When you spot a good opponent 14 points and you miss an easy FG, you won’t win many games. Those mistakes gave Miami a 17 point cushion and the final was only a 10 point difference. It’d be infuriating if it wasn’t so common. For some reason, this program likes to start games slow then try to crawl back. Unfortunately, they just aren’t good enough to do that. Maybe in a year or two they will be, but not yet. There were some positives and many negatives, but let’s look at both.
Positives:
-I said the following in my Know Your Enemy column about Miami: Their fatal flaw is run defense. 30 carries for 214 and a touchdown later, that proved to be true. Isaac Bennett had the best game of his career (not as good statistically as ODU, but consider the opponents) and Rachid Ibrahim scored his first touchdown.
-Tom Savage was sacked once and it wasn’t a devastating sack. It was on third down in the red zone, but it didn’t push them out of field goal range and since Blewitt made the kick, it didn’t cost points. An incomplete pass would’ve had the same overall result: three points. The clean pocket meant no turnovers while the game was still in contention as well. Savage’s interception wasn’t bad; he was forcing the ball to try and make a play late in the game. He put the ball where Garner could get it and in the end, Miami DB Artie Burns made the play. It’s not his fault poor defense and special teams play put them in that situation.
-Tyler Boyd. He broke Larry Fitzgerald’s freshman receptions record. He finishes the regular season with 77 catches 1001 yards and 7 touchdowns receiving along with 11 rushes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Over 1100 yards and 8 touchdowns for a true freshman? Incredible. He didn’t have his best game against Miami but he was keyed on all game and he still made an impact. The offense does need someone to step up across from Boyd next season. Whether it’s Manasseh Garner, Dontez Ford, a freshman, whoever. Someone needs to take the pressure off of Boyd in the passing game.
-The OL probably had their best game of the season. Dominating run blocking, a clean pocket for Savage, I don’t recall any false starts or holding penalties, and the offense scored 31 points even though they had bad field position frequently. This offense looks quite good when the OL is blocking. It gives me a little hope for next season because with better RB play and better OL play, this offense will look a lot better.
-Anthony Gonzalez had a great game and was one of very few players on defense who showed up. He was in on a lot of players and hopefully his second full season as a LB next year will allow him to become a very good LB.
-Did anyone else see true freshman Shakir Soto nearly run down Stacy Coley on his 73 yard touchdown? The coaches are high on Soto and you can see why with that speed. He’s one player the defense needs to really step up next season in order to replace Aaron Donald’s production. It’s obvious effort will not be an issue with him.
-The offense was missing its starting LT, LG, WR, and best RB (Conner) in the second half. They had a 10 play 92 yard drive and a 13 play 95 yard drive to get them back in the game. It was a bit slow, but impressive.
Negatives:
-Lafayette Pitts had one of the worst games I’ve seen an experienced player have. His kickoff return fumble was devastating and Miami clearly targeted him in the passing game with a lot of success.
-I’ll address special teams later in the week, but I’ll say this: it’s not a coaching issue when Pitts fumbles the ball. It’s a coaching issue when you have 12 guys on the field for a punt. The issue isn’t a lack of a special teams coach, it’s poor special teams coaching. That’s one area you can blame Chryst immensely for. Whatever they’re doing isn’t working and it needs to be changed in the offseason.
-You could easily argue that special teams mistakes cost this team two wins. Stop UNC’s punt return and don’t fumble the kickoff/the partially blocked punt and this team wins two more.
-I knew Miami would score points. I guessed 31 in my preview and I’m not necessarily upset that they were successful, but I am upset at how easy they were able to score. Coley was WIDE OPEN on the first touchdown and I have no idea why. Then his 73 yard rush was unforgivable. I give credit to Coley for making plays, but touchdowns of 32, 34, and 73 all involved defensive breakdowns.
-Matt House had built up a lot of positive capital since the Duke game. If you look, the most points scored by an opposing offense was 24 by ODU and Navy. That’s not great, but VT, UNC, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech were all held to 21 or fewer points. You expect your offense to win when they only need to score more than 21 points. After the game Miami had yesterday, he lost a lot of that in the eyes of fans.
