Sorry, I had to stay off the computer the night after the game, and on Sunday morning we headed down to in-laws for an overnighter. No internet and no chance to get away to a coffee shop for wi-fi. Yesterday, I had to head right off to work, and it kept going through this morning. Now it is Tuesday afternoon, and the attention should be turning to the Utah game, but I am way behind.
Not sure what to say about the game. Check that, plenty to say, but getting it out without jumping all over the place and descending into sputtering frustration is the issue. To be clear, I have not given up on this season. Not saying BCS at this point, but I think it can still be a decent season.
First of all, Rutgers was flat out the better team. Their offense wasn’t really very good, but it avoided mistakes and eventually capitalized on the excellent field position and opportunities. The Rutgers defense, however, was hellacious. They attacked and attacked and attacked. They exploited the issues on Pitt’s O-line and got Pitt to make mistakes. The reason Rutgers won this game, the Syracuse game and nearly beat UNC was because their defense has been outstanding.
The thing about that defense, was how much it attacked and blitzed. It wasn’t a surprise. That is what Greg Schiano likes to do. As much as it can be played up that Schiano is a bit of a Wannstedt disciple, and likes to run the same conservative pro-style offense. They have little in common on how they use their defense. Schiano likes to use his defense to force a team to make a mistake. Attack, disguise blitzes. Bring extra men, take chances to make something happen. He probably had to do even more of that this year with the problems on the Rutgers offense. Wannstedt expects his defense to wait until a team makes a mistake, and then take advantage of it. Schiano will take a risk, Wannstedt will not.
That is key. The Ron Cook bit about how Frank Cignetti and Dave Wannstedt got some measure of vindication from the Rutgers win is questionable to me at best. Rutgers won the game because their defense was outstanding and made Pitt pay. Rutgers knew Pitt was down two of their best offensive linemen and never hesitated to keep bringing pressure. They would take their chances on letting Ray Graham get yardage if they could keep pounding on the quarterback and forcing mistakes in passing situations.
While Pitt’s line play was as poor as it was stellar against South Florida, the USF game also had a defense that did not take advantage of the Pitt O-line. Rather than attack and press, they stuck with a base front to try and get pressure. They did not exploit weaknesses. To me the USF defense was much more reminiscent of Wannstedt’s approach on defense.
The best thing you could say about the Rutgers offense is that they finally protected the quarterback. Otherwise, it there was only one series where the offense made something happen. This past Saturday, that was enough.
Well yea. Please start executing Shanahan, had you caught that 40 yd. ball Anderson threw to you against ND, we might not still be living this QB nightmare, over and over and over and over……again.
It might go a long way in explaining his decision to pull starting quarterback Tino Sunseri at halftime of the Rutgers game when the Panthers trailed by only a field goal.
Graham said he has not second-guessed the decision to insert freshman Trey Anderson into the game. But it was Anderson’s interception on the second series of the half that set up a touchdown and a 13-3 lead that got the ball rolling toward a Rutgers runaway.
Media seems more interested in harpooning TG for pulling Sunseri from the game. hmmmm
I mean, who would think of pulling a QB who’s been totally inconsistent, missed countless wide open receivers for TD’s and 1rst downs and led the team to a sterling 3 points
against Rutgers thru one half. I mean, what nerve TG has for EVEN considering that!
Shame on him and btw never do that again. (seems to be the message directed)
I do believe Cook was being a bit too presumptuous (as usual) in stating that Wanny no doubt thoroughly enjoyed Saturday’s game … after all, he was close to many of the Pitt players and it is his alma mater.
Lastly, glad you stated the big difference in Pitt’s OL play vs USF and Rutgers .. to me, it looked like two different units (but I guess that it was USF’s and RU’s defenses that were the different units)
Comment by CJK 10.11.11 @ 1:23 pm
There was a QB named….I think it was Palko who struggled mightily in his first few games. I remember he looked like a junior high player against Nebraska at Heinz, he was absolutely pathetic. Turned out pretty good and has actually played a little in the NFL.
So…we just give up on Anderson after 2 series.
hahahahahahaha
I hope Utah and everyone else we play decides to play us like USF and not Rutgers.
As far as Cigs goes, he knows the score. The head coach gets fired, the assistants go as well. The only slight he may feel would come from the fact that Peterson hired Haywood instead of him as the new HC.
Pitt in a BCS Bowl with this QB would be comical if it wasn’t my university. And yes it would be better not to get a bid to the Sausage Dog Shit Bowl in East Bumf*ck, Alabama.
