Additional postgame thoughts

[GT74]

Wanted to stay away from this board knowing of overreaction and emotions, but am bored on a Sunday morning.
1) Really disappointing loss. A loss is a loss and this ended close, but Pitt was totally dominated in the first half, and didn't seem ready to play. That was disappointing. Cinci seemed to be the much better team, with better athletes, and more physicality.
2) The offense looked unsure of themselves and hesitant. WRs weren't getting separation, OL was getting pushed around and Phil was not accurate at all. The only 1st half score came after a wounded duck pass was caught. An unexpected missed FG from an excellent kicker, was a bad omen.
3) Didn't the QB coaches notice Phil throwing off of his back foot? He just didn't start doing that this game.
4) With the experience of the DL and LBs, how in the world were they getting ripped with the run in the first half?
5) Pitt always loses a game they should win early in the season that takes the wind out of the fanbase, and hurts national perception. Even W. Mich the championship year is an example. Cinci was not an easy game, but winnable.
6) Having a chance to win despite playing so poorly on offense is a credit to the team, and especially defense, but the offense with the game on the line was horrible. Even before that when they got back in the game, they were aided by penalties.
7) The Backyard Brawl is a must win IMO, for their morale and a winning season. Yes, the ACC is more important, but it will determine the future attendance and excitement of the fans. Hopes were high to start the season, it will not be good to have them crushed early.
8) All of this being said, the hurt will wear off, and a victory next week will bring a new spark. Nobody expected 12-0, but any loss hurts. A successful season is the expectation, and that is still alive. H2P.

 

[Chairman Moe]

Wanted to stay away from this board knowing of overreaction and emotions, but am bored on a Sunday morning.
1) Really disappointing loss. A loss is a loss and this ended close, but Pitt was totally dominated in the first half, and didn't seem ready to play. That was disappointing. Cinci seemed to be the much better team, with better athletes, and more physicality. Yes, not being ready to play last night was troubling
2) The offense looked unsure of themselves and hesitant. WRs weren't getting separation, OL was getting pushed around and Phil was not accurate at all. The only 1st half score came after a wounded duck pass was caught. An unexpected missed FG from an excellent kicker, was a bad omen. Sauls' miss was huge. And Cincy came right back and scored a TD on next possession
3) Didn't the QB coaches notice Phil throwing off of his back foot? He just didn't start doing that this game. Going back to Pitt's first offensive play ... Phil could have early gained 6-8 yards by running but instead forced a pass into a well covered receiver
4) With the experience of the DL and LBs, how in the world were they getting ripped with the run in the first half? I keep wondering why the fan base/armchair quarterbacks here haven't ripped Randy Bates more? They've sure cut Cignetti a new one
5) Pitt always loses a game they should win early in the season that takes the wind out of the fanbase, and hurts national perception. Even W. Mich the championship year is an example. Cinci was not an easy game, but winnable. I had this nagging feeling that the UC game was not going to be a walk in the park
6) Having a chance to win despite playing so poorly on offense is a credit to the team, and especially defense, but the offense with the game on the line was horrible. Even before that when they got back in the game, they were aided by penalties. Good observation - the numerous PI penalties on UC contributed heavily to both of our second half TD's
7) The Backyard Brawl is a must win IMO, for their morale and a winning season. Yes, the ACC is more important, but it will determine the future attendance and excitement of the fans. Hopes were high to start the season, it will not be good to have them crushed early. Totally agree
8) All of this being said, the hurt will wear off, and a victory next week will bring a new spark. Nobody expected 12-0, but any loss hurts. A successful season is the expectation, and that is still alive. H2P. I never expected nor even hoped for 12-0, but last night's debacle makes it difficult to believe that this year's Pitt team will be anything more than mediocre. You gotta win in your own house; period

 

[HailToPitt1985]

This game wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated. The game was decided in the first half and it was over by halftime. Especially after we dug ourselves a deeper hole in the 3rd quarter with their final score.

We were a touchdown favorite in this game. This is one of those games you look back on at the end of the season and say, "We should have won that game". But it wasn't close. wvu at wvu is going to be difficult. UNC with Drake Maye slinging it will be even more difficult that Cincy. Our entire defensive unit will be severely tested and outmanned. Wait until we play FSU! I'm just hoping for a winning season at this point. Maybe 7-5. But 5-7 seems much more likely if this team and coaching staff don't suddenly grow up and find some players who can play.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

The PI penalties and roughing penalties against Cincy were huge contributors to us getting back in the game in the 4th. If it weren't for them, the final score could have easily been 27 - 7 or worse. Our offense has a very difficult time moving the ball and scoring and our defense can't stop the other team from scoring most of the time. If you have to say penalties were a major part of the yards gained, you have some problems on offense.

 

[thebadby2]

This game wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated. The game was decided in the first half and it was over by halftime. Especially after we dug ourselves a deeper hole in the 3rd quarter with their final score.

We were a touchdown favorite in this game. This is one of those games you look back on at the end of the season and say, "We should have won that game". But it wasn't close. wvu at wvu is going to be difficult. UNC with Drake Maye slinging it will be even more difficult that Cincy. Our entire defensive unit will be severely tested and outmanned. Wait until we play FSU! I'm just hoping for a winning season at this point. Maybe 7-5. But 5-7 seems much more likely if this team and coaching staff don't suddenly grow up and find some players who can play.

The good news for Pitt with UNC is they replaced an OC who liked to take advantage of having an elite QB with a guy who is more run-centric, because Mack didn’t feel they had enough balance/ran the ball enough. Sound familiar? And so far the UNC offense looks Iike a shell of what it was under Phil Longo.

Had a lot of trouble moving the ball and scoring on Appy State.

 

[PittAU]

I was dumbfounded as to how open their receivers and backs were while our guys had a defender draped on them as they tried to get to underthrown passes.