-Overall, this season was so Pitt. You can look at one or two times in each loss where this team shot themselves in the foot. Outside of Florida State, does anyone think there was a noticeable talent differential between Pitt and any opponent? I firmly believe this team was capable of winning 11/12 games on the schedule. Through stupid mistakes, bad coaching, and slow starts, they went 6-5 in winnable games. There’s no doubt the schedule was tough; a Syracuse win over BC would mean 9/12 opponents are bowl eligible. As of right now, this team has two victories over current top 25 teams (ND and Duke). Only three teams (Stanford, ND, and Fraud Graham’s Devils) have more.
I’ll have info on recruiting, some season awards, and I’ll dig up bowl info over the course of the next week. I’ll say this: root for Clemson and Boston College today. If Clemson wins, they’ll go to a BCS bowl and open up another ACC slot. If BC wins, Cuse only has five wins and won’t go bowling.
I’m no PSU fan, but that showed me that they have a team, a school, a squad spirit that Pitt just doesn’t have.
Pitt’s failure: Is it the coaches, the Admin, the players, I don’t know?
But it’s depressing, damn depressing.
I may disagree with you but I respect your love for Pitt. There are just not enough of us that feel strongly about Pitt Athletics. We are known for not traveling well with our teams. People flock to winners, not perennial underachievers.
I am just as disappointed as you are in the results we had on the field. Even on this site, it is the same names, and there are very few of us.
Pitt fans are frustrated for a reason, you have to be tough to weather the pain and anguish that is Pitt Football. A sense of humor helps.
1 beef o brady in st pete
2 heart of dallas bowl
3 little ceasars bowl detroit
i dont which one you want but i hope it is not
detroit.
they seam to be the only 3 that are open to us.
I just don’t blame everything on the coaches.
I would say it is 65% on the lack of enough good players and 35% on coaching.
But long term it is all on Administration. Stevie dug a hole that is going to take time to get out of.
I’m one of those bad fans that didn’t bother to show up on Friday. Why should I show up when the team under Chryst shows up maybe half of the time? At least when I watch at home I don’t feel like I wasted an entire day because I can get stuff done around the house. When I went to the games earlier in the year it was like I was paying to feel miserable and angry. Not my idea of a fun afternoon.
About the game, some on the penalties the team continues to have are definitely a reflection of poor coaching. Turnovers have nothing to do with coaching. I think some of the success of the offense is fools gold. When you are down 3 scores in the 4th quarter, the last thing you can do is have a clock eating 6 minute drive. One of the reasons Pitt was able to move the ball then was because Miami was playing a defense designed to not give up a big play. Pitt did a better job at killing the clock than Miami. The lack of urgency by the offense was insane. Also, there was the classic Chryst junk TD to make the game not look as bad as it was. Pitt’s offensive stats have been consistently inflated with these drives under Chryst.
as i said we have 10 bowl tie in next year but we will also have Notre Dame which can take a spot
chryst wont fire house it wont happenin fact he wont fire anybody even if he should.
but here is a thought he has one man coaching DE and one man coaching DT.
but here is a thought let one man coach both a D line coach.
and the outher man can coach the special teams that way we keep the same nummber of coachs but now every one has a coach.
Any first time readers, ask anyone on here, I am not a troll, die hard Pitt fan.
That is how bad we are. A school, that had one of the worst scandals in college football history, that took down coaches, administrators, lost recruits, bowl games, monetary penalties etc. etc. etc………………..
and their program is way ahead of ours, EVEN, after all of the above stated items.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. Makes my insides turn sour, but it is the truth.
I was thinking, they were gonna crumble, and when we started up in 2016, Pitt would easily be able to reel off 4 straight victories.
They’ve already eased the recruiting ban, the bowl ban will probably go this winter, and they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country, as a freshman????????
It sickens me, but it’s true.
That’s how bad we are.
What’s the over/under for attendance, actual people’s ass in the seats???
Pitt vs. U. of Buffalo, played in Detroit??????
I’m gonna say O/U 5,000, and that’s being extremely generous.
Remember, not paid, and certainly not what Smug Smilin’ Steve says, when he announces 41,523 in attendance.
Hell, it’s like Pedo didn’t even miss a beat.
JoePa was going to retire soon anyhow.
My sickedness (lol), is only half for PSU. The other half is for what Pitt has become.
here is what the players get they go to a city that is colder then pittsburgh.
they get a pizza party and go bowling sounds like the birthday party i had for my son when he was 10.
then they get to get up on xmas early and feed the homeless of detroit breakfest very nice thing but not much fun.
do to the fact half of deroit is homeless not becuse they are poor.
but becuse the city was bombed out bye the germans in WW2 and never rebuilt that is my story and i am sticking to it.at least that is how it looks.
i know i am a prick but what a place to put a bowl ugh .
