Sep 28 2009
Many thanks to my co-worker and our esteemed Pitt basketball writer Ray Fittipaldo for stepping in for me these past few days as I needed some time off given the back-to-back road trips and short week in between. I’m also fighting off the flu, but I think I finally am starting to win that battle. And soon this blog will be Ray's domain much more regularly as the Panthers hoops team looks to make another run to the NCAA Tournament. (As an aside, I know they are going to be a little young but I went out to Greentree a few times to watch the summer league and I was really impressed with those young frontcourt players, particularly J.J. Richardson....)
At any rate, the N.C. State game is a thing of the past and while I think it was certainly a disappointing loss -- particularly since the Panthers played well for about 42 minutes and actually held a 14-point lead -- I also think a number of Pitt fans are losing their minds when they are calling for the heads of coaches, players and anyone else associated with the program about it.
The Panthers didn't finish the game, they didn't make the plays they needed to going down the stretch and they didn't handle prosperity (a 14-point lead) particularly well -- but the bottom line is this -- they lost to an ACC team (not a MAC team, not a team in its first season as a Division I program, not a I-AA) on the road by seven points (as opposed to, say the Virginia game of 2007 when they got beat by like 30) and it is only one loss and obviously, it wasn't a conference loss.
So my first thoughts are take a deep breath, take a step back and let the season play out a little bit more before you start firing people and yanking scholarships. A lot can happen and this is or at least can be a good football team.
Think about it -- Pitt is 3-1 and getting read to start the games that really matter - Big East games. Yes, they let yet another winnable game get away and while the disappointment and frustration from the fan base is easy to understand given the recent history of this program, it is also a little misguided considering there is so much of the season left. But the bigger picture is the Panthers are 12-5 in their last 17, so they are winning a lot more than they are losing these days.
That being said, the Panthers won't survive another game against any team with a reasonable amount of talent if they don't get some things fixed and fixed quickly. They need to start learning how to finish games and the defense needs to stop talking about being great and actually start playing like it is great. Heck at this point, forget great, good --- even "slightly better than mediocre" -- would be an upgrade over what we've seen in two of the past three games from that unit.
In fact, if that defense - and in particular the secondary -- doesn't get it together in a hurry, they could go down to Louisville and get beat by a team which is banged up and lacking direction and a program which seems to be in disarray. (As another aside -- think about how far and how fast Louisville has fallen. I mean, in 2006 they won the Big East and a BCS Bowl. And that year after they played Pitt and won 48-24 in a game that wasn't even that close, I remember talking to some people in the press box and wondering if the Panthers would consistently be able to compete with the Cardinals because they had that thing rolling. Just two years later Pitt beat Louisville 41-7 and just three years later [meaning, this year] a lot of people picked them to finish last in the Big East. It is an amazing free fall and one which, sadly, has probably hurt the Big East's credibility in some ways because this is one of the programs that was on the brink of competing for a place in the top 10 every year.) I know this defense looked great in training camp and appears to have enough talent, but I am beginning to wonder if maybe some of that talent is overrated. But there is eight games left for this defense to prove it isn't this bad.
So, like I said, relax, take a deep breath and let's take a look at the Good, Bad and Ugly from the N.C. State game.
The Good
** The Offense scored 31 points and Bill Stull continues to show he can be an effective player and can make plays in the passing game. He hit Jonathan Baldwin with long touchdown pass, he has been efficient, and he has thrown the ball to his receivers for the most part in good position for them to make plays. I don't think anyone expects Bill Stull to be Dan Marino, but he has been much better than he was at the end of last season and the way he is playing will give the Panthers a chance to win games. And I think he has, at least for now, put to rest any quarterback controversy. He is the guy who this team will sink or swim with and deservedly so.
** Dorin Dickerson. Forget his talent - Saturday he played like a man on a mission and showed the kind of will to win and toughness that some people thought he didn't have. Yes, he didn't come up with a really tough catch in the endzone but that would have had to be a spectacular catch as the ball was thrown a little bit high and he took a big hit at the same time. But he had a couple of plays where he caught the ball and made guys miss, ran through tackles and struggled for a few extra yards. He had a 20-yard kick-off return also and it seemed like a lot of those yards came after he got hit. He's finally coming into his own as a player and a weapon.
** Dan Hutchins had a tremendous day punting the football. He is really pretty good at directional kicking, at pinning teams inside the 20 and he really was a big reason the Panthers held a big edge, at least early, in field position. He also made all four of his extra point attempts as well as a field goal, so he showed he can be reliable that way as well.
** The defense was horrible (we will get to that) but Mick Williams was a warrior. He was the one guy on that side of the ball who really showed up and was accountable. N.C. State couldn't do much with him and his 4 1/2 tackles for loss was evidence to that point. During training camp in a Q&A I was asked who would be the leader of the defense and I said Williams and he hasn't disappointed. If the other ten guys took the field with Mick's intensity and passion, perhaps we'd be talking about a 4-0 football team.
** Dion Lewis had a great first half and finished with a very respectable 19 carries for 95 yards (5.0 per carry). He also added two touchdowns. He did tail off in the second half, which has been a little bit of a trend, but I think one thing that has worked against him is that teams expect Pitt to run the ball once it gets a lead in the second half so he is facing more "eight and nine men in the box" type situations. N.C. State certainly sold out a little bit to stop the run. Still, being as he is a freshman, it is hard to not like what we've seen from him this far.
** Maybe he was just "the best of the worst" and thus hard to accurately evaluate but...for the second game in a row Elijah Fields actually played pretty well and seemed to be where he was supposed to be a lot more than not. Fields clearly needs to be more physical than he has been, but he has been pretty good at making tackles (far better than his teammates) and he has been pretty good in coverage as well. Again, it could be just that he wasn't as bad as his teammates but he at least appeared to have a decent game.
** Special teams – the units, all of them, are good. The punt return hasn’t been explosive – but Aaron Smith catches the ball well and makes the most out of whatever he is able to get. The team doesn’t give up many big plays in the kicking game, don’t get kicks blocked – and blocked a kick of their own. This is one area which the Panthers seem to be consistent and very good.
** Offensive line – I think this unit continues to answer a lot of questions each week. The Panthers only gave up one sack and have gotten better each week in pass protection. The run blocking has been good, but needs to continue to improve as the Panthers will no doubt face more and more stacked fronts.
The Bad
** Bill Stull and the offense. How could he be both good and bad? Because as I wrote in this article the offense hasn't been nearly as good or efficient --- or aggressive -- in the second half of these games as it has been in the first. And when you are handed a gift – a ball on the 8-yard line – and you can’t cash in – well, then you aren’t ready for prime time as an offense. Four consecutive possessions went three-and-out to close the game. The offensive inefficiency had as much to do with the Panthers getting pounded in time of possession and in number of plays.
