Looks like all those “overconfident” Miami fans who talked of Miami’s speed and talent that would overwhelm Pitt were right.
Here’s the simplest way to summarize how bad it was. Miami’s mistakes, errors and penalties merely kept them from blowing Pitt away quickly. Pitt’s mistakes, errors and penalties kept them from doing anything.
Where to begin. I started watching the game sometime before midnight on DVR delay — ignoring text messages and staying away from anything that might tell me the outcome prematurely. With all the penalties, injury delays and such, the extra half-hour of recording time I tacked on still wasn’t enough. I was able to fast forward through that in about 2 hours. I can’t imagine how excruciating it must have been to watch or be at the game.
I guess I have to begin with the offensive line. Dear god, they are not improved up the middle from the start of the season. Might as well just fall down after the snap and hope the defensive tackles trip over them on their way into the backfield. It might be more effective than whatever they are trying to do.
As such it is hard to give a completely fair evaluation of the play calling, Tino Sunseri, Dion Lewis and the rest of the offense. Oh they have their problems that contributed, but when every play is on the verge of being blown up before it starts, what can you do?
I know I’ve been complaining about the lack of recruiting true centers for the last few years. Robb Houser was a good stop-gap from the JUCO rankings, presumably while they recruited and groomed someone — but no. They haven’t. Coach Wannstedt stubbornly has stuck to his idea that any offensive lineman (or converted defensive lineman) can be taught to play that position effectively. And if the guys behind Karabin, Gaskins and Turnley are so much worse or too young to be ready to contribute, then Coach Wannstedt has really screwed up his own offensive philosophy.
One big problem with the playcalling remains the fact that they are running Dion Lewis straight ahead or just off of center. I guess they want to use Hynoski as the lead blocker for Lewis, because he generally excels at it. But when the center and guards are not able to seal off any blocks, Hynoski has no where to lead but into a wall.
I really, really do not understand why Pitt’s offense is not trying to run it outside more. A sweep, a pitch. Something to allow the best parts of the O-line — Pinkston and Nix at the tackle spots more. They claim that the present TEs are not as good at blocking, but Pitt needs to give Lewis some room to run, and they can’t be much worse than the interior of the O-line.
There was one point midway though the 3d quarter. Pitt was down 17-0. Lewis gets the ball on 1st down and gets outside. He shows that talent and bounces off some tackles for a 12-14 yard gain. On the very next play, hand-off right up the gut stuffed right away.
For chrissakes, teams — not just Miami — keep plowing right up the middle of the O-line. Use it to some advantage by bouncing Lewis outside more so that the defenders are not in position.
On the subject of Lewis, I am beginning to wonder if the biggest problem for Lewis may be that he has been overcoached. During the game Craig James — while admittedly talks out of his ass a lot — talked about the difference in Lewis from last year to this year. It was a bit of Theisman-ian contradictions at times. Lewis is not being decisive enough, or that he wasn’t being patient enough. At times, though, he and Jesse Palmer talked about what the coaches wanted Lewis to do more of, and there seemed to be contradictions from the coaches. They wanted Lewis to follow his blockers. To wait for the play. To make faster decisions and hit the hole decisively. Maybe they aren’t all as contradictory in football, but it sure adds up after a while.
Of course, if Pitt keeps insisting on running Lewis straight up the gut with their Power-16 play it’s a moot point. There’s no where to run, and no holes to hit.
The lack of any O-line made playcalling a joke. They couldn’t run up the middle. Tino Sunseri had no time to throw — and with the Miami players constantly in the backfield he became completely skittish and almost unglued. Unable to complete passes when he did have a chance.
I’m sure Coach Wannstedt will be positive, and point out that Sunseri threw no picks. Well he didn’t complete much to his own players. Only 8-15, many passes were off the mark even with the tall receivers on Pitt. Too high, too low, wide. He only had 61 yards passing, with 33 coming because Ray Graham took a short 2-yard pass for a big gain.
The only incompletion that wasn’t on him, was Hynoski’s drop — which was preceded by a hold on Hynoski that negated a Susnseri scramble for a first down. Plenty of bad play on everyone.
Sunseri was eventually yanked after the game was out of hand and his psyche not in good shape. Pat Bostick mopped up. There’s no QB controversy in my mind. Not because I’m sold on Sunseri, or down on Bostick.
