I noted in returning the game, a lot of comment on Chaney's play calling. One thing I think people are missing is that while the defense is much better this year, this staff recognizes that this defense still has a long way to go and has some major flaws. For this reason, I believe they feel that the best offense for Pitt is a time consuming, ball control offense that limits mistakes and keeps the defense off the field as long as possible. Having said that, I am surprised that the only deep route we've seen these receivers run to my recollection are the one to Ford in the YSU game and one to Weah earlier in the season. I'd like to see them go deep a little more frequently.
The biggest difference between the D we saw yesterday and earlier games was the total lack of pressure on the QB. I saw a fair amount of blitzing yesterday with little success. The DE's were just about invisible yesterday and Blair has been missing in action since the Iowa game. This is still a position badly in need for an infusion of talent.
I was actually surprised by Syracuse's talent level. They have recruited under the radar and put a pretty good team together. They had some play makers and their receivers gave our secondary fits. I swear our defenders got juked on nearly every first move a Syracuse defender made after a catch. While this isn't the first time I've been to Syracuse, when I do go there my reaction is always the same-this place is in the middle of nowhere and the weather is horrible-how do they beat Pitt or any other school for any recruit, particularly in FB. The Syracuse MLB from Philly who Pitt sought is very good. It's a shame we didn't get him. I will allow, however, that the campus is very pretty albeit surrounded by some questionable neighborhoods.
I'm not worried about Maddox. While he will always have trouble with bigger, physical receivers like Ishmael, his coverage on the deep balls was generally good. Actually I thought the Syracuse QB was really pretty fortunate on a couple of deep throws which weren't thrown all that well. We, of course, were the beneficiary of a less than clear offensive pass interference call o a really well thrown deep ball completed on Pitts. WE just seemed a step sloe on defense all day yesterday.
I can count on one hand the number of times the last 30 years when Pitt called an offensive play and I actually said to myself, wow, that was creative and unexpected and just an optimum call under the circumstances. The fake punt was such a call-gutsy, well timed and even better executed. Pretty nice Pitt crowd at the game. FB was never meant to be played inside. There were only 30, 000 at the game yesterday and the noise level was up there.
The biggest difference between the D we saw yesterday and earlier games was the total lack of pressure on the QB. I saw a fair amount of blitzing yesterday with little success. The DE's were just about invisible yesterday and Blair has been missing in action since the Iowa game. This is still a position badly in need for an infusion of talent.
I was actually surprised by Syracuse's talent level. They have recruited under the radar and put a pretty good team together. They had some play makers and their receivers gave our secondary fits. I swear our defenders got juked on nearly every first move a Syracuse defender made after a catch. While this isn't the first time I've been to Syracuse, when I do go there my reaction is always the same-this place is in the middle of nowhere and the weather is horrible-how do they beat Pitt or any other school for any recruit, particularly in FB. The Syracuse MLB from Philly who Pitt sought is very good. It's a shame we didn't get him. I will allow, however, that the campus is very pretty albeit surrounded by some questionable neighborhoods.
I'm not worried about Maddox. While he will always have trouble with bigger, physical receivers like Ishmael, his coverage on the deep balls was generally good. Actually I thought the Syracuse QB was really pretty fortunate on a couple of deep throws which weren't thrown all that well. We, of course, were the beneficiary of a less than clear offensive pass interference call o a really well thrown deep ball completed on Pitts. WE just seemed a step sloe on defense all day yesterday.
I can count on one hand the number of times the last 30 years when Pitt called an offensive play and I actually said to myself, wow, that was creative and unexpected and just an optimum call under the circumstances. The fake punt was such a call-gutsy, well timed and even better executed. Pretty nice Pitt crowd at the game. FB was never meant to be played inside. There were only 30, 000 at the game yesterday and the noise level was up there.