** The defense, as we know, did not play well at all. The Panthers gave up 530 yards, 27 first downs and frankly at some points looked confused and winded. The disappointing thing is that this defense was supposed to be good, perhaps even great. But the linebackers had perhaps the worst game I’ve seen played by that unit since I’ve covered the team. The secondary still can’t cover anyone. And for all the hype surrounding the defensive ends, they’ve yet to show up and make an impact – and they are supposed to be difference makers for this team. I still think there is enough talent on the defense for the unit to be good, but they need to start playing better and I think that perhaps they are going to have to do some things a little different to give the secondary some help.
** Sometimes coaching is to be blamed for bad offense and sometimes it is up to the players. A great example of the latter was the drive the Panthers had right after N.C. State tied the game 31-31. Dickerson returns the ball to the 45, setting up great field position. Pitt got a holding penalty, however, setting up a third-and-11. Bill Stull then dropped back and delivered a good throw down the field about 20 yards to Jonathan Baldwin on the sidelines. Baldwin caught the pass, but he didn’t have an awareness of where he was in relation to the sideline and when he landed, his foot was a few feet out of bounds. That should have been a first down and Baldwin, as he gets more experience, will learn to get his foot down in that spot. Yes, the throw was a little to the outside, but it was a good throw nonetheless. So that drive stalled because of a holding call and poor execution of what should have been a big gain.
** Dan Mason didn’t look healthy for much of the game and thus didn’t play as many snaps as people expected him to. It looked like he got his shoulder dinged up a bit in the Navy game and when he made a tackle early in the N.C. State game he came off holding his arm and it continued like that throughout the game. He is healthy according to Dave Wannstedt, as is Adam Gunn, but again, we’ll see Friday when the game against Louisville game starts who is actually healthy.
The Ugly
** While the defense as a whole has been bad – the pass defense, or the lack thereof – has been rather awful. And it isn’t just the secondary. A lot of the passes thrown by Russell Wilson were just little circle routes, wheel routes – whatever you want to call them – where a guy out of the backfield, either a running back, an H-back or a tight end, or a slot receiver, runs underneath the other routes and into the middle of the field and thus forcing a matchup where he is covered by a linebacker. Pitt’s linebackers, and it didn’t really matter which one it was, were toasted the entire day by these plays and couldn’t cover or tackle anyone until it was too late. The secondary has been a mess from day one and frankly it is probably time to make some changes, either in personnel or in the coverages and defenses which are being played. I don't know if the younger guys are better than the guys who are starting, but at this point, I have to ask -- can they really be worse than what we've seen thus far?
** Tackling. I don’t understand it to be honest – there is no team in the country who spends as much time tackling and hitting at training camp as the Panthers. People ask me – do they even practice tackling? I’m telling you, they have more periods of inside run drill and tackling drills during their camp and even during the season than most teams. They should be able to tackle – but they take bad angles and they don’t wrap up and in some cases, I’m not convinced the guys trying to tackle are good enough to make the plays that seem like they should make.
** Penalties are becoming a real big problem. The pass interference penalties are really getting ridiculous. I think that they are usually 50/50 type calls but like Dave Wannstedt keeps saying – there has to be something to them. Jared Holley’s was probably a tough call given the circumstances as was Aaron Berry’s. But the bottom line is, don’t make contact and in Berry’s case, get in better position, and you won’t leave it up to an official to make a call. And some of the personal foul penalties are just examples of playing dumb and/or selfish football. This one is on the players, not the coaches.
** First-and-goal from the 8 with the game on the line and while games are generally won and lost by players and their execution, the sequence of plays in that situation was less than inspiring. A run on first down, a side ways pass on second down and who knows what the heck fourth down was? The third down play at least put the ball in the endzone but it wasn’t executed as well as it needed to be so that is on the players. But the other three plays didn’t even give the Panthers a chance. And of course – how in the world do you not throw at least one, if not two or three, fades / jump balls (whatever you want to call them) to Jonathan Baldwin? For that matter, how do you not throw it to him at all? He is your best offensive weapon – the guy who is supposed to be your difference maker, let him make a play. That’s what great players do. They make plays to win games (or in this case tie them) and to not give him a chance is very puzzling. And it isn’t like they don’t practice this – they spent all of training camp throwing touchdowns to Baldwin by putting them up and letting him go get them. Last year against Notre Dame, they did it three times in a row before he came down with it. That’s what he does.
A NEW BOWL GAME - Finally, in case you haven't heard the New York Yankees and apparently Big East and Big 12 are partnering for a new bowl game which will be part of the Big East's lineup starting in 2010. The Yankees are set to make an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday).
Sep 28 2009
Dave Wannstedt held his weekly news conference today. Most of the questions were about the problems on defense. Wannstedt also harped on all of the penalties the Panthers are taking. On a positive note, senior LB Adam Gunn tells Wannstedt he feels as good as he has since injuring his ankle against Buffalo, and Wannstedt is hopeful he will return to the lineup this week against Louisville. No other players have major injuries and everyone should be available for the Cardinals on Friday night.
Here are a few of the highlights from today’s presser:
*Wannstedt on making plays at the end of the game: “Last year we won five games in the fourth quarter, came from behind. The difference was we didn’t make mistakes. We made plays We're not doing that now.”
*On the penalties: “Keep talking about it and keep emphasizing it. We bring officials to practice. I promise you we’re not working on it any less. Last year we led the Big East in the least amount of penalties. We were top 10 in the country. This year we’re the worst. And it’s the same guys playing for the most part. I wish I had an easy answer. The solution is to emphasize it. And if it continues the guy can’t play.”
Pitt had eight penalties for 80 yards against North Carolina State and is averaging 84.5 yards per game in penalties in the first four games. The Panthers only averaged 33.8 yards in penalties per game last season.
*For those who think quarterback Billy Stull accidentally threw the ball away on fourth down, he says he wasn’t. That’s his story, and he’s sticking to it. He said he was trying to connect with Oderick Turner, but the pass rush adversely affected his throw.
“Honestly, I didn’t think it was that bad of a ball, but when I looked at the tape it was nowhere near him,” Stull said. “That just made it even more disappointing for me. The quarterback has a chance to make the last play. You want that chance. I didn’t make a play.”
*Senior DT Gus Mustakas on the play of the defense: . If you go back to the preseason, we were supposed to be one of the best defenses in the country. I feel like we still can be. But to go out and play like that…it is disappointing. It’s terrible. We have to step it up, and we will. We can’t let that happen.”
Sep 26 2009
Raleigh, N.C. -- As I sat in the press box and reflect on this game - a 38-31 loss to N.C. State -- one of the writers who covers N.C. State said to me "this has to be one of the worst losses you've covered, right?" to which I laughed and said, "not even close...."...and that may speak a lot more about the state of Pitt's football program than anything I could write in this space after that complete meltdown in the final 18 minutes of that game tonight.
But that got me to thinking -- and just in case you need to be reminded -- I started covering the Panthers in 2002 and so where does this loss rank in the list of the mind-boggling, poorly played and poorly coached Pitt losses that I've had the pleasure to cover since then. I'm not sure if this will make Pitt fans feel better, or worse, about what went on today in Raleigh....
So before we get into the game, and without further delay, here are the worst Pitt losses since I've covered the team....