Bostick came in after the Miami D let up. He was sharp with his passes and he got the ball away with alacrity but at the same time he was boring holes into his receiver with his eyes. Part of that was Bostick was also throwing to spots where the receiver was supposed to be.
That brings us to Baldwin. As has been frustratingly typical so far, Sunseri didn’t throw that much to him. Baldwin lines up on the left side of the field and Sunseri rarely looks that way. But Bostick was. Very clearly and deliberately. Even better, he was trying to hit him deep. Then came the play where Baldwin never even knew he was getting the ball. He ran a route to the front of the endzone but didn’t turn or look for the ball until he realized the defender was tracking it. Baldwin turned, but never looked up for the ball. Such a bonehead play.
The defense did what it could but it got worn down before the end of the first half. Pitt’s offense went 3-and-out on its first 5 possessions. Pitt had seven 3-and-outs in the game. Miami torched them more and more. And to add injury to insult, the time the defense had to spend out there cost the team and players dearly.
Dom DeCicco — who made a wonderful interception in the endzone — re-aggravated his groin or hamstring and was out for the entire second half. Sheard nearly collapsed/cramped. Ricky Gary hyperextended a knee — but played through it. Worst and likely season ending was seeing Dan Mason suffer a dislocated right knee. Gruesome.
Jared Holley was all over the field, and it is never a good sign that a safety is making a lot of tackles and in on plays. Awesome interception, though.
Special teams was mostly okay, except for Cam Saddler. Chris Gates tweeted how he had a “feeling” that Saddler would do something big in this game. I don’t think fumbling a punt when Pitt may have still had hope to get back into the game — leading to the TD to make it 24-3 — and taking the kickoff out of the endzone on the first kickoff only to be tackled at the 8 was what he thought.
I do have to specifically criticize Coach Wannstedt’s decision to try and kick a field goal at the end of the second quarter. The sack on Sunseri backed Pitt up to the 35 yard line. A 52 yard FG attempt with less than half-a-minute left in the half. And Wannstedt lets the clock wind down to trot out Hutchins. Not Harper who has the stronger leg, but Hutchins who has already missed both attempts of more than 40 yards this season and has little range after 42 yards in general. Of course it was no good.
Look, if Pitt was inside the 30 I would have questioned the decision a little given Hutchins’ range, but understood the reasoning. At that distance, everyone knew it wasn’t going to happen.
That is a point where you go max protection on Sunseri. Heck sub Gibbs and Turnley for the TEs to help, and throw it deep to Baldwin or Shanahan. At best a reception and a TD. Maybe a pass interference call. Even an interception isn’t bad at that point, and you at least took a shot deep. Incomplete and you are no worse than with a missed field goal.
You have to know your personnel and be realistic about their capabilities.
There’s plenty more to dissect, but that is enough for now. Completely dispiriting loss.
A guy we should get as a transfer but won’t because we never go out of the box is Michigan’s Tate Forcier. He’s Rich Rod’s third stringer and he is better than anyone we have. He can run, he can thrown, he’s won big games, he’s unhappy, and maybe prehistoric Wanny could give us a little spread action.
AJ, no offense, but what the hell would that get us? Maybe drop a game or two then in the Big East, and on to the Gator Bowl, where we still get our assess handed to us by a Virginia Tech-type ACC school? Or worse, a BCS birth where a Boise State beats Pitt 63-6, largely because Wanny “didn’t anticipate a such quickness out of their spread offense?”
We will never know, because Wanny won’t give him a chance unless Sunseri is injured. Compare Bostick’s body of work to Sunseri’s. Compare Bostick’s experience to Sunseri’s. Some guys are gamers. We will never know, because the decision was made last spring.
When there are eight or nine guys in the box you have to complete a pass. you have to make a first down. Are you telling me that Sunseri is so good and that Bostick is so bad that it isn’t worth a shot? If Sunseri makes one first down out of nine tries, Bostick is not worth a look? He is also taller, I am looking for any edge here.
Good coaches look for the guy with the hot hand.
There is a lot of football left, People that say this team cannot win the Big East are just wrong. Even with the losses of Romeus and Mason, the D is good enough to win.
However, If we keep running Lewis up the middle and Sunseri throws four feet over Baldwin, it is going to be a long season. I say give Bostick and Graham the ball.
There is no reward for playing a tough non-con. You lose, you are out of the spotlight, the casual fans have already abandoned ship, and the local media is beyond caring. Unfortunately, I have a feeling we will see more yellow seats next week, than ones with folks wearing blue.
