One final bit from the Virginia game. The fake FG. Virginia Coach Al Groh has his explanation.
According to Groh, Pittsburgh was in a defensive formation on the field goal that made the fake field goal automatic.
“It was an opponent-specific call,” Groh said. “We could call ‘white’ any time that the look was there and the look was probably only going to be there on that hash mark. If we get other looks, we would have other possibilities to do things with Vic.”
At that point, with UVa leading 37-14, the call would not necessarily have come from the bench.
Or would it?
“I wouldn’t say ‘not necessarily; I wouldn’t say ‘necessarily,’” said Groh, who then invoked Kiraly. “You’re supposed to play your best on every play, regardless of the time or the score in the game. You’re just trying to win the next play.
“The play was there, Vic called ‘white,’ and it didn’t have anything to do with minimizing the score or maximizing the score.”
Of course after the game, Groh initially said it was, uh, “hash-mark relative” to go for the fake. You know, I wasn’t bothered by them running the fake. I am finding the fact that Groh won’t admit to calling it and just wanting to run it for whatever reason a little strange and annoying, though.
The UVa game also was a solid reminder of Pitt’s defense deficiency starting with the DC.
And a second poor performance this season means the coaching hot seat is resting beneath defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads.
Pitt has given up 78 points in the past two games and the defense has struggled to force turnovers or come up with big, game-changing plays.
Virginia’s statistics weren’t overwhelming — it had 342 total yards — but that’s mostly because the Cavaliers had several short fields in which to work. But for the second consecutive week, the defense failed to make stops on third-and-long. Virginia converted on each of its first five third-down attempts and was successful in six of its first eight.
But the shorter fields weren’t the reason Virginia scored so quickly. The Panthers’ defense provided very little resistance and looked virtually powerless to stop the Cavaliers. Virginia scored touchdowns on its first four drives and a field goal on its fifth.
The Cavaliers, who built a 30-0 advantage, were content to play conservatively…
I can’t wait for the next article from someone to say how Rhoads deserves another year.
That brings us to the most likely candidate to write such an article. Joe Starkey’s ESPN.com Big East notebook (Insider subs.) has little not known already.
It’s time to regroup for coach Dave Wannstedt and the slumping Panthers (2-3, 0-1), who have a bye before hosting Navy on Oct. 10. Pitt has lost three in a row — 8 of 10 dating to last season — and is looking like a candidate for last place in the conference. Even in the bye week, there is bad news. Starting right tackle Jason Pinkston is out for the season with a shoulder injury. He joins receiver Derek Kinder, quarterback Bill Stull and defensive tackle Gus Mustakas on the long-term injury list. “We can use the extra time [off] with all the young players we’re using,” Wannstedt said.
“Regroup.” Sure why not. Oh, and the season isn’t lost either.
That isn’t much different than anything the Panthers have been saying to this point. But they still are showing a united front publicly despite mounting evidence that the season is rapidly spiraling out of control.
“Our season is not over yet,” Berry said. “We have to keep fighting. Right now we are at the point where we can either fold it up and give up or keep fighting and trying to get this thing right. And right now, it doesn’t seem like anyone here is ready to quit, everyone wants to turn this around, everyone wants to start winning and get to a bowl game.”
Berry’s sentiments were echoed by many of the players and coaches who, after taking a few days to heal and regroup, returned to the field yesterday for their first full contact practice in preparation for Navy (3-2).
The Panthers play host to the Midshipmen in a Wednesday prime-time affair, and Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said the outcome will go a long way toward determining the Panthers’ fate for the rest of the season. Wannstedt said the Panthers need a win, not only to get back to .500, but also to help the team regain its confidence.
And if Pitt doesn’t win, many fans will just be watching the sidelines to observe the body language and behavior of the players and coaches.
Coach Wannstedt is pleased with the progress and dedication QB Pat Bostick is already showing. Whether that translates into giving him a gameplan that actually lets him throw in the first half remains to be seen.
