Halfway Home - UConn 7, Pitt 3

Remember that list of Pitt’s ten worst losses since 2002 I compiled in the Redshirt Diaries a few weeks ago? Well, if the Panthers lose this game it will certainly crack the top ten, perhaps even the top five.

Why?

Missed opportunities and poor execution.

The Panthers should be winning this game 21-14 at the very worst and more likely 21-7 and given the limitations of the Huskies offense, feel really good about the second half.

Instead, they trail 7-3 and will have to scratch and claw to win this game and that’s mostly because…..

Dion Lewis dropped an easy touchdown pass on the Panthers first drive and they had to punt.

Instead of 7-0, it is 0-0.

Bill Stull missed a wide open Jonathan Baldwin in the endzone because he threw to the wrong shoulder and lofted the ball a little too much so the defender was able to recover and knock it down on the Panthers second drive. Pitt settled for a field goal.

Instead of 14-0, it is 3-0.

On Pitt’s third drive, with a first-and-goal at the 3, Bill Stull missed Nate Byham in the endzone on first down, they once again did not throw to Jonathan Baldwin on any of the three plays and on third down, Stull doesn’t see a wide open Byham and throws an interception.

Instead of 21-0, it is still 3-0. And if at that point it is 21-0, well, then it is game over.....

And none of that had anything to do with Connecticut’s defense and everything to do with the Panthers inability to execute easy plays.

Connecticut finally put together a drive after that and it was the Huskies turn to drop a touchdown pass as Cody Endres hit Jordan Todman with what should have been an easy touchdown – but Todman dropped it. The next play, Endres was sacked and fumbled.

So instead of 21-7, it is still 3-0.

Pitt goes three and out and then, for some unknown reason based on what we’ve seen thus far from this guy, Ricky Gary is in the game at corner and gets toasted by Marcus Easley for a 79-yard touchdown pass.

So instead of Pitt going into the locker room up 21-14 (and that should be the worst case scenario) they go in down 7-3.

Amazing.

That is the formula for losing a game to a team like Connecticut, which is content to run the ball, play field position and let you make mistakes.

Pitt has played right into the Huskies hands and if it doesn’t start making some plays it will lose this game and the dreams and hopes of a Big East championship and a BCS berth will all but be over. Yes, I know it is only one game, but realistically the Panthers need to get through these next four at 4-0 to put themselves in position to win the league title.

Things to watch for in the second half….

• The Panthers run game has been a mixed bag but they need to stick with it because Stull is a little bit off today. He isn’t as crisp as he has been, his ball is floating a little bit today and he’s been bailed out a few times on some bad throws by good catches by his receivers. Pitt needs to get something going on the ground and stick with it. Dion Lewis had only six carries in the first half – Ray Graham had only four, that’s not enough on either front.
• The defense is playing fine but the big play is inexcusable and I think I put that one on the coaches because unless Jovani Chappel or Aaron Berry is hurt, there is no reason Ricky Gary should be in the game. He’s been getting beat way too often this season.
• The Panthers defensive front seven has been pretty active but they need to get about a half-step quicker because they’ve been close to getting some sacks and got there a little bit late.
• The game is very close right now – remember when we talked in the preseason about losing Conor Lee and what it might mean this season – well, this is a game where the kicking game could be called on. So far Dan Hutchins has been up to the task and has been money but we haven’t seen him walk out on the field with, oh, I don’t know, 10 seconds remaining with Pitt trailing 21-20 and him needing to kick a 38-yarder to win…..

Connecticut is well-coached, but that offense is not dangerous at all. Pitt needs to and should be able to do what it did last week against Louisville and pitch a second-half shut out.