I don’t think changing the QB is the answer to this teams problems. In fact I believe it would create more problems. At least with our poor O-Line play and 3rd and longs Cig puts us in, Tino is capable athletically of avoiding a rush.
I might be reading too much into this, but this seems emblematic of one of the problems with this team. Seniors should be leading this team on the field. What’s worse is that two of these players have hardly shown good leadership at all. Mason deserves a second chance (and I’m sorry he injured himself), but he’s not someone who should be in a leadership position. Jackson should be benched for awhile after that display on Thursday.
We will have to agree to disagree, Sunseri stunk in two of the three games. I didn’t see New Hampshire, but it was New Hampshire. I did not see him evade the rush and complete a pass. I think if Bostick had played against Miami, he makes a couple third down passes, we probably still don’t win, but at least he keeps our defense off the field and gives us a chance. I don’t see Sunseri beating Notre Dame or WVU this year. I hope I’m wrong.
I also think B would throw the ball away rather than take a sack, because of his limited mobility.
Look, I am not saying Sunseri is the cause of the problems, it is obvious that the line is lacking. But someone needs to complete a pass or make a timely run. Give Bostick and Graham the next two starts to find out. I don’t think there is much to lose. You can say the other guys are better but if it doesn’t happen we will never know.
In a relatively perenially weak conference year in and year out, how long should the Pitt fans wait for a BCS bid?
I mean for those of you who defends the Wanny program…is it 7 years, 10 years…until he retires?
When is it acceptable to say it’s time?
IMO, What you see is as good as it gets. He may luck out one year and win a close one to seal the BCS bid…but that will be the “rare” exception not the rule.
Is that good enough?
DaveD
Even Temple had a plan and almost pulled off the upset at PSU.
I have been a VP Sales of several companies in my life. When sales are good, I rarely see the CEO.
When sales are rotten, he lives in my office, and does a review once per week. Perhaps that’s what we need here. A Wanny review with Pederson and the Chancelor. It might go something like this…
“Hi Dave, while we appreciate the passion you put into your coaching job, we are very disappointed with where our football program is today. We will not argue x’s and o’s with you as that is the perogative of you and your staff. However,we have some questions”:
1. Has any one else been arrested in the last 48 hours? What do you see as the discipline problem with this year’s team? What steps have you taken to assure there will be no more problems?
2. Why do you think we got beat physically and mentally on Thursday night? Dave, it’s been 6 years and this was a total disgrace. Where are we really in the recruiting game? Why don’t we have a D 1 QB? Scholarship Center? RG? and once Nix and Pinkston graduate, why do we not have anyone behind them?
3. The bench behavior at the game said a lot. Joking and laughter in the 2nd – 4th quarter,kids not knowing who was in or out? Have you lost this team?
4. What is/was your plan A? Did you stil think you could run up the middle in the third quarter with a 180 hb when Miami was living in our backfield? Why?
5. Do you have a plan B or C? Are you/team ready for unexpected events..no huddle spread, fake fg, fake punt etc.? You weren’t Thursday evening!
6. What was your plan B?
7. How do you see us matching up next week against Florida International? They gave Maryland a game….are we ready? They run the no huddle spread quick snap offense that has given us trouble. What is your plan of attack?
Thank you Dave for your time and energy. I realize we cannot win every week, but after 6 years, too many of these problems keep recurring.
We will continue to have these meetings weekly and do a final evaluation at the end of the year.
But if we get embarrassed with FIU next weekend, I want your resignation.
OK …I can dream can’t I???
-AJ
I can. Look everywhere Wannstedt’s been. He has NEVER developed a QB.
Sunseri’s performance has been underwhelming, but between the play of the offensive line and the play calling he hasn’t had much of a chance to succeed. He’ll be the starter and will improve, but he’s gonna need the help of the staff and the line.
Cincy
New coach
New #1 QB (yeah I know Collaros has more exp than Sunseri, but still)
New #1 WR
and they play the #8 team to a last second onside kick to a 2 pt loss.
seems to me we make up a whole hell of a lot of exuses for Wanny.
DaveD
Please Pitt, field a winner. We are all tired.
Hail to PITT !
With last year’s offense(QB & O-Line) I’d say we’d have a chance, this year……I’m really concerned PITT might lay an egg. Hope I’m wrong.
Coach better hit the recruiting trail hard and come up with some juco O-Linemen (ala Otah) for next year.
