guys, we are physically dominating... this is great
- Thread starter The Loaded Italian
- Start date
How about stop having our right handed quarterback roll out to the left and try to throw a pass across his body? Five halves so far and that one hasn't worked one time yet for either quarterback.
Better play? Defensively maybe, a little bit. But we have 124 yards of offense and just over 11 minutes of possession. That is, well, not good. Not good at all.
I think that was a great half. I don't agree that you're physically dominating, mainly because while your defense is shutting down our run game, our defense is shutting you down, too. Both defenses are playing extremely physical. Our offense has executed better in the pass game, while both run games are a wash and both defenses playing well. You guys have a good team. I like Peterman, Boyd, Qadree, and your defense.
Well if you saw our defense last year vs this game you'd be excited. We are missing our best player and one of the best players in the country. If we had him our offense would not have 124 yards
In the first half, yeah, a little bit. Fortunately we have played better defensively in the second half.
Well, at least until this drive.
Well, at least until this drive.
Absolutely. But let's not confuse "aggressively" with "well". They scored 17 points in the first half. Something like 190 yards of offense. Almost 19 minutes of possession. So if we were sitting here at the end of the game and Iowa had 34 points, 380 yards of offense and 37 minutes in time of possession would we all be thinking that was some sort of great defensive performance? I mean I get that our recent standards aren't very high, but have they really fallen that far?
I'm sure I would. I'm impressed with the physicality. Not a surprise under Narduzzi. Conner is a beast, for sure.
Agreed. And that is with just decent personnel.
Whitehead... 16 tackles. Amazing for anyone, but a true freshman playing in his 3rd game??
Just imagine what narduzzi can do with whitehead, Hamlin, Wade and Hudson
If you're a safety or DB, you'd be crazy not to play for this staff. You will be able to showcase your talent, and be well-prepared for the NFL.
You don't want your safeties making 16 tackles. You want your middle and strong LBs making all the tackles. Like MSU's LBs. I'm sure Duzzi would be the first to tell you that.
Whitehead's a stud, but the bulk of the tackles have to come from the front 7 or you're giving up too much yardage.
Well I think if he didn't make 16 tackles then we would have lost by more.
We had a ton of penetration from the front 7, so say what you will but whitehead made the plays
We had a ton of penetration from the front 7, so say what you will but whitehead made the plays
AND IT PAID OFF, THEY ARE LEARNING TO PREPARE, EXECUTE, AND ADAPT TO COACH PAT & STAFF!
No doubt Whitehead is the real deal. I like him and Webb a lot. Interested to see what happens when Mitchell returns. I'd like to seem him move to corner but I don't know if they will give him the nod right away and move Pitts down to the 3rd cornerback. If not, when he returns Mitchell makes 4 very solid safeties we have. I was impressed with Amara there last year as a true freshman also.
It will be interesting when Mitchell returns. He looked great as well last year. I still don't think Pitts is playing well so you may be right.
That is conventional wisdom. However, I am not so sure. The O-line run blocking seems to have regressed from last season. If you watched and listened to comments coming out of camp, the coaches were not happy with the run game. Additionally, Conner hardly ran wild versus Youngstown. I have no doubt the run game is better with Conner...but how much, not sure that is so clear. Pitt really needs to improve run blocking and the running game...or this will be another .500 campaign. Hail to Pitt!
I would also like to see them junk that play where they fake it to a back going left then turn and throw to that back on the sideline. They tried that 5 different times to 3 different backs on the same drive, gaining only 2 or 3 yards each time. At least throw it quicker when the back is farther from the sidelines and before the defensive cavalry arrives. give the back some time to make a move without being pinned against the sideline.
That's the general theory but from what I can see Narduzzi wants his safeties pressing up into the play. Whitehead isn't making many of those tackles 10 yards down the field.
The run blocking improved as the year went on last year. I think this will be the case going forward this year too. James Conner is not here and James Conner can make average run blocking look pretty darn good. These young backs getting more and more reps will start to show going forward.
I really am not too concerned with the line, they actually played well. If you review the game, Hall had a lot of backward steps with the ball. He was no getting no momentum, and not running 'down hill'. Definitely not the issue James Conner ever had.