1.) Ohio 16, Pitt 10, OT (2005) - It is one thing to get beat by a MAC team. It is another to get beat by a bad MAC team, particularly when they don't score an offensive touchdown. But this loss was the difference between the Panthers going bowling in 2005 - a year after going to the Fiesta Bowl. This is the worst team Pitt has lost to since I've covered the team. The Panthers dominated this game in every category, but played for a field goal at the end (instead of the touchdown) to tie it and send it to overtime.
2.) Connecticut 46, Pitt 45, OT (2006) - The Panthers led the Huskies by 14 points with about nine minutes to play. But they got too conservative on offense and allowed the Huskies, led by quarterback D.J. Hernandez, to go on two long touchdown drives to tie the game then the Huskies won it in overtime. Once again, if they win this game - against a team which finished 4-8 - they go bowling. Instead, they finish 6-6 and stay home. Hernandez, by the way, was such a good quarterback that he was moved to wide receiver the next spring.
3.) I'm all redfaced that I forgot this gem - THANKS to Imma_Man_Im_40 for reminding me about this one and this is where I'd rank it: Navy 48, Pitt 45 (2007) -- At some point we all believed there would be some, any defensive adjustments in this game but they never came and the Midshipmen basically ran up and down the field against the same defense. But despite that and a whole lot of other head-scratching moments, the Panthers still had a chance to win as they trailed by three in double overtime and had third-and-goal from the 2. It was simple, right? Hand the ball to your second-round draft pick running back and run behind your first-round draft choice tackle - a guy who had fish flopped Navy defensive linemen around the field the entire night -- once or maybe twice and win the game.....or maybe not. Instead of running twice, the Panthers chose to put the ball in their freshman quarterbacks hands, he threw two fades and neither was close to connecting. The loss was the difference between a 5-7 season and a 6-6 season which might have been enough to get to a bowl.
4.) Bowling Green, 27 Pitt 17 (2008) - Pitt jumped out to a lead then (are we getting a pattern here yet) got ridiculously conservative, left Bowling Green - a MAC team which finished 6-6 and a team which saw its coach fired at the end of the season -- in the game and by the time it figured out it was in a game, was scrambling to try and get back into it. The Panthers had several opportunities early to blow the game open but opted instead to punt inside the 36 on fourth-and-short.
5.) West Virginia 24, Pitt 17 (2002) - Yes, I know, it is a rivarly game and the Mountaineers were on the rise that season but the Panthers, who were at home, dominated the game but turned it over four times -- three of them either in or down near the redzone. And as bad they played, they still had one last chance but the always reliable Larry Fitzgerald dropped a game-tying touchdown on the Panthers final drive.
6.) Texas A&M 14, Pitt 12 (2002) - All together now -- "the swinging gate"!!! Pitt might have won this game had it not been for the ridiculous decision to try some sort of swinging gate formation on the first touchdown the Panthers scored. Pitt took a bunch of illegal shift penalties on it and ended up missing the extra point. Then, when the Panthers scored late, they had to go for two to try and tie the game and didn't make it.
7.) Toledo 35, Pitt 31 (2003) - Unlike Ohio and Bowling Green, the Rockets were at least a good MAC team. Still, the Panthers, ranked in the top ten, put former Seton-LaSalle star and then-Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski in the college hall of fame in this game. But despite an awful performance by the defense, the Panthers still could have won this game had they converted a late third-and-1. Of course, instead of quarterback sneaking Pitt's 230 or 240-pound quarterback or running a fullback who is now in the NFL - against a defensive line they pushed around - the Panthers opted to throw a wide receiver screen, behind the line of scrimmage to the left side of a left-handed quarterback (meaning he had to turn his body the wrong way and was throwing back behind the receiver) and the play failed, Pitt punted and Toledo marched down the field for the winning touchdown.
8.) North Carolina State 38, Pitt 31 (today) - The Panthers led 31-17 with four minutes left in the third quarter agianst an opponent that defines mediocrity - and that is a common theme with just about every one of these losses. But somehow Pitt allowed NC State to go down the field three times and score touchdowns in the final 18 minutes of the game. The second and third drives had all of the gems of a bad loss -- penalties, missed tackles, failure to get off the field on third-and-long and even fourth-and-long. Despite a bad performance, the Panthers had one last chance when N.C. State handed them the ball on the 8. But four plays produced zero yards and Pitt didn't even take one shot at the "jumpball" to Jonathan Baldwin, even though he was being guarded by a 5-foot-10 guy (who I am told by N.C. State people is a former walk-on) and a freshman safety.
9.) Oregon State 3, Pitt 0 (Last year's Sun Bowl) - The Beavers entered the game without their two best offensive weapons and it showed as they did absolutely nothing on offense and were dominated by the Panthers defense. But Pitt made sure the Beavers were never in danger of losing, despite only kicking a field goal, because they self-destructed under a barrage of bad decisions, bad plays and the Panthers never made any adjustments to try and do anything other than chuck the ball in the air and hope someone catches it. Then, the one good drive they did put together was fueled by LeSean McCoy and the running game but on third and fourth and 2 the Panthers threw the ball twice, both incomplete and turned it over on downs.
10.) Notre Dame 20, Pitt 14 (2003) - Yes, I know it is the Irish, but this was a bad version of the Irish. And they had a freshman quarterback, Brady Quinn, who did next to nothing but didn't have to because the Irish ran Julius Jones off tackle for like 9,876 yards.....Pitt on the other hand couldn't protect its quarterback and never made any adjustments, for whatever reason, to slow down the Irish pass rush. The Panthers also blew all three of their time-outs in the third quarter (then couldn't stop the clock late when they needed to) because they couldn't get plays into the game quick enough. Of course, we (the stinking media) asked Walt Harris after the game what was the problem getting the plays in and he produced this gem "It is hard to call plays when you are not sure which ones will work!" Really?
11.) Nebraska 7, Pitt 6 (2005) - Nobody expected Pitt to win this game, but the Panthers should have won it except: Greg Lee was somehow caught from behind on a pass down the sidelines in which he had about two steps on the corner covering him and there was no safety over the top -- of course, instead of running straight to the endzone, he ran across the field and was caught and Pitt had to settle for a field goal; Pitt had Nebraska's quarterback sacked for a go-ahead safety, but he somehow shed the tackle and got out of the endzone. Pitt then lined up on third down for a game-winning field goal and even caught a break when the ball was centered off the holders helmet and Josh Cummings grabbed it and threw it into the flat for an incomplete pass - which stopped the clock and gave Pitt one more chance -- but the field goal was blocked and the Panthers lived at heartbreak hotel yet again.
Honorable Mention: Notre Dame 14, Pitt 6 (2002) - The Panthers dominated the Irish in every category but couldn't get out of its own way in the redzone. Michigan State 17, Pitt 13 (2007). The Panthers would have won had they punted on first down every drive of the first half. Instead they insisted on turning the ball over. All 17 of Michigan State's points came off turnovers.
OK, if you have any thoughts on that list, let me know at pzeise@post-gazette.com.
