in the training room that said we hadn’t won a road game since 2004,” quarterback Tyler Lorenzen said. “I went, `Wow, that’s a while ago.’ I was a freshman at Iowa State.”

The loss to UConn in 2004 helped chase Walt Harris out of Pitt, and this one is the kind that has got to make the seat of Wannstedt’s boxers hot, too. Including that double overtime win last year at Rentschler, UConn is 3-1 against the Panthers. The rest of the Big East has had UConn’s number, but, man, the Pitt administration must be shivering, wondering how Edsall has been able to exploit them.

Boos, mock cheers, emptied stadium. It was a horrible night for the home team at the confluence.

This kind of loss to this kind of team will have that effect on the home crowd.

It was the most lopsided UConn win in the Big East since beating Syracuse 26-7 in 2005.

This bit depressed the hell out me. It was probably the harshest write-up on the game regrading Pitt. It seems warranted.

It’s been a season-long slump for Pitt’s offense. Through three quarters against Connecticut, the Panthers made six first downs but they did convert a third-down attempt for the first time in 23 tries. That amazing streak of ineptitude stretches back to the second half of the Grambling State game.

“That’s horrible, horrible, horrible,” Wannstedt said. “We can’t win that way. You should be 40 or 50 percent. I think we were 0-for-21 before we converted one.”

The defense wasn’t much better.

Huskies quarterback Tyler Lorenzen looked like Pat White the way he ran through the Panthers. Take away sacks and Lorenzen had 50 yards rushing, most coming on third-and-longs that he turned into first downs. He also threw for 174 yards.

“Two scrambles killed us on third-and-long situations,” Wannstedt said.

The numbers weren’t staggering – Pitt actually outgained the Huskies, 349-289 – but Connecticut’s offensive effectiveness was impressive. Then again, any time an opponent uses the spread against Pitt, it works.

“I can’t understand it,” Wannstedt said. “We’re playing hard and banging around. We’re going to face it every week and face a lot more athletic guys.”

Gee, regardless of personnel or head coach, Pitt hasn’t handled the spread offense. What has been the consistent thing. Hmm. Let me think. Oh, yeah. That’s right, DC Paul Rhoads. Funny, no comments could be found from him after this performance.

Pitt helped Lorenzen look incredible in the first half. (Wonder if Rhoads will claim it just happened to be another career day for a UConn QB against Pitt.)

Lorenzen was 7-of-7 for 116 yards on those two drives as the Huskies took control with a 24-7 lead. They weren’t done, however. With less than a minute to go in the first half, Julius Williams sacked Smith and forced a fumble with Lawrence Wilson recovering at the Panthers’ 30-yard line. Ciaravino capped the spectacular first half with a 39-yard field goal for a 27-7 advantage as time expired.

Lorenzen’s numbers weren’t eye-opening, but he made all the plays he needed and managed the game almost flawlessly. He was 10-of-14 for 149 yards in the opening half.

In the second half, when UConn was just killing time, Lorenzen was only 2-11 for 29 yards.





Not one single second half win under DW……OUCH. Not to mention the second half of the season meltdowns in both years.

DW himself responded….I can’t understand it. DUH! Coaching like your still in the NFL doesn’t cut it.

A change needs to be made with the entire staff but it won’t happen.

Paul Dunn, Paul Rhoads, Matt Cavanaugh and Dave Wannstedt….thanks for running the program farther into the ground. Didn’t think it was possible but being extremely stubborn and playing the older guys and not playing the better football player, you guys have found a way. Nice job guys.

Comment by jk 09.23.07 @ 5:25 pm

To DW – your quote “plays late coming in and several (5) wrong formations”.

This is NOT HS football!!You could not administrate as Head Coach in Chicago or Miami…your teams and fans had the same comments about you, chaotic sidelines, players out of position, no adjustments at all to changing game situations,players not knowing their roles and poor preparation of your teams.

Not much has changed!!

