Headed into the FSU game, I gave six ways Pitt could win and five reasons FSU should win. Now that the game is only four days away, here are four key questions that will be answered on Monday that will heavily determine if Pitt can pull off the upset.
Question #1: Can the defense contain FSU’s RBs?
This is a tough one. FSU has a lot of speed at the RB position and while Pitt is stout up the middle with Aaron Donald, Tyrone Ezell, and Shane Gordon, the OLBs and DEs are still a big question mark and will be largely responsible for containing FSU’s outside runs. I have a lot of confidence in the secondary and our LBs are pretty good at coverage due to their speed, so the stopping the pass is less concerning. FSU will try to run outside and if their RBs get to the corner consistently, it’ll be a very long night.
Question #2: Will the OL step up?
There’s no position group with a larger range of potential outcomes than the OL. They could be anywhere from awful to great. OG should be fine with upperclassmen there, but with 3 new starters at LT, OC, and RT, it’s scary to think how bad things could be. If edge rushers are getting pressure on Savage, we’re doomed. If the OL doesn’t get push in the run game, we’re doomed. If the opposite happens, the offense will be in great shape. While obviously it’s a lot to expect for them to be great against FSU in their first game, it’s probably necessary for an upset to be possible.
Question #3: Who the #$%& is going to run the ball?
With Isaac Bennett and James Conner injured, no one knows (other than the coaches possibly) who will carry the ball. If both Bennett and Conner are out, that essentially puts Pitt down to their 4th string RB (assuming Shell would’ve been top 3 had the fiasco not happened). 4th string RB going behind an OL with 3 new starters against a defense full of NFL talent? Yikes. If Bennett and Conner are healthy, it’ll be a great lightning/thunder combo if the OL gets the job done. A huge key will be how many yards the RBs get after they get in the open field. Bennett has the speed and Conner has the power to get extra yards in the open field.
Question #4: Will anyone step up?
In order to pull off an upset, you need players to step up and make huge plays. Take the Notre Dame game last year (even though it was a loss). Ray Graham was the best player on the field and embarrassed ESPN darling Manti Te’o. K’Wuan Williams was everywhere (even when the refs incorrectly penalized him). Shane Gordon snuck onto the field and made a huge stop. There are plenty of players who can really step up and make a difference. Aaron Donald is a monster. Someone on offense, whether it’s Street, Garner, Holtz, Savage…anyone. There needs to be a player on offense who plays out of his mind. On defense, turnovers are going to be a necessity. If we see a few players step up to the challenge, maybe, just maybe, Heinz Field will be a happy place.
What to watch in the ACC: Week 1
2. Conference debuts. Pitt and Syracuse play their first games as ACC schools after exiting the former Big East, which the Orange won a four-way share of in 2012. Both schools have the chance to make big opening statements, as the Panthers host defending conference champion Florida State on Labor Day and Syracuse faces a Penn State squad looking to build off Bill O’Brien’s successful first year with the program.
5. … Speaking of new starting QBs. Florida State and Pitt will both start new signal-callers when they square off on Labor Day, with Jameis Winston running the Seminoles’ offense and Tom Savage handling duties for the Panthers.
6. Pitt’s running backs. Ray Graham is gone. Rushel Shell transferred to West Virginia. And Isaac Bennett and James Conner have dealt with injuries in camp. Coach Paul Chryst isn’t sure how things will shake out Monday, but we likely will see Rachid Ibrahim and Malcolm Crockett get at least some action given the backfield situation.
7. FSU’s defensive backs. Are too many bodies a good thing? Nick Waisome and Terrence Brooks started all 14 games last season for the nation’s No. 1 pass defense. The crowd also includes preseason All-American Lamarcus Joyner, reigning ACC defensive rookie of the year Ronald Darby, former five-star prospect Karlos Williams and several other strong athletes. New defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has his work cut out for him, although probably not as much as new Pitt quarterback Tom Savage does.
3 distinct possibilities
1) Tyler Boyd (no explanation needed freshman or not
2) Manasseh Garner (creates huge matchup problems)
3) Chris Blewit (the X factor) hope he’s been allowed to practice on the open end of Heinz Field
The Big Wildcard
1) Tom Savage (without doubt) could be a great storyline for the media, hasn’t played a down in 3 years, 3 different colleges, almost quit last year after being one of the elite QB recruits coming out of HS.