Comment by carolinapanther 09.20.10 @ 7:37 pm
Dan72, you have my vote for leading those weekly status updates with Wanny!
Based on todays PG, it sounds like the locker room isnt all that unified right now either. Sounds like a lot of guys are out there playing for their own stats and awards rather than playing to win – that falls on the coach.
Yes Miami and Utah are pretty good and losing to them can be respectable, but not when you lose like the good ranked team plays the small time team that is lucky enough to get a field goal.
I have been a strong supporter of Wanny, but to go into a year when we have fantastic skill players, Baldwin, Lewis, Graham and two division two guys starting in the middle. This is not acceptable. It appears that the cupboard is bare and it is going to be worse next year. Wasn’t this supposed to be Wanny’s strength and one of the other guys weaknesses.
With a reasonably good center and guard this team would be good if not great.
I admire Wanny for his decision on Fields, who would still be playing at Miami, Nebraska, or the SEC, maybe even at holier than thou Joe Paterno University. It isn’t Wanny’s fault that Romeus’ back gave out. But six years in to have a line that can not open a hole big enough for Lewis to get through is a disgrace. I also think that having a QB that is such a minimal threat to complete a pass makes things even worse.
Cinci, WVU and Rutgers were all competitive yesterday. Even Temple put up a fight at PSU.
I feel very badly for Baldwin, Lewis, Pinkston, and the others who deserve better. I also feel bad for those who are starting that should be providing depth. It can’t be easy.
The rest of the schedule is easier. I still hope they can turn things around. A pretty big hole has been dug.
What are coach Wise’s recruiting responsibilities?
It is IMPOSSIBLE to win with a weak O line with our offense schemes!! Wanny is where the buck stops, the big cheese, but what about Tony Wise?
or “ineptness” look too them. Don’t have to wait till today, if anyone caught any of the TCU-SMU game last night, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. SMU was never really a threat to win, but, their players looked like they knew what they were doing, the coaches looked like they had a plan, and, they actually looked like a football team. They lost 41-24, but, they looked like a college football team!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Dan 09.25.10 @ 10:58 am
This is an awesome point. We don’t even look the part. I am by no stretch an expert. I completely understand that every coach on our staff has forgotten more football than I know. However, I watch a ridiculous (and maybe pathetic is the more accurate word) of college football and our team constantly looks lost.
Mark May(be Cignetti Should Call Some Real Plays)
Yes Pitt played a bad game, but let’s get some facts straight. End of 3rd quarter Pitt finally had a good drive and was forced to kick a FG to make it 17-3. The Pitt D then stepped up and basically got a 3 and out, and Cam Saddler fumbles the punt. Yes it was a mistake. But say Cam doesn’t fumble Pitt has the ball at about mid-field with a whole quarter to go. If they continue how they moved the ball on the previous drive and this time get at TD Pitt is down 17-10 with 7 or 8 minutes to go in the game. That fumble essentially ended the game. It wasn’t that horrendous as everyone loves to make it.
I get a feeling that most people want Wanny to lose to be “right.” And if you want to fire Wanny? Who the heck do you get to replace him? I’m not proclaiming Wanny to be the best coach ever or antyhign. But, please let’s see a viable list of replacements. I’m sure there are tons of up and coming coaches looking to coach a team in the substandard conference that is the Big East. And when it comes to judging talent everyone acts as if there is a never ending pool of people lining up to play at Pitt and that Wanny can just pick and choose anyone he wants. All schools even Alabama and Florida miss on recruits. It is just that the SEC and Big Ten schools have a better pool to fail from. Wanny does get guys that end up better than their “rank” indicating some judge of talent i.e., Romeous.
2013
That is the year the Big East automatic bid is up for renewal.
All-in-all as much as I hate to say this teams like WVU mainly, Rutgers, Louisville, Cincy to a lesser extent have taken their turn to help try and legitimize this conference.
What has Pitt done? Car Care bowls don’t cut it. The fact is in College football it’s cyclical…As one team reloads for another run another team steps up to replace them.
Pitt has never done that…I am not saying that the other teams I mentioned will stay down but if the BE loses it automatic birth then what?
And those who argue well there will be no BE in a few years…I don’t think the building of apathy that is the Wanny program will make Pitt look sexy to other BCS conferences. It already is a red headed step child in many ways.
So at a maximum Pitt has 3 more years to do something…IMHO
DaveD
