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October 29, 2007

A Scared Offense

Filed under: Coaches,Football,Tactics,Wannstedt — Chas @ 11:08 am

Playing not to lose. Trying to minimize mistakes. Starting conservative. Whatever you want to call Pitt’s offensive strategy in the first half of games, it isn’t a very effective plan. They are coming out run, run, run and the defense knows it. Not only does it lead to a lot of early 3-and-outs, it hurts field position. Making it harder and harder for the defense to make stops.

That’s the overwhelming theme/meme in the papers.

A reflection of the statistics, however, shows the error of Pitt’s game plan against a Louisville pass defense that ranked last in the Big East and 103rd nationally. The Panthers (3-5, 1-2) appeared to play not to lose in a game they needed to win, a cautious approach that proved costly.

“Part of the mindset was, move the ball and play keep-away a little bit,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “Once we got that confidence going in the second half and started adjusting on defense a little better, that was our thinking. We felt if we turned the ball over, we would have no chance. That was our best opportunity.”

The problem with that theory floated by Wannstedt, is that there was nothing from the offense in the first half (or the 3d quarter) which he could legitimately say gave the offense confidence.

Wannstedt is not going to let go of the excuse that he is playing too many freshmen.

“To have two freshmen in a role where one of the two of them is touching the ball basically every play, that doesn’t happen very often,” Wannstedt said. “When you go in that huddle, from a skill-position standpoint, there’s not a whole lot of experience there.”

That didn’t stop the underclassmen from coming through in the fourth quarter, when Pitt came within a yard of tying the score. McCoy rushed for 65 of his game-high 120 yards, and Bostick completed 6 of 10 passes for 118 yards.

“We opened the offense up a little bit, as far as throwing the ball down the field,” McCoy said. “I think they started getting tired, and we started busting them up.”

That’s what makes it so frustrating. He has no choice. He knows it. He has no choice in the 4th quarter when the team is trailing, and good things happen — for a second straight week.

A bigger problem, at least recently, however, has been the Panthers’ reluctance to open up the offense early in the game since consecutive losses to Michigan State and Connecticut earlier this season. In those two games, the Panthers turned the ball over early and that led to easy scores for their opponents.

Since then, coach Dave Wannstedt has said Pitt comes out with conservative game plans in an attempt to avoid early turnovers.

That’s good in theory. The problem is Pitt has not been a good team at coming from behind — it is 1-13 under Wannstedt when trailing at halftime. Pitt and Syracuse are the only Big East teams averaging fewer than 30 points per game, which puts pressure on the defense when trying to win a low-scoring game.

The other thing is, in the losses to Michigan State and Connecticut, the early turnovers were interceptions thrown by redshirt freshman quarterback Kevan Smith. He has since been replaced by freshman Pat Bostick, who has played at a very high level for a true freshman.

Saturday against Louisville, the Panthers tried to be conservative in the first half and would have trailed by 14 at the half had it not been for an interception by Aaron Berry late in the second quarter that set up the Panthers at the Cardinals’ 27. That set up a trick play for the Panthers’ lone first-half score.

And if you take that play out of the equation, the Panthers ran 23 other plays in the first half for 22 yards — less than 1 yard per play. And Bostick threw only eight passes, completed three for 6 yards.

I acknowledge that Bostick didn’t look good for most of the game. He was missing on his throws. A lot. He didn’t look sharp. That said, the team did nothing on the passing game to even try to stretch the field. The pass plays called most of the game were screens (that didn’t work and even Louisville’s defense recognized) and pass plays that did nothing to exploit the weak Louisville pass defense.
That said, you know it’s not changing.  Before the games, he will talk about opening it up a little more. Letting Bostick do more. Bull. You know each and every remaining game, once it starts he will revert to ultra-conservative and predictable. Then after the game — win or likely lose — he’s going to trot out the young players at key positions excuse again.
If I’m a recruit, I have to question Wannstedt at his word when he says that the best players will get on the field. No. It is the players he feels most comfortable with. Coach Wannstedt is clearly — even at this point in the season — extremely uncomfortable with starting and really using true freshmen. McCoy is the exception only because he is a running back and so much further ahead of anything else Pitt has.

I  agree that at some point Coach Wannstedt has to trust Bostick to do more earlier in the game. The reality is I don’t believe it will happen.





