Now how much better does the winter look now? Was that great or what? Your entire off season outlook just got a whole much better:
1. Major kudos to the seniors for stepping up especially Mr. Maddox. I'm not sure there's a player in the past few years who has gotten more out of his skill than Avonte. Kid is tough as nails. Completely unafraid of failing and a true leader. Played with a dislocated elbow for his team. Think about that. Thanks to him and all the seniors.
2. Last week Pickett made a throw that I said "Hmmm that was interesting". It was a wide field out pattern than he put on the money. A 15 yarder that traveled about 30 yards. Yesterday he made a great pass to Ffrench under duress on an inside cut over the middle that Ffrench dropped but he put it in an area where if Ffrench's catches it he cuts up field and has daylight. The skinny post to Weah was a thing of beaty too. Again he stood in the pocket and delivered a perfect ball, did not look at the pass rush. Good mechanics, in rythm throw. Boys we have us a qb! (Not to borrow a line from Remember the Titans) and he really made one bad decision all day that almost was a pick six.
3. The front seven was very disruptive yesterday especially Watts and Zeise. It's like they knew the Miami plays. The one thing I'd caution is that the Miami QB just missed a ton of deep throws. That's essentially what Pitt was giving him yesterday and Richt recognized that. Sometimes you get fortunate like that..
4. I think you'd be doing a disservice to O'Neil and Whitehead if you don't seriously look at the NFL. Coach Duzz will have to give