Funny alot of folks bring up, well we had a lot of upheaval in the program, etc., blah, blah, blah.
Um, I believe the Hoopies have had a little upheaval as well. You know the little Bill Stewart matter. Doesn’t seem to be affecting them much, what are they, 5-1? ranked in the Top 15 and are pointing up the points.
Perhaps we have more sensitive players. Or WVU actually has a legit D1 QB.
And has any one read that missouri might be looking at the ACC becuse of the SEC hold up they would fit better in the ACC that is or sure.
Another misconception is automatically thinking that a pass that went awry with what appeared to be an open receiver is the total fault of the QB. It could well be that the receivers were breaking off the routes — just like it happened against ND
This team has issues!
Can Tood Graham continue to live with the decision to start Sunseri?
Very difficult to motivate players when thay aren’t willing to put it all out there in practice and then cary it into game day. Rutgers just out husseled us.
I think just about everybody who has any interest in following Pitt football has come to a public concensus that our starting QB can’t get it done on a consistant basis.
When does Graham decide enough is enough and decide to go with somebaody else, anybody else!!, at QB?
Glad you are back. I was a wreck after the game (once again (48-14, BCS, Sun Bowl, Miami ’10, Iowa, ND,etc…)).
After you weren’t up for a few days I was getting woried about you and if yet another “hapless” performance made you break!
Let’s look forward to better games!
Hail to Pitt!!!!!
Hey but as long as Tino thinks he played a good game, we’ll all be alright with that. And he had such a good week of practice leading up to the game, just can’t figure that out.
He’ll be much better next year don’t worry. You know with the transition to High Octane and all, it was just all too overwhelming for a 4rth year redshirt junior to comprehend. He’ll have better arm strength and much better accuracy that will NOT be displayed in the Spring Game, but hey he just had a bad day and he shows a lot more in the closed practices. He hits those 40-50 yard bombs with ease and even the WR’s catch them in practice as well and they even run the correct routes. Imagine that !
Well at least Zeise will imagine all of that for us.
Comment by Upittbaseball 10.11.11 @ 2:03 pm
LMAO, the Veal Parm also comes with a note from Sal, with an offer you can’t refuse. haha
I do know this – the Panthers have a lot further to go than anybody could have imagined and until the offensive line gets better, the quarterback becomes more consistent and the receivers become more of a factor, this team is going to continue to struggle and will lose games in this manner
The Good Reverand Zeise 10/09/2011
You make my day and you are right i read were WVU was asking for walk ons and abought the players who were hurt in there OL but that has not stoped them.
Wow, Mizzou in the ACC would be a real nice catch for them. Another new 2 TV markets(KC & St. Louis) to add to Pittsburgh and Upstate NY, NYC. Would certainly increase the TV revenue pie for all. Then if they could get ND, that would be complete.
What a “train wreck”!
As for the crap o’ brady bowl or whatever. Hey, I can’t stand those as much as anyone. Half the teams go to bowl games now. But, you still would like to be in the half that goes. Plus, that does give you a lot of extra practice time that coaches covet.
As for the BCS, doubtful with this team. I wouldn’t write it totally off though. Everyone knows how games go, Rutgers could end up losing to Louisville and South Florida etc. etc. Pitt staying undefeated till the WVU game is a little thin though.
As bad as it is, to go to a BCS bowl and get shellacked, you still gotta take it.
FRANKCAN, excellent point, that many of harped on for years. I even mentioned all three service academies, and I know a lot of people mentioned Navy numerous times. If he had got the conference to twelve, they may have been a little sturdier.
I think the ACC may have still come after Pitt and Syracuse eventually, but, it would have given both of those A.D.’s a lot more to think about.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m personally thrilled to be in the ACC, but, they could have possibly saved it.
1. The hoops is going to be absolutely orgasmic!!!
2. Well, if we’re to be pummeled in football, I’d rather be pummeled by FSU, Ga Tech, and Va Tech than Rutgers, Louisville and Cincy!!!
Just a personable preference, it just sounds better!!! ha ha lol
p.s. Wake Forest just beat FSU!!!
Big east top expansion target is UCF. We also talked abought them way back when.
I just want to add a point to the Palko reference vs. Nebraska. If you remember, Tyler was a bit hyper yet indecisive at that point in his career…and it came to a head in that game. We were getting blown out and the crowd was typical SOP boos… we had an excuse though… empty stadium for the Hurricane).
