This is the worst performance by Pitt in recent memory--probably going back at least two decades. Let me get that out of the way at the very beginning.
I don't create many threads, but I'm going to raise a few issues about Paris Ford and Kenny Pickett, and make some general observations, not that I have all of the answers. Football is an emotional game, and the dizzying debacle on display last night can easily cloud our judgement, including (of course) my own.
As background, damavromatis observed (within excellent post I read in another thread,) that this was an especially bizarre game. As he noted:
"This game had everything. Poor tackling, missed PAT, missed FG, muffed punt, missed 4th down conversion in the red zone, punt return for a TD, safety, fumble, INT, 4 sacks given up, lot of penalties. Started four straight drives inside their own 5. Was 4/5 on 3rd down to start and then 0/9 the rest of the way. Could not throw the ball."
In addition, there was also the stuff that Pitt could not control for what was supposed to be its big evening:
-We didn't get ESPN's GameDay.
-The city allegedly fouled up parking.
-It poured.
-The Big Ten officials inexcusably screwed up the coin toss so badly that they gave Penn State the ball at the start of the second half, even though Pitt won the toss.
-The Big Ten officials then spotted fourteen(!) penalties by Pitt (including one on the coach, who was likely already pretty frustrated with the bungled coin toss. In contrast, Penn State supposedly only committed four during the game, despite the rain, and despite the fact that many of Penn State's players were very inexperienced.
With this in mind, I want to comment on two key players going forward: Kenny Pickett and Paris Ford.
First, with regard to Ford: play him!
If he screws up, oh well. Yeah I know he's currently repping as a corner, but he needs to be out there since guys ahead of him--neither the safeties, nor the punt returner--are getting it done.
(Shoot, let Paris be the new holder since we're needing one of those; he has good hands, would be a threat to run, and it could let him get on the field.)
Very good coaches hold extremely talented guys out due to inexperience (think Saban and Tua Tagovailoa), but you also have to give young players a chance to make mistakes and grow. Frankly, those safeties who are currently playing are not getting it done. (As others have already stated): how much worse could Ford be? Also, we dropped a punt last night and fair-caught practically everything else. Again, how much worse of a returner could Ford be?
Second, with regard to Kenny Pickett: keep his head up., Confidence is extremely important, especially at his position.
I sensed a great deal of confidence from him in the beginning of the game. He exchanged a hard hit with a PSU defensive back and came up woofing, which I liked. This was not sustained, however, as he became frustrated. Normally reliable receivers were dropping well-placed balls, protection was inadequate, and some of his throws were poor.
Notwithstanding last night, KP can-- and he will-- play much better. We just need to make sure that he retains his confidence.
Make no mistake. Last night was a deliberate beat-down from Penn State, with extra sauce served up to us at the end (in the guise of the long TD throw.) That was meant to deliver a message: ("no rivalry," "play us at your own peril"), but I think that it was also meant to destroy Pitt's team's positive feeling about itself going forward this season.
Franklin does not want a strong Pitt football program competing for guys like Givens and Whitehead. He wants to see our football program hobbled. Last night, he did everything he could to make that a reality.
Thus, it's on Pitt's coaches, players, administration, (and even perhaps a bit for hardcore fans) to decide how we want to respond to the adversity that we are experiencing.
There has to be a commitment to excellence within the program, while positive and sustained support is needed to push the program forward. It can still happen.
I don't create many threads, but I'm going to raise a few issues about Paris Ford and Kenny Pickett, and make some general observations, not that I have all of the answers. Football is an emotional game, and the dizzying debacle on display last night can easily cloud our judgement, including (of course) my own.
As background, damavromatis observed (within excellent post I read in another thread,) that this was an especially bizarre game. As he noted:
"This game had everything. Poor tackling, missed PAT, missed FG, muffed punt, missed 4th down conversion in the red zone, punt return for a TD, safety, fumble, INT, 4 sacks given up, lot of penalties. Started four straight drives inside their own 5. Was 4/5 on 3rd down to start and then 0/9 the rest of the way. Could not throw the ball."
In addition, there was also the stuff that Pitt could not control for what was supposed to be its big evening:
-We didn't get ESPN's GameDay.
-The city allegedly fouled up parking.
-It poured.
-The Big Ten officials inexcusably screwed up the coin toss so badly that they gave Penn State the ball at the start of the second half, even though Pitt won the toss.
-The Big Ten officials then spotted fourteen(!) penalties by Pitt (including one on the coach, who was likely already pretty frustrated with the bungled coin toss. In contrast, Penn State supposedly only committed four during the game, despite the rain, and despite the fact that many of Penn State's players were very inexperienced.
With this in mind, I want to comment on two key players going forward: Kenny Pickett and Paris Ford.
First, with regard to Ford: play him!
If he screws up, oh well. Yeah I know he's currently repping as a corner, but he needs to be out there since guys ahead of him--neither the safeties, nor the punt returner--are getting it done.
(Shoot, let Paris be the new holder since we're needing one of those; he has good hands, would be a threat to run, and it could let him get on the field.)
Very good coaches hold extremely talented guys out due to inexperience (think Saban and Tua Tagovailoa), but you also have to give young players a chance to make mistakes and grow. Frankly, those safeties who are currently playing are not getting it done. (As others have already stated): how much worse could Ford be? Also, we dropped a punt last night and fair-caught practically everything else. Again, how much worse of a returner could Ford be?
Second, with regard to Kenny Pickett: keep his head up., Confidence is extremely important, especially at his position.
I sensed a great deal of confidence from him in the beginning of the game. He exchanged a hard hit with a PSU defensive back and came up woofing, which I liked. This was not sustained, however, as he became frustrated. Normally reliable receivers were dropping well-placed balls, protection was inadequate, and some of his throws were poor.
Notwithstanding last night, KP can-- and he will-- play much better. We just need to make sure that he retains his confidence.
Make no mistake. Last night was a deliberate beat-down from Penn State, with extra sauce served up to us at the end (in the guise of the long TD throw.) That was meant to deliver a message: ("no rivalry," "play us at your own peril"), but I think that it was also meant to destroy Pitt's team's positive feeling about itself going forward this season.
Franklin does not want a strong Pitt football program competing for guys like Givens and Whitehead. He wants to see our football program hobbled. Last night, he did everything he could to make that a reality.
Thus, it's on Pitt's coaches, players, administration, (and even perhaps a bit for hardcore fans) to decide how we want to respond to the adversity that we are experiencing.
There has to be a commitment to excellence within the program, while positive and sustained support is needed to push the program forward. It can still happen.
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