Perhaps PC was holding Bennett out of practice longer than normal. First as a precaution, since he knew what he had in Isaac. Second to give Connor & others a chance to run with the Ones.
If nothing else Sir Isaac should be pretty fresh for the game. And Connor is somewhat battle tested.
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Really the only way I see Pitt making this a game is controlling the clock with the running game, and forcing 3+ turnovers. A couple in the first half that lead to scores would be ideal. Really need to try and limit FSU offensive possessions.
I don’t think it’s out of the question either. Yes, Winston WAS a 5*, ultra-athletic, #1 dual threat QB recruited in the country.
But he also IS a redshirt freshman, making his first start, on the road, in prime time. I would think that ABSOLUTELY makes ball security a concern, and is probably the only thing Jimbo is worried about. Pitt has some ball hawking talent in the secondary that could create TOs. Maybe Donald gets a strip sack?
Wet field would be a huge equalizer and maybe payback for one of our losses at FSU in the rain when Pitt was the much better team.
Even 33 years later ! haha 🙂
TD was #33 and …….
team.
he has 2 years left he was there best RB last year
will call it a trade buie for shell.
he left becuse they droped him on the depth chart
to 4 th string .
it might be worth at lest talking to him.
after all 850 yards on a passing team is pretty good.
Lots of humidity (ugh) maybe some rain – sounds more like Florida swamp weather without the oppressive heat.
For Pitt, even with Bennett and Conner available, it’s like we are down to our backups. That’s scary. But I’m a fan of Bennett. I just hope he can hold onto the ball after being away from contact for so long.
Go Pitt.
Emil, we must be from the same era. I teach tennis in Pittsburgh with Frankie Gustine’s granddaughter.
33 to 1.
Place your bets folks ! haha
is he worth talking to.
Finally watching college football, yes!
Really an un-biased read!
31-17
South Carolina all over NC.
The question isn’t whether Chryst would take the kid. It’s whether Pedie would allow him to take the kid.
Monte Nicholson
Jackie Crawford
Both Pittsburgh and Florida State have the chance to impress Montae Nicholson on Labor Day.
Montae Nicholson (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway), Alex Bookser (Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon), Dravon Henry (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) and Shai McKenzie (Washington, Pa./Washington) will be heading to the Panthers’ opener against Florida State on Monday. Nicholson, Bookser and Henry are all ESPN 300 prospects, while McKenzie has offers from a lot of teams, giving credibility to the caliber of players coming in. Nicholson and McKenzie, too, are being recruited by Florida State, so a win by either team could make a significant impact in their favor.
Towson Tigers Towson
(1-0) at H-Cross (2-9) 9/7 33
Connecticut Huskies Connecticut
(0-1) at Maryland (4-8) 9/14 18
Read More: link to sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Towson 33
Uconn 18
at Storrs.
Come on man.
South Carolina was a 10-12 point favorite. Playing at home. USC was pre-season #6 and UNC was unranked. ACC didn’t fail any test.
This game went as expected and covered easily.
Garrison played with Trey in Texas, not Buie. I believe Buie is from Florida
Dustin Garrison play with Anderson.
My man Upitt is a bigtime Texan. But somehow the Texas Longhorns have been as mediocre as our beloved Panthers. How can that be with all……
that great Texas talent. lol
And leave ‘PITT’ for the football & basketball teams.
Ala Uconn. Least the schmuck can do to earn his $600K + 🙂
31-17
Comment by TonyinHouston 08.29.13 @ 8:59 pm
Not to totally rag on you Texans (but of course it’s a lot of fun), but 17-31 is a respectable score, imo.
The putz on CBSsports had 14-28.
Again if we lose, I can live with either score.
And we don’t wear cowboy boots !!!
Texas has 4 (1963, 1969 (nixon was involved), 1970 and 2005
Texas A & M has 3 (1919, 1927 & 1939) but some folks don’t want to count those
Texas Tech has 0
Houston has 0
SMU has 0 (they claim 3 highly debatable ones, including two in 1981 & 1982, I guess cause they beat us 7-3 in a Home game at the Cotton Bowl)
TCU has 2 (again for some folks, way back in 1935 & 1935)
PITT (9). Whole State of TExas or 6 Universities (9)
Reality trumps Illusion.
