Pickett Took a Beating

[Chescat]

IMO Pickett was hit hard all game long, and yet kept getting up and coming
back for more. I thought he managed the game pretty well despite a not
great passing attack. He scrambled numerous time and made yardage
when there wasn't much there. I'm not sure, but he seemed to also make
some pretty successful check offs at the line of scrimmage.
Again, on those scrambles he was getting pummeled. His uniform looked
as though he were playing LB. This kid is pretty tough.
There's different ways to lead, and IMO when your QB plays like this, it
inspires his team mates.

 

[pittbb80]

KP made some big plays with his feet.

He’s still very raw as a qb as his accuracy is not good, he has happy feet and doesn’t see the field well (locks on to one guy). Just gotta hope the game slows down for him and he improves. We’ve seen small flashes here and there but for the team to win out he’ll need to contribute with his arm

 

[Pitt5593]

KP made some big plays with his feet.

He’s still very raw as a qb as his accuracy is not good, he has happy feet and doesn’t see the field well (locks on to one guy). Just gotta hope the game slows down for him and he improves. We’ve seen small flashes here and there but for the team to win out he’ll need to contribute with his arm

I saw improvement last night. I hate to knock the offensive line, Pass protection leaves a lot to be desired. One thing Pickett has To do, is to throw the ball away when he is under intense pressure and get to the next play.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Their QB was expected to destroy us and run wild. He was the one getting killed and hit hard all game. Not to mention Aston lighting up their dbs and lbs all game. What we witnessed was hard running that wore a team down and some adjustments in the second half to contain the qb.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Their QB was expected to destroy us and run wild. He was the one getting killed and hit hard all game. Not to mention Aston lighting up their dbs and lbs all game. What we witnessed was hard running that wore a team down and some adjustments in the second half to contain the qb.

He was running wild to avoid Pitt's D line.
Otherwise the sports media got it wrong.
PITT's D showed up!

 

[joeydavid]

He's a tough kid and already is taking a beating- why they don't more QB draws is puzzling to me. KP was a running back before he was QB. Let him help take some of pass rush pressure off of the line.

IMO Pickett was hit hard all game long, and yet kept getting up and coming
back for more. I thought he managed the game pretty well despite a not
great passing attack. He scrambled numerous time and made yardage
when there wasn't much there. I'm not sure, but he seemed to also make
some pretty successful check offs at the line of scrimmage.
Again, on those scrambles he was getting pummeled. His uniform looked
as though he were playing LB. This kid is pretty tough.
There's different ways to lead, and IMO when your QB plays like this, it
inspires his team mates.

 

[Pantherguy4]

Pickett is a tough kid and really coming into his own as a leader on this team. We need to utilize his running ability much more.

 

[pittguy81]

Good thing he's tough because as well as our OL can run block they can't pass protect as all, especially edge rushers. I still think it would help to use the middle of the field on short crossing routes or quick hitters to a slot WR.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

There are plays to slow down a pass rush .

KP is just not an accurate passer , not sure that's a skill he's going to pickup anytime soon .

No doubting his toughness and his running abilities though.

 

[PittHOFs]

Pitt needs a new OC and QB coach, period! Need Pickett to run 3 step drops and get the ball out quick. My god it shouldn’t be that difficult!

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Pitt needs a new OC and QB coach, period! Need Pickett to run 3 step drops and get the ball out quick. My god it shouldn’t be that difficult!

Correct

Especially when you know blitzes are coming.

 

[jivecat]

Pitt needs a new OC and QB coach, period! Need Pickett to run 3 step drops and get the ball out quick. My god it shouldn’t be that difficult!

I don’t think people realize how bad Watson is as an OC. This offense will not get better or recruit better players with him at the helm. I really wish I was wrong about this.

 

[martingale]

Pitt needs a new OC and QB coach, period! Need Pickett to run 3 step drops and get the ball out quick. My god it shouldn’t be that difficult!

I am not a fan of Watson and have been critical of him this year. That said, Watson has done a good, perhaps great job, the past two games. Despite having non-existant passing game, Watson has adjusted his running game to have over 300 yards rushing in both games.

I am not a fan of 3 step drops with Pickett since I think it forces him to make quick decisions and will result in more negative plays.

Pitt's passing game problems are more talent based than coaching based. If we are to making a change in OC, it should be someone who will emphasize more read-option with Pickett and be a better recruiter.

