Sorry to attempt to break up the conversation surrounding biased PSU reporters, lack of attendance at Pitt games, and VJ feeling it necessary to tell all that he, regretfully w/ full drama, won't be attending any more Pitt games because they changed which song the band plays or something like that.
But, in actual football related news, Jim Chaney is responding w/ important facts/insight that should be read by all interested in Pitt's passing game issues. Paraphrasing: Pitt doesn't have a 2nd WR option that can get downfield and make the defense respect/account for him. While to those of us that watch a lot of football and try to remain objective, it's obviously accurate. To those that feel Chaney forgot how to call plays and coach a P5 offense seemingly overnight, perhaps it's surprising. In any event, that's the single biggest roadblock to opening up the passing game. It's not that Ford, especially, or Challingsworth or Zeise or Weah or whomever, isn't any good, it's simply that they don't bring the dimension that is badly needed: ability to get downfield and make a play. Zeise/Ford/Chally are all possession-type guys, though still unproven. Weah (and this is why the coaches continue to give him chances) is a guy that, on paper, would provide the threat that is needed. His issue, as we all know, is his inability to actually catch the ball.
Until one of them can consistently get down-field - in the time it takes to protect the play - Boyd will consistently get doubled and will consistently get banged up. And, despite a large section of the fanbase thinking otherwise, it will continue to be difficult to call plays that feature anything remotely close to a downfield passing game. Chaney and all of us want it fixed. The problem? This has been the result of woefully inadequate recruiting at the WR position for the last 3-4 years. A quick fix in 2015 is nearly impossible; how well Pitt fixes it for 2016 will be a large indicator of how much success they'll have.
But, in actual football related news, Jim Chaney is responding w/ important facts/insight that should be read by all interested in Pitt's passing game issues. Paraphrasing: Pitt doesn't have a 2nd WR option that can get downfield and make the defense respect/account for him. While to those of us that watch a lot of football and try to remain objective, it's obviously accurate. To those that feel Chaney forgot how to call plays and coach a P5 offense seemingly overnight, perhaps it's surprising. In any event, that's the single biggest roadblock to opening up the passing game. It's not that Ford, especially, or Challingsworth or Zeise or Weah or whomever, isn't any good, it's simply that they don't bring the dimension that is badly needed: ability to get downfield and make a play. Zeise/Ford/Chally are all possession-type guys, though still unproven. Weah (and this is why the coaches continue to give him chances) is a guy that, on paper, would provide the threat that is needed. His issue, as we all know, is his inability to actually catch the ball.
Until one of them can consistently get down-field - in the time it takes to protect the play - Boyd will consistently get doubled and will consistently get banged up. And, despite a large section of the fanbase thinking otherwise, it will continue to be difficult to call plays that feature anything remotely close to a downfield passing game. Chaney and all of us want it fixed. The problem? This has been the result of woefully inadequate recruiting at the WR position for the last 3-4 years. A quick fix in 2015 is nearly impossible; how well Pitt fixes it for 2016 will be a large indicator of how much success they'll have.
