Before the season started, I think this is the kind of score I would expect from Pitt games. The defense shutting teams down and the offense scoring just enough. Of course, before the season, this was presumed to be an easy win (hence why it was set for homecoming), so things change.
A 20-3 win over Louisville was a good win. I fully believed Pitt could blow this game. Playing a team that was feeling good, had the offense going and an underrated defense. Pitt just starting to get its confidence back. Having rolled up big scores in two straight games to make them laughers. Easy time to get tripped up, especially in the Big East of 2010.
Instead, Pitt played the same way they did against Rutgers — for good and bad.
The offense continues to struggle in the first half at finishing drives. That has moved to highly disturbing trend. That has been a season long issue and I don’t know how it is going to change.
When Pitt led only 6-3 at the half, I was a lot calmer — and it seemed that the crowd was as well — than with the Rutgers game. That’s even with a missed FG. Almost a resignation/acceptance that Pitt would struggle to score in the first half.
The defense was outstanding. They held Powell in check and made Froman jittery by the second half. Suddenly the efficient JUCO senior couldn’t hit anything and was rushing his delivery out of fear of the hits. Sacked 4 times including a backbreaking fumble when Sheard got him. Caragein picked it up and rumbled down to the 5. Pitt was able to punch it in to put the game out of reach.
Louisville never threatened after that.
Every story cites that as the turning point of the game, and there is no disagreement there. The score had been too tight. With a three score cushion, it was obvious to both sides that there would be no comeback.
Pitt’s offense never really found itself. It wasn’t atrocious, but it was shaky against Louisville. I really was impressed by the Cardinal defense. Very sound and good tackling.
Now a bye week and prep for a Thursday night in Connecticut.
