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October 7, 2011

RUTGERS PRE-GAME PSYCHIC CONNECTION

Filed under: Uncategorized — Reed @ 6:00 pm

Chas has put together a nice post with some news and links in it in anticipation of tomorrow’s match against Rutgers, “The USC of the East” according to some of their fans.

First off let’s get this out of the way.  Rutgers’s football team has had some of the strangest nicknames of any team I’m familiar with.  My two favorites are “The Queensmen” and later on their mascot was Chanticleer or “The Fighting Rooster”.  This last led to a great quote from their football coach Harvey Harman, “You can call it the Chanticleer, you can call it a fighting cock, you can call it any damn thing you want, but everybody knows it’s a chicken.”  He had his sexes mixed up a little there but you get his drift

Harman later is said to have bought the first “Scarlet Knight” mascot costume for the 1955 season, which was to be his final season as football coach at Rutgers.  Interesting, the first guy who actually does something to take the gayety out of the RU football program gets fired.  They should have just compromised and called themselves “The Fighting Queens” or “The Queens Cocks”, both of which would fit perfectly today also.  Oh, and Ozzie Nelson of Ozzie and Harriett TV fame was QB for the Fighting Cocks from 1924-26.  Anyway, we should kick their asses based on the above alone.

So, let’s take a minute to look at things from the PITT perspective and talk about what we need to see from the Panthers tomorrow to 1) get us another Big East win and 2) make us feel more comfortable about the direction Todd Graham has the team headed at the mid-point of the 2011 season.

Can our offense keep the progress it’s made from the USF game going?  Obviously we fans were ecstatic that we finally put up big numbers against a BCS team, but Rutgers’ defense is head and shoulders above USF’s. They are stingy giving up points at 16.5 ppg (17th nationally); great rushing defense with 91.5 per game (20th) and their pass efficiency defense isn’t too shabby either at 28th nationally.  The latter stems from their impressive turnover ratio of +2.17 which leads the country.

All that said you have to take into account their opponents so far this season:

Thu 09/01/2011 N.C. CENTRAL *

48 – 0

W

Sat 09/10/2011 @ North Carolina

22 – 24

L

Sat 09/24/2011 OHIO

38 – 26

W

Sat 10/01/2011 @ Syracuse

19 – 16

W 2OT

Two cupcakes, a semi-cupcake then Syracuse, not exactly Murder’s Row.  PITT should be able to open their eyes to what constitutes a BCS caliber offense in the form of Ray Graham running the ball and Sunseri getting the ball out quickly and, building on his work against ND and USF, using his run option to freeze the LBs.

One thing to note: when deciding to run with the ball over the last two games Sunseri has 15 carries for 93 yards which is averages out 6.2 ypc.  That can’t be overestimated as to what that does for the offense.  We’ll see more of it tomorrow I think.  However, RU has been a sack machine with 3.5 per game (4th) but that again may be a result of inferior offensive lines.  If we can replicate the work our young OL did last week and Sunseri can continue to get the ball out quickly then we may dodge this bullet.

I expect Shanahan and Street to shake off the willies they had last Thursday with the dropped passes and, hopefully, they will do it when Sunseri throws one of his better deep balls.  Cam Saddler can continue to be a go-to guy in the Slot position.  We should be able to match our scoring average of 30 ppg.

How will our defense fare against RU’s offense, specifically the passing attack?  There should be no problem with our defense against the run.  We are holding teams to a respectable 125 ypg so far and I don’t see that changing much.  After all, as Chas pointed out in his last post – you can measure RU’s rushing gains in inches rather than yards “…the running game ranked 117th nationally and averaging 84 inches per carry.”

But, WR Mohammed “Sanu Believe It!” Sanu is going to try to make sure RU can get yardage through the air.  He’ll be on the receiving end of passes thrown by either Chas Dodd or Gary Nova, two QBs who just don’t engender fear in the hearts of defenses.  We’ll do what we did with ND’s great receiver Floyd, less the totally forgetting about the TE this time, but he’ll make some plays and score at least once.

Other than that I don’t see RU being able to move the ball much against us.  They’ll have some offense but we’ll hold them out of the endzone most of the game and limit their points.  I also expect us to finally break the turnover drought, we had two against USF but we’ve been missing on INTs hitting the defense’s hands all season and some of those would have been easy pick-sixes.  I see Todd Thomas following up his great effort last week with another big game as he starts ‘getting’ his assignments and responsibilities.

