I became a Pitt fan in 2001 and this was unequivocally the worst season I've ever been a part of. I'm honestly happy it's over. Nothing was enjoyable about this year other that the lville win and being in person when we beat BC. Some season ending thoughts;
- I don't think it's a slam dunk that Yarnell will be the starter next year but I would say it's probably a lock. I can't see us getting anyone meaningful in the portal unless it's a guy like CV who's been passed over at his program. I thought, absent one bad interception (more on this below in the Woods/Epps line), Yarnell was pretty good. He completed 71% of his passes which included at least 3 drops that I can remember. It's honestly even more impressive when you consider he never got to throw to Bart at all. He's earned first shot next year but whoever the coordinator is, PLEASE stop the read option with him.
- Run blocking and RBs were awful yesterday. 54 rushing yards not including Yarnell's minus 11.
- I don't think anything bothers me more about a coordinator when they run a play that works and never try it again. Mump runs for a 15 yard run, and we don't try it again a single time?
- AJ Woods and Malcom Epps continue to prove that elite athleticism and size does not a football player make. Epps dropped TWO TD passes and to make matters worse, one of them would have given us a TD on the drive we got pushed back multiple times for penalties that lead to the interception.
- I realize that when you follow the analytics, you should go for 2 down 27-19. But I think you also need to consider momentum which isn't quantifiable. Why not kick the XP and just be down 7? It's deflating to the team.
- I thought we saw quite a nice day from both Means and Karter Johnson. Johnson's day might have been the most important part of the day since we can show Bart that Yarnell looks for the TEs. Congrats to Polk on his first career catch. I'm sure I missed it but did Mumpfield get hurt?
- This was the best Kamara game all year. He was great at setting the edge and taking his man down in the run game. I thought the safeties played well all year and the secondary in general did too. Marquis Williams is a player.
- ONE TFL TOTAL for the d line.
- Sauls obviously didn't have the same year as last year but nice to see him put both through, especially from distance. He finished the season making 5 of his last 6.
- Junko is the king of untimely shank. I actually blame the decision to try and put points on the board on the team that put us in that spot but I also guess the game doesn't matter so why not try and move the ball.
- There is a real need to infuse some talent into this team. Next year will likely come down to who comes back from good players that can leave and if anyone we recruited can step up.
- The schedule next year is WAY easier. OOC is Kent State, at Cincy, WVU at home, and Youngstown. If we can then win at BC, none of this is crazy mind you, we could have a 5-0 start. Season will come down to beating Cal/Cuse/UVA at home and SMU on the road. There is a path back to 10 wins next year but there is a ton that needs to be fixed starting with making the right coordinator hire who gives us more of the Pickett offense than this BS we've seen.
