Even though it was a meaningless game in a forgettable year, nevertheless watching the team grind to a win is something that is always appreciated. Let's get into it:
1. While we can debate coaching decisions, and various issues with the team, it's good to see that the effort was there, the will to win was there, and that Missing in Action Rodney Hammond was back. Really nice to see Hammond seal the win.
2. The best player on the field for Pitt and maybe for both teams was Dayon Hayes. Where has this version of Dayon been? He looked quick out of his stance, had some explosion in getting two sacks, was disruptive on running plays and was just a presence the entire game. Good for him and the defense. More on that.
3. The biggest story of the night was obviously the play of Nate Yarnell. While I clearly am not ready to say that "we've found our QB of the future" it was a promising debut. Many of you recall CV's debut against Louisville, where he made some great deep throws and looked poised. The same can be said for Yarnell with one critical difference. While CV always, and continued to look for the big pass, Yarnell took what the defense gave him. He hit his hot receiver. He made the right reads, even on passes he missed while we can't say the same for CV or PJ.
4. Many of us on this board, including myself, have criticized OC Cignetti and rightly so but let's stop and give some credit. It is evident that *if you have a qb that understands the route trees, that there are opportunities to be had as Yarnell showed over and over again. It's not like NY was just improvising on his own, he actually ran the offense. He hit Johnson in the middle early on a three WR route that had two clearing out the zone and Johnson sat and Yarnell made the right read. Even late, when you would think that Cignetti would run run run, he called a safe pass to Mumfield to start the series and NY threw a perfect pass. The deep pass to Means was an improv and a great read by the young qb after pump faking the DB. Like I said a very promising start.
5. Having said that, I obviously think that Cignetti will be let go next year but if your thinking that you have found your qb and only the HC can answer that, you have to find an OC that will leverage the skill set he brings to the offense. That's if you think NY is the guy. We'll know more next week against a really good Duke defense. It's telling that Narduzzi said that Yarnell is extremely smart and can run the full gamut of the offense then........where has be been?
6. Hats off to coach Jeff Hatley. Number one for making a bowl big, number two for continuing to throw the ball after gashing us on the run. I mean taking the ball out of their running attack and having the qb throw contributed mightily to our win.
7. I thought for the first time in a while the refs actually gave us some calls though the lone BC TD was a result, it appeared, of the refs not actually knowing the rule. If the WR goes to the ground he has to complete the catch, which clearly did not happen. Many years from now, when seminars are held on what targeting is they will play the BC film. My goodness, what was that dude thinking?
8. Look I get the coaching staff loves what C'Bo brings to the locker room but is there really any doubt who the primary ball carrier should be? The announcers kept on harping about how the BC RB was getting stronger in the fourth quarter and yet the RB who actually made it happen in the 4th quarter was Hammond. He ran with power, with speed and was shifty. The TD run was a great design, extremely well blocked and Hammond made two cuts and was gone. Happy for Rodney, the kid never seemed to pout throughout the season.
9. This is a group of seniors that has won a lot so a tip of the cap to them. There will be plenty of time to assess why this season went south but let's not forget all the good this group has accomplished. Hopefully last night was the beginning of something good.
10. Many of us have been hugely critical of the offense this year, but the defense has not what we have been used to. This D has been gashed all year long. It has not impacted the pocket as in year's past, it has not rendered offenses one dimensional and it has been at times a penalty machine. Yes the lack of complimentary football has been an issue all year, but let's not ignore the fact that the defense has been sub par. A lot of it in my view has been the LB corps and the interior linemen. Although Jules has been good, the rest have not. This team really misses SirVocea who covered up a lot of ills.
11. It's nice to go in into the weekend with a win. Always good. In a nightmarish season, last night gave us a glimmer of hope.
Pitt82
1. While we can debate coaching decisions, and various issues with the team, it's good to see that the effort was there, the will to win was there, and that Missing in Action Rodney Hammond was back. Really nice to see Hammond seal the win.
2. The best player on the field for Pitt and maybe for both teams was Dayon Hayes. Where has this version of Dayon been? He looked quick out of his stance, had some explosion in getting two sacks, was disruptive on running plays and was just a presence the entire game. Good for him and the defense. More on that.
3. The biggest story of the night was obviously the play of Nate Yarnell. While I clearly am not ready to say that "we've found our QB of the future" it was a promising debut. Many of you recall CV's debut against Louisville, where he made some great deep throws and looked poised. The same can be said for Yarnell with one critical difference. While CV always, and continued to look for the big pass, Yarnell took what the defense gave him. He hit his hot receiver. He made the right reads, even on passes he missed while we can't say the same for CV or PJ.
4. Many of us on this board, including myself, have criticized OC Cignetti and rightly so but let's stop and give some credit. It is evident that *if you have a qb that understands the route trees, that there are opportunities to be had as Yarnell showed over and over again. It's not like NY was just improvising on his own, he actually ran the offense. He hit Johnson in the middle early on a three WR route that had two clearing out the zone and Johnson sat and Yarnell made the right read. Even late, when you would think that Cignetti would run run run, he called a safe pass to Mumfield to start the series and NY threw a perfect pass. The deep pass to Means was an improv and a great read by the young qb after pump faking the DB. Like I said a very promising start.
5. Having said that, I obviously think that Cignetti will be let go next year but if your thinking that you have found your qb and only the HC can answer that, you have to find an OC that will leverage the skill set he brings to the offense. That's if you think NY is the guy. We'll know more next week against a really good Duke defense. It's telling that Narduzzi said that Yarnell is extremely smart and can run the full gamut of the offense then........where has be been?
6. Hats off to coach Jeff Hatley. Number one for making a bowl big, number two for continuing to throw the ball after gashing us on the run. I mean taking the ball out of their running attack and having the qb throw contributed mightily to our win.
7. I thought for the first time in a while the refs actually gave us some calls though the lone BC TD was a result, it appeared, of the refs not actually knowing the rule. If the WR goes to the ground he has to complete the catch, which clearly did not happen. Many years from now, when seminars are held on what targeting is they will play the BC film. My goodness, what was that dude thinking?
8. Look I get the coaching staff loves what C'Bo brings to the locker room but is there really any doubt who the primary ball carrier should be? The announcers kept on harping about how the BC RB was getting stronger in the fourth quarter and yet the RB who actually made it happen in the 4th quarter was Hammond. He ran with power, with speed and was shifty. The TD run was a great design, extremely well blocked and Hammond made two cuts and was gone. Happy for Rodney, the kid never seemed to pout throughout the season.
9. This is a group of seniors that has won a lot so a tip of the cap to them. There will be plenty of time to assess why this season went south but let's not forget all the good this group has accomplished. Hopefully last night was the beginning of something good.
10. Many of us have been hugely critical of the offense this year, but the defense has not what we have been used to. This D has been gashed all year long. It has not impacted the pocket as in year's past, it has not rendered offenses one dimensional and it has been at times a penalty machine. Yes the lack of complimentary football has been an issue all year, but let's not ignore the fact that the defense has been sub par. A lot of it in my view has been the LB corps and the interior linemen. Although Jules has been good, the rest have not. This team really misses SirVocea who covered up a lot of ills.
11. It's nice to go in into the weekend with a win. Always good. In a nightmarish season, last night gave us a glimmer of hope.
Pitt82