One of the main (and most overlooked) reasons for the losing streak

[Gep Dawg]

One thing we all keep forgetting is Holstein has been hurt the last 4 games. In fact it really goes back to when got hurt in the Syracuse game. Two head injuries and then the leg. His unbelievable play was a big part of the 7-0 start. I know Nate has played well. But Holstein being able to take off and run for first downs kept defenses honest. He single-handedly won games for us early on. He covered up a lot of deficiencies in other areas. Even when he did play against SMU and Virginia he wasn’t the same. He wasn’t taking off and getting first downs. He also wasn’t as accurate throwing the ball
. Head injuries are serious and I don’t think he was the same after his first one.

Hopefully he heals up as expected and comes back at the same level next year. Maybe just learn to protect himself better in open field. And they also need to recruit similar style QBs in the future. Just so that when starter goes down the next guy up plays a similar game. Nate is awesome but definitely was recruited for a different offensive system.

 

[columbus mike]

Let’s not forget he shouldn’t have even been in the Syracuse game during garbage time foolishly scrambling. Great coaching yet again.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

In like 19 quarter of P4 play before that injury, he played well in how many of them? It's definitely less than half.

You'd have liked to have had him yesterday, but we weren't winning that game with him.

 

[Gep Dawg]

In like 19 quarter of P4 play before that injury, he played well in how many of them? It's definitely less than half.

You'd have liked to have had him yesterday, but we weren't winning that game with him.

Feels like slicing and dicing the stats to fit an argument. He was all world the beginning of the season. People were worried he was going to leave for a bigger program. He literally drove down the field and sliced up that defense in the first drive yesterday.

So to suggest for sure we wouldn't win is really just to satisfy a negative narrative of hopelessness.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Feels like slicing and dicing the stats to fit an argument. He was all world the beginning of the season. People were worried he was going to leave for a bigger program. He literally drove down the field and sliced up that defense in the first drive yesterday.

So to suggest for sure we wouldn't win is really just to satisfy a negative narrative of hopelessness.

No, people were ignoring the stats that have been available all season. As has been stated, he should have had something like 8 or 9 more turnovers in those first 5 games. There are sites that track this stuff, similar to baseball where they'll do a guy's adjusted batting average.

He was bouncing balls off defenders' chests repeatedly: they just weren't catching them. It stood to reason that it was going to catch up with him and start evening out. Well, what did he do on the first drive yesterday?

Cal figured out how to play against him, and SMU basically perfected it. Your perceptions of him are skewed, because UNC (65 yards/78 scoring), Cincy (86 yards/59 scoring), and WVU (99 yards/102 scoring) all have awful defenses, and there wasn't a book on him yet. Once there was, even bad Syracuse and Virginia defenses were able to hold him in check for the most part.

We don't even know that he had a concussion against Syracuse. We don't. But even if he did, well, Cal, SMU, and three quarters of Syracuse happened before that. And QBs get concussions. It happens.

 

[Upg bobcat]

Besides Holstein playing banged up, I also think Reid has been overused and the wear and tear has affected him. I know Hammond doesn't have the same skill set as Reid, but I think Hammond is pretty good. Hammond hasn't done much this year when given opportunities, but I would have tried feeding him more (or feeding Carter more when he was healthy) and giving Reid less of a work load.

I also think opponent defenses have adjusted to what Bell tries to do with Reid out of the backfield in the passing game after seeing it on film during the 1st half of the season. So that's contributed to some of the struggles. But I still think Reid has been overused.

 

[das1asd]

Lets get real Narduzzi sucks, nine years and nothing has changed, Belle is in over his head and Reid is way to small for this league

 

[NCanton Panther]

Feels like slicing and dicing the stats to fit an argument. He was all world the beginning of the season. People were worried he was going to leave for a bigger program. He literally drove down the field and sliced up that defense in the first drive yesterday.

So to suggest for sure we wouldn't win is really just to satisfy a negative narrative of hopelessness.

Aren’t you slicing and dicing stats as well. How much weight does being ‘all world the beginning of the season’ carry? 2 of those 4 wins were against 4-8 YSU and 0-11 Kent State!

And similarly. What is the significance of slicing up the defense in the 1st drive? IU sliced up OSU’s defense on their 1st drive, and didn’t end it by throwing a bad INT in the end zone.

And I have to agree with Werewolf on Holstein and INTs. As I was gleefully enjoying our winning streak and high-powered offense at the beginning of the season I remember thinking many times that Holstein was leading a charmed life because he throws a lot of ill-advised balls that shoulda and coulda easily been INTs. That sure hasn’t changed over the remainder of this season. He’s fortunate he doesn’t have a good number more INTs on his stat line for this year.

I guess we all have our delusions regarding PITT FB though. I look back on this season and the most promising and positive thing I get out of it is our linebacking group. Seems like the best group of LBs we’ve had in many many years……And I’m still thinking that after Ville easily put up 500+ yards yesterday. Am I nuts???

