Junior wide receiver Tyler Boyd (Clairton), who would be eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft, said he has not decided if he will return to Pitt next year. “I thought about it, but I don't want to get into it,” he said after Pitt's 29-24 loss to Miami on Friday in the regular-season finale. “I still want to cherish these moments, all the moments with these guys. “I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I'm still going to continue to ball out and try to finish off the season. I'll always have memories playing here, even if I stay or go.”
Boyd, who is ranked by CBSSports.com the No. 6 wide receiver and a second-round pick in the '16 draft, finished his third regular season as the school's all-time leader in receptions (248) and yards receiving (3,308). He is averaging only 10.3 yards per catch this season, down from 14.9 for his first two years. His 85 receptions this season match his career high during his freshman season in 2013, but he has totaled only 873 yards after recording 1,174 and 1,261 in his first two years.No matter what he decides, Boyd said he believes Pitt's program is on the rise. “I'm anxious to see how we go next year,” he said.
Curious deployment
Starters Boyd and Dontez Ford (Sto-Rox) were not in the game at one of the more crucial points of the failed fourth-quarter comeback as Pitt made wholesale changes at wide receiver on third-and-14 from the Miami 36.
“Exhaustion, I don't know,” coach Pat Narduzzi said when asked to explain. “Maybe they ate too much turkey. No reason, physically.” Quarterback Nathan Peterman ended up running for 7 yards on the play, and Narduzzi opted to try a field goal. Kicker Chris Blewitt missed from 47 yards.
No sacks
Pitt entered the game No. 1 in the ACC in sacks (3.36 per game and 37 overall), led by defensive end Ejuan Price with 11 1⁄2. But Pitt had no sacks of Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya after getting seven last week against Louisville. Kaaya displayed a quick release while completing 21 of 35 passes for 261 yards. “He had a lot of good reads,” Pitt strong safety Jordan Whitehead said. “He was patient in the pocket and made a lot of good throws. Compared to other quarterbacks (Pitt has played), I'd say he was a lot smarter.”
Blewitt's up-and-down day
Blewitt missed more than one field-goal attempt for the first time this season (48 and 47 yards), but he moved into a tie for second place in school history with Conor Lee on the all-time kick scoring list. Blewitt, who hit from 25 yards, has 263 points.
Sticking to plan
Even while trailing by 20 points more than halfway through the third quarter, Pitt did not change its offensive game plan. The Panthers did not try a pass on its first touchdown drive, handing off to freshman running back Darrin Hall on all five plays, ending in a 35-yard run.
“We still have to be who we are,” Narduzzi said. “I don't think you want to get into slinging it around early in the third quarter and getting behind the sticks. They have some guys who can rush the passer. You get your quarterback smacked if you are dropping back and throwing it every down.”
Hall finished with a career-high 103 yards.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Boyd, who is ranked by CBSSports.com the No. 6 wide receiver and a second-round pick in the '16 draft, finished his third regular season as the school's all-time leader in receptions (248) and yards receiving (3,308). He is averaging only 10.3 yards per catch this season, down from 14.9 for his first two years. His 85 receptions this season match his career high during his freshman season in 2013, but he has totaled only 873 yards after recording 1,174 and 1,261 in his first two years.No matter what he decides, Boyd said he believes Pitt's program is on the rise. “I'm anxious to see how we go next year,” he said.
Curious deployment
Starters Boyd and Dontez Ford (Sto-Rox) were not in the game at one of the more crucial points of the failed fourth-quarter comeback as Pitt made wholesale changes at wide receiver on third-and-14 from the Miami 36.
“Exhaustion, I don't know,” coach Pat Narduzzi said when asked to explain. “Maybe they ate too much turkey. No reason, physically.” Quarterback Nathan Peterman ended up running for 7 yards on the play, and Narduzzi opted to try a field goal. Kicker Chris Blewitt missed from 47 yards.
No sacks
Pitt entered the game No. 1 in the ACC in sacks (3.36 per game and 37 overall), led by defensive end Ejuan Price with 11 1⁄2. But Pitt had no sacks of Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya after getting seven last week against Louisville. Kaaya displayed a quick release while completing 21 of 35 passes for 261 yards. “He had a lot of good reads,” Pitt strong safety Jordan Whitehead said. “He was patient in the pocket and made a lot of good throws. Compared to other quarterbacks (Pitt has played), I'd say he was a lot smarter.”
Blewitt's up-and-down day
Blewitt missed more than one field-goal attempt for the first time this season (48 and 47 yards), but he moved into a tie for second place in school history with Conor Lee on the all-time kick scoring list. Blewitt, who hit from 25 yards, has 263 points.
Sticking to plan
Even while trailing by 20 points more than halfway through the third quarter, Pitt did not change its offensive game plan. The Panthers did not try a pass on its first touchdown drive, handing off to freshman running back Darrin Hall on all five plays, ending in a 35-yard run.
“We still have to be who we are,” Narduzzi said. “I don't think you want to get into slinging it around early in the third quarter and getting behind the sticks. They have some guys who can rush the passer. You get your quarterback smacked if you are dropping back and throwing it every down.”
Hall finished with a career-high 103 yards.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
