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Pitt controls its own destiny…sort of

Duneaux Harm

Sophomore
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Nov 30, 2020
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Right now the Panthers really are in control mostly of their own destiny. That OT loss to Tennessee does not look at all bad on the resume. As long as UT wins it certainly will aid Pitt in the long run.

We are 3-1 and they haven’t looked dominant like last year but honestly there is nobody on the remaining part of the schedule that looks like an obvious loss.

There are things to tighten up. The O-line seems to be settling down. The running game seems to be settling in. Just need to be more of a passing threat but Slovis ain’t Kenny.

The defense really has to figure some stuff out. Frankly we are 4-0 with last year’s defense. Well to be fair 4-0 with last year’s offense too.

I can tell you this year isn’t last year but it sure as hell beats many of the past years where before conference play we knew we were dead.
 
every game is winnable, but it is tough to keep up the intensity week after week. Injuries happen, bad breaks. But we are in a good position now. Still probably will bet the mortgage on Miami.
 
Right now the Panthers really are in control mostly of their own destiny. That OT loss to Tennessee does not look at all bad on the resume. As long as UT wins it certainly will aid Pitt in the long run.

We are 3-1 and they haven’t looked dominant like last year but honestly there is nobody on the remaining part of the schedule that looks like an obvious loss.

There are things to tighten up. The O-line seems to be settling down. The running game seems to be settling in. Just need to be more of a passing threat but Slovis ain’t Kenny.

The defense really has to figure some stuff out. Frankly we are 4-0 with last year’s defense. Well to be fair 4-0 with last year’s offense too.

I can tell you this year isn’t last year but it sure as hell beats many of the past years where before conference play we knew we were dead.
Interesting aside about TN. They beat FL yesterday while TN was playing without their best WR, Cedric Tillman, who was maybe their best offensive player (along with Hooker) vs Pitt.

Pitt played yesterday without Jared Wayne. Bartholomew was also very limited in the 1H and sat out the 2H. Need them both back fully healthy ASAP.

Pitt played a bunch of guys yesterday. On both sides of the ball. That ought to be a plus moving ahead. Alexandre, Haba and Danielson were all out on the DL yesterday. Marquis Williams also held out. I see the D becoming really solid if they can get their top 22+ healthy and they stay that way.

The OL Is getting better. Izzy is learning to run at this level. Looks a lot more assertive and is hitting the holes harder. And when he gets loose, he is hard to catch. Him and Hammond could be something VERY special. D Carter and K Johnson can augment the OL as blockers in both the run game and pass protection.

The pass game is the thing still most in question and TBD. Slovis has played in just 6 of the 16 quarters this season. The receivers have been inconsistent (other than Bartholomew and Wayne who have missed time with injuries, too).

The grade right now is still very much an incomplete one. They can get a LOT better. Or maybe not. First things first is being able to get the top 44 guys (2 deep on both sides of the ball) back on the field all together. The we can start to see if they can be as good as they possibly can be.
 
Every team technically controls their own destiny in the Coastal right now. Every single team wins the Coastal if they win out.
Not necessarily true. UVa and Ga Tech are both 0-1 in conference play, so they would need some help.
 
Not necessarily true. UVa and Ga Tech are both 0-1 in conference play, so they would need some help.
Nope. If either goes 7-1 they will win the coastal, because they would own tie breaker with any other potential 7-1 team. Both UVA and GT loss is against an Atlantic team.
 
Pitt played yesterday without Jared Wayne. Bartholomew was also very limited in the 1H and sat out the 2H. Need them both back fully healthy ASAP.
This is the big thing here. Pitt isn't as good as last season, but they're still a good team. They just need all their guys healthy and on the field.
 
Our linebackers are really bad. I could see Cunningham giving them fits. Or any team, honestly. When you're out of position that frequently, it's a fine line to walk.

I'm still sticking with 9-3, which is a good season. Hopefully we can win the Coastal, also. Sucks that Miami's slip-ups haven't cost them any ground in the division. Playoff talk/insinuations for this team is simply nuts.
 
This is the big thing here. Pitt isn't as good as last season, but they're still a good team. They just need all their guys healthy and on the field.
Yeah, we’ll just have to wait and see. Looking at just Pitt - in a vacuum and just compared to 2021 Pitt - maybe not as good as last year?

But the determination of what kind of season Pitt may ultimately have in 2022 is about how good Pitt turns out to be relative to the remainder of the ACC competition. All ACC games now - at least until a bowl game.

Like you, think this team needs to have some good fortune from here on out health/injury-wise. Teams can also improve. Things can start to “click” under the right circumstances. Everything is still in front of Pitt in terms of what can be accomplished this season. I am certainly aware of that and looking forward to the rest of the season. No reason for gloom and doom at all, IMO.
 
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