Chas,

This is classic dumb ass dave logic!

Do you think he realizes that winning is the objective?

Comment by Dumb ass Dave must go now! 10.29.07 @ 11:55 am

We could not win a shoot out with Navy…There is no way we were going to win one with Lville…For once, in THIS GAME, and in THIS SITUATION, I was all for the measured approach that was taken by our offense…By the way, there were several first down pass plays called in the first half, and I don’t think a single one of them worked.

Comment by HbgFrank 10.29.07 @ 12:05 pm

We could not win a shoot out with Navy…There is no way we were going to win one with Lville…For once, in THIS GAME, and in THIS SITUATION, I was all for the measured approach that was taken by our offense…By the way, there were several first down pass plays called in the game, and I don’t think very many of them worked.

Comment by HbgFrank 10.29.07 @ 12:08 pm

Lousiville’s crappy corners were on single coverage basically the entire game and Wannstedt and Cavanaugh did not once try to exploit that. I don’t think they realize that letting it rip down the field, at least a couple times, even if not successful, forces the defense to play a little more honestly and opens up the run a little more. What’s the worse that can happen when Bostick throws a forty yarder down field? It gets picked, so what! That’s like a punt when the throw is long enough.

Comment by Crackbaldo 10.29.07 @ 12:44 pm

Pitt just has so many offensive weapons that are either under or unutilized. Don’t you think Mo Williams & T.J. Porter can stretch the field? Or maybe we can hit Byham Or Strong on seam routes. Collins & Stephens-Howling are terrific third down recivers. I cannot even begin to imagine how good Shady could be if Wanny & Cavanaugh would just open things up a little. Bostick has proven he can go downfield. For Christ’s sake, let Bostick play ball. How much worse can this season get anyway? Play all the kids and let them make mistakes in a wasted year like 2007 instead of in 2008 & 2009 when Pitt will be the most talented team in the Big East and those rookie mistakes could cost a BCS berth. This coaching staff needs to wake the fuck up.

Comment by Al from Harrisburg 10.29.07 @ 1:00 pm

I actually agree with DWs approach on this – yes shocking. Look, Bostick was a bit of a head case at first and he got thrown into the starting role with almost no preseason camp experience and not a good line in front of him. This season is done -we know it and DW knows it – this is now about building Pats confidence and letting him learn in game. And the results are showing, I see improvement from week to week with Bostick. He is not ready to simply be unleashed. And it does seem that each week they are letting him do more and more. there is no point in telling him to go out there and sling it and hope for the best – thats only going to hurt him and the team in the long run. Next year is a different story.

Comment by Rex 10.29.07 @ 1:19 pm

I agree that a cautious approach with Bostick was a wise approach early on. But I’m just fed up with how cautious the playcalling is. How many times on third and long are you going to throw these three yard passes that NEVER succeed. Do you think that may be the reason that Pitt has one of the worst third down conversion rates in the nation, around 30%. Earlier in the year Pitt went almost two full games without a single third down conversion. 22 straight failed conversions!! Unbelievable.

And did you notice in the fourth quarter against Louisville, when they finally allowed him to go downfield, that Bostick converted a 3rd and 10 and a third and 15! Take some risk, allow the kid to make some mistakes so he can grow as a quarterback. This is the equivalent of a parent who won’t let their kid play outside because they are worried that the kid will scrape his me. For God’s sake, let him scrape his knee. Mistakes are an integral part of the learning process. All Bostic learned in the first three quarters against Lousiville is to play scared. He must be allowed to take some risks.

Comment by Al from Harrisburg 10.29.07 @ 2:22 pm

Would we have won the Louisville game by throwing the ball downfield a couple times? Most likely not.

It is amazing that some Pitt fans question Bostick’s delivery and arm strength and others want him to throw it downfield more often.

Yes, it is necessary to stretch the field from the simple screen passes and 3 yard completions. What sort of risks do you want Bostick to take? Kevan Smith isn’t playing because he was imcompetent and because he made dumb decisions. It seems a common them that Pitt fans like to say “if it wasn’t for bad QB play we would have won…”. So the staff has eliminated a lot of the bad decisions a quarterback has made.

The offense is conservative but the offense is not that bad. It is not the Walt Harris downfield style but we have had a shot recently.