 

[FireballZ]

One thing we all keep forgetting is Holstein has been hurt the last 4 games. In fact it really goes back to when got hurt in the Syracuse game. Two head injuries and then the leg. His unbelievable play was a big part of the 7-0 start. I know Nate has played well. But Holstein being able to take off and run for first downs kept defenses honest. He single-handedly won games for us early on. He covered up a lot of deficiencies in other areas. Even when he did play against SMU and Virginia he wasn’t the same. He wasn’t taking off and getting first downs. He also wasn’t as accurate throwing the ball
. Head injuries are serious and I don’t think he was the same after his first one.

Hopefully he heals up as expected and comes back at the same level next year. Maybe just learn to protect himself better in open field. And they also need to recruit similar style QBs in the future. Just so that when starter goes down the next guy up plays a similar game. Nate is awesome but definitely was recruited for a different offensive system.

Well, if true, it's really a major shame that the staff drew up a designed QB run up by ~30 late in the game when you're about to be 7-0.
#Pitthappens

 

[pittbb80]

One thing we all keep forgetting is Holstein has been hurt the last 4 games. In fact it really goes back to when got hurt in the Syracuse game. Two head injuries and then the leg. His unbelievable play was a big part of the 7-0 start. I know Nate has played well. But Holstein being able to take off and run for first downs kept defenses honest. He single-handedly won games for us early on. He covered up a lot of deficiencies in other areas. Even when he did play against SMU and Virginia he wasn’t the same. He wasn’t taking off and getting first downs. He also wasn’t as accurate throwing the ball
. Head injuries are serious and I don’t think he was the same after his first one.

Hopefully he heals up as expected and comes back at the same level next year. Maybe just learn to protect himself better in open field. And they also need to recruit similar style QBs in the future. Just so that when starter goes down the next guy up plays a similar game. Nate is awesome but definitely was recruited for a different offensive system.

Well that and the OL lost two guys as well.

Hard to stand in there when you know you’re gonna get slammed every other play

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Besides Holstein playing banged up, I also think Reid has been overused and the wear and tear has affected him. I know Hammond doesn't have the same skill set as Reid, but I think Hammond is pretty good. Hammond hasn't done much this year when given opportunities, but I would have tried feeding him more (or feeding Carter more when he was healthy) and giving Reid less of a work load.

I also think opponent defenses have adjusted to what Bell tries to do with Reid out of the backfield in the passing game after seeing it on film during the 1st half of the season. So that's contributed to some of the struggles. But I still think Reid has been overused.

the offense is a shell of its former self. I thought there was a glimmer of hope the first two drives. But even then, when they hurried to the line and looked like they were ready to put the hammer down (sorry, wrong slogan. Play fast, score faster), they spent 10 seconds looking at the sidelines to see what to do. And as you said, Reid should not be an every down, carry the ball up the middle type of back.

There is ample evidence to make a head coaching change. Narduzzi hitched the wagon to Bell and the young staff. I think one more year to prove themselves, but if it is another poor year, Narduzzi doesn't get the chance to try and make it right.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

One thing we all keep forgetting is Holstein has been hurt the last 4 games. In fact it really goes back to when got hurt in the Syracuse game. Two head injuries and then the leg. His unbelievable play was a big part of the 7-0 start. I know Nate has played well. But Holstein being able to take off and run for first downs kept defenses honest. He single-handedly won games for us early on. He covered up a lot of deficiencies in other areas. Even when he did play against SMU and Virginia he wasn’t the same. He wasn’t taking off and getting first downs. He also wasn’t as accurate throwing the ball
. Head injuries are serious and I don’t think he was the same after his first one.

Hopefully he heals up as expected and comes back at the same level next year. Maybe just learn to protect himself better in open field. And they also need to recruit similar style QBs in the future. Just so that when starter goes down the next guy up plays a similar game. Nate is awesome but definitely was recruited for a different offensive system.

I posted at the time that he shouldn't have been in the game that late vs Syracuse. And DONT slide. Dive. By sliding you give up 2 yards and you leave your head exposed. Get down and dive.

 

[TD_6082]

Lets get real Narduzzi sucks, nine years and nothing has changed, Belle is in over his head and Reid is way to small for this league

Lol. Reid produces. I think a lot of teams would love to have Dez Reid.

 

[DruidTM]

The other thing is we are missing to date

The whole left side of OL
2/3 depth on RB… Reid is fantastic BTW so enough of that BS
WRs don’t catch
Not sure how many on defense injuries

Belle is coaching players recruited for a pro style offense for the most part

This isn’t the team we started with and we don’t have depth to just “reload”… it’s really that simple

 

[Gep Dawg]

No, people were ignoring the stats that have been available all season. As has been stated, he should have had something like 8 or 9 more turnovers in those first 5 games. There are sites that track this stuff, similar to baseball where they'll do a guy's adjusted batting average.