Who wins the Special Teams battle?  RU’s special teams pretty much suck with them being 88th or below in the major categories of punting yardage and returns.  We are just a bit better than them but nothing to write home about.  RU’s kicker, San San Te is pretty good having made 10 of 14 attempts and leads the nation with 2.5 per game. ; Pitt’s Kevin Harper has turned his slide around and has hit his last seven attempts.  He now 9 of 12 on the season and that ain’t bad.  Graham won’t hesitate to go to him especially if we are in a close game.

Our punters are pretty good now with Mark Myers doing some of the punting – which sets up nicely for a fake and a pass down the road.  To lots of fans’ relief Graham has done away with the pooch punt… which was a bit surprising as it was actually effective in pining the opponents down inside their 20.  I can’t help but wonder if this decision was helped along by Graham’s renewed faith in our offense to do what he wants it to do.  Maybe we’ll see more conversion attempts on fourth down.

OK.  Prediction time.  I think we start off somewhat slowly until the OL gets adjusted to the speed on Rutgers’s defense, which is impressive especially in the LB corps.  But talent will out and Ray Graham kicks in another 150 rushing and 35+ receiving.  Sunseri continues his progress and throws some decent deep passes which are caught for nice gains.  We score 35 points.

Rutgers gets some turnovers that lead to points but we harass their QBs endlessly and shut down their already poor running game. Sanu gets the ball more than we like and puts up some points but RU leaves the stadium with 21 total.

PITT 35  RUTGERS 21





Rushel Shell out with a slight concussion tonight.

Comment by alcofan 10.07.11 @ 6:46 pm

Going to the game and I have an extra ticket in the Pitt sec. Just looking for face value. Call 609-694-5342.

Comment by sleep555 10.07.11 @ 6:52 pm

Everything is relative. Cut to the chase. Pitt’s fortunes or debacles revolve around ONE POSITION, Quarterback.

Up to this point in the season, Tino Sunseri has been supported by the Pitt coaching staff through thick and thin, mostly thin IMO. Last Thrusday Sunseri put on a show that was nothing short of an out of body experience for him.

Now, can Tino follow it up???

I’m praying that he can. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Dr. Tom 10.07.11 @ 7:28 pm

Russell Shell commits to Alabama…

Editor’s note: This commenter has a great sense of humor, doesn’t he?

Comment by yup 10.07.11 @ 8:02 pm

I think you guys are giving Rutgers WAAAAAAY to much credit. They’ve played one less game than South Florida, so of course their defensive stats are going to be better and they are not even really that much better (a higher average yards given up per game, actually and take away the Pitt game and points scored against is the same).

They needed 2 overtimes to squeak by Syracuse’s 250 yards of total offense and 16 points. And 7 of those 16 were a DefTD. And they were up a touchdown over Ohio U after 3 quarters.

Sheesh. IT’S RUTGERS, not LSU!!!! Rutgers has 5 conference wins the last two seasons combined.

If they play the way they did on Thursday, Pitt by 30 going away and Anderson plays most of the 4th quarter.

Comment by cnorwoodaz 10.07.11 @ 8:08 pm

for those who attended te ND game, you may remember the guy who gave a $125 million gift to Pitt was intoduced to the crowd after 1st quarter. He (William Dietrich) died of cancer yesterday — guess that was his last hurrah. Glad thet he received such a great ovation

Comment by wbb 10.07.11 @ 8:57 pm

Reed, hope you prediction this week is better than last week

Comment by wbb 10.07.11 @ 8:58 pm

Pitt 38 Rutgers 17.

Rutgers hangs with us for two quarters. Pitt adjusts to the blitz on offense and gets a couple of ints on defense.

Game starts at 12:30 for me, so I’ll have had a nice mtn bike ride in and be ready to watch.

Comment by OR Panther 10.07.11 @ 9:26 pm

You guys need to get some more predictions in.

At the end of the season the winner gets a signed copy of one year of PITT Blather posts.

Comment by Reed 10.07.11 @ 10:06 pm

Pitt 42 Rutgers 14 with both Rutgers scores being the result of Pitt turnovers.

Comment by John In South Carolina 10.07.11 @ 10:13 pm

I heard a rumor that Urban Meyer is all but in at Penn State. Announcement coming as soon as tomorrow!!

Comment by QuipPitt 10.07.11 @ 10:45 pm

cnorwoodaz, I’m with ya. Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Digdug(formerly known as dugdog) 10.07.11 @ 11:00 pm

Pitt: 39
Rutgers: 22

Comment by ME 2001 10.07.11 @ 11:11 pm

wbb, thanks for the info.

Comment by Digdug(formerly known as dugdog) 10.07.11 @ 11:19 pm

Sorry to hear about William Dietrich but I’m glad I was there to cheer him gift at his going away party.