As notes from the game:
** The Panthers defense was bad. The secondary was really bad. But not every player on the defense played bad. Mick Williams had 4 1/2 tackles for loss and a career-high eight tackles. After the game, he had bumps and bruises and ice packs all over his body - he clearly left it all out on the field. I also thought Elijah Fields was the one member of the secondary who played reasonably well.
** Quarterback Bill Stull was effective again. He completed 12 of 23 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. But a disturbing trend has developed for this team in the second half of games -- the inability to keep drives alive. After Jonathan Baldwin's 79-yard touchdown reception the Panthers went three-and-out on four consecutive -- their final four -- drives. That suggests an inability to make adjustments and also a lack of creativity and it also suggests that the offense at least had a little hand in the loss. Think about this -- N.C. State had 81 offensive plays, Pitt had 46 (time of possession was N.C. State-37:07; Pitt-22:53 -- that has as much to do with the offense's inefficiency as it does the defense's inability to get off the field.
** Building on that theme, Dion Lewis had 10 rushes for 79 yards in the first half -- and nine rushes for only 16 yards in the second half. Again, 31 points should be enough to win most games and the offense is improved, but the offense still is not efficient in the second half when it should be closing out ballgames. This is a disturbing trend because Pitt's a team that wants to seal victories with its running game. Lewis did score two touchdowns, giving him seven rushing touchdowns on the season. The Pitt record for freshman rushing touchdowns in a season is 15 by LeSean McCoy.
** Defensive lineman Chas Alcxih blocked a field goal, the Panthers first blocked kick of the season.
** Cameron Saddler saw his most extensive work on the offense and cashed in a 13-yard touchdown on a screen pass. Dave Wannstedt said he wants to get him more involved in the offense and they did a nice job of trying to get him the ball as he had 111 all-purpose yards.
** Had Pitt won the game, a strong case could have been made that Dan Hutchins, the punter, was the MVP as he punted six times for 45.5 yards and kept the Wolfpack in bad field position for a lot of the game. Hutchins bounced back from a tough game punting last week against Navy.
** Add Russell Wilson to the list of "guys who looked like college hall of famers against Pitt's defense". You know that list, the one which includes guys like Hernandez, Gradkowski, Pat White, Julius Jones, Quincy Wilson, Naaman Roosevelt, etc., etc. Wilson completed 21 of 35 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran 10 times for 91 yards. It certainly wasn't the best performance we've seen against the Panthers but it was pretty impressive to say the least.
Quotable:
Dave Wannstedt - "Our guys gave enough effort to win the game but we made too many mistakes to win the game. What is so disappointing is the penalties [Pitt had eight for 80 yards], we brought officials in on Wednesday to practice and they followed those guys around. For us to have penalties today, like we did last week, is very disappointing. Defensively, we didn't make any plays. I thought if we would have scored 31 points, we wouldn't have lost this game.
"There is no excuse for these penalties. The pass interference penalties are always debatable but where there is smoke, there is usually fire and you don't get called that many times week after week without there being something there. The penalties we had on defense were mind boggling."
Tom O'Brien - "Right now, we're not a good football team and I'm not a good coach. I have a lot of work to do this week, the team has a lot of work to do this week."
Aaron Berry on why the defense couldn't get stops-- "We had them third-and-long a couple of times up 14 points, him scrambling and making plays with his legs was big for them. We have to find a way to tackle, get them down, so we'll just go to the film room and see what we can improve. We know we played hard enough and tough enough to win the game it just didn't happen. We need to tackle better, a lot of missed tackles today and we have to finish plays."
Greg Romeus on whether it is a bad day for the defense or just a bad defense - "I have 100 percent faith in this defense. We have talent across the whole secondary and in our linebackers. We're not worried about this, we can't get down, we just have to pick up from here and continue to get better."
Jonathan Baldwin on why the offense failed to move the ball late in the game - "We failed to execute. Coach calls plays and we need to execute. The [fade] wouldn't have been successful against the defense they showed us."
Bill Stull on the last play - "I had some pressure and I had to put it up and didn't make a good throw. I need to make a better throw."
Mick Williams on the defense "It comes down to tackling, we missed too many tackles and we didn't play disciplined enough to win this bowl games. We took too many penalties. [Russell Wilson] played a good game, he balled out today and that is all I can say."
Sep 26 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. -- I'm not sure what to make of this game right now to be honest.
The Panthers have dominated field position, N.C State has made a bunch of mistakes -- including some of the most horrible clock management I've ever seen right before the half -- and yet the Wolfpack are only down by seven points.
Pitt has run the ball reasonably well and has made some plays in the passing game but the offense seems to have gone a little bit into its shell already -- and this game is a long way from being over. The Panthers are probably going to have to score a few more points to win this game because their defense is struggling a little bit.
Some key stats: N.C. State is outgaining Pitt 230-138 (like I said, field position has been huge) and has a 19-11 advantage in time of possession.
Cam Saddler has seen more time than usual at receiver and we've seen a little bit more of Steve Dell on defense as well. Tackling is, like the Buffalo game, a problem, particularly in the secondary and frankly this game would probably be going the other way if Mick Williams wasn't playing like he is a man on a mission.
Things to look for in the second half:
1.) Pitt needs to get Dion Lewis and that running game going again. The Panthers needs some drives and some success in getting first downs to keep their defense on the sideline. The Panthers got a little too conservative late in the half and don't want to fall into that trap, but Lewis has been running hard.
2.) Pitt's best -- and maybe only - defense thus far has been Dan Hutchins and a bunch of penalties, mistakes and bad decisions by N.C. State's offense. The Wolfpack have nine penalties for 61 yards already and that is something that they can';t count on getting in the second half. The secondary and pass coverage has been awful - there are guys running wide open all over the field.
3.) Sitting up here in the press box and watching the plays develop - I'm not sure if Pitt's secondary has any idea what it is doing. There are plays when some guys are in man, some look like they are in zone and after ever reception there seems to be at least one guy waving his arms as if to say "what the heck just happened?" I don't know what the problem is, but it needs to get solved quickly.
4.) If Mick Williams isn't first-team All-Big East than that honor means absolutely nothing because it is a sham. He's the best player on this field right now and he's made some big-time plays out there..
Sep 26 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Like we suspected, Adam Gunn (ankle) is not going to play which means freshman Dan Mason will get his second consecutive start. But the good news for Pitt is that it doesn't appear that this is going to be a capacity crowd (ten minutes to kick) and the light rain (which is supposed to become an all out rain storm) means it probably won't be a fast track as the game progresses. Also, there seems to be a large contigent of Pitt fans here plus Pitt's band so it won't be a completely hostile crowd. Check back and I'll have more at the half.
