I generally try not to post immediately after a tough loss, because time let's you cool off a bit. That said, I can't go to bed without getting some of this stuff out of my head.
First, that was obviously another very tough loss. The team played hard but came up short. No shame in that. What is really bothering me however, is the apparent stubbornness or lack of learning on the part of Narduzzi and his staff. It's clear to anyone who has watched even a little football that the team is simply not capable of executing the type of defense Narduzzi wants to play against a quality opponent. We give up big play after big play after big play and yet we continue to trot out the same guys and put them in single coverage to watch as they get toasted. Honestly Pat, you defensive scheme is not working....at all. It stinks. Your corners and safeties stink. On top of that you're not getting sufficient pressure from the DL to cover up for those inadequacies. To continue to run the same defense week after week and give up 39, 45, 37, 34, 31, and 39 points against P5 opponents is ridiculous. If we had even a half baked defense, we might very well be undefeated this year. For a supposed defensive genius, he's an awfully slow learner.
OK - now for a few game observations:
1. Our DB's are seriously as bad as one can imagine. And no Pat, it's not about making adjustments or alignments....they simply are incapable of making plays. By all means, keep putting them in single coverage against good receivers.
2. Dline needs to step it up. The Dline played well against the run. That's great. They didn't get anywhere near enough pressure on the QB to make up for our horrible DB's. If we're going to have any chance at winning a few big games this year, the Dline simply has to get more pressure. If not, we will continue to get toasted.
3. Why does T Webb see the field? Honestly, play Stocker, or someone else.... anyone else. And don't tell me he's the best we have. He whiffs on tackles and is constantly beaten on long pass plays. Give someone else a chance. It's not like Webb is playing so well you're afraid that there might be a drop off. Same thing goes for Lewis. He stinks.
4. I thought Peterman played OK. Not great, but OK. Made some nice throws, but also made a few stinkers. Overall, he played good enough for us that we should have won (if we had any kind of defense).
5. Nice to see James running hard. That was by far his best game of the season. We're going to need him badly for the remainder of the year.
6. Jester Weah continues to progress. Looks like he's learning how to use his speed. Hands are much, much improved. Guy is turning into a solid, if not spectacular, receiver.
7. Watching the VaTech receivers make plays on the ball compared to our receivers was a stark contrast. They had 3 or 4 guys better then anyone we can trot out there. WR is a BIG area of recruiting need.
8. I was underwhelmed with the VaTech QB. He came into the game pretty highly rated. I didn't think he was particularly accurate. In fact, many of the incompletions VaTech had were simply bad throws. Many of his completions were insanely easy throws....lob it up in the general direction of your receiver and watch the Pitt DB's either interfere or fail to make a play.
9. Besides the QB, VaTech had no running game, yet they posted 39 points. Let that sink in.
10. On the 39 points, VaTech should have had about 50, were it not for their insanely bad play calling in the red zone. Run the ball 3 times at the 9 yard line and then kick a field goal? Monumentally dumb. They kept Pitt in the game.
At this point, we will be very hard pressed to win 8 games. Even 7 wins is not a slam dunk. Clemson will destroy us and teams like Syracuse will give us fits. Narduzzi better re-evaluate what we're doing defensively, or this season could go downhill rapidly.
Cruzer
First, that was obviously another very tough loss. The team played hard but came up short. No shame in that. What is really bothering me however, is the apparent stubbornness or lack of learning on the part of Narduzzi and his staff. It's clear to anyone who has watched even a little football that the team is simply not capable of executing the type of defense Narduzzi wants to play against a quality opponent. We give up big play after big play after big play and yet we continue to trot out the same guys and put them in single coverage to watch as they get toasted. Honestly Pat, you defensive scheme is not working....at all. It stinks. Your corners and safeties stink. On top of that you're not getting sufficient pressure from the DL to cover up for those inadequacies. To continue to run the same defense week after week and give up 39, 45, 37, 34, 31, and 39 points against P5 opponents is ridiculous. If we had even a half baked defense, we might very well be undefeated this year. For a supposed defensive genius, he's an awfully slow learner.
OK - now for a few game observations:
1. Our DB's are seriously as bad as one can imagine. And no Pat, it's not about making adjustments or alignments....they simply are incapable of making plays. By all means, keep putting them in single coverage against good receivers.
2. Dline needs to step it up. The Dline played well against the run. That's great. They didn't get anywhere near enough pressure on the QB to make up for our horrible DB's. If we're going to have any chance at winning a few big games this year, the Dline simply has to get more pressure. If not, we will continue to get toasted.
3. Why does T Webb see the field? Honestly, play Stocker, or someone else.... anyone else. And don't tell me he's the best we have. He whiffs on tackles and is constantly beaten on long pass plays. Give someone else a chance. It's not like Webb is playing so well you're afraid that there might be a drop off. Same thing goes for Lewis. He stinks.
4. I thought Peterman played OK. Not great, but OK. Made some nice throws, but also made a few stinkers. Overall, he played good enough for us that we should have won (if we had any kind of defense).
5. Nice to see James running hard. That was by far his best game of the season. We're going to need him badly for the remainder of the year.
6. Jester Weah continues to progress. Looks like he's learning how to use his speed. Hands are much, much improved. Guy is turning into a solid, if not spectacular, receiver.
7. Watching the VaTech receivers make plays on the ball compared to our receivers was a stark contrast. They had 3 or 4 guys better then anyone we can trot out there. WR is a BIG area of recruiting need.
8. I was underwhelmed with the VaTech QB. He came into the game pretty highly rated. I didn't think he was particularly accurate. In fact, many of the incompletions VaTech had were simply bad throws. Many of his completions were insanely easy throws....lob it up in the general direction of your receiver and watch the Pitt DB's either interfere or fail to make a play.
9. Besides the QB, VaTech had no running game, yet they posted 39 points. Let that sink in.
10. On the 39 points, VaTech should have had about 50, were it not for their insanely bad play calling in the red zone. Run the ball 3 times at the 9 yard line and then kick a field goal? Monumentally dumb. They kept Pitt in the game.
At this point, we will be very hard pressed to win 8 games. Even 7 wins is not a slam dunk. Clemson will destroy us and teams like Syracuse will give us fits. Narduzzi better re-evaluate what we're doing defensively, or this season could go downhill rapidly.
Cruzer