 

[martingale]

Correct

Especially when you know blitzes are coming.

You can't beat a blitz with slow decision making. Pickett takes forever to decide on who to throw to.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Quick slants can work if we use them. An occasional look to a TE might help also.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I am not a fan of 3 step drops with Pickett since I think it forces him to make quick decisions and will result in more negative plays.

It's a quick decision, but it's only one decision, and it's an easy one. Open=throw, covered=run. If he can't make decisions as easy as that we really need to be looking elsewhere.

 

[CJsE]

Quick slants can work if we use them. An occasional look to a TE might help also.

That's because his progression is Primary WR->Scramble/dump flat

 

[martingale]

It's a quick decision, but it's only one decision, and it's an easy one. Open=throw, covered=run. If he can't make decisions as easy as that we really need to be looking elsewhere.

Where is he going to run to off a three step drop especially under center? And if you only give him one option (i.e., only one WR running a slant), it's a high risk of failure (incomplete pass or sack). Pitt's receiver's are not great at beating press coverage, our OL is not great at passing blocking, and Pickett does not make quick decisions. I see all of those as necessary to consistently execute slants.

Now if you want to incorporate a slant into an RPO (which Ole Miss loved to do under Hugh Freeze), that would be great except for Pickett's decision making.

Watson is not the reason our passing game is so limited.

 

[martingale]

That's because his progression is Primary WR->Scramble/dump flat

Lock on to Primary WR for at least 4 seconds -> run for your life/find someone to dump the ball to

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Where is he going to run to off a three step drop especially under center?

The same places other quarterbacks run when the take off on a three step drop. It's not like there aren't other teams that have put quarterbacks on a leash like that before.

And if you only give him one option (i.e., only one WR running a slant), it's a high risk of failure (incomplete pass or sack).

In case you missed it, every time we drop back to pass there is a high risk of an incompletion or a sack. Last night we had more incompletetions and sacks than completed passes. That isn't the first time this season that happened. In fact it happened last week against Duke as well.

Pitt's receiver's are not great at beating press coverage, our OL is not great at passing blocking, and Pickett does not make quick decisions. I see all of those as necessary to consistently execute slants.

Most teams don't play press coverage all over the field. Our OL not being great at pass blocking is actually an argument for getting the ball off quick, not against it. Pickett does not make quick decisions, which is why you want to make him have as easy a decision as possible to make. The last thing you want to do with a quarterback who is having trouble with making decisions is to have him take a seven step drop and then survey the field to find the open man. So once again, that's an argument for getting the ball off quick, not against it.

 

[McKee Place]

I am not a fan of Watson and have been critical of him this year. That said, Watson has done a good, perhaps great job, the past two games. Despite having non-existant passing game, Watson has adjusted his running game to have over 300 yards rushing in both games.

I am not a fan of 3 step drops with Pickett since I think it forces him to make quick decisions and will result in more negative plays.

Pitt's passing game problems are more talent based than coaching based. If we are to making a change in OC, it should be someone who will emphasize more read-option with Pickett and be a better recruiter.

I don't care who is blamed but the Pickett of this season is a shadow of the potential shown last year and even in the Albany game. Both his passing and his running. I hope the latter is because of injury and will resume when healthy. The former appears related to PTSD from the PSU game. Since that battering he's been terrible. The line and receivers aren't great but he seems to have panic attacks back there now at the slightest provocation. Watson is no help most of the time, when they stumble on a pass play that seems to suit him like the screen like thing to Matthews yesterday, or screen to Hall last week, or slants early in the ND game etc. it's never seen again.

 

[Jsr862]

Idk what it really is, was at game last night, but when drooping back to pass, something is not right, and as a former WR and WR coach the routes I see being run just mind boggle me... maybe I think too much about it, but they all seem to take to long to develop, no one gets open. We know our WR have speed, I don't think Watson does a good job besides sweeps utilizing the speed. Rare down field shots...rare slants... they are all breaking routes which makes the Reciever slow down which by that time Pickett is in trouble already or the pass can only be good for 3 or 4 yards and because it's a stopped pattern, the corners are right there. That's bad offensive play calling and set up.

 

[martingale]

The same places other quarterbacks run when the take off on a three step drop. It's not like there aren't other teams that have put quarterbacks on a leash like that before.