Sep 24 2009
Often over the past few years on my chats I get the inevitable question "predict a score." Almost always, I throw it out there without much analysis and sometimes it is right or close to being right and sometimes it is wrong. I bet I am somewhere around 50/50 over the past ten years. But like I always say and have always said -- if I knew the score before the game began I'd be Sam Rothstein in Vegas and making a living betting games. There is just no way you can account for turnovers or busted plays - i.e. the 34 points handed to Pitt via turnovers and a long run against Buffalo -- or foul weather or countless other variables that come up within the context of a game
That being said, I feel like this game will be somewhere in the neighborhood of, oh I don't know, how about Pitt 24, N.C. State 17. I'll be surprised if either team blows the other out and I feel like the Panthers are a little better - not too mention healthier -- than the Wolfpack at a lot of spots. I obviously have watched all three of Pitt's games and I did get to watch N.C. State play against South Carolina in its opener, so I have at least seen them play. I think that is a key - I watched Navy's first two games before they played Pitt and I watched Buffalo's opener as well. So I do watch as much of Pitt's opponents as I can so that I have some idea of what to expect. Watching upcoming opponents games (I am a college football junkie so I watch games all day and night, the replays on ESPNU, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Channel, ESPN2 make it so nice to watch multiple games that I might have missed because I was covering Pitt) is such an underrated part of what we do here, but I'm not sure how you could do this job if you didn't watch games (which is why I sat through that Louisville-Kentucky game the other day).
But guessing at the score is a silly exercise --- let's take a look at the matchups between the two teams and score them using the boxing scoring system per category to see whether or not we can up with a reason why we think Pitt will win this game.
QUARTERBACK - Russell Wilson vs. Bill Stull...Wilson is a little more mobile, has a little quicker release and was an All-ACC player last year. He has the streak of 329 passes in a row without an interception. He has completed 53 of 80 passes for 647 yards eight touchdowns. Stull is on his way to a fine season and has been consistent through three games. He has gained confidence each week and he has proven he can make a lot of the passes he is being asked to. He has completed 49 of 70 passes for 540 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. We like what we've seen from him so far but this is a different challenge. It is definitely closer between these two now than it looked like it would have been at the start of the season but despite that.....
Advantage - Score this one 10-9 N.C. State.
RUNNING BACKS - Pitt's stable of running backs goes three deep at tailback, Dion Lewis, Ray Graham and Shariff Harris and also includes a bruising fullback in Henry Hynoski. The Panthers have averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 174 yards rushing per game. Lewis has been a star thus far, turning in two 100 yard games and rushing for 398 yards and five touchdowns. This group has also shown it can catch balls out of the backfield. N.C. State's Toney Baker is an effective runner with good size (5-11, 225) and he has averaged a healthy 5.6 yards per carry. But his longest run is only 23 yards, which suggests he isn't much of a game breaker. The Wolfpack also use a fullback but neither of their two fullbacks - Taylor Gentry and Harrison Richter -- has carried the ball this year, though they've combined to catch five passes so they are a bit of a weapon out of the backfield. I think N.C. State can run the ball but the Panthers depth at this position and versatility give them a slight edge so.....
Advantage - Score this one 10-9 Pitt.
Pitt offensive line versus N.C. State defensive front seven - The Panthers starting offensive line -- Pinkston, Thomas, Houser, Malecki and Nix -- has been intact for the first three games which is important for continuity's sake. And that is a good thing because that unit, which has been pretty good in run blocking and little inconsistent in pass blocking in terms of mental busts. Yes, the unit has only given up one sack but a lot of that has to do with quick throws as well as the lack of true competition. All of that will change in this game as the Wolfpack's front seven is impressive and will get after the Panthers. Defensive end Willie Young (6-foot-4, 250) looks (meaning his build) and plays a lot like Jabaal Sheard as he leads the team with three sacks and the other defensive end, Shea McKeen (6-5, 265) is tall and quick (1.5 sacks). Middle linebacker Ray Michel is a smart football player who is a sure tackler. The Wolfpack aren't a big blitz team but have 11 sacks, so they'll put pressure on the Panthers. This is probably one of the most important matchups of the game but we think both sides are pretty good so.....
Advantage - Score this one even 10-10
Pitt defensive front seven versus N.C. State offensive line - Pitt has 15 sacks and the defensive line, though it hadn't been dominant until the last game, is extremely talented. And the last two weeks, the middle linebacker - be it Adam Gunn or Dan Mason - has been the Big East defensive player of the week. This front seven, particularly since Greg Williams and Max Gruder continue to improve every week, has a chance to be the best in the Big East by the time the season rolls around. N.C. State's offensive line has been a M.A.S.H unit and somewhat of a disaster to this point as Tom O'Brien has scrambled to shuffle guys in and out of the lineup in order to find a combination that is healthy and works. The team has not had the same five guys start the first three games and there will be another combination in this game. And that includes two freshman - right guard R.J. Mattes (6-6, 303) and left tackle Andrew Wallace (6-5, 299) (though, Jake Vermiglio has been cleared to play)- which is not usually a good thing. The line is big, but given the lack of cohesion, the relative youth at some places and the injuries....
Advantage - Score this one 10-8 Pitt
N.C. State receivers and tight ends versus Pitt's secondary - Jarvis Williams is a big play guy for N.C. State (17.4 yards per reception) and he's also 6-foot-4, which will pose some problems for the Panthers. The leading receiver is actually tight end George Bryan (12 receptions, 127 yards) and like Williams, he is tall (6-5) and though he isn't likely to be covered often by Pitt's corners, his size makes him a dangerous weapon. And size is really going to be the theme here as N.C. State's receivers beyond Williams are Darrell Davis (6-4), Donald Bowens (6-3) and T.J. Graham (6-0). Pitt's secondary has gotten off to a very shaky start, particularly given the way the unit was torched for some big plays by Buffalo. Pitt's corners -- Aaron Berry and Jovanni Chappel -- are small, so that presents some problems in covering the receivers and though both safeties - Elijah Fields and Dom DeCicco - - are big and physical, they've both had their moments this season when they've allowed receivers to get behind them. Pitt's secondary has plenty to prove before it merits the respect it wants so....
Advantage - Score this one 10-9 N.C. State
Pitt's receivers and tight ends versus N.C. State's secondary -- Dropped passes hurt the Panthers in their last game but the receivers and tight ends have played well for the most part. Jonathan Baldwin is obviously a big-time player in the making, Oderick Turner and Cedric McGee have been, for the most part, reliable complements to him and Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson both are matchup problems for most defenses. Like the Wolfpack offensive line, N.C. State is both banged up and extremely young in the secondary and that is not a good thing given the Panthers strength, depth and versatility at receiver. Two freshmen - Earl Wolff and Brandon Bishop (though Clem Johnson has been cleared to play according to N.C. State) - are likely to start at safety for the Wolfpack and starting cornerback Rashard Smith is out with an ankle injury so it seems like the deck is stacked in favor of.....
Advantage - Score this one 10-9 Pitt
SPECIALISTS - N.C. State is averaging 13.6 yards per punt return and 20.3 yards per kick-off return so they have been a little better than their counterparts on the Panthers (7.8 and 19.9) and both kickers are 3-for-3 on the year, though N.C. State's Josh Czajkowski (43, 41, 36) has kicked all three of his from further than any of Dan Hutchins (29, 26, 18). But Hutchins is averaging a few more yards (41.3 to 38.7) per punt than Jeff Ruiz. Both units are well coached and won't give up many big plays this year and both teams have enough skill and speed in their return units to take it the distance. With two reliable kickers to finish drives if needed.....
