Lots to cover, and I’ve been on early calls to start the week.
Injuries piling up on the defense have been something of a contributing factor for the struggles. Two linebackers (Zeise and Capara), a defensive end (Hendrix) and now it looks like a cornerback (Maddox).
The latter has Coach Pat Narduzzi clearly being forced to consider the removal of redshirts on Damar Hamlin and/or Therran Coleman. Both made their debuts on the depth chart for the Virginia game yesterday as the third options at the corner spots.
Avonte Maddox is still listed as the starter, but few people believe that after he left the Georgia Tech game in the first half and had his arm in a sling and out of uniform in the second half.
The idea of burning one or both of the redshirts has to be driving Narduzzi crazy. The season is half over, and to do it now must feel a little short-sighted.
Yet, there seems to be little doubt that it could help.
Freshmen defensive backs Damar Hamlin and Therran Coleman made their career debuts on Pitt’s depth chart Monday. Hamlin was listed third at one cornerback position, behind Avonte Maddox and Dane Jackson; Coleman was third at the opposite cornerback spot, behind Ryan Lewis and Phillipie Motley.
Both were highly rated coming out of high schools with Hamlin from Central Catholic and Coleman from Brashear. Their potential has caused some to wonder whether the plan to redshirt them will be scrapped six games into the season in order to help heal an ailing secondary.
Narduzzi said, more than anything, the move was made as a result of their impressive play of late.
“Damar and Therran, for really the past three weeks, have been battling back and forth,” he said. “We’ve traveled with both of them I think the past two or three weeks. They’re just getting closer. They’re freshmen, and we’ll see how much closer they are.”
If Dane Jackson and Phillipe Motley could have passed Ryan Lewis and Maddox in practice, they would have by now. And it isn’t like Jackson played badly in the GT game, but the Yellowjackets aren’t exactly the most dangerous passing offense.
There is little to no possibility of moving Whitehead or Mitchell from safety to corner. This isn’t high school, where their natural athleticism would let them shift like that. Putting them out there would not end well.
My hunch is that if the combination of Lewis, Motley and Jackson really struggle early against the Hoos, then there will be little choice but to play either Coleman or Hamlin.
The final minutes of Pitt football games are causing pain for Matt Galambos’ grandmother.
Things are going swell at Baylor.
Meanwhile, Virginia had their bye week and got to ride horses. This weekend is UVa’s homecoming.
All coaches play games with the injury reports (which does not make it less annoying and ridiculous).
Andrew Brown, who exited the Duke game with an apparent arm or shoulder injury, was kept from all horse-related activities during the bye week.
That’s as much as Mendenhall revealed Monday about his junior defensive end. Brown leads all Cavalier defensive linemen in sacks (two) and tackles for loss (4.5).
The ACC-mandated injury report comes out Thursday. For what it’s worth, Brown remains listed as a starter on UVa’s depth chart, updated Monday.
Virginia got off to a horrible — though not unexpected start — to this season. Losing their first three to FCS Richmond, Oregon and UConn. They have been improving, as expected under new coach Bronco Mendenhall with wins (barely) over Central Michigan and then Duke.
One of the areas where they have significantly improved has been (gulp) the passing game.
The next week, quarterback Kurt Benkert threw for a school-record 421 yards. He followed that by throwing for 336 yards against Duke.
After compiling 1,071 yards in the first three games, Virginia gained 985 in the last two.
Credit goes to an improved offense line that began jelling when Michael Mooney moved to left guard and Jack English shifted to left tackle in Week 2. Pass protection has improved, buying more time for the strong-armed Benkert, whose mobility can also extend plays in the pocket.
Receivers have also improved as they’ve become more familiar with Benkert and the new offense, often helping him by “converting routes” when protection breaks down.
The running game has been solid enough to keep defenses honest.
“So we’re just finding a way right now to stay out of a lot of the negative plays and minus-yardage plays that we struggled with in Weeks 1 and 2,” Mendenhall said.
Defensively they are not great, but in the first year, the coaches simplified the defense so they can attempt to play faster (sounds very familiar).
Narduzzi will earn his money if they win this game.
Pitt will win this one 42 to 31, Narduzzi is keeping focus and is just trying to keep the team focused to avoid a let down.
The Vegas line shrunk yesterday from a 5.5 Pitt margin to 3. HCPN knows his D will be challenged through the air by the cavs and will have his team ready to produce a win.
Somehow there will be added pressure on the uva QB and our O will score in excess of 40.