Anyways, Walt sat him down for Flacco. Flacco handed off three times, and Tyler came back and nearly led us to a win. My point is– that kind of “spark” worked for Palko and in the context of that game and that player (upside, intelligent, talented and coachable) worked. Palko played the remainder of that season like a stud. Had he not been stunted by Wanny, I believe he would have had a great college career (not necessarily Pros, but definately better if he had 2 more years with Walt).
Why– on Earth — does Trey see the game at that point? The game was still close? Why???? Why not in the Buffalo or Maine game? Why not against ND at home?
The consolation is….we know that Tino is what he is and will not be any better as a result of that spark. He is a 23 yr old JUNIOR with no upside. He should graduate and go be a Russel Wilson for another school. Oh, that’s right, he probably won’t get looked at by any reasonable school; unless he brings some homemades with bolognese sauce….
Well I think WVU will win the BE(cringes as he types it) and maybe actually win a BCS bowl (depending on the matchup). It could be them against an ACC team in the Orange Bowl, like maybe Clemson. They could beat Clemson.
And Miami will be littered with old junker cars/pickups that made it down to Miami, but won’t make it back. haha
We most likely lose to Cincy, WVU and Cuse. So at 6-6 it will be the Crap O’Brady Bowl against some Sun Belt team. Oh lord. Like I said the other week, Tino will be the Bowl MVP! haha
I’d rather get blown out or snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (The Pitt Way) vs. Clemson, FSU, Miami, GA Tech…
Check out the 4rth player down.
Rob Petitti T
So Tyler Palko QB
Fr Joe Flacco QB
RS Rashad Jennings RB
Fr Derek Kinder WR 48
Fr Darrelle Revis CB
Greg Lee
Tim Murphy
Fr Darrell Strong TE 14
So Steve Buches TE 84
Jr Raymond Kirkley RB 43
Jr Marcus Furman RB 2
So Joe DelSardo WR 4
Jr Erik Gill TE 45
Jr Kellen Campbell RB 38
H.B. Blades LB
Josh Cummings K
Fr Kelvin Chandler WR 82
So Adam Graessle P 18
Rashad Jennings transferred out and is now in his 3rd season at RB with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has averaged OVER 5 yds./carry.
I count 6 Panthers off this team who made it to the NFL.
I agree Rutgers sucks. Losing to a bad team does not make the season a lost cause. Would you write off the NY Giant because they lost to Seattle this past week….and remember, this is the BE. You don’t have to be 10-2 to win the league.
Go Pitt! BEAT Utah!!
Wow, this should make a real difference for Saturday. If it doesn’t…. something is seriously amiss here gang.
A week after committing five turnovers in their loss to Washington, the Utes (2-3, 0-3) committed five against the No. 22 Sun Devils (5-1, 3-0).
Backup quarterback Jon Hays threw three interceptions in his first start for the Utes and Utah fumbled the ball away twice.
Utah is finding the PAC 12 a mite more difficult than the MWC. They are still looking for their first win (0-3) in the PAC 12.
In fact I had a centerfielder let one go right thru his wickets when the ball barely got past me (Pitching) and into Center Field. This guy was a real jerk.
That stuff happens a lot in all leagues depending on the situation and who is involved. Anyone who has EVER played knows that !
a somewhat desirable place: St. Petersburg Fla.
It matches a BigEast team vs. C-USA team.
Here’s the kicker though. Should C-USA not have enough bowl eligible teams, a Sun Belt team is substituted.
Losing to Troy or FIU or Arkansas State or someone of that ilk would be really shameful. On the other hand wouldn’t that be ironic if we played TG’s former Tulsa team.
Gotta love the banksters though, coming up with a term like PIIGS. Nice, very nice.
Coaches and players should always address predictions as follows. Our goal is to be undefeated after week one. We will not look at game two until game one is over. Same thing after game 1. We are fortunate to be 1-0. We played a great team. Our focus is now on Team 2. We will not talk about rankings and BE championship, because we haven’t proven anything. Our goal this week is to be undefeated after week 2. And so on…
Wrote that Pitt would get it handed to them if they didn’t immediately focus on New Jersey Tech. Pitt didn’t. Coaches fault. Players fault. No discipline, no humility, no focus, no win. This is not about talent. Pitt is more talented than NJT. They weren’t prepared which is inexcusable. This is not negativism, but realism. All Pitt players and coaches need to take lessons from Coach Tomlin and classes on public relations. A Win cures many things, not wins. You can’t be 9-3 unless you are 4-3 first. Be humble!! HTP and let’s get to 4-3!