Comment by Dan 72 09.23.07 @ 5:31 pm

I am not a football guy but even a blind man can see that limiting McCoy’s touches so that LSH can get into the game is idiotic.

We have 1 offensive weapon and he doesn’t start. How can that be?

Comment by DK 09.23.07 @ 6:06 pm

UConn’s highest recruiting ranking in the past 4 years? 59.
Every year, below Pitt’s recruiting rank, well below.
Yet, we made them look like national champs.
At least after the MSU game, I was excited for next year. Not any more. I don’t care who we have. We will suck.
Not playing McCoy was pure genious. Jumping offsides on 4th and short is something I havn’t seen in a while. First down on 2nd and 30…..AWSOME!!! Just keep Bending Defense….you’ve got that part down pat. I can’t remember what the other part you were supposed to do it.
Don’t let McCoy’s stats fool you. Yeah he gets 7 yards a carry….but he is a freshmen. So he obviously has no idea what he is doing. Would much rather have a 3 ypc junior or senior in the game. Pitt always exceeds expectations. I sat through the 72-0 game at Ohio State (I was there, it was great) and actually feel worse after this game.
How bout them Steelers?

Chas, I’m interested to know how much fewer hits you get now after that performance. Well, basketball season is coming up may skew the results.

Comment by Jon C 09.23.07 @ 6:44 pm

Paul Rhoads knows that his last days as DC will be horrible torture. I think he will be fired at the end of the season as opposed to during. We need fresh new ideas or how about we just pressure the QB a bit differently? The Steelers do it very well..it’s called Blitzing. Bend but don’t break still hurts…plexiglass is screaming the whole damn time.

I still have faith in this team. I really do. Just try your little hearts out for Unkie Panthoor. Forget who is telling you where to be on the field..it’s now time to use your better judgment. If the big bad man asks you to sit on the bench and you’re the star RB, then push him out of the way and run for that magical 6. You go girl!. if you’re on D, then go after the oblong and don’t listen to the incompetent man with the funny hat microphone talkie thingy. He doesn’t know what he thinks he knows. He knows nothing, nothing does he know. Is that clear?

I think Bostick will be fine. He will just have to learn the hard way but with Shady behind him I am sure the future will be better than what we saw last night. I just don’t know what this team can do right now to fix our hurt. The Obvious answer is to fire people right now but that’s basically telling newcomers that will coach here that at any given time, your family can be shot. Thanks for the memories, take my filthy money and leave town. We sleep in the crud we bred and take it like fans. But as soon as the season is over…it’s on like a slow Uconn QB in next years Heisman watch.

Comment by Panthoor 09.23.07 @ 7:35 pm

Do you know how many schools have achieved “their biggest wins” at the time against Pitt?

Rutgers (1st conference win in 1990 at home on an ESPN Thursday night game). Temple (1st conference win). Now add UConn?

This is crap. Pitt cannot be considered a big time program anymore.

Comment by Jeremy 09.23.07 @ 9:17 pm

On the other hand, the band has improved a lot.

Comment by ohiopittpanther 09.23.07 @ 9:32 pm

I just hope Shady doesn’t transfer. Really, he has to look at the situation and realize that this season is going to be fucking awful and that there is a good chance that few if any big time recruits are going to want to come to a program that is in a complete downward spiral into obsolescence. Just sayin’.

Comment by Carmen 09.23.07 @ 10:02 pm

They could beat UVA and Navy and be 4-2 after 6 games.

The real questions are, can we get 6 wins this year and on 1 more awesome recruitng class (Pryor would be a nice bonus).

A 2,3,4 or 5 win season would be VERY tough to come back from going forward.

Comment by scoocher 09.23.07 @ 10:15 pm

Why does anybody think Rhoads will be fired?????? He’s sucked for 8 years (or so) now. His defense was responsible for the absolute most embarrassing BCS bowl performance I’ve ever seen against (as proven in the Steeler game today) a very mediocre QB. That single game made the kid the top pick in the NFL draft!!!! Yet not only was Rhoads not fired then, he was about 2 days away from BEING NAMED THE HEAD COACH. Then when they hire someone else, THE ADMINISTRATION FORCES THE GUY ON THE NEW COACH. So why does anyone think this will be any different? In fact, Rhoads may well be the only survivor.