Penn State hired their DB coach that had no Coordinator experience. Very similar to House. Penn State fans wanted his head after some of their losses.
Also, they have no designated special teams coach and had special teams issues this year.
Their talent is very equal to Pitt.
and be able to walk around in tea shirts in the warm sun and check out the ladys on the beach st pete in the winter or detroit easy pick for me and there you dont need a bullet prof vest that is a plus.
sat high 28
sun high 23
mon high 23
st pete this week end
sat high 71
sun high 81
mon high 77
which do you like.
Penn State is picking up steam and moving forward. Still 100K crowds, top 25 or top 30 recruiting class (rivals) (fwiw), atmosphere, they’re right back on track.
And we sit in a perpetual state of stagnation. (at best).
Take any bias out of it.
Who’s gonna win 10 games again first??
Pitt or Penn State???
Pretty easy answer.
BTW, I heard that the AKA of the “Detroit Bowl” is the “PACIYA Bowl”. So a bullet proof vest will provide little protection.
Oh I forgot to mention, PACIYA = Put A Cap In Yo A$$
How does Pitt get that atmosphere?
How does Pitt overcome the gorilla in town that is the Stillers?
How do we convince kids to go to Pitt?
Second, you sit down with the coach in the off season and say “we’ve got a darn good business school and communications department. You are going to work with so and so for a minimum of three weeks in private communication sessions. Next year no more shucking and avoiding and generally acting like you just arrived off a turnip truck and show some respect to the audience.”
Third, if you’re the AD you don’t schedule nonsense games like Oklahoma State. You do your best to get the backyard brawl going again, and if not able to, set some regional games or games that help with recruiting, like ACC states.
Fourth, you change or add to your offense to include two minute drill or do something different. Do you really think having an H line up, step back, shuffle in motion and go block for hundreds of times is fooling anyone? I saw no defenses even having to step over or adjust.
Fifth, if you are the AD, you ask what the improvement plan is for special teams. Blocked kicks in the last game, coaches yelling at kids to go on, then come off, is inexcusable. I was there and close to the field at Ga. Tech it was not the players fault it was the loons on the sideline arguing among themselves.
Sixth, I’d ask for an explanation on how we go an entire season and Voytek takes two or three snaps? Really? I see us getting gashed because we are throwing freshman out there, not ready, and yet at the QB position we can’t find time to get some experience for the backup QB? Really? Is that a good plan?
Seventh, what is the selling of the university on the recruiting trail. Skeptical about several of the assistants and wondering if we put these guys with their age, poor communication skills, how well it sells. Plenty of Pitt connections and we can’t find one or two assistants with Pitt background? Right now, it appears our best coach may be Engram, and he is PSU. Are we trying to hire the right way or does everyone have to be Wisconsin or some sort of friend of some sort.
Eighth, get a new strength coach. Now. Not even a question. I’ve heard from a few players from Wanny and previous regimes this guy needs to go. They don’t even come back to work out cause they can’t stand his attitude. Nuff said.
the only one any one gets for 8 more weeks.
Some good suggestions.
While throwback uniforms will not bring wins they could generate some excitement and dollars. I was reading why Phil Knight, the Nike kingpin, came up with the Oregon Duck uniforms. His thinking, there are maybe ten schools that the public view as having great uniform traditions. Alabama, USC, Penn State, etc. Can’t think of the entire list. You get the picture.
He wanted the Ducks to be different and it worked. A big part of that success was that they started to win at the same time and get more exposure on TV.
Why can’t Pitt change it up? We have a great, nationally known abreviated name for our school in Pitt. Script or non-script. Have some freaking imagination. Generate some money from merchandise. Just don’t do something stupid like Maryland. LOL.
Funny side note…I was looking for a Pitt lacrosse jersey for my young son. Google Pitt Lacrosse Uniform in images. Awesome helmets with the script and crazy stripes. Someone has imagination.
i my self did not think he was that bad i thought he made this site kind of jump like upittbaseball
kind of the same we need that or we would be board .
now you can jump on me go ahead but i do like the games better go pitt go.
great comments.