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 10.08.11 @ 12:41 am

The game is in the bag PITT 42 rutgers 14

Comment by FRANKCAN 10.08.11 @ 3:18 am

This is what I meant by Rutgers being called “The USC of the East“.

A RU fan named Rutgersal posts insanely optimistic predictions about Rutgers football. Take a look at this thread on Scouts (first post) and have a laugh…

This is my favorite part where he can’t decide whether to praise or criticize the RBs:

Our running back is Juwan Jamison, reminds me of Ray Rice. He is a tough runner, especially between the tackles, and always keeps his legs churning forward. He had a tough go at it, in the SU game, as the OL did not run block so well, much of the time. Savon Huggins is our homerun back, who comes off the bench. Savon is slender, for now, and he needs to add mass in the offseason. I only hope he lasts the season.

Comment by Reed 10.08.11 @ 5:43 am

Ozzie Nelson, you can’t make this stuff up.

Reed, you are the best.

Go Pitt

Comment by gc 10.08.11 @ 7:15 am

Ozzie Nelson, Was Harriet a cheerleader? Sounds like a good episode. The young and middle aged on this site are saying What?

Will the new and improved Tino show up today?

Comment by gc 10.08.11 @ 7:22 am

I don’t care if Pitt wins by one point, just win baby! HTP!

Comment by MariettaMike 10.08.11 @ 7:35 am

Here a preview of the 2011 season offered by Rutgersal. I hope Todd Graham has listened to this!

link to youtube.com

Comment by Reed 10.08.11 @ 8:12 am

OK, with my davening done (at a pedal-to-the-metal rate of one every 18 seconds) I’m off to the White lot, then to the Pitt pregame thingee.

Let’s Go, Pitt!

Comment by steve 10.08.11 @ 8:13 am

I have 4 tickets to today’s game in the Pitt section (112). I’ll be tailgating in the Greek church lot. Call 412.303.3692.

Comment by Joe from Larryville 10.08.11 @ 8:21 am

Prediction time: Last year Tino owned RU, Pitt 31 RU 17.

Comment by steve 10.08.11 @ 8:21 am

As Dr. Tom said, the key will be Tino’ play. We all know that Rutgers’ singular focus will be shutting down R. Graham. They’ll probably have a spy on him all day with at least two other guys providing some type of contain.

Should open things up for Pitt’s receivers and the QB runs. Tino needs to think fast and play fast to avoid the blitzing. Fingers crossed.

Pitt 33 Rutgers 17

Hail to PITT!

Comment by TampaT 10.08.11 @ 8:25 am

@FRANKCAN

What were you doing up at 3:18 AM? I thought you were in bed by 11-11:30 every night. Hope you were just excited about today’s game and that everything is OK with you.

Comment by TampaT 10.08.11 @ 8:31 am

Pitt will win……….hopefully by a lot. What I would really like to see is contunues improvment of how the offence is run.

Comment by Justinian 10.08.11 @ 8:56 am

Thanks for the shout out TampaT. Might just be me, but I’m really nervous about this game. Everybody is expecting Rutgers to just roll over, but come on, this is Pitt we’re talking about here. Rutgers is 3-1, Pitt? 3-2, and its on Rutgers home turf??

I can’t count the number of times that major expectations about the Pnathers have been dashed by inferior play in games that Pitt should have won going away. Iowa, for example!

This is a new era for Pitt football though and I’m hoping that Todd Graham will keep this team focused and motivated through 4 quarters of football today. Our history haunts me however, after big wins and especially after a lay off Pitt has a tendency to come out flat and play lifelessly. On paper we should be able to hang one on the Scarlet Knights but,,,,,,,,

The USF bounce back from the two heart breaking losses at the hands of Iowa and ND was impressive. Graham has to know how important this game is to build the momentum and confidence in this team as they get back on track in Big East play.

On the field it is going to be all about Sunseri’s play against a pressuring defense. If he performs well we should pick these guys apart. On the sidelines and in the coach’s box there will be another game going on, trying to exploit the other team’s weaknesses. This will demonstrate how well Graham has prepared this team mentally as well as how quick he thinks on his feet by counteracting what Rutgers is doing and taking advantage of their defensive weak spots that are going to be there when they bring pressure on the QB.

Huge game for Pitt, can we shed the “same old Pitt” persona by schooling the Scarlet Knights for 4 quarters and showing them the errors of their ways when them bringing blitzes produces nothing but yardage through the air to single covered WRs like Street and Shanahan, time will tell.

Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Dr. Tom 10.08.11 @ 8:59 am

Dr. Tom,

Your “same old Pitt” analysis is dead on! Anyone who has even remotely followed Pitt over the last 25 years knows that this is the type of game Pitt will find a way to lose.

You want to know why there are 20K yellow seats at HF? You want to know why the PG coverage of PSU is greater than it coverage of Pitt? You want to know why the PG covers WVU just as much as it covers Pitt? You want to know why “The Fan” radio, in spite of being “your home for the Panthers” talks more about the Steelers, Pens, etc.?

The answer to all those (and more) is that Pitt has managed to break the hearts of loyal fans (like us) and turn off the casual fan with a string of upset losses to inferior opponents.

When TG starts to win games like this RU game and when the offense starts to score 40+ points on a regular basis all those thing real Pitt fans like to complain about will be magically corrected.

GO PITT!!

Comment by ME 2001 10.08.11 @ 9:10 am

OK, cool info. However, RU picked up 5 t.o.’s against NC and still couldn’t win. Sanu caught a lot balls, but his longest was 18 yards, and the others average out to around 9 or so. Also NC had 94! yards in penalties, and still won. Sure, the pressure must have caused those 3 int’s (didn’t see the game), but I’m confident Tino will be well drilled on what to do against the blitz,and who cares if he only throws intermediate balls, as long we control the clock and score TD’s. Zeise was right about watching this up-temp O v. the pro style (yawn…).

My prediction: Pitt 37 ru 13 (w their TD coming in garbage time).

Comment by dbricker 10.08.11 @ 9:31 am

ESPN reported that Penn State reached out to Urban Myer to replace Joe PA when he retires. The question is: Does Urban Myer want to wait another 4 years? This summer Joe said he feels good and would like to coach another 4 years. I hope Joe hangs around as long as possible. You have to admit it’s sort of funny that they want to get rid of Joe PA, but he just won’t go.

Comment by Justinian 10.08.11 @ 9:32 am

About Urban Myer and Penn State it was in the Tribune Review. I hope Joe stays as long as possible, because I don’t see him beating Tod Graham for recruits. Hail to Pitt!

The link is below:

link to pittsburghlive.com

Comment by Justinian 10.08.11 @ 9:52 am

I am in total shock that PSU would look outside the program for a new coach. I thought that Tom Bradley with all his recruiting ties was the next coming (oh I guess it was only to have Jo Pa and the Rooneys dump him on the Pitt program)!! The arrogance continues.

Go Pitt!!!

Comment by JP 10.08.11 @ 11:30 am

There has to be something wrong about Tom Bradley. He has tons of coaching experience but nobody wants him.

Anyway, for today I am thinking a little different. Pitt starts off slow is down by 14 going into the 2nd. By halftime it’s tied up. We come out in the 2nd half and rack up the points.

Pitt 41-20 after being down 17-3 in the 2Q.

Comment by Yeti 10.08.11 @ 11:48 am

I think the only thing that Bradley did wrong, was hanging around waiting for Joe to retire. I think he saved the Penn State program about 8 years ago when he recruited a lot speed guys like King from Gateway. Joe PA has stayed too long and now they want a clean sweep. Who can blame them. At Pitt we’re looking at an exciting new offence led by a very enthusiastic young coach. Tod Graham has certainally injected some vitality into the program. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on.

Comment by Justinian 10.08.11 @ 12:04 pm

Certainly hoping Todd can change our perspective, but put me in the SOP (same old Pitt) crowd.

Rutgers 21 Pitt 20

Comment by Pauly P 10.08.11 @ 12:50 pm

Pitt 31-16, maybe more….that’s what my head says.
My heart is a little more worried about a closer game….

Comment by Tourman 10.08.11 @ 1:53 pm

Pitt 47-21

Comment by John 10.08.11 @ 3:18 pm

Urban Meyer coached Florida, with eyes moistened quit on national TV for “health reasons”, came back and sort of coached again, then quit again. Perhaps the air in State College is much healthier than in Gainesville. While he was at Florida, about thirty of his players had brushes with the law. He is competent, and seems a bit obnoxious and condescending. He is named for a pope. All of which should make him a worthy successor to St. Joe if it happens.

What is wrong with Tom Bradley is that he could not meet the stringent job requirements established by the Pitt Athletic Department. He did not quite fit the Bill Callahan mold. He had no children out of wedlock, and was not fond of Freddy Kruger. The endorsement from the Rooneys, who of course know nothing about hiring quality football coaches, did not help.

Comment by PO'd Panther 10.08.11 @ 3:19 pm

Dr Tom win the prize for best pre-game analysis!

Comment by Reed 10.09.11 @ 8:58 am

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