Advantage - Score this one even 10-10
Coaching - I often hear about what a great coach Tom O'Brien is and my question is always the same "yeah, but - outside a few meaningless minor bowl games, what has he won?" Don't get me wrong, his teams always seem to play hard, they are disciplined and that speaks to being well coached, but let's be serious - he's averaged a very mediocre 7 wins per season and outside of 2004 - when Boston College was one of four teams to tie for first in the Big East - he's never won a conference title. He's in his 13th season and he's only had four teams finish ranked and none in the top 15. Dave Wannstedt promised a new level for Pitt athletics and after a rocky start seems to be moving in the right direction. Pitt has won 13 of its last 17 games, are coming off their first 9-win regular season in forever and appear to have the depth and talent to get to the BCS for the first time since 2004. Wannstedt has been a great recruiter - now he needs to prove it by winning games like today. It is a close call, in fact, too close to call so.....
Advantage - Score this one even 10-10
Looking at my scorecard, I score this as 78-76 for Pitt, which, I think would translate into a close (as in, one score) victory for the Panthers. If you want to send me your scorecard using these eight categories -- feel free to at pzeise@post-gazette.com -- and I'll tally up the results and publish them before the game on Saturday.......
Clearly, however, the key matchups for Pitt are in the passing game on both sides of the ball. I think Pitt will be able to stop N.C. State from running the football, the key question is -- can they stop the Wolfpack from throwing it?
Well, as many people over time have said....That is why they play the games.....
Sep 21 2009
Welcome to the Monday edition of Redshirt Diaries. As always is the case, we will take this time to review Saturday's game - a 27-14 win by the Panthers over Navy in terms of "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly".....
The Good:
* Dan Mason - Those of us who watched training camp said this kid was special and that he'd need to be on the field and he didn't disappoint Saturday. Yes, it was one game against an inferior opponent, but that is a tough offense to deal with and there is a lot to learn in a short time for a freshman playing the most important position on the defense. Mason is everything you want in a middle linebacker, tough, physical, fast, intelligent and most important, he's hungry. He said after the game he wasn't happy with how he played - he was the Big East defensive player of the week, so he must have done a few good things -- because he wants to be dominant, not just a guy who makes tackles. That's the mentality you need from that position.
* Bill Stull - During training camp, I said this many times -- this team will go as far as the quarterback play can take it. So far the quarterback has played extremely well and the offense has been sharp. Stull has been under control, he's spread the wealth, he's used his weapons - he has done a great job of making the reads, going through his progressions and making good decisions with the ball. About the only mistake he made on Saturday - and it was a mistake he made while trying to make a championship-level play, so it is hard to knock him -- was fumbling the ball inside the 5 on that crazy play where he caught his own deflected pass and ran it down the field towards the endzone. If he continues to play this well, the sky is indeed the limit for this team. The one major caution I'd make before we declare the passing game to be fixed -- Pitt has yet to face a defensive front seven that challenged them even a little. N.C. State isn't great, but the Wolfpack will at least bring the same level of athletes as the Panthers have recruited. Pitt has given up one sack in three games, which means Stull has had the luxury of standing in the pocket and playing pitch and catch. This week, he'll face some pressure for the first time.
* Jonathan Baldwin - Another thing I wrote about during training camp was Baldwin's development as a receiver. He showed this with six catches for 111 yards against Navy and he caught a number of different routes - not just the "go" routes and fade routes he was almost exclusively running last year. He wasn't a factor in the second half, however, so that is a little bit of a concern but he at least showed what a weapon he can be by jumping up and grabbing passes out of the air.
* The defensive line - You think this unit came into this game with a bit of a chip on its shoulder? Gus Mustakas was outstanding, Mick Williams, as has been the case since training camp began, was the best player on the field and both Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus showed up and made a lot of plays. That unit, when it plays like that, will be difficult for even the best offensive lines to handle. And even some of the younger guys, like Brandon Lindsey and Myles Caragein, made things happen, so there is depth as well. This group has proven that wonderful talent can make coaches look like geniuses, even those who have degrees from Penn State.....(relax, we're just joking. We think the world of Greg Gattuso, he is an excellent coach and he has done a marvelous job with this group, but every so often we feel it is our job to make sure he stays at least a little bit humble....)
* The defense as a whole - Beyond the front four, the linebackers and safeties -- Max Gruder, Greg Williams, Elijah Fields, Dom DeCicco -- all played excellent games. Gruder hasn't been talked about much but he's coming along nicely as is Williams. DeCicco rebounded from a tough game at Buffalo and aside from a boneheaded penalty, Fields really played well and made some key plays. This is the defense that we thought we'd see and while Navy isn't physically opposing, the Midshipmen have shown they can move the ball and score against almost anyone they play and Pitt shut them down for the most part.
* The offensive line - Again, it is important to note the level of competition through three games for this unit has been underwhelming as I didn't think any of the first three teams the Panthers played were particularly strong up front on defense. But the unit was pretty good on Saturday in pass blocking and while the run game didn't get going like it had in the first two games, some of the issues were the fault of the running backs. And the pass blocking wasn't great in the opener against Youngstown State but has improved the past two games and that bodes well for the unit heading into the stretch of games against teams with better talent.
* The atmosphere - It is always easy for fans of other teams -- even those teams who claim they don't care about Pitt but fill up my inbox with silliness about attendance figures -- and for people within the city to rip the game-day atmosphere at Pitt because, let's face it on many Saturdays it isn't very good. And there are plenty of reasons for that but what we saw Saturday was what I've always believed -- a night game at Heinz Field when there is a good crowd and the Panthers are playing well can rival college football atmospheres anywhere in the country. The noon games don't do much for me but I thought Pitt fans did a good job of making that Saturday's game fun. In fact, crowds like this and a number of others over the past seven or eight years are why I think the "moving the stadium off campus to the North Shore is the death of Pitt football" stuff is absolute hogwash. Pitt didn't sell out Pitt Stadium when they weren't winning or played an underwhelming opponent and it wouldn't be any different now. When Pitt wins games and plays good opponents, fans have shown they will come to the games regardless of where they are and the crowds are usually pretty good for night games. Also, I think the stuff on the Great Lawn for the student tailgates as well as Art Rooney Avenue for the family tailgates has dramatically improved the pregame atmosphere, so while we like to give Chris Ferris and company a hard time, we also think they deserve a lot of credit for trying to improve this area.
The Bad
* Another slow finish - Pitt's offense has scored 55 first-half points in the last two games -- and just 13 in the second half of those two games (Pitt had a defensive touchdown and what might as well have been a defensive touchdown in the second half against Buffalo) even though both games remained competitive until late. Pitt needs to learn how to deliver a knock-out blow earlier in these games and for whatever reason hasn't been able to deliver it. Navy had a chance to pull to within six points in the fourth quarter and mostly because the Panthers left them hanging around. That's the kind of thing that will come back to haunt you against better opponents.
