Hey to those not making this game. Nasty case of bronchitis kept me home for the day. Between the hacking and the side-effects of the antibiotics, I wasn’t going anywhere. So that puts me in full couch potato mode, but disturbingly sober. Will this game force my hand? Let’s find out.
12:08: Hey, no 3 and out to start the game. Promising? Or just raising some small hope to create greater anguish? Discuss.
12:11: Quote from the play-calling booth after Bostick was under immediate pressure from the shotgon. “The last two plays the Pitt offensive line did not win the battle up front.” There’s something new. Punting.
12:12: Sigh. QB Ben Mauk takes off for 56 yards on Cinci’s first play. Well, the defense is stable. Unfortunately.
12:15: TD Cinci. A little over 2 minutes to go 82 yards.
12:22: The O-line isn’t waiting to lay down for this. I am not feeling good that I will be keeping this up beyond halftime. 4th and inches (with a good spot).
Going for it.
“That’s not a good push. That’s not a good push at all.” Your Pitt Panthers O-line folks.
7-0 Cinci. 9:27 left in the first quarter.
Not promising.
Sigh. Didn’t get it.
12:27: Homecoming. Beautiful sunny day. Lots of empty seats. That’s what happens when there is no hope.
12:28: Cinci is trying to help. 2 false starts after Cox committed the blatant pass int. to Put it inside the 20.
Surprise. Mike Phillips was in a good position to help and stop the TD pass.
A blitz? From Pitt? It worked? No sack, but holding Cinci to a FG when starting inside the 30.
10-0 Cinci. 6:55 in the 1st quarter.
12:37: A change of pace with LaRod Stephens-Howling.
Some actual time to throw for Bostick and he gets 18 yards to Turner. Underthrew the ball, though.
No, no, no. I know you want to give Howlings some touches, but go with some change of pace on the drive. Get McCoy back in there in the same drive to keep the defense a little more off-balanced.
Damn, just out of Turners reach on that slant.
FG.
10-3 Cinci.
12:46: Just dissecting the Pitt D with this drive so far. Pathetic.
12:48: Of course a little blind luck helps. A false start than a bad snap goes past Mauk and now it’s 2nd and 22 back beyond midfield.
The first quarter ends and Pitt is only down 7. How sad is that to feel that Pitt is lucky to only be losing by a TD after only 1 quarter?
12:53: Start of Q2 and Greg Romeus makes a great leap to knock the ball away in what would have been a bubble screen.
Pitt takes over on the 31 after the punt.
12:54: Can you imagine how good Pitt’s running game could be with an O-line? McCoy got 8 yards all by himself.
12:56: Mo Williams on the end around. Great sell by McCoy and Pitt is moving.
Ugh. Pestano now called for a personal foul. That was weak. Both were shoving.
1:01: Bostick is really underthrowing the ball on deep throws.
Punt. Fair caught at the 12. Now flags after the punt. Late hit by Cinci. Backed up to 7.
1:05: Hey, the defense held and may actually put the offense in good field position. Depending of course on how Pitt returns the punt. Cinci just has started very sloppy.
1:06: Damn it. If you signal for a fair catch. Catch it. Instead, let it bounce from the Pitt 42 to the 33.
1:10: Great. Joe Thomas limping off with help. McCoy had a huge run plus a 5 yard facemask.
McCoy makes something out of nothing on the next play and then a late hit by Cinci. Man, Cinci is just sloppy.
1:12: McCoy gets a break, and Stephens-Howling takes it for 10 to have first and goal at the ten. Wow. Change of pace worked. Go figure.
1:15: TD to Strong! Right over the middle. He shielded the ball from the defender leaping over him (Pass int. penalty denied).
10-10 with 7:46 left in the half.
67 yard drive. 20 yards in Cinci penalties 2 accepted, 1 declined. Pitt did this one on the ground.
1:18: Well that fired up the special teams. Ransom takes the returner down after only 8 yard return to the 20.
1:21: Back them up. Team fired up. Another false start by Cinci. Give up the big play by the defense. Then another 1st down. Grife.
1:24: Break and break defense.