In case you missed it, every time we drop back to pass there is a high risk of an incompletion or a sack. Last night we had more incompletetions and sacks than completed passes. That isn't the first time this season that happened. In fact it happened last week against Duke as well.





Most teams don't play press coverage all over the field. Our OL not being great at pass blocking is actually an argument for getting the ball off quick, not against it. Pickett does not make quick decisions, which is why you want to make him have as easy a decision as possible to make. The last thing you want to do with a quarterback who is having trouble with making decisions is to have him take a seven step drop and then survey the field to find the open man. So once again, that's an argument for getting the ball off quick, not against it.

A 3-step drop from under center is a recipe for sacks and incomplete passes. It's not like there will be a huge hole for Pickett to run the ball if the primary is covered and defenses will adjust to this quickly.

If Pitt must pass, I am for 2 or 3 man routes , keeping 7-8 to block, and 5 to 7 step drops from the shotgun. That gives Pickett the best opportunity to see the field , keeps the options simple, and should give him time to throw or scramble. Just don't expect much from this.

Going into Friday's game, we are averaging over 230 yards a game rushing. Play to our strength and keeping pounding the ball. Asking Picket to do more is a recipe for turnovers and punts.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

A 3-step drop from under center is a recipe for sacks and incomplete passes.

If you think that three step drops are a recipe for sacks, well, I don't know how to respond to something so silly.

Three step drops are specifically designed so that you DON'T get sacked. If you take a three step drop and you still get sacked you aren't doing it right.

 

[PITTDAD60]

KP made some big plays with his feet.

He’s still very raw as a qb as his accuracy is not good, he has happy feet and doesn’t see the field well (locks on to one guy). Just gotta hope the game slows down for him and he improves. We’ve seen small flashes here and there but for the team to win out he’ll need to contribute with his arm

And the WRs need to get open

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

A 3-step drop from under center is a recipe for sacks and incomplete passes. It's not like there will be a huge hole for Pickett to run the ball if the primary is covered and defenses will adjust to this quickly.

If Pitt must pass, I am for 2 or 3 man routes , keeping 7-8 to block, and 5 to 7 step drops from the shotgun. That gives Pickett the best opportunity to see the field , keeps the options simple, and should give him time to throw or scramble. Just don't expect much from this.

Going into Friday's game, we are averaging over 230 yards a game rushing. Play to our strength and keeping pounding the ball. Asking Picket to do more is a recipe for turnovers and punts.

We aren’t running for 230 against Clemson if we make the conference championship. We better be able to throw some and keep them guessing which is exactly how we beat them last time. We were physically out matched, but we confused the crap out of them and kept them guessing every offensive play. We were creative and willing to take risks. Clemson isn’t a team you just dominate on the line and run every down.

 

[Mikefln]

The OL is bad but it is not like the Palko or Tino years where it is jail break from the snap. Most of the time it is one player getting through and Pickett panicking instead side step and avoid like many average QBs do. He he does so either the 1 player makes the play or now more defenders are on him. He really is not D1 FBS QB material, but his athleticism covers a lot for a lot of You. He should be either moved to be WR (like WVUs Sills) or bulk up to be an Hback. Honestly I don't know what the answer is at QB for Pitt right now but I know Pitt is limited with Pickette for sure. Might as well go power I with double tight if he is the QB.

 

[pittguy81]

Idk what it really is, was at game last night, but when drooping back to pass, something is not right, and as a former WR and WR coach the routes I see being run just mind boggle me... maybe I think too much about it, but they all seem to take to long to develop, no one gets open. We know our WR have speed, I don't think Watson does a good job besides sweeps utilizing the speed. Rare down field shots...rare slants... they are all breaking routes which makes the Reciever slow down which by that time Pickett is in trouble already or the pass can only be good for 3 or 4 yards and because it's a stopped pattern, the corners are right there. That's bad offensive play calling and set up.

That's why I would like to see more of Aaron Matthews on crossing routes. Even though he isn't fast, he has enough speed to beat LB's and his size presents issues for DB. He's shown he can shield them off with his body positioning.

 

[pittbb80]

That's why I would like to see more of Aaron Matthews on crossing routes. Even though he isn't fast, he has enough speed to beat LB's and his size presents issues for DB. He's shown he can shield them off with his body positioning.

If just like to see more crossing routes period. How about getting carter open over the middle on a crossing route. And let him do his thing in the open field