We should pay more attention to how much the defense sucks rather than complaining about a lack of downfield passing.

Comment by Joey D 10.29.07 @ 2:44 pm

The problem I have with the staff is that it seems like they don’t play to win.
They play let’s hope everything breaks our way and, maybe at the end we will have a chance to win.
You have a young team now is the time to instill the “we are going to win” attitude.
Everytime they step on that field they should be going for broke. What the heck do you have to lose? Not a big diff between 3-9 and 4-8.
You should be treating these games as xtra practices. Your playing for next year so start shaping your team for next year.
Let them go out and make mistakes. If they are not put in the position to make mistakes. How will they ever learn from them.
Better this year then the “Big Break Out Season of 2008”.
I really don’t think this staff has a clue. Its always going to be one excuse after another. I hope I’m wrong but I think were looking at 7-5 or 8-4 next year. This staff will at least 2 games on its own.

Comment by kp 10.29.07 @ 3:07 pm

Al!

Exactly!

Comment by Walt 10.29.07 @ 3:08 pm

I disagree with most of you. Bostick had a few chances to stretch the defense. Most notably, the deep ball he butchered on the deep post to Turner. Also, the wheel route to McCoy was terribly underthrown. Both Turner and McCoy are in the endzone with good balls there. Even his completion to Moe Williams was underthrown. We were VERY lucky that none of these balls were picked off. Don’t get me wrong, I think Bostick can be a good quarterback. Hopefully he is dedicated to get himself physically prepared, as we all know he will be mentally prepared for next season. His mobility and arm strength are obviously a major concern. I don’t know how likely this is, but I hope that a year with Buddy Morris makes him a little more nimble in the pocket and maybe even adds a little zip to his balls.

Comment by Joe 10.29.07 @ 4:13 pm

I feel alot better about our team now..we get rid of Rhoads and could make a ice run next year.

As far as this year is concerned, continue to play the young talent and teach them after the game what they did wrong.

BTW, I really don’t like Dickerson’s form when he tackles..he looks scared.

Comment by matt'shouse 10.29.07 @ 4:40 pm

Football is a game of controlled agression. Playing not to lose (passively)is a surefire way to assure that you will lose.

In my earlier posts today, I advocate taking shots downfield. What I am trying to say is not that we need to revert to a Walt Harris style of play. (NO, NO,NO!!!!). What I am saying is that if it’s 3rd & six, you need to throw it seven yards, not three. Cavanaugh needs to see if Pitt offers a remedial math class.

Most of the long balls I’ve seen Bostick throw this year have been wounded ducks. That is clearly not his strength. So, I am also not saying we should go 30-40 yards downfield a lot. Bostick has nice touch on those 10-15 yard passes. Why can’t we call plays to take advantage of Bostick’s strengths and the stable of offensive playmakers Pitt has. Use those tight ends on quick hitters occassionally. Throw those sideline passes that Bostick appears to throw pretty well. Mo Williams and T.J. Porter have to be a bigger part of the gameplan. Mix it up. Be creative. We will not be successful if we remain so predictable. What’s so great about going three and out? Doing that a couple of times is the equivalent of a turnover in terms of field position and time of possession and wear & tear on your defense. Look at the results. Insanity is doing things the same way and expecting different results. We fall behind by double digits every time we play a BCS team. To me, that would indicate what we are doing early in games is not working and needs to be altered.

I met the undergraduate Matt Cavanaugh at a fraternity rush event in the 1974-75 school year. It was the consensus of our fraternity’s rush committee at the time that he was a cocky jock and wasn’t the sharpest tool in the toolbox. As a Baltimore Ravens & Pitt fan, Cavanaugh has been the Offensive Coordiantor of one of my favorite teams for the last 8 or 9 years. I have seen nothing in the last 8 or 9 years to indicate that our fraternity was incorrect in our assessmant of Cavanaugh.

Comment by Al from Harrisburg 10.29.07 @ 6:52 pm

I hate “I told you so’s,” but I never wanted Wanny. Given his failures on the pro level, he was not going to do well at Pitt. I wanted Bo Pelini. He is young, energetic, innovative, and not stuck in the same mindless rut as Dave. It’s time to cut our losses. Dave will take us no where…three seasons, three losing records. Isn’t that the definition of insanity…doing things the same way but expecting a different result.