TCU’s 2nd was 1938 but I bet PITT in Jock Sutherland’s final season would have knocked the snot of those queers.
I think we score a bit on Monday night, perhaps even 21 or 24 points. I think FSU scores more though. If we keep this game semi-close at the end then the team can move forward with confidence. Our next three games after Monday night shouldn’t be hard to win at all.
We all know an upset can happen, but I don’t think many PITT fans would actually put down cash on it.
(e.g., red-lined tryin’)
1) Ay, there’s the rub… tough question.
As I posted earlier… this is likely to be the biggest challenge posed by FSU.
FSU has a slew of runningbacks, pretty good ones.
Wilder–Big… Freeman–Effective… Green– Highly Recruited… Pender–Pending Trouble due to his ability to make the Big Play.
Key will be the ability of the Pitt D-Line to get off the ball and penetrate enough to keep FSU’s four returning starters on the O-line from ahving enough time on their hands to get to the second level.
The best answer to the question is a question. Which Shane Gordon is going to show up?
The good news, if the wrong Shane steps forward, this year there are ample replacements ready to make themselves a household name among the Pitt faithful.
2) This question is easier… Yes they will.
Pitt’s O-Line is… how can we put this… HUGE… as in Wisconsin Huge!!! They will make any D-Line this year look average in comparison.
However, the biggest difference this year… while last year’s line had Heart… this year’s are much better athletes… and Hueber can barely contain himself.
The biggest surprise of all could be Clemmings. The coaches moved him from Defense for a reason. All the size and natural ability to be a coveted draft pick in the NFL. Now if he can only get off to a good start in his new-found career. I think he will.
3) Justin, you obviously posted this question before the encouraging news that both Bennett and Connor are ready to go.
However, still look for a little running back by committee with Connor being nominated as Chairman.
The BIG PLAY though… and there will be at least one… has Tyler Boyd’s name all over it.
4) OK… here it is… BLEW-ITT. He’s about to become a Pitt and ESPN favorite… and not for missing.
And did I mention Boyd? Some guys just have that natural ability to make a BIG PLAY… and BOY OH BOY is that Boyd!
Justin, the fifth question and the biggest one you not asked. Will Pitt win?
My guess is that you’re saving that one for last.
ESPN’s obsession with Clowney took a little hit last night. Funny though how they did everything they could to preserve his place as a Heisman contender and folklore as… Scott (I love Tiger Woods) Van Pelt would describe… “flat-out the best player in football at any level.”
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Can’t think of every seeing a player being pushed for the Heisman REPEATEDLY taking themselves out of a game or standing still as the ball was snapped because they were TIRED!
Hugh Green never did that.
Call me crazy, but I’m thinking the game will be a little slow to start and will be a little more low scoring than the o/u. I think the spread is probably right…I’ll say 23-13 FSU.
I read all your comments and appreciate them..but “queers?” Really? It’s 2013 my friend.
You haven’t been doing your homework. You are assigned to read college football news on all the popular sites and buy into the ACC hype which, for now, challenges the ACC to step up to the Power 4 conferences, finally.
North Carolina is picked second in the Coastal. They were supposed to give South Carolina a serious challenge. After all, South Carolina is second in the SEC East.
After all, isn’t this the breakout year for Pitt’s new conference? All the ACC/SEC challenges have been laid out: Georgia/Georgia Tech; Clemson/South Carolina; Miami/Flordia; Florida State/Florida. Can’t forget the latest scheduling change: Season finale between Kentucky-Louisville in 2014.
So…how well is the ACC going to perform? Or is it still a step or two below the former Big East?
HTP
From 1972 to 2013.
PITT has 1 National Championship and all the colleges in Texas combined(Texas, Texas A & M, Texas Tech, Houston, SMU & TCU ) have 1 National Championship.
There… are you happy now ! haha 🙂
Which meant the betting experts didn’t take UNC as a serious challenge to the South Carolina.
And neither did I, which is why I am a richer man today than this time last nite. 🙂