Comment by geeman2001 09.23.07 @ 10:27 pm

I haven’t seen it this bad since Johnny Majors and John Ryan.

Comment by Brian of Brooklyn 09.23.07 @ 10:40 pm

I went to sleep during the second half. Not a big deal but I was at Hienz field and I went to sleep in my seat with a shirt over my head. I couldn’t watch it anymore. Easly the worst drive home ever. It seemed like it took 15 hours to drive home last night.

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 09.23.07 @ 11:04 pm

Shady will not transfer, for one thing he already spent a year at a prep school. For another, he knows that he will be the feature back soon…and if you were at the game, you are already seeing the Shady replica jersey all over the place. Pitt would have to fire DW for Shady to want to transer. Besides, while I did not see us getting whipped by UCONN at home, I had no high expectations for this season. I think seven wins would be great from this team.

Comment by HbgFrank 09.23.07 @ 11:10 pm

A phrase I thought I would hear only at Duke, but not at Pitt: “Well, at least basketball season is around the corner…”

Getting back to Wanny’s 2nd halves, this is nothing new. In the 2002 Dolphins season finale against the Patriots in Foxboro, Fins OT Mark Dixon overheard some Pats players yelling, “Hang in! They’ll fold!!”

Comment by Joshua 09.23.07 @ 11:50 pm

I ranted enough last night.

Wanny’s a good guy, he can somehow talk good players into coming here, and he’s been a great defensive coordinator in college and the NFL… BUT THE GUY HAS NO FUCKING CLUE HOW TO BE A HEAD COACH!!!!!

Seriously, sucker him into brining us one more good recruiting class, then fire him and bring in somebody that can actually develop these kids!!

Why oh why did I decide to ruin the afterglow of a Steelers win by talking Pitt football!?!?!?!?!

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my dad 09.24.07 @ 1:45 am

The new AD should insist on a new head coach. Dave is right, it’s all on him. The guy doesn’t make any decisions until it’s too late. Part of being a head coach is recognizing what is working and what’s not working and making changes. Clearly he has not / did not make timely choices yesterday and throughout his whole tenure at Pitt. When it comes to things like getting rid of Rhodes, choosing a quarterback, playing Shady over LSH he sits on hands rather than make a decision and allows the ship to sink. It’s really a shame that he Wanny has been such a great recruiter but is such a really terrible football coach. Even that would be o.k. if he left the X’s and O’s to compentent people, but he’s such a poor judge of talent (coaching and playing) that he needs to be replaced by this incoming AD. And as for his recruiting, seriously, who would come to Pitt when they see that this moron won’t even use McCoy for all he’s worth. We need a coach who’s young and hungry -who’s willing to take chances. If Rutgers can be turned around, Pitt can be turned around. Those of you waiting for next year might as well forget it. Even if everyone’s healthy and a year more experienced, Dave won’t use them correctly and we’ll lose games we should win. I’ve been a Dave-backer up until now but the man is hopeless.

Comment by frankinchicago 09.24.07 @ 7:34 am

LSH averages 2.5 ypc. McCoy averages 6.4 ypc. Why does LSH get the ball, EVER? He is not in the same league. Let me help you Mr. Wanndstedt. If you want to fix your offense, then give the ball to #25. That’s it. This is not organic chemistry or mathematical finance. You give the ball to your best player as many times as possible. LSH gets the ball if #25 is tired. Don’t worry about him getting hurt. Do you think your colleague, Mr. Greg Schiano, is worried about Ray Rice getting hurt? Or Lloyd Carr at Michigan with Mike Hart (44 carries on Saturday)? Just give him the ball. Don’t worry about your aerial attack, believe me it will work out. You will only have to throw 5-10 passes a game (see Rutgers last season) and they will be wide open. The season isn’t over, just give #25 the ball and the offense will improve. Also, FIRE PAUL RHOADS!!!!

