(This is one of a weekly series of articles entitled “Monday Morning Quarterback”.   I will try to post them two days after the football games are played so as to have our wilder emotions under control by then. It will be my take on the positives and the negatives we saw happen and a chance for commenters to agree or disagree and to add their own thoughts.) 

Before we talk about anything else watch these highlights from Saturday’s win over Georgia Tech.

Done?  OK then.

Pitt flew into Atlanta, GA last Friday afternoon as a team that still had many legitimate question marks surrounding it despite winning five out of the season’s six games.  They flew back into Pittsburgh Saturday evening as a team that has shown it can handle adversity, adapt to tough in-game situations and whose personnel can rise to the occasion in a harsh environment.

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The biggest difference of the Pitt football team on the field is the defense. They play with passion, energy, and so much more confidence.

The biggest difference that is occurring for this team overall is their belief that they can and will win the game. That one bad thing is not the herald of finding a way to lose.

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3:10 to go, down four, ball on their own 38 yard line.

3:44 to go, down seven, ball on their own 28 yard line.

1:04: to go, down 3, ball on their own 24 yard line.

That’s the situation opposing offenses have been in the last three games. The result? ZERO points and three wins for Pitt. After the defense held on against VT, Narduzzi said in his press conference that the team made mistakes against Iowa that led to the 57 yard FG. Since then, not only has the defense held on, they’ve thrived. What a change from last year. When the defense is on the field with the game on the line they’ve responded. (more…)

There are two Coastal division opponents Pitt has yet to beat in the storied history of Pitt in the ACC. Last year was particularly humiliating as Pitt coughed the ball up in comically ridiculous fashion throughout the second half. Meanwhile the Yellow Jackets just ran over Pitt, prompting a panicked defensive coordinator to junk everything from the game plan at halftime — it didn’t help.

The game is a 12:30 start syndicated by the ACC. Hopefully you can find a station. If not, it’s ESPN3.com or — in my case as I’m visiting in-laws where naturally the middle of the state of Ohio is not carrying it — the WatchESPN app on your phone.

Did I bring a flask of Four Roses and a six-pack of Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Extra to get me through the game (and family)? It’s a possibility.

I apologize in advance that this is not up to my usual standard. I’ve been too busy with work and I rushed through this. My analysis is good, but my writing sucks in this one. Sorry guys.

After last year’s abomination, it’s surprising to see how optimistic Pitt fans are against Georgia Tech. I’m not necessarily predicting a loss, but I see more confidence than I think is warranted. Last year’s homecoming embarrassment was not purely a product of the 734  six lost fumbles (five in the first half). GT had 612 yards of offense on the ground and scored 28 points in the second half after the Fumblepalooza ’14 in the first half. Georgia Tech ran the ball at will against a defense that returns most of the same starters. Let’s break them down. (more…)

Safety Paris Ford has committed to Pitt according to Chris Peak of Panther Lair. The consensus four star prospect from Seton La Salle chose Pitt over offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, some school in Central PA surrounded by cows, and numerous other P5 schools.

According to Peak, Ford chose Pitt because he “wanted to show people that this ‘#412Crew’ movement can be serious if a big piece committed…[s]o I decided to be that piece.” While his relationship with Narduzzi and the coaches undoubtedly was the primary reason, it’s safe to say the high level play from the defense so far makes this decision a lot easier.

Ford is a great addition for Narduzzi and could be the start of a domino effect bringing numerous other WPIAL stars into the fold. Ford joins Exree Loe as the second commitment for the 2017 class.

(Don’t forget to read the preceding article posted this morning also)

Oct. 12, 2015

PITT vs. GEORGIA TECH
October 17, 2015 • 12:30 p.m., ET

Bobby Dodd Stadium (55,000/Natural Grass) • Atlanta, Ga.
ACC Network • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @GoPittFootball • #PITTvsGT

LINK: Where to Watch Pitt-GT

LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (GT)  (Pages 1-3 are handy for watching the game)

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October 12, 2015

 Pat Narduzzi Press Conference 

Georgia Tech Week

 PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO: Narduzzi Georgia Tech Preview

PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO: DT Darryl Render

PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT (HTML LINK): Narduzzi Text Transcript

ACC DIGITAL NETWORK VIDEO LINK: Pitt 2015 Defensive Highlights (have fun with this one at work)

 Opening Statement:

“We obviously have a huge challenge this week defending the spread option. We’re playing a team who was picked to win the Coastal side of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They’re a well-coached team, Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson does a great job coaching, a very intelligent guy. I have a lot of respect for him both administratively and as a football coach just [from] sitting with him in ACC meetings. Obviously they’re struggling a little bit and it’s not because they aren’t a good football team, that’s for sure. They lost four games to some pretty good football teams—they’re [a combined] 19-3. So if anyone wants to sit there and think they aren’t a good football team, I would argue with them. You go through struggles. They’ve had some injuries, as we have, so this will be a challenge for our football team.  I think we’re 0-3 against [Paul Johnson] and we get to go against them on the road again even though we had fun at Heinz Field this weekend. We’re looking forward to getting our guys coached up and going on a business trip.”

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As Chas mentioned earlierd, the offense was entirely too conservative in the second half of the UVA game. This allowed the Cavaliers to make it a one score game late and add a little drama to Homecoming. Fortunately the defense came through eventually and it was all for naught. Play-calling remains an issue, but self-inflicted wounds were the bigger issue for the offense on Saturday. (more…)

 (This is the first article in a weekly series of articles entitled “Monday Morning Quarterback”.   I will try to post them two days after the football games are played so as to have our wilder emotions under control by then. It will be my take on the positives and the negatives we saw happen and a chance for commenters to agree or disagree and to add their own thoughts.) 

