Sadly. Orndoff could've become a late round pick had he caught the TD pass. I still think he gets an invite as an un-drafted player, but he definitely could've elevated to the 6-7 round with that catch. His false start penalty didn't help either. And our other "draftable" players either had mediocre games or went down with injury.
With regard to my other observations, as other posters mentioned, the helmet to helmet hits on James and Nathan were egregious, and I really don't know why one or the other wasn't at least flagged for a personal foul. Does anyone recall where this officiating crew was from?
Nathan clearly forced the pass that led to his first INT (second failed red zone visit), and James was never in the game long enough to have an impact. When James didn't convert the 4th and 1/2 yd for a TD, I knew we were in for a disappointing day - momentum is much more evident at this level, and their D stop was a huge momentum changer
I can't recall ever seeing so many bad snaps between C and QB as there were today. Each time it happened it killed the drive at hand.
Was Pitt the worst D team in P5 Div I football this year on stopping 4th down plays? I seem to recall in the NC game that they (Tarheels) were perfect on 4th down conversions, and NU was likewise today. I am really looking forward to a complete overhaul on D. I hope that our recruits are fast learners and better athletes.
Agree with another post that I read today, that it appeared that Matt Canada was going through the motions (no pun intended) with the play calling. The jet sweeps weren't as effective; the running backs (James and Qadree) were not given the holes and running lanes; our best gains seemed to be on wheel routes and slants. With only the one sack, it was too bad that we didn't use the passing aspect more. And while it was perhaps good for DeNucci to get some reps, I would've rather it have been after we were up by 2 or 3 scores, late in the game. Great job by Ben on the first series that led to the TD, but he was clearly over-his-head at the end of the game
Hats off to NU; they certainly ran the ball well, completed their 3rd and or 4th down conversions, and kept our offense off the field with their long, sustained drives. Their defense looked mostly prepared for what we had to offer - I do, however, doubt that they could have beaten us had this game been played in FL or on a faster surface. And had Pitt not been so awful in the red zone.
Will we ever win a bowl game?
Oh well, we do have 42-39 and 43-42. They can't take that away from us . . . bragging rights vs the Nits is always a positive . . .
With regard to my other observations, as other posters mentioned, the helmet to helmet hits on James and Nathan were egregious, and I really don't know why one or the other wasn't at least flagged for a personal foul. Does anyone recall where this officiating crew was from?
Nathan clearly forced the pass that led to his first INT (second failed red zone visit), and James was never in the game long enough to have an impact. When James didn't convert the 4th and 1/2 yd for a TD, I knew we were in for a disappointing day - momentum is much more evident at this level, and their D stop was a huge momentum changer
I can't recall ever seeing so many bad snaps between C and QB as there were today. Each time it happened it killed the drive at hand.
Was Pitt the worst D team in P5 Div I football this year on stopping 4th down plays? I seem to recall in the NC game that they (Tarheels) were perfect on 4th down conversions, and NU was likewise today. I am really looking forward to a complete overhaul on D. I hope that our recruits are fast learners and better athletes.
Agree with another post that I read today, that it appeared that Matt Canada was going through the motions (no pun intended) with the play calling. The jet sweeps weren't as effective; the running backs (James and Qadree) were not given the holes and running lanes; our best gains seemed to be on wheel routes and slants. With only the one sack, it was too bad that we didn't use the passing aspect more. And while it was perhaps good for DeNucci to get some reps, I would've rather it have been after we were up by 2 or 3 scores, late in the game. Great job by Ben on the first series that led to the TD, but he was clearly over-his-head at the end of the game
Hats off to NU; they certainly ran the ball well, completed their 3rd and or 4th down conversions, and kept our offense off the field with their long, sustained drives. Their defense looked mostly prepared for what we had to offer - I do, however, doubt that they could have beaten us had this game been played in FL or on a faster surface. And had Pitt not been so awful in the red zone.
Will we ever win a bowl game?
Oh well, we do have 42-39 and 43-42. They can't take that away from us . . . bragging rights vs the Nits is always a positive . . .