He was bouncing balls off defenders' chests repeatedly: they just weren't catching them. It stood to reason that it was going to catch up with him and start evening out. Well, what did he do on the first drive yesterday?

Cal figured out how to play against him, and SMU basically perfected it. Your perceptions of him are skewed, because UNC (65 yards/78 scoring), Cincy (86 yards/59 scoring), and WVU (99 yards/102 scoring) all have awful defenses, and there wasn't a book on him yet. Once there was, even bad Syracuse and Virginia defenses were able to hold him in check for the most part.

We don't even know that he had a concussion against Syracuse. We don't. But even if he did, well, Cal, SMU, and three quarters of Syracuse happened before that. And QBs get concussions. It happens.

SMU was after Syracuse. We beat Syracuse to go 7-0

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

SMU was after Syracuse. We beat Syracuse to go 7-0

Ah, right; I was mixing two thoughts. But do you think, in this day and age, they would let a kid play the week after getting a concussion and then let him play again after sustaining two in three games and only missing one week? I honestly don't think he was concussed against Syracuse.

 

[Gep Dawg]

Aren’t you slicing and dicing stats as well. How much weight does being ‘all world the beginning of the season’ carry? 2 of those 4 wins were against 4-8 YSU and 0-11 Kent State!

And similarly. What is the significance of slicing up the defense in the 1st drive? IU sliced up OSU’s defense on their 1st drive, and didn’t end it by throwing a bad INT in the end zone.

And I have to agree with Werewolf on Holstein and INTs. As I was gleefully enjoying our winning streak and high-powered offense at the beginning of the season I remember thinking many times that Holstein was leading a charmed life because he throws a lot of ill-advised balls that shoulda and coulda easily been INTs. That sure hasn’t changed over the remainder of this season. He’s fortunate he doesn’t have a good number more INTs on his stat line for this year.

I guess we all have our delusions regarding PITT FB though. I look back on this season and the most promising and positive thing I get out of it is our linebacking group. Seems like the best group of LBs we’ve had in many many years……And I’m still thinking that after Ville easily put up 500+ yards yesterday. Am I nuts???

I'm not using stats at all. I'm saying the guy when healthy could take off and extend drives and keep us in games. When he was hurt he couldn't. He couldn't against Cal because they schemed for it. The next game he had two TD drives before he got hurt. He's not been the same since. I watched the games I can see what's going on. Between him and the multiple chairs game going on with the OL and OC calling plays like nothing has change despite all of that has led us to where we are now.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Our opponents have injuries too but definitely having a hurt LT and starting QB is really bad luck and we'd have at least one more win otherwise I'd think. UVA is haunting.

If people want to criticize Narduzzi for not recruiting depth on the offensive line to deal with that, that's entirely fair. Especially if they donate to the program considering our weak NIL position.

 

[cashisking884]

Ah, right; I was mixing two thoughts. But do you think, in this day and age, they would let a kid play the week after getting a concussion and then let him play again after sustaining two in three games and only missing one week? I honestly don't think he was concussed against Syracuse.

He also wasn’t good in the Cal game or Syracuse game before he got injured.

People blamed the Syracuse performance on the defensive TDs icing him and preventing him from getting into a rhythm.

 

[Upg bobcat]

Lol. Reid produces. I think a lot of teams would love to have Dez Reid.

2/3 depth on RB… Reid is fantastic BTW so enough of that BS

Don't get me wrong. Reid is excellent, our best player on offense. But football is a brutal sport and the wear and tear of a 12+ game season is a lot. Less than 20 years ago, D1 football was only an 11 game season, but football chases the money and season are longer now. Reid is a guy that plays hard and doesn't back down from contact, but that eventually catches up to you and you aren't 100% anymore even when you are giving it your all. He doesn't have the mass of an Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams, or Ron Dayne to withstand the punishment. The coaches need to take care of him and split duties more.

 

[ksquared33]

Lets get real Narduzzi sucks, nine years and nothing has changed, Belle is in over his head and Reid is way to small for this league

Reid is 1 of the best players on the field in every game we have played. You are out of your mind saying he does not belong out there at this level. The kid is a gamer regardless who we play.

H2 PITT !!!

 

[Panther Holla]

Lets get real Narduzzi sucks, nine years and nothing has changed, Belle is in over his head and Reid is way to small for this league

Oh, but some fans will throw Duzz W-L relative to the rest of the league in your face, the two ACC titles, to overlook the sloppy, undisciplined play that runs through his entire tenure. And turns 10 win seasons into 7-5.

 

[PANTHERAN]

Oh, but some fans will throw Duzz W-L relative to the rest of the league in your face, the two ACC titles, to overlook the sloppy, undisciplined play that runs through his entire tenure. And turns 10 win seasons into 7-5.

Ding ding ding ding!