* The run game - The Panthers run game needs to do a lot better than 37 carries for 126 yards, that's only 3.4 yards per carry. I thought the running backs ran hard, they just didn't finish the game strong the way you'd think they would against an opponent like Navy. Pitt needs to be able to establish a physical running game against those kinds of opponents and while Henry Hynoski and Dion Lewis had a few strong runs but not enough. Pitt's running game will have to show up in a big way this weekend against N.C. State because nothing quiets a crowd quicker than long sustained drives by an offense.
* Dropped passes - Receivers drop passes from time to time but there were three really easy first downs dropped by receivers, including one by Baldwin and another by McGee at critical times in the game. You can't drop passes, particularly when you have a chance to extend drives. Had those three balls been caught, Stull would have been 20 of 24 for close to 300 yards.
* Antwuan Reed - He fumbled the opening kick-off and made a few other key mistakes in what was clearly not his finest hour. He's a good young player and he'll improve, but he's had a couple of penalties this season and he's been a little shaky at times the few times he's gotten a chance to return kicks. These are things he needs to get solved because those kinds of mistakes are the kind that get players put on the bench in Dave Wannstedt's world.
The Ugly
* Five 15-yard penalties - Who do the Panthers think they are - the Miami Hurricanes of the 1980's? There is something to be said for being aggressive and going after the other team. Those personal foul penalties you can live with. Stupid ones -- like roughing the punter when you have no chance to block a punt, whatever it was that Elijah Fields did after the play and Jason Pinkston's -- are the kind of penalties that will end up getting you beat in a big game. You have to be disciplined and frankly Dave Wannstedt made sure he made this a point of emphasis in his post-game team meeting. I don't think this will be an issue in the future, at least not to this degree.
* A shanked punt - Dan Hutchins had a good day kicking field goals and extra points. He had a bad day punting as he averaged only 29 yards on four punts. That isn't going to cut it, particularly when his 14-yard shank set Navy up on the Panthers 36 and led to the Midshipmen's touchdown drive to pull to within 24-14.
* The decision to put Tino Sunseri in the game - I understand the concept of trying to get Tino Sunseri a few snaps here and there but I'm not sure the third quarter of a game you are only winning 24-7 and you are taking possession inside your own 25 is the right time to do it. That's especially true given how well Bill Stull was playing at the time. It just didn't make sense and led to a very strange sequence of play calls, a punt (which was shanked as we just discussed) and a 24-14 game. That meant Stull had to go back into the game and it also meant the Panthers had to sweat out a win. Dave Wannstedt said he wanted to and still wants to get Tino into some games - but given how well Bill Stull has played, can we shelf the Tino experiment until the spring?
* The decision to kick a field goal from the 1 when you have a 24-14 lead with five minutes to play - There was nothing to be gained by kicking a field goal here if you looked at the big picture. Yes, you make it so Navy needed two touchdowns to win the game - but they needed two touchdowns to win it as it was because a touchdown and a field goal would only tie the game at 24-14. So you really didn't change much EXCEPT you gave Navy field position and you left them in the game. If you go for it and make it (and the way Henry Hynoski had finished a couple of runs late in the game, you might as well have given him a shot) the game is over so kicking off and giving up field position doesn't matter. But even if you don't score (and provided your play call doesn't involve a sack or something outrageous), Navy has to go 99 yards against a defense which, to that point, had dominated the game. And even if they do go 99 yards -- an offense like that would likely require plenty of time and it would still leave them three points shy of tying the game. It is basic game management and while I'm not one to often question decisions, because I don't get paid to coach, this one felt a lot like a team that was playing scared and playing not to lose.
* The PA system playing music during Navy's alma mater - A number of Navy fans e-mailed me and said that this was the ultimate disrespect of our armed services, as was the booing of Navy by Pitt fans when the Midshipmen came out of the tunnel. To this first part - give a lot of credit to Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson, a stand-up guy who is refreshingly honest about most subjects, who admitted it was just a mistake and that the music wasn't supposed to play at the end of the game during the alma mater. He reached out to Navy's athletic director and he made it clear that Pitt really values Navy as an opponent and hopes to keep this series going. So while it was a clumsy mistake, there was no malice intended and it should be filed under the "no harm, no foul" category. Now, about the second part - the booing of Navy being unpatriotic - give me a break, please. I know, I get it - those Navy players will some day defend our freedoms, but you know what, on Saturday they were trying to beat Pitt on Pitt's home turf and that makes them just another football team, at least for a few hours. And I don't know that I've been to a stadium or arena in ten years of doing this that the home fans didn't boo the opposing team. I'm quite sure all of the Pitt fans who booed Navy are patriotic and respect the armed forces and what they do and I think this is an example of how at some point the pseudo-patriotism that has become part of our culture ever since 9/11 has gone too far. Nobody was disrespecting soldiers or armed forces or the sacrifices they all make (by their own choice, I might add), fans were simply booing an opposing football team. Nothing more and nothing less.
Sep 20 2009
Halfway through last night's 27-14 victory by Pitt over Navy I was thinking "this is going to be an impressive victory" but for the third week in a row, either the Panthers pulled off the gas pedal or the other team made some adjustments and as a result the second half left some questions lingering about this team.
And certainly the bizarre decision to put Tino Sunseri in -- with Pitt leading only 24-7 and still in the third quarter -- is one that is puzzling, particularly since Bill Stull was playing one of the best games of his career. I would have thought that Pitt would have wanted to score one more touchdown and get into the fourth quarter before emptying the benches but that was the decision that was made and the Panthers won the game so it is time to move forward.
I also didn't quite understand the idea of kicking a field goal in the fourth quarter with a fourth-and-goal from the 1, especially given the way that Henry Hynoski was running and finishing his runs. He showed up last night as a viable short yardage guy who is one of the more physical players on this team. It was a strange decision because a field goal really didn't do much -- it took the game from 24-14 to 27-14. Yes, it meant navy had to score two touchdowns to win -- they had to do that anyway as a touchdown and a field goal at 24-14 would have only meant the game was tied.
So really, Pitt gained little by kicking a field goal and could have ended the game with a touchdown. And even if they don't score, Navy would have had to go 99 yards to score -- and given the way Pitt's defense was playing, that was not likely.
My initial impressions of the game are as follows:
** Welcome back Nate Byham. It isn't that he went anywhere but it was nice to see him finally get involved a little bit in the passing game. And both of his catches - he had two catches for yards -- were in traffic and he took a hit but held onto the ball. He is capable of becoming a big weapon for this team in the middle of the field and given the way the receivers played - despite a few key drops -- and the way Dickerson has played, he should have plenty of opportunities for big plays in the middle of the field this season.
** Welcome Dan Mason. OK, during camp all of us who watched training camp raved about this kid and how he needs to get into the game and sooner than later. He had a team-high 11 tackles and two sacks and the one sack he had late in the game was a prototypical middle linebacker "get the quarterback and crush him" kind of play. After the game Dave Wannstedt said "he's an old school middle linebacker, I love him, he's serious about this game and about everything he is trying to do." Wannstedt also hinted that Mason will still be in the lineup when Adam Gunn returns. But I don't think they will take Adam Gunn off the field, they will move him over and Max Gruder will become the fourth linebacker. Gruder can play both outside spots so he'll still get in the mix but with Greg Williams improving every week, Mason improving every week and Adam Gunn a steady veteran, the linebackers should become a strength of a strong defense.
