I got a chance to re-watch the game after I got home from Atlanta and a couple of things stood out:
1. I'd be curious if Chris asked the OL coach Petersen who the highest rated player on the OL is. I'd be shocked if it wasn't Dorian Johnson. He's having a great year and noone really mentions him. I remember when I covered the team for the Pitt News I'd ask Joe Moore about the grades and he'd say Covert, May, Grimm all great.
2. I know some foks want to complain about the refs but I don't see it. There's no ACC conspirancy. In fact, two calls you rarely see went for Pitt. Offensive face mask when the GT ball carrier grabbed Grisby's face mask and the offensive PI late when GT player was blocking when the ball in the air. Both correct calls by refs were paying attention. I have an ACC ref who belongs to my golf club and we've talked about how they get graded. They have zero incentive to favor teams because they lose assignements if they botch calls.
3. One of the reasons the option is such a bear to defend is aside from cutblocks, you have influence plays. On GT's lone td in the second half, Wiggins at MLB is influenced by both the lineman and the action towards the sideline prior to Thomas handing it to the fulllback up the middle. It looked like a sweep but the FB goes right by him untouched and you see Wiggins being frustrated by the wrong read.
4. Saturday is your classic trap game. Half empty stadium, against a team that has lost three in a row but that has played good in spots with a UNC showdown on Thursday. Tough spot. I really hope the coaching staff is bringing them down to earth. No strutting thinking you're all that. No gimmes for this team.
Pitt82
1. I'd be curious if Chris asked the OL coach Petersen who the highest rated player on the OL is. I'd be shocked if it wasn't Dorian Johnson. He's having a great year and noone really mentions him. I remember when I covered the team for the Pitt News I'd ask Joe Moore about the grades and he'd say Covert, May, Grimm all great.
2. I know some foks want to complain about the refs but I don't see it. There's no ACC conspirancy. In fact, two calls you rarely see went for Pitt. Offensive face mask when the GT ball carrier grabbed Grisby's face mask and the offensive PI late when GT player was blocking when the ball in the air. Both correct calls by refs were paying attention. I have an ACC ref who belongs to my golf club and we've talked about how they get graded. They have zero incentive to favor teams because they lose assignements if they botch calls.
3. One of the reasons the option is such a bear to defend is aside from cutblocks, you have influence plays. On GT's lone td in the second half, Wiggins at MLB is influenced by both the lineman and the action towards the sideline prior to Thomas handing it to the fulllback up the middle. It looked like a sweep but the FB goes right by him untouched and you see Wiggins being frustrated by the wrong read.
4. Saturday is your classic trap game. Half empty stadium, against a team that has lost three in a row but that has played good in spots with a UNC showdown on Thursday. Tough spot. I really hope the coaching staff is bringing them down to earth. No strutting thinking you're all that. No gimmes for this team.
Pitt82