Hail to Pitt.

Comment by The Kose 10.29.07 @ 7:18 pm

I the other blog titles “Sharing the Blame, As ordered”…..I wrote;

Dumbass Dave,

I agree with Stoosh’s comments above regarding the Dickerson situation….During practices, which most of us has not attended, I believe they tried Dickerson at every available positon on both sides of the ball, but he really hasn’t excelled or beat out any other players that he has been competing against…..Could and should they use him better, of course…..I believe that since he’s one of the fastest players on the team and he was recruited as a athelete, he’s best suited to play strong safety, and use him in a role similar to how the Steelers uses Polumalu…What fustrates me with the PITT coaching staff is that they are fortunate to have the Steelers as their next door neighbors and it’s aparant that they are not talking to the Steelers for advice on how they could incorporate all the talented personnal into their game plan……Also, I agree with HbgFrank, that PITT should give Wanny at least two more years tofinish what he started and to coach the guys that he recruited.

Comment by jumpingjohnnie_class82 10.29.07 @ 8:39 pm

Comment by jumpingjohnnie_class82 10.29.07 @ 8:54 pm

Fans… stop acting as if you are playing video games where any qb can throw the ball all over the field with out the fear of ruining their psyche on bad plays.
You guys write some wild sh(* on this post that you would never say to these players face and would not want this said about you. This team is playing very hard under the current situation and everyone can see the progress. We are going to be a VERY GOOD team. We will finish this season very strong and will have a great 2008 season.

Give DW a five year extension now- Actually… the way we are playing keep the entire staff

Hail to Pitt

PS- I cheer for PITT WIN LOSE OR DRAW.

Comment by cdmoore25 10.29.07 @ 9:39 pm

I’m sure we will all fondly remember the heady days of autumn 2007 when our beloved Panthers stayed within a touchdown of the worst Louisville team in a decade during our foundation-laying 4-8 season. Pitt Football 2008 “We rationalize more bad football before 8AM than most people do all day”.

Comment by Gaunilo of Esplen 10.29.07 @ 10:17 pm

cdmoore25……I totally AGREE!

Comment by jumpingjohnnie_class82 10.29.07 @ 10:20 pm

Al not only are we from the same city we are on the same page in regards to Pitts lack of O.

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 10.29.07 @ 10:51 pm

cdmoore25? 5 Year EXTENSION!?!?!?!?! WTF are you smoking??? 5 more years???

I cannot take 5 more years of this crap. I would still cheer for Pitt but I would no longer buy season tickets. I can barely stay awake watching this boring offense go 3 and out on TV during away games let alone pay to see it in person.

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 10.29.07 @ 10:59 pm

Tony… what is a five year extension but a paper offer to secure future commits? Do you see what recruits are still interested in Pitt- Pryor (yes, pryor), Hale, Graham, Sales , Saddler, Baldwin, Carraway, Holley, Alexandar,Williams, to name a few and not considering the ones that committed NIX ,burns, williams? Yes, we need linebackers.

If DW leaves only one or two of those recruits stay local.
Pitt will be fine. The team is growing confidence and the staff can finally add more plays to the playbook. Did you see the heart will played with? those kids cried after the game. Name one Wlat player doing Wlat’s regime that care enough to cry after a loss. NONE. Just think NO MORE WLAT players. All DW players with expereince.

Hail to Pitt.

Who is going to the Rutgers game?

Questions- What was WLAT’s biggest win? Beating WVU when Henry was suspended.. a horrible ND team… va tech…down da u….

Comment by cdmoore25 10.30.07 @ 12:28 pm

dorian dickerson reminds me of brandon williams from steel valley hs, major recruit by wlat, beat out psu, never was a factor, had trouble even making special teams, finished out as a lb. ought to use dd as mike gotfried used zeke gadson, a converted rb who i believe holds pitts sack records

Comment by Kurt 10.30.07 @ 6:42 pm

Al, with all respect as a fellow Pitt & Ravens fan, I haven’t exactly seen the Ravens do anything better on offense since Cavanaugh left.

Comment by Joey D 10.30.07 @ 6:42 pm

Joey D.

You are correct. My apoloogies.

Comment by Al from Harrisburg 10.31.07 @ 8:20 pm

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