I talked to Mason after the game -- you can read about him and a few other new guys in tomorrow's P-G - - and the thing that always impresses me about him is his humility. He barely cracks a smile; he's just an intense dude. Like Wannstedt said -- he's got the right demeanor to be the middle linebacker for the next four years.
** Welcome Hynoski. We knew Henry was a good blocker but he showed last night he can finish runs and bring a little bit of a physical presence to the Panthers running game -- not that Dion Lewis didn't already do that to some degree. Hynoski only ran it a few times, but in short yardage and in some off tackle runs to change the pace, he can be effective. And then after the game he says "no matter what, with the ball or without the ball, I just want to hit somebody out there." You gotta love a guy who loves to hit.
** Elijah Fields wasn't spectacular, but he was where he was supposed to be and outside of three plays - he missed a tackle on the sidelines, got burned on what should have been a long touchdown but was overthrown and the personal foul in the endzone -- I thought he played very well. He had a good start for him and I think as he settles in he can become the player we all believe he will be.
** The defensive line was as good as it has been advertised last night. Greg Romeus, Jabaal Sheard, Mick Williams, Gus Mustakas and Myles Caragein, were all over the field. Those guys combined for 34 tackles and four sacks. And if Mustakas and Mick Williams play that well every week, this is going to be a tough team to score on.
** Jonathan Baldwin had 111 yards receiving and finally showed the vertical threat he can be for this team......but he only had one catch in the second half (though he did have a drop as well) and it seemed like Pitt took its foot off the gas again. It was clear -- they couldn't cover Baldwin or even Turner for that matter. Next week, when Pitt steps up in class in terms of the competition they face, Baldwin is going to have to be a big part of the plan for all 60 minutes and not just one half.
** At the outset we all said we expected Pitt to be 3-0 and that if they got to 3-0 we still wouldn't know much about the team because of the level of competition the Panthers have faced. I still agree with that to a point, but we do know these things:
a.) The offense can be very effective and can move the ball and Bill Stull is more than capable of making throws and moving the team down the field.
b.) Dion Lewis is a good featured running back.
c.) The defense probably isn't good enough to line up in its base 4-3 for an entire game but when it uses its packages, mixes in some blitzes and keeps offenses guessing a little bit, it has a chance to be special.
d.) Despite a couple of missed extra points and a shanked punt - the kicking game is in pretty good hands, um, feet.....
e.) Mick Williams is the best player on defense. The jury is still out on who the offenses best player is.
Now, 3-0 may seem insignificant but considering Pitt has historically struggled to get to 3-0 it is a great start. Pitt hasn't been 3-0 since the 2000 season and in 26 years had only managed to do it two other times -- 1989 and 1991. And let's face it there is really something to be said, particularly given the history of this team, for winning the games you are supposed to win. That is often the difference between a bowl game and no bowl game or 10 wins and no 10 wins.
** Adam Gunn's injury occurred last week in the Buffalo game. But he practiced this week and apparently tweaked his ankle a little bit again during practice and just wasn't 100 percent healthy and ready to go. Wannstedt said that he expects Gunn back for next week's game at N.C. State and if he is back, which I am not sure he will be, it will be really interesting to see what is done with him. Mason played so well and proved he can make the calls and handle the mental part of that position.
** Greg Williams looked like Hugh Green and Ricky Jackson last night. OK, he didn't play like those two -- though he did play well - but did you notice he was lined up as a stand-up defensive end on a number of plays? Remember two years ago when Navy ran up and down the field against Pitt? I don't know that they went to a five-man line even once in that game, although I could be wrong. It is clear to me that defensive coordinator Phil Bennett is an excellent defensive coach and he knows how to make adjustments and he also understands what to do against a lot of different gimmick college offenses. Wannstedt still has his hands in the defense, but with Bennett and Greg Gattuso on that side of the ball, he's got a lot of great ideas being offered to him every day and he is listening to them both more than he used to.
** Bill Stull played extremely well. He really got comfortable in the pocket and he made some big-time throws. He needs to continue to build on these performances. I think it was really a bad reflection on Pitt fans when Wannstedt said after the game "the best thing that happened for Billy was he played on the road last week" (and got away from all that negativity at Heinz Field.) Stull has made a strong case in three games that the quarterback debate is over.
Next week, however, when the Panthers face a defensive front which is as big, fast and athletic as they are -- that will be the first true test of the offense and offensive line. I don't anticipate Stull will be able to stand in the pocket and pick apart N.C. State because I expect them to be able to get some pressure on him. If he is still making those throws, then Pitt fans should feel good about the quarterback situation.
Don't get me wrong, I think Pitt is better than N.C. State and I think they should win the game-- but unlike the first three teams Pitt has played, the Wolfpack have at least recruited the same kinds of athletes as the Panthers and it won't be a physical mismatch that these games have been and that's when we will be able to really determine just how good this team is or can be.
Sep 19 2009
The Pitt Panthers put together an impressive half of football and frankly were two mistakes away from being way ahead. They need to come out, force a three-and-out and put this game away with a touchdown drive.
Two things are clear -- Navy is nowhere near as good as Pitt and Bill Stull is a new man.
Stull has been exceptional at finding his receivers, he's taken some shots down the field and he's discovered his best weapon -- Jonathan Baldwin.
He also got Nate Byham into the act and Dion Lewis is off and running, though he has found sledding to be a little tougher this week (11 carries, 42 yards). Stull is 12 of 14 for 189 yards and the only mistake he's made was a fumble after making a great play to advance the ball down inside the Midshipmen's 5.
And defensively, the Panthers have allowed some yards but outside of one touchdown drive have pretty much shut down the Midshipmen.
Things to look for in the second half....
1.) A killer instinct by Pitt. The Panthers have started fast in the past few games but last week especially let Buffalo hang around longer than they needed to. It would be nice if Pitt came out and scored 14 unanswered points and allowed the fourth quarter to be "empty the bench" time.
2.) Redemption time for the defense. They had a great first half -- now it is time to play a full game and make a statement that the preseason hype was justified.
3.) Lewis and the running game to close the door on the Midshipmen. You'd hope they will throw down the field a few times to Baldwin and company to get a quick score and put the game away then finish it off with Lewis and Ray Graham and the offensive line.
4.) Neil Diamond baby! For some reason people in this stadium love that end of third quarter ritual involving "Sweet Caroline".
Sep 19 2009
Senior linebacker Adam Gunn injured his ankle this week during practice and despite trying to get ready to play today he wasn't able to. As a result he is in street clothes and Dan Mason will make his first career start at middle linebacker.
Mason, who is from Penn Hills, will certainly have his hands full in his first start as stopping the Midshipmen is as much about knowing and executing assignments as it is about anything the defense will do physically.
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