Focus, attention to detail and the perserverence to overcome our lack of talent at certain positions is what makes this HC special.
On Sunday morning we’ll be singing the “a win is a win” song again.
Wreak havoc on the Hoos’ homecoming!
Started out season pretty horribly losing to D2 Richmond, then getting busted by Oregon, who btw isn’t the Oregon of the last few year. And then lost at Storrs in a defensive grinder (13-10).
Then something happened to their offense, it started to click. And they got back home afer two road games from Coast to Coast (Oregon to Conn.)
They beat a pretty good Central Michigan, you remember them, they beat Okie State the week before we played them. Put up 49 points on the Chippewa’s(cudos for not changing your name).
And then went down to Durham to beat a Duke team 34-20, the week after Duke beat ND in South Bend.
What changed with UVA was their QB started playing ‘out of his mind’, as Chas noted above.
421 yards & 5 tD’s against the Chips and then followed that up with 336 yds and 3 tD’s against Duke.
So this won’t be a picnic at all in Charlottesville, as they’ve also had 2 weeks to prepare for Pitt.
As usual the key to the game against a passing offense is to get pressure on their QB. As we know the results if we don’t.
Lot’s of easy yardage and lots of screaming at the TV set.
Blitz, Blitz, Blitz, cause they’re going to complete the passes anyway.
As far as Hamlin and Coleman I think one of the two need to play. While Coleman has been healthy, Hamlin still may be more ready. Central Catholic is a big time high school program with a lot more specialized coaching than Coleman had at Brashaer.
I’m assuming Maddox is a no go? Of course with Narduzzi we have no idea. Dane Jackson has some potential and nice size for a corner. From what I’ve seen of Phillipe Motley I am thoroughly unimpressed. If this team can improve it’s pass game 8 wins in very realistic. A very good season is still on the table and the coaches need to play whoever gives them the best chance, even if it means burning a redshirt…
They must not be ready.
Was supposed to be one of our better (if not best) offensive recruits last year.
Haven’t heard a peep. He plays WR btw in case you forgot. Was a 4 star out of Ohio. Was pretty big too.
Just wondering cause Fffffrenchie and Muy Pequena Lopes have played, and just about everyone else. But not him.
Remember, Moss enrolled in January and went thru spring practice. The other frosh has had only 3 weeks practice before the season started, and I’m sure most, if not all, of them were a priority back in August.
Hamlin has been injured and has missed a lot of practice, is also small for college. Don’t want him to get reinjured.
Coleman may be a better bet, is bigger, but probably did not get great coaching in a city school.
This is one area where I am willing to defer to the coaches unlike Ollison where there is a lot more evidence 1100 yards of it that he can do the job.
As far as Weah dropping balls, Sammy Coates dropped 5 on Sunday but Ben kept going back to him, it paid off. Think we need to throw a couple deep balls on Saturday, make Weah run under it. Very safe play.
Overall, our great freshman class is off to a pretty rocky start, with Moss the only one making a big impact so far.
Started with the unfortunate health of Hill and Gilbert, then the injury to Hamlin.
Hopefully the class makes a much bigger impact next year.
I was more interested in hearing if anyone heard any of the Coaches or sportsdingalings (writers)
talking about him.
As I don’t go on every website anymore.
Maybe the kid was a ManChild in HS and his size there isn’t as opposing now, but 6’3″ around 200 is still bigger than most CB’s.
Mathews seems like the guy they are raving about.
The PG only regurgitates what they are given by the athletic department.
Believe Dane Jackson has it covered… literally.
Like I’ve said, the Canadian Offense just not set up for a Straight Ahead Power Running Game with a BIG Back.
Chawntez Moss is finding some success because he has SOME SHAKE along the lines of Shady McCoy.
But don’t be confused, NOT saying Moss is anything NEARLY what McCoy was and is.
The JC of 2014 was Pitt’s best back by a good piece.
Let’s take a look see.
JC avg’d 5.9 ypc in 2014 in his 2nd year.
Ollie avg’d 5.3 ypc in 2015 in his first year
JC avg’d 5.5 ypc in 2013 in his first year.
That is pretty much a wash in their first years.
JC in 2016 is avg’g only 4.2 ypc
Moss is avg’g 6.8 ypc
Ollie is avg’g 4.3 ypc in very limited play.
That is a huge difference between Moss & JC.
Best Back by a Long Shot, you might want to rethink that.
HAIL TO PITT