Thought I'd put a few thoughts on mail after watching the Bowl games:
1. Just a horrible tragic story about the suicide of the GT recruit. Sometimes we take these players for granted and we don't realize what their lives are like. This young man clearly was affected about leaving his home, and recently his mom and the siblings were homeless. Just a tragedy. Also one of his Pitt's recruit played on the same team in Deerfield Beach and appeared to be one of his closest friends.
2. What a great job Matt Ruhle did at Baylor. Unfortunately for the Baylor Bears I really think Ruhle is going to be the next coach for the NY Giants. He's an ex Giants assistant coach and I think his dream job appears to be the Gmen.
3. The ACC is what we thought they were after watching these bowl games. I really hate to use bowl game results because its' really about matchups but let's face it, aside from Clemson the ACC this year was average at best. When I watch VT not be able to stop a Kentucky team that has basically zero passing game, or watch an FSU team commit 6 Turnovers, or watch Pitt struggle with a bad EMU team I think it's safe to say we were average league at best.
4. Speaking of Kentucky why was Lynn Bowden even allowed to play after throwing a punch in the pre-game warmups.
5. If you look at our games this year, our offense gave it up way too much and was awful in the red zone. I'd be willing to bet if our red zone stats were better our offense would have been much much better from an analytics perspective. I think the red zone issues can be fixed, and the turnovers are a combo of better decisions by the QB and WR's as well as sharper ball security by the RB's and the WR's.
6. I believe the OL will be better next year however it will be up to Whipple and the staff to commit to more balance with the run game. I keep on hearing this narrative that we were awful in the run game but frankly I don't know how you can tell when you actually don't try to run the ball.
7. I'm not buying Vincent Davis as an every down back. I lump Davis and Carter in the same bucket. Both can create matchup issues in space and are explosive type players. I still think the everyone back will come from the bigger backs in Sibley, AJD, Daniel Carter and maybe Izzy.
8. Pitt's season will come down to the ND, VT home games and UNC on the road. I realize we play the Florida teams on the road, but to me with the defense coming back and the potential for a leap in the offense I believe those 3 games will tell the story. GO 3-0 or 2-1 and we might have a really special season 1-2 or 0-3 and we changes might be made.
9. Is the Sun Bowl always a dreadful game?
10. Plays I want back from 2019. The Mack drop on the first possession in the second half against VA. If he catches it do we add to the 14-13 halftime lead? Narduzzi's decision to kick at the goal line in both PSU and Miami games. Had he gone for it do the results change?
11. I'm quite excited for the 2020 football team. Best defense coming back in ages and we could be staring at a 3-0 record heading into a ND matchup at Heinz assuming the ACC doesn't give us a league opener.
Pitt82
1. Just a horrible tragic story about the suicide of the GT recruit. Sometimes we take these players for granted and we don't realize what their lives are like. This young man clearly was affected about leaving his home, and recently his mom and the siblings were homeless. Just a tragedy. Also one of his Pitt's recruit played on the same team in Deerfield Beach and appeared to be one of his closest friends.
2. What a great job Matt Ruhle did at Baylor. Unfortunately for the Baylor Bears I really think Ruhle is going to be the next coach for the NY Giants. He's an ex Giants assistant coach and I think his dream job appears to be the Gmen.
3. The ACC is what we thought they were after watching these bowl games. I really hate to use bowl game results because its' really about matchups but let's face it, aside from Clemson the ACC this year was average at best. When I watch VT not be able to stop a Kentucky team that has basically zero passing game, or watch an FSU team commit 6 Turnovers, or watch Pitt struggle with a bad EMU team I think it's safe to say we were average league at best.
4. Speaking of Kentucky why was Lynn Bowden even allowed to play after throwing a punch in the pre-game warmups.
5. If you look at our games this year, our offense gave it up way too much and was awful in the red zone. I'd be willing to bet if our red zone stats were better our offense would have been much much better from an analytics perspective. I think the red zone issues can be fixed, and the turnovers are a combo of better decisions by the QB and WR's as well as sharper ball security by the RB's and the WR's.
6. I believe the OL will be better next year however it will be up to Whipple and the staff to commit to more balance with the run game. I keep on hearing this narrative that we were awful in the run game but frankly I don't know how you can tell when you actually don't try to run the ball.
7. I'm not buying Vincent Davis as an every down back. I lump Davis and Carter in the same bucket. Both can create matchup issues in space and are explosive type players. I still think the everyone back will come from the bigger backs in Sibley, AJD, Daniel Carter and maybe Izzy.
8. Pitt's season will come down to the ND, VT home games and UNC on the road. I realize we play the Florida teams on the road, but to me with the defense coming back and the potential for a leap in the offense I believe those 3 games will tell the story. GO 3-0 or 2-1 and we might have a really special season 1-2 or 0-3 and we changes might be made.
9. Is the Sun Bowl always a dreadful game?
10. Plays I want back from 2019. The Mack drop on the first possession in the second half against VA. If he catches it do we add to the 14-13 halftime lead? Narduzzi's decision to kick at the goal line in both PSU and Miami games. Had he gone for it do the results change?
11. I'm quite excited for the 2020 football team. Best defense coming back in ages and we could be staring at a 3-0 record heading into a ND matchup at Heinz assuming the ACC doesn't give us a league opener.
Pitt82
