Out of the gates, while I have not totally given up on him. The way this season has played out it absolutely should be open season on HCPN. There is no excuse for how it has played out. Getting tin canned last week was really bad, but losing to BC at home on senior day with the chance to get to 8 wins ... unacceptable.
* Just Pitt being Pitt. Gotta credit BC who played tough and big boy offense, just rolled up their sleeves and went to work. But, if Pitt would have just played a clean game offensively, not turned the ball over, not had those plays like Mathews made to take pretty much take a TD off the scoreboard (of ALL FRIGGEN people, you would expect HIM to lackadaisical like that), TIME AFTER TIME, they would have been able to outscore BC and give the defense enough of a cushion, and spark of energy, to get that 8th win.
* There were a lot of good players on this defense overall, but because of injuries and targeting suspensions, this defense just is not the same whenever it did not have both Hamlin and Ford on the field. Stocker is a good story and all, but it was like the first three season with walk on and MAC level safeties being the defenses achilles heel.
* Whipple's play calling is far too scattershot. I prefer a system type style, but he just is all over the place. But the biggest issue B Y F A R is the execution. The drops, the turnovers, the untimely penalties, the bonehead plays like Mathews. End of the day, and I battle with Steelers fans over this, you can't absolve the coaches because "its the players" when the problems are that sweeping - pretty much every player doing it, it happening in so many ways and in such great numbers. They lead the FBS in drops, they are one of the worst in penalties ... That is on the LOS, first Whipple and ultimately HCPN because they are paid the big $$$ to coach then up to execute and also set the normative system.
* After the Dillon 61 yard TD run I just walked away. That was it right there.
* Someone posted how each of HCPN season have ended and it is almost impossible to have such consistency of teams ending seasons so poorly. It just is bizarre how he can develop such great team togetherness and have so many great late or big game wins earlier in the season only to have the wheels fall off, and of course no bowl wins, and as others have said, do any of us have ANY confidence they get his first this year? It is completely bizarre and inexplicable.
* I don't know how it goes from here. I do agree with a number of people that the schedule next year is a mixed bag, no assurance it will be "easier" because of home and aways and other factors. AND, I don't like how some of the coastal teams are trending. NC has a stud QB returning, etc. But, again this season was set up for a surprise run and time and time they $hit the bed, in true Pitt fashion.
* Just no excuse or way to defend HCPN right now.
* Just Pitt being Pitt. Gotta credit BC who played tough and big boy offense, just rolled up their sleeves and went to work. But, if Pitt would have just played a clean game offensively, not turned the ball over, not had those plays like Mathews made to take pretty much take a TD off the scoreboard (of ALL FRIGGEN people, you would expect HIM to lackadaisical like that), TIME AFTER TIME, they would have been able to outscore BC and give the defense enough of a cushion, and spark of energy, to get that 8th win.
* There were a lot of good players on this defense overall, but because of injuries and targeting suspensions, this defense just is not the same whenever it did not have both Hamlin and Ford on the field. Stocker is a good story and all, but it was like the first three season with walk on and MAC level safeties being the defenses achilles heel.
* Whipple's play calling is far too scattershot. I prefer a system type style, but he just is all over the place. But the biggest issue B Y F A R is the execution. The drops, the turnovers, the untimely penalties, the bonehead plays like Mathews. End of the day, and I battle with Steelers fans over this, you can't absolve the coaches because "its the players" when the problems are that sweeping - pretty much every player doing it, it happening in so many ways and in such great numbers. They lead the FBS in drops, they are one of the worst in penalties ... That is on the LOS, first Whipple and ultimately HCPN because they are paid the big $$$ to coach then up to execute and also set the normative system.
* After the Dillon 61 yard TD run I just walked away. That was it right there.
* Someone posted how each of HCPN season have ended and it is almost impossible to have such consistency of teams ending seasons so poorly. It just is bizarre how he can develop such great team togetherness and have so many great late or big game wins earlier in the season only to have the wheels fall off, and of course no bowl wins, and as others have said, do any of us have ANY confidence they get his first this year? It is completely bizarre and inexplicable.
* I don't know how it goes from here. I do agree with a number of people that the schedule next year is a mixed bag, no assurance it will be "easier" because of home and aways and other factors. AND, I don't like how some of the coastal teams are trending. NC has a stud QB returning, etc. But, again this season was set up for a surprise run and time and time they $hit the bed, in true Pitt fashion.
* Just no excuse or way to defend HCPN right now.
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