Comment by Omar 09.24.07 @ 10:07 am

One more thing for Wanndstedt, run #25 behind Jeff Otah. He is your best offensive lineman.

Comment by Omar 09.24.07 @ 10:27 am

[…] 5. UConn upsets Pitt 34-14 – The post game press conference was like a wake. After 2 and a half seasons, the Dave Wannstedt era in Pittsburgh finally has its signature game. Unfortunately for the Panther program, it didn’t come in the form of a marquee win but a rather embarrassing loss. Randy Edsall and the Connecticut Huskies came out of the Steel City with just their second road win in Big East play and are now 4-0. UConn is sitting pretty considering they should have lost to Temple, but Dave Wannstedt’s warming seat has to be considered the primary story here. Wannstedt seemed genuinely dumbfounded at the press conference, often saying”I don’t understand,” and “I don’t know.” Just how bad has the Pittsburgh offense been? Pitt actually failed to convert on 23 straight 3rd downs, spanning most of their last 3 games. Connecticut built a 27-7 halftime lead and just sat on the ball for the duration of the second half, coasting to an easy win. And just think, it was 10 years ago that Walt Harris had Pitt beating a ranked Miami team on Thursday night. Someone out there is saying I told you so. From a Dan Le Batard column: “A former Wannstedt assistant told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that it’ll take five years for Wannstedt to turn the University of Pittsburgh into Temple.” […]


“Someone out there is saying I told you so.”

Yeah, that would be me, Dan72, frankinchicago, and every other Bears and Dolphins fan in the world. You wanted a Pitt guy, you got one. I’m sure that if Pitt had offered Randy Shannon, he would have taken the offer.

Comment by Joshua 09.24.07 @ 3:10 pm

In ref. to Zeise and his report regarding the areas in which they (Pitt) need to improve.

The offensive line. — OK

Eliminating mistakes. — OK

Establishing an identity. — SURE (let’s be creative, too, we’ve got plenty of time to afford the issue). … But to include …

The wide receivers. = NOT VALID ARGUMENT (regardless of Od.Turner’s play). Why?

Because: IMO/ his-her IMO, it’s plain to see that:

… Panther receivers (TEs/ WOuts, etc.) need a QB to throw the GD ball their way, too; if the ball is thrown ineffectively ad infinitum, then what’s point of argument? FFS, PZeise, get an F grip, will ya? What do you propose in place of…Kevan Smith…?

…and do you really still agree with the coaching staff that “Bostick is not nearly ready,”; I mean was that your comment or did the HC put those words on paper for you to write down in your column?

WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF++++++++

On Bostick: Even if he’s not wholly ready, he certainly proved ‘ready enough’ to lose the game in ‘BRIGHTER’ fashion than did Smith. Smith was deplorable, and it didn’t take a scout — nor a degree in FB management — to see that in the preceding games. (Even the analysts and color guys for TV-radio have seen the obvious/ blatant self injury divvied out wks 2-3-4, w/ the bloodletting poised for spillover into wk 5.)

Of note:

If you were a potential recruit @ Heinz Field on Sat., would you still have this Pitt program on your list? (BTW – If my son had considered an offer, he wouldn’t consider much longer; that is, after this weekend’s “showdown” vs. UCONN, his decision wouldn’t be his to make any longer; viz. Papa knows best…)

Again, UCONN 34 – pitt 14

Comment by Neil 09.24.07 @ 7:30 pm

keep wannstedt as hc make hime hire young and hungry coordinators that know what they are doing, matt c rhoades and dunn must be gone. none of their players get any better. if you are going to take suspect ol recruits, coach them up. either that or go shotgun all game. 3rd and 8 , with our offensive line. why were we under center? one other thing, what the heck is # 26 on defense playing 20 yards off the ball for??

Comment by Kurt 09.25.07 @ 11:23 am

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter