Couple thoughts..

[MajorMajors]

--Don't want to jinx them, but have you noticed how well-coached the offense has been with respect to penalties?

They just seem to be very disciplined. Even with all the shifting and motion - they look crisp...

--Hopefully the passing game builds on the success they had against Marshall. Too bad Mathews couldn't have pulled in that first pass of the game to get him off and running...

--I'm dreading this GT game. Our DEs and LBs are in no shape to control that option game...

Go Pitt

 

[gary2]

--Don't want to jinx them, but have you noticed how well-coached the offense has been with respect to penalties?

They just seem to be very disciplined. Even with all the shifting and motion - they look crisp...

--Hopefully the passing game builds on the success they had against Marshall. Too bad Mathews couldn't have pulled in that first pass of the game to get him off and running...

--I'm dreading this GT game. Our DEs and LBs are in no shape to control that option game...

Go Pitt

Agree and Agree

Handling the motion very well

Our defensive rushing stats will be taking a major hit

Not nearly enough depth on DL - Not nearly enough talent at LB - Secondary needs to tackle better

 

[HailToPitt1985]

Where did someone ever think we were an 8 point favorite? Someone is smoking something. GT is a very good team and runs an offense that we have yet to stop. We'll still need to score over 45 points to beat them, maybe more.

 

[OriginalEther]

Where did someone ever think we were an 8 point favorite? Someone is smoking something. GT is a very good team and runs an offense that we have yet to stop. We'll still need to score over 45 points to beat them, maybe more.

Um, Pitt did last year. Rallied for a 31-28 victory.

I actually thought they did ok against them in 2013
2014 of course was marred by all those turnovers.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

--Don't want to jinx them, but have you noticed how well-coached the offense has been with respect to penalties?

They just seem to be very disciplined. Even with all the shifting and motion - they look crisp...

--Hopefully the passing game builds on the success they had against Marshall. Too bad Mathews couldn't have pulled in that first pass of the game to get him off and running...

--I'm dreading this GT game. Our DEs and LBs are in no shape to control that option game...

Go Pitt

I see a far better OC understanding the Players and Team and developing a Balance Ball Control Attack that can help out score GT, and used to a more Spread Attack with Running QBs has helped them prepare for GT.

I expect the Defense to improve at some point, when is the problem to wait and see? These next two games are tough test in Johnson's tough GT and Mendenhall's Passing Attack.

These are critical Preparation Games to take on VT, Miami, and Clemson. Pitt has proven it can stay with OKSU that should have beaten Central Michigan and Baylor and beat Texas that beat ND.

As well as, should have beaten UNC that has beaten FSU and stayed with Georgia and that poses well fro Pitt. If the Defense can last by 4th Quarter?

If Pitt can overcome some of these problems like seen in OKSU, UNC and Marshall Games, and then beat GT & UVA, then Pitt can take on and beat VT, and maybe Miami, and give Clemson a good games? If they can go 2-1 on that run they could end up with 9 Wins. Sure, it is challenge, but it starts with GT & UVA!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Where did someone ever think we were an 8 point favorite? Someone is smoking something. GT is a very good team and runs an offense that we have yet to stop. We'll still need to score over 45 points to beat them, maybe more.

GT has to stop Pitt Offense and few have done that all season. If Pitt can just improve the Defense against GT & UVA it can hang with many Teams right now by scoring 30+ points!

 

[steel_curtain]

--Don't want to jinx them, but have you noticed how well-coached the offense has been with respect to penalties?

They just seem to be very disciplined. Even with all the shifting and motion - they look crisp...

--Hopefully the passing game builds on the success they had against Marshall. Too bad Mathews couldn't have pulled in that first pass of the game to get him off and running...

--I'm dreading this GT game. Our DEs and LBs are in no shape to control that option game...

Go Pitt

-Pitt is scoring 40 points per game. That ranks 20th in the country. That is almost 2 TD's per game better than last year with Jim Chaney having Boyd at this point. Now I still can't quite figure how the defense has gotten so dam bad in comparison to last year. We had to replace 1 starting lb and 1 db and our back 7 is simply bad. Just don't get how they are getting killed this badly but it wasn't like that last year. Our defense last year finished 23rd in the country in total defense. Offense looks good to me now and going into next year. We better recruit way better on defense to finish off the class or our defense is in considerable trouble for the foreseeable future.

 

[DruidTM]

Clemson had GT going backwards all night.... agree that 2013 was very even...2014 turnovers were insane....

This staff has a bit more experience now with this option stuff... it's not completely impossible to stop folks.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Couple thoughts...

Keep that O efficiency up and Pitt wins 8+ games. Otherwise, likely 7 wins or fewer. Not sure there's a cure for that D with VT, at The U and at Clemson. Pains me to say it though. Still thinking the future's bright. Stand by my 10+ win prediction for next season.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

-Pitt is scoring 40 points per game. That ranks 20th in the country. That is almost 2 TD's per game better than last year with Jim Chaney having Boyd at this point. Now I still can't quite figure how the defense has gotten so dam bad in comparison to last year. We had to replace 1 starting lb and 1 db and our back 7 is simply bad. Just don't get how they are getting killed this badly but it wasn't like that last year. Our defense last year finished 23rd in the country in total defense. Offense looks good to me now and going into next year. We better recruit way better on defense to finish off the class or our defense is in considerable trouble for the foreseeable future.

Agree much with your assessment. Pitt has stayed toe to toe with Gundy's OKSU & Fedora's UNC. Now I want to see how they do against Fuente VT, Richt's Miami and Swinney's Clemson. If they give them good games i will be happy with the progress.

Even if blown away by Miami and Clemson then Pitt Fans will know how far they have to go to become a Top 25 Team capable of beating other Top 25 Teams?

Losing to OKSU & UNC has been a big blow to the Confidence of the Defense and the Offense has to be asking we can do batter once a Passing game is developed. Yet, 40 points is still pretty darn good.

How Pitt responds these last 7 games will decides how the Program moves on next few years. I love the Coaching, Attitude, Game Plans and Players have responded but in spurts not consistent Football and with letdowns at the wrong time, they just seem so close and then it slinks away.

GT & UVA should games when Pitt puts its all together to take on the best of ACC minus, ULou & FSU?

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Couple thoughts...

Keep that O efficiency up and Pitt wins 8+ games. Otherwise, likely 7 wins or fewer. Not sure there's a cure for that D with VT, at The U and at Clemson. Pains me to say it though. Still thinking the future's bright. Stand by my 10+ win prediction for next season.

How Pitt finishes these last 7 games will portend how it will go next year. I am still very optimistic but boy that Marshall comeback just like PSU, OKSU, and UNC in the 4th Quarters closing minutes are just odd to take, and Pitt fans are holding their breaths until the last minute of every game?

It would be nice to see a Pitt lead that grows or stays the same and does not come to near death experiences.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Always love the optimism, Cap. But, I kind of wanna see how they hang with GT and UVa before worrying about VT and The U. Taking this season slow. Also know as, how the average Pitt diehard has to take each and every season.

Quick bizarro question, seeing that Sparty dropped one to IU, who wins more games this season? Pitt or Sparty?

 

[OriginalEther]

Couple thoughts...

Keep that O efficiency up and Pitt wins 8+ games. Otherwise, likely 7 wins or fewer. Not sure there's a cure for that D with VT, at The U and at Clemson. Pains me to say it though. Still thinking the future's bright. Stand by my 10+ win prediction for next season.

Interestingly, if my memory is correct, the espn and sb nation computers increased Pitts victory chances against gt, Virginia, Duke, and Syracuse, as compared to last week.

The two sites differ widely on the Virginia Tech game.
Espn gives us about a 43% chance in that one.
Sb nation gives us around 57%

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Clemson had GT going backwards all night.... agree that 2013 was very even...2014 turnovers were insane....

This staff has a bit more experience now with this option stuff... it's not completely impossible to stop folks.

Not an original thought, but: It's not the X's and O's; it's the Jimmy's and Joe's. Up to this point in the season, we haven't shown that our "Jimmy's and Joe's" (on defense) are up to the task of playing at the level of a good Power 5 program.

In all honesty, how many of our defensive starters could start for the better ACC programs? I won't name 'em, but maybe three?

Even Marshall, a 1-3 C-USA team, was giving our defense fits.

Pitt's best defense is its offense.

 

[sonofabit]

Need no. 9 to play against this O. Badly.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Take the over (53)

 

[yourhired]

I've only seen brief parts of GT they will be well coached and want you to pull your hair out but defensively they are challenged Pitt may lose time of possession but win the game.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

Um, Pitt did last year. Rallied for a 31-28 victory.

I actually thought they did ok against them in 2013
2014 of course was marred by all those turnovers.

I wouldn't say they exactly stopped them. Yes, we barely won. With the defense we have this year and our past problems with this option offense, 8 points is a lot of points as a favorite. We'll need to score 40+ points to win this game. And getting out to a 3 TD lead is meaningless with this defense.

 

[thebadby2]

Where did someone ever think we were an 8 point favorite? Someone is smoking something. GT is a very good team and runs an offense that we have yet to stop. We'll still need to score over 45 points to beat them, maybe more.

GT is not a "very good" team. They aren't terrible, but they aren;t "very good". That option has always been a problem but frankly I like our chances against that type of team versus another team that can throw it downfield. it will be nice to not have a team beating us over the top over and over and over again for a week.

 

[Jpripper88]

Couple thoughts...

Keep that O efficiency up and Pitt wins 8+ games. Otherwise, likely 7 wins or fewer. Not sure there's a cure for that D with VT, at The U and at Clemson. Pains me to say it though. Still thinking the future's bright. Stand by my 10+ win prediction for next season.

If we are going to win 10+ games next year, we are going to have to have really good QB play. If we have someone capable of really good QB play next year, I sure would like to see them this year...

 

[MajorMajors]

To beat GT, I think we need to:

1) Get a couple turnovers -- hopefully a "LOOSE FOOTBALL!!" or two or three from errant pitches or big hits on the QB that he doesn't see coming; and

2) Score TDs and not settle for FGs.

And can we get Wirginis on the field more somehow?

Go Pitt.

 

[vegasgreed]

GT has one win that matters, beating BC 17-14. They are not very good again this year.

 

[chethejet]

GT gave Miami two TD's in a two TD loss. I don't think there are much of a difference in most teams in the ACC. GT can win but Pitt should win with an offense that can ring up points. GT simply can't match teams score for score. Gt with two turnovers losses this game.

 

[pitts-lament]

--Don't want to jinx them, but have you noticed how well-coached the offense has been with respect to penalties?

They just seem to be very disciplined. Even with all the shifting and motion - they look crisp...

--Hopefully the passing game builds on the success they had against Marshall. Too bad Mathews couldn't have pulled in that first pass of the game to get him off and running...

--I'm dreading this GT game. Our DEs and LBs are in no shape to control that option game...

Go Pitt

That is why our recruiting now and next year are so important, the ACC offers a lot of variety in offenses that we have to defend. People complain and have no idea what they are complaining about , as far as our team is concerned.

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

Pitt needs to score first and make GT chase them all game.....That is my first key to the game.....