1:28: TD Cinci on a 79 yard drive that took over 4 minutes.
17-10 Cinci. 3:18 left in the half.
Deflating? You bet.
1:33: Stephens-Howling goes for 10 up the middle. Plus a personal foul facemask. Good grief, Cinci is trying to give Pitt a chance.
1:36: Not that Pitt did anything with it. Stalls out near midfield. One more chance for Cinci. They’ll be starting at the 22.
1:39: Why is it after every time the D gets a chance to gather around Rhoads, the Panthers give up a big play? They really love playing for him huh?
38 yardsas the blitz was picked up.
1:44: FG is no good. Wow. A chip shot missed. Another break for Pitt.
17-10 Cinci at the half.
Pitt under Wannstedt has never won a game when trailing at the half. Anyone believe that will change today? Anyone? Anyone?
1:58: Halftime thoughts. No turnovers so far. Don’t expect Pitt to get any in this game.
For most of the game, Cinci has been lousy, sloppy and lazy. Occasional flashes come through, and it seems to be enough.
Pitt isn’t great on offense but not horrible either. The running game seems to be working well and some actual mixing it up with McCoy and Stephens-Howling rather than one series for one and then the other on the next. Cinci’s defense hasn’t been too strong on the sidelines either against the run or pass.
If neither side makes an adjustment, Pitt would still have a chance. Cinci, though, will make adjustments. You can count on that. Pitt will probably see no reason to, since the gameplan is fine. It’s all about execution. Uh-huh.
2:07: Sideline reporter says Cinci coach Brian Kelly was embarrassed by the way his team played. Takes responsibility but will change things in the second half. Paul Rhoads by contrast said the game was a battle of wills.
I’m going to have to start drinking soon.
2:07: Shockingly, Cinci went 3 and out. Pitt starting at the 19.
2:11: Cinci was trying to blitz. A delay handoff to McCoy. Big gain for Pitt.
2:15: 35 yard pick-up. Porter all alone in the middle of the field and 20 yards after the catch. 1st and goal.
Another delay and McCoy managed to get inside the 5.
2:16: Holding by Pitt makes it 2d and goal from the 15. Wildcat hand off to porter goes nowhere.
3d and goal. Only 6 yards when Bostick got flushed. Outlet to Byham.
FG by Lee is good.
Pitt now trails 17-13, 8:01 in the quarter.
Disappointing to get to 1st and goal but only 3. Play of the drive was Mickens of Cinci committing the dumb personal foul by lifting and driving Porter down after the whistle blew. It would have been 3d down and Pitt looked at a clear 3 and out at that point. Cinci is an increasingly reckless team. It has worked for them so far, but they have been getting more reckless as the season progressed, rather than figure more out. Not sure I get that.
2:21: Pitt on that kickoff coverage looked so slow. Guess Pitt still needs to get faster.
2:25: Romeus seeing lots of action today and gets a sack when Mauk tried to take off on 3d and 8. Not sure what Cinci is doing on offense today? No no-huddle. Very traditional offense today. It’s like they want to give Pitt a chance.
Punt gets downed by Cinci inside the 1. Have to imagine the Bearcat Defense will be stacking 9 in the box to try and break through to get the safety.
2:30: Ugh. Solid pass by Bostick to Turner at the 18. Hit and fumble. But then the refs conferred and reversed saying incomplete.
Damn. Pitt didn’t get the play off before the booth review came.
2:35: Official attendance, a bit over 33,000.
Lucky break for Pitt as the replay booth doesn’t review.
2:36: Porter catches and gets the first down after a tip.
Followed by a delay of game, but at least Bostick won’t drop back or handoff in the endzone.
Matha is out there on the O-line.
Byham gets the first down.
2:39: Moving the ball. Mixing up run and pass. Astounding. When Pitt actually doesn’t get predictable on offense, they really move against Cinci.
2:41: As soon as I type it, the drive stall out at midfield. On the bright side. Winning the chessmatch that is field position.
Punt hung nicely but went into the endzone.
2:45: Is it just me, or am I seeing Pitt playing more and more of the younger, more talented guys on both sides of the ball over the experienced players?
