After the disappointment of UVa-Pitt, I briefly debated just getting in my car and driving the two-plus hours home at 11pm; rather then stay in Pittsburgh and even think or talk about the game. Rational thinking got the better of me, so I met up with some friends in a bar for a night cap before crashing in a friend’s guest room.
What to say about the game that hasn’t been said already? The O-line couldn’t block for the run or pass. Kenny Pickett had a good second quarter but that was about it. The wide receivers sure didn’t help. Still don’t know about the running game because the O-line was such a disaster. Have I mentioned that the O-line was bad?
The defense played rather well, all things considered. So, naturally defensive tackle Keyshon Camp — who looked really good — got hurt and is now out for the season. That’s two starting impact players on the defensive line that are out for the season.
The annoyance, anger, frustration and lingering general feeling of, “Nothing is changing. Nothing ever changes with this team for the entire fucking decade. They are destined to continue to go somewhere between 5-7 and 8-4 forever.”
And yet…
By mid-week, I can talk myself down.
Virginia was supposed to be pretty good. The defense really looked solid and really did a good job in containing Bryce Perkins — supposedly one of the better QBs in the ACC. Next man up and all that for the defensive line. It’s a whole new offense with Mark Whipple. The kinks still need to be worked out. That second quarter showed flashes of what could be. If it wasn’t for the special teams goof and a couple passes not dropped or missed so badly…
And all that tentative optimism has truth to it.
Just as the pounding negativity that kicked in from the actual performance is evidence.
Under Pat Narduzzi, Pitt does come out pretty shaky in the first game or two. The struggles in 2015 and 2017 to put away Youngstown State. The flat performance against Villanova and even Albany in 2016 and 2018, respectively. Just as his mentor, MSU HC Mark Dantonio usually does. I don’t know why either of them are like that, I just know that helping launch the ACC Network with a conference game to start the season came at a cost.
And now comes one of the better Ohio Bobcat teams in Frank Solich’s surprisingly long and respectable tenure. Yes, they are still a MAC team, but they are a pretty potent MAC team. Picked by many to at least win the MAC East, they probably have the best QB in the MAC.
This is still a chance to reset on things. At the end of the day, this is still a MAC team going on the road.
Let’s see if the offense can start getting things straightened out. A little more of the no-huddle with quick-hitters and keeping the defense off-balance. See about finding a rhythm with the receivers. Get the running game going.
Ohio should be scrimmage #3…establish a running game; working on passing mismatches; and work the defensive line rotation after the two lost players.
If we can’t do that against the Bobcats, we’re looking at a losing season.
At halftime, the Nits are losing.
I’m willing to give up drinking for six months if the Nits lose.
I’m assuming you watched in the press box. Did you happen rewatch on TV? I think you may come away with a different impression on the O-line. Again, not great, but they were serviceable. Pickett was just that bad.