I told Chas I’ll try to keep the MMQB articles posted.

Four wins and one loss, with those wins including our first two ACC conference games is nothing to sneeze at and is a real ‘feel good’ generator for almost ever Pitt fan save a few disgruntled ones.

We held on, and that is becoming a mantra that isn’t real positive in itself, to win Saturday’s game against the University of Virginia at Heinz Field in beautiful Pittsburgh, PA.

Before getting into the game specifics let’s acknowledge something that is different with this season. There is a positive and growing sentiment among the Pitt football program, the university, the fans and, surprisingly, the local media, that sets this year, with this brand new staff, apart from the others seasons we have slogged through over the last five years.

What separates this year from all the other recent years is the solid belief that something good is not ‘about to happen’ but actually is.  Yes there are areas of the team and coaching that have to grow and mature.  I think we’ll all agree that even without Conner in the backfield our offense has to better come together and play more consistently.

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For the game, the offense had nice enough numbers. 363 total yards. 222 in the air. 141 on the ground. The overall play calling appeared a bit run heavy. 35 rushes (including one sack) to 24 passes. About 59% run, 41% pass. It’s the way it ended up there, that is a bit of a concern.

Last week after the win over Virginia Tech, Head Coach Pat Narduzzi admitted that Pitt got very conservative on offense in the second half. That approach continued — and if anything was worse — in the Virginia game.

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Some last minute family issues abruptly intruded on the weekend, keeping me from getting to Pittsburgh this weekend. That forces me to watch at home on what should be a perfect day for football. Even with a 12:30 start time. Frustrating. Very frustrating.

Big game today. Homecoming. First home game in over a month. A conference and divisional opponent. A very winnable game. Not to mention lots of recruits on hand.

It says something about the change in mindset with the fans towards this team, new coach, new staff and just general feeling of renewal for the athletic department that it doesn’t feel like Pitt is going to find a way to blow the opportunity and the game.

Hail to Pitt.

I know some of us have been putting our predictions down in Justin’s “Hoo’s Your Enemy” article but here is a separate thread for our guesses so that we can look back easily and see who knows what they are talking about when it comes to how Pitt does in actual games.

Speaking of which I have a 1-3 record so far this year, told you I sucked at that, but I’m thinking the passing games gets its feet under itself and the OL starts to come together now that there seems to be less substitutions there.  So the offense should be more productive with a more consistent running game.  Our defense gets better week to week but I think UVa gets two or three big plays.  We’ll give up some points but not more than we score.

While the Hoos may not stack up at that well in comparison to the other college football teams, we’ve seen other lightly regarded opponents come into Heinz and turn the tables. However, I do agree that Narduzzi and staff have done a good job keeping the kids up and focused for action.

As a reminder. these linked Pitt vs. Virginia Game Notes are essential for good Pitt football watching.  The whole publication is 41 pages long but for an individual game I print out pages 1, 3, 4, and 5.  Those are the game overview (pg 1) and then the Pitt Two-Deep and rosters (pgs 3-5).  The Pitt media dept does an excellent job with this coming out every week.

My thoughts?  The good weather, coming off a nice away conference win, and the possibility of showcasing the team at Homecoming points to a 34-21 Pitt win.

Yeah us!

Note: Yesterday I let Chas and Justin know that  I’m going to be backing away from the Blather as I have been working on a fictional novel  for the last few months, set in PGH in the early 1970s BTW, and a publishing company’s editor read what I had done to date and told me I need to finish it and send it out as soon as possible as she thought it had ‘good legs’.  So that’s what I’m going to do.  It will take up the time and energy that I have been giving to The Blather.

I’ll still try to get something up every once in a while but not on the scale I been doing for the last five years.  Of course I’ll read and comment as I always do.  Thanks for everything and it has been great fun to be with everyone… See you at the games!

This column will be shorter than usual as I’ve been under the weather all week. I’m also quite busy at work so that’s eating up a lot of my weakened energy. So, please forgive more typos and errors than usual. Long story short, Pitt is a better team than Virginia at almost every facet. Chaney’s offense is still a work in progress without James Conner, but I’m willing to give him a mulligan on last week. This week, however, the offense needs to produce and get things going as this defense is not good enough to win on its own against the likes of Georgia Tech and UNC like it did against VT.

The Cavaliers opened up the season with back to back games against highly ranked out of conference opponents (UCLA and Notre Dame). The Notre Dame game was a respectable loss, with the Fighting Irish needing last second heroics to pull off the win but UCLA was never really a contest. Since then, they struggled to beat FCS foe William & Mary and got whooped by Boise State. I respect UVA for the tough out of conference schedule, but in order to build the program you need actual wins, not moral victories. (more…)

Oct. 5, 2015

PITT vs. VIRGINIA Game Notes

October 10, 2015 • 12:30 p.m., ET

Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
ACC Network • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @GoPittFootball • #UVAvsPITT
LINK: Where to Watch Pitt-UVA

LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (UVA)
GAME STORYLINES

*  Pitt looks to build on its 3-1 start when it hosts ACC Coastal Division foe Virginia this Saturday. The Panthers are back at Heinz Field following three consecutive away games. Pitt completed its road swing with a 17-13 victory over Virginia Tech in its ACC opener.

*  The Cavaliers visit Heinz Field with a 1-3 mark. However, their three losses are to teams with a combined 12-3 record (UCLA, Notre Dame and Boise State). Virginia defeated Pitt last year, 24-19.

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