Another 3 and out by Cinci. The defense really stopped Cinci.
Punt dies at the Pitt 49. Pitt actually in good field position.
2:48: Howling pops it back outside after nothing inside and gets 14 yards. The quarter ends. Pitt trails 17-13.
2:51: &^$#$@*** Interception.
Deep but right to Smith of Cinci. Turner had turned inside. Not sure if it was miscommunication or not.
2:55: Pitt gets a turnover when hit from the back while held at the legs.
Pitt takes over outside the 20.
But of course they are reviewing it. I guess maybe they are reviewing for forward progress?
2:57: Play stands. Pitt at the 22.
McCoy for 6 yards.
2:59: Nothing else. Pitt has to kick a FG.
Just inside the left upright.
17-16 Cinci with 11:10 left in the game.
3:02: You know, this is the 4th or 5th time I’ve seen Cinci play this year. This is not the offense I have watched from them. They aren’t doing any no-huddle. Not really doing much with the spread. It’s almost like the spirit of Mark Dantonio took over Brian Kelly for this game against Pitt. They are playing so conventionally, it is really giving Pitt a chance.
3:05: Good god, another fumble by Cinci. This time after a big gain on the shovel. Shane Murray strips him. Pitt at their own 38.
3:06: Screen to Stephens-Howling for 10 yards on 1st and 15.
3:09: Just as the drive looked to die, Bostick gets it to Porter coming across for 15 yards. Pitt at the 35.
3:11: Stephens-Howling for 9 yards up the middle. Again, and takes it to the 21 for a 1st down.
3:12: Wow. S-H again up the middle with a hole. An actual hole and gets 13. 1st and goal at the 8.
3:13: Stephens-Howling for 7 yards straight ahead for a TD. 13 carries 100 yards.
Another hole opened. Going for two on this. Uh-oh.
Converted to Turner wide open in the front of the left side of the endzone!!!
Pitt leads 24-17. 5:03 left in the game. A second half lead? Holy crap.
Turner then flagged for unsportsmanlike? The booth sounds a bit surprised. Have to see the replay after the commercial break.
3:20: Cinci blows the break. Brytus kicks a solid, deep line drive that goes through the returners hands. All the way back to the goal line. Brought down at the 21.
3:21: Damn. 22 yard gain on 3d and 9.
3:22: Berry with the INT. His first. Oh good, golly.
The replay before the break looked like Berry may have gotten away with a little push before making the interception.
Pitt has to kill more than 2 minutes. Not sure what is up with the Cinci offense. No urgency on that drive. Taking too much time, nothing even looking like no-huddle. I’m not complaining. Just confused.
3:27: Cinci now out of timeouts with 2:37 left. 3d and 3.
3:28: McCoy picked up 8 for the 1st down. Now time is actually on Pitt’s side.
3:29: Just keep both hands on the ball.
Wow. Curvin Richards and Darnell Dickerson references. That was the last pair of Pitt players to run for over 100 yards until today.
3:30: Taking a knee. Holy crap.
Wannstedt is now forced to call the rest of the season from the booth.
Final Thoughts. I have to now do monitor duty for the rest of the day and night at FanHouse. I think I need a little time on this. Wow. Pitt actually provided a glimpse of what Coach Wannstedt said he always wanted to do. Is it an aberration? Having Cinci’s number (7-0 alltime now)? Pride? Playing more of the young kids? Things actually coming together? Some combo?
I don’t know yet. It’s the first encouraging thing from the team as a whole this season rather than just individual players.
good win today, run game looked strong and the defense finally came up with some key turnovers- our first turnovers since grambling state (not counting blocked punts)
It was weird to watch at some points – i never see our D heading TOWARDS the other team – usually they’re waiting until someone comes to them, or runs by them and then chase. Half the time I didn’t know what I was watching…
But after watching the MSU game, and then what came for the next 2 weeks after, i still have no hope until both sides of the ball show up 2 weeks in a row.
Let’s see what we can do to a Kragthorped LU team…i think they’re even more embarassing than we’ve been this year, considering expectations…
Shane Murray has played well all season, is he the strong side or weakside LB, do you know his assignments in the defense alignment?
