. . . teams that have mobile QB's that can hurt a defense with both their arm and their feet? These are the types of teams and offenses that have hurt Pitt badly in recent years. And the ACC generally has more of those kinds of offensive attacks than the B1G does. More: spread the field; fast tempo/no-huddle; quick passing game; extend the play QB's. Get the defense tired, spread them out, then the QB either evades the pass rush and throws or, pulls it down and runs.
The flex-bone option teams have also hurt Pitt the past couple of years. Pitt is 0 - 3 vs. Navy and GT in 2013 and 2014. (No Navy this year of course. But GT every year). Pitt is also 1 - 3 vs. Duke and UNC the past 2 years. The losses in all 3 games were very close. (and so was the 1 win!) That's what will be so interesting to see this season. If HCPN and DCJC have a plan that this Pitt team is able to execute to be able to have Pitt do a better job of controlling the type of offenses we're likely to see from teams like GT, Duke, UNC. Would suspect that ND and Louisville will also have a real diversified passing game with offenses that are very multiple, just based on their respective HC's.
Hope that the way that HCPN will coach his DB's to play will help. Playing soft corners in the past has allowed opposing QB's in a shotgun to almost always have an open receiver if they're willing to throw it quick. That has contributed to compromising Pitt's already weak pass rush. It has also limited Pitt's ability to effectively blitz, because too many times the QB is simply able to catch the snap and throw, giving the rushers virtually no chance to get to the QB in time.
And even if the change in coaching and technique is a positive one, does Pitt have the talent and depth on D this year needed to make it work? And do they have the necessary speed; especially at DB, LB & DE? This year will almost assuredly be a challenge for the new HC and his staff. Different style of play and different type of athletes in many cases in the ACC as compared to the B1G for one thing. It'll test HCPN's ability to be able to adapt and adjust in many cases. Plus, he'll have to do it with the Pitt roster he's been handed.
From what he's demonstrated so far, PN does not seem to be the type of person that will ever back away from a challenge. Pitt's offense should be good. Hopefully, VERY good. So even though it could be a tough task for the Pitt D this year, I'm not counting them out by a long shot. If the D can improve a little in terms of getting some turnovers, some TFL's and making big plays here and there at critical times (like 3rd or 4th downs), the hope is that the O will be good enough to turn some of those close losses into wins.
The flex-bone option teams have also hurt Pitt the past couple of years. Pitt is 0 - 3 vs. Navy and GT in 2013 and 2014. (No Navy this year of course. But GT every year). Pitt is also 1 - 3 vs. Duke and UNC the past 2 years. The losses in all 3 games were very close. (and so was the 1 win!) That's what will be so interesting to see this season. If HCPN and DCJC have a plan that this Pitt team is able to execute to be able to have Pitt do a better job of controlling the type of offenses we're likely to see from teams like GT, Duke, UNC. Would suspect that ND and Louisville will also have a real diversified passing game with offenses that are very multiple, just based on their respective HC's.
Hope that the way that HCPN will coach his DB's to play will help. Playing soft corners in the past has allowed opposing QB's in a shotgun to almost always have an open receiver if they're willing to throw it quick. That has contributed to compromising Pitt's already weak pass rush. It has also limited Pitt's ability to effectively blitz, because too many times the QB is simply able to catch the snap and throw, giving the rushers virtually no chance to get to the QB in time.
And even if the change in coaching and technique is a positive one, does Pitt have the talent and depth on D this year needed to make it work? And do they have the necessary speed; especially at DB, LB & DE? This year will almost assuredly be a challenge for the new HC and his staff. Different style of play and different type of athletes in many cases in the ACC as compared to the B1G for one thing. It'll test HCPN's ability to be able to adapt and adjust in many cases. Plus, he'll have to do it with the Pitt roster he's been handed.
From what he's demonstrated so far, PN does not seem to be the type of person that will ever back away from a challenge. Pitt's offense should be good. Hopefully, VERY good. So even though it could be a tough task for the Pitt D this year, I'm not counting them out by a long shot. If the D can improve a little in terms of getting some turnovers, some TFL's and making big plays here and there at critical times (like 3rd or 4th downs), the hope is that the O will be good enough to turn some of those close losses into wins.
