Here’s some info on Pitt’s Offensive 3rd down performance
Three and Out Performance by Pitt Offense
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- Against Louisville Pitt had only one “3 & out” on a total of 12 drives. So they were able to move the ball pretty well.
- Against Cuse, Pitt had four “3 & outs” on 13 drives
- Against Austin Peay Pitt had two “3 & outs” on 12 drives
- Pitt has moved the sticks or scored on 81% of drives this season
Overall Performance on 3rd Down
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- Pitt has converted 21 of 44 third downs this season (47.7%) which puts them #27 nationally
The formula they have used against Syracuse and Louisville is as follows:
- When Pitt needs 3 yds or less on 3rd down all of those calls have been running plays utilizing V Davis, AJ Davis, Izzy or Pickett. Pitt has 100% success so far but they have only been in 3rd and short 4 times. This is a concern. Not a lot of 3rd and short.
- when Pitt has been faced with 3rd and 4yds they have opted to throw to a back or TE with 50% success at that distance
- the vast majority of time Pitt needs somewhere between 5yds and 11yds on 3rd down with WRs getting most of these opportunities. All plays were passes but they’ve only converted these opportunities 36% of the time. I haven’t checked film to see if these formations are 4 wides/back or 3 wides/back/TE. But here’s how things have played out are those 28 opportunities.
- Addison targeted 11 times, converted 6, short on 2 with 3 incomplete passes (55%)
- Wayne targeted 4 times, converted 0, short on 1 and 3 incomplete passes (0%)
- Mack targeted 2 times, converted 1 with 1 incompletion (50%)
- Turner targeted 2 times, converted 1, short on another (50%)
- AJ Davis and Moraga were each targeted once and converted the first down (100%)
- Shocky was targeted once and Pickett scrambled another time but both came up short of the sticks (0%)
- Krull and V Davis were targeted once but the pass was incomplete (0%)
- in situations where 3rd and 12+ yds are needed Pitt seems content to play it safe and put their defense back on the field. This down and distance has occurred 3 times. All 3,were completed but all came up short. V Davis was targeted twice on screens and Addison once. (0%)
An interesting takeaway here is that there have been 28 third down opportunities of 5 to 24 yds. Of those Pitt has completed the pass (or QB scramble) 19 of those. That means 68% of the time they are giving their playmakers an opportunity to make a play and get the first down. Another philosophy could be to make deeper more risky throw that can be rewarded with a first down or end in an INT.
It seems for now Pitt is content being careful on third down and avoid “sudden change” short field situations like the one that created Louisville’s 2nd TD due to a breakdown in Pitt’s coverage.
EDIT: something I forgot to add was....Addison being targeted almost 3 times more than anyone else on third down is going to lead to extra coverage his way. Other guys will need to step up when that happens.
Three and Out Performance by Pitt Offense
=============
- Against Louisville Pitt had only one “3 & out” on a total of 12 drives. So they were able to move the ball pretty well.
- Against Cuse, Pitt had four “3 & outs” on 13 drives
- Against Austin Peay Pitt had two “3 & outs” on 12 drives
- Pitt has moved the sticks or scored on 81% of drives this season
Overall Performance on 3rd Down
==================
- Pitt has converted 21 of 44 third downs this season (47.7%) which puts them #27 nationally
The formula they have used against Syracuse and Louisville is as follows:
- When Pitt needs 3 yds or less on 3rd down all of those calls have been running plays utilizing V Davis, AJ Davis, Izzy or Pickett. Pitt has 100% success so far but they have only been in 3rd and short 4 times. This is a concern. Not a lot of 3rd and short.
- when Pitt has been faced with 3rd and 4yds they have opted to throw to a back or TE with 50% success at that distance
- the vast majority of time Pitt needs somewhere between 5yds and 11yds on 3rd down with WRs getting most of these opportunities. All plays were passes but they’ve only converted these opportunities 36% of the time. I haven’t checked film to see if these formations are 4 wides/back or 3 wides/back/TE. But here’s how things have played out are those 28 opportunities.
- Addison targeted 11 times, converted 6, short on 2 with 3 incomplete passes (55%)
- Wayne targeted 4 times, converted 0, short on 1 and 3 incomplete passes (0%)
- Mack targeted 2 times, converted 1 with 1 incompletion (50%)
- Turner targeted 2 times, converted 1, short on another (50%)
- AJ Davis and Moraga were each targeted once and converted the first down (100%)
- Shocky was targeted once and Pickett scrambled another time but both came up short of the sticks (0%)
- Krull and V Davis were targeted once but the pass was incomplete (0%)
- in situations where 3rd and 12+ yds are needed Pitt seems content to play it safe and put their defense back on the field. This down and distance has occurred 3 times. All 3,were completed but all came up short. V Davis was targeted twice on screens and Addison once. (0%)
An interesting takeaway here is that there have been 28 third down opportunities of 5 to 24 yds. Of those Pitt has completed the pass (or QB scramble) 19 of those. That means 68% of the time they are giving their playmakers an opportunity to make a play and get the first down. Another philosophy could be to make deeper more risky throw that can be rewarded with a first down or end in an INT.
It seems for now Pitt is content being careful on third down and avoid “sudden change” short field situations like the one that created Louisville’s 2nd TD due to a breakdown in Pitt’s coverage.
EDIT: something I forgot to add was....Addison being targeted almost 3 times more than anyone else on third down is going to lead to extra coverage his way. Other guys will need to step up when that happens.
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