Murray is all technique, he is the most fundamentally sound LB that Pitt has, his main problem is he is a bit undersized.
Stuart, you consume a majority of the posts, do you have a real life? I didn’t think so, get a life buddy, have you ever played football or coached?
I didn’t think so
Do you donate money or go to games?
I didn’t think so.
Im not into personal attacks but you are a real piece of work, it’s guys like you that make me sick, you would make a great Penn State fan.
I won’t read this blog or post anymore because of you.
Enjoy the season, too bad your not the head coach because it seems you have all the answers.
It was great, if somewhat embarrassing considering everything, to see the giddiness among the players on the sideline at the end. Very glad for those guys.
As far as Louisville, I’m afraid our D is still really bad and we’re probably doomed there, but this is a strange year…
First of all, I do contribute to Pitt…every single year. I’ve donated enough in the last few years (5x the minimum every year) that my season basketball tickets (see, wrong again – i do have tickets) are on the first level… I’ve said before i do not get football tickets to go sit in the cold, snow and/or rain when they suck – i don’t believe in giving them money for a sport they need to make changes in (new DC is long overdue, and i’m not paying for mediocrity). When people give me free tickets, sometimes i’ll go. Today, I didn’t feel like going, instead I watched it on my couch…and have a laptop…commercials get boring. I’ve also traveled to our tournament games in the past for basketball too. I go watch the kids in the summer league. When i see them in bars, i even buy their drinks…
Saying you must play or coach football to comment is a logical fallacy. Attacking me to defend a player means nothing of how the kid actually plays. Attack what I say about the kid. Do you understand the difference?
So, like i’ve said before, when a guy gets to him, yes, he has good tackling form. Watch the Navy game (which i was at btw) – you call him undersized, you should have seen the guys pushing him 5-10 yds downfield…he couldn’t get off a block all night. He stood flat-footed on every play until someone ran into him or blocked him. As I said above, he played much better today. I don’t care how nice the kid is, or how much you like him…i just watch his play and evaluate what i see.
If you don’t want to read what i say, ignore my comments. They are the one’s that say “Comment by Stuart” at the bottom. For personally attacking me – go fuck yourself. I guarantee I support this university more than you have or ever will.
I see the point you’re trying to make, but keep in mind that recruiting rankings are still incredibly subjective (as I’ve said before…Scout.com had Revis rated as three-star prospect and he was ranked like their 32nd best corner coming out of high school).
If these rankings were the be-all, end-all of the true talent level of the programs as they compared to one another, Notre Dame would’ve been winning a hell of a lot of national championships in the 1990s.
Bearcats very sloppy (penalties a many and they turned the ball over when they could least afford it)
Pitts D I have to wonder where this has been not just this year but for the last 6 years or so.
Blitzing, five guys on the line, corners cheating up and LB’s running to attack the ball carrier? If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I would not have thought it possible from the mind that is Rhoades. Please tell me it’s not back to “BASE DEFENSE” every play next week. I don’t think I could handle seeing that crap again & again & again as long as I live.
Shady/LSH and the O line and the TE’s played great.
Bostick good but still has work to do but that should be expected. If he and Turner could be on the same page 80% of the time that would be nice. Also why can’t our receivers run to the sticks on third down?
Anyway nice win. Maybe we can get the Cards next week? I saw thier team bus in Carlisle PA at the Hampton Inn this morning at my crews meeting place. I should have placed a few PITT stickers on the back bumper but I parked my car 3 spots away and my Pitt quarter stickers would have given me away.
A turning point in the Wannstedt era, or just a weeklong break from the usual pain and agony?
Time will tell, but it sure is nice to get a win. I forgot what it felt like.
Rhoads was on Bob Pompeani’s call in show last night on CW and Pompeani asked how Buddy Morris impacted the team. Rhoads said that the Cincy win showed that Morris’ program was beginning to show its effects – Pitt was by far in better condition at the end – but he also said “Wait till next year, when you see what a whole year under his coaching will produce.”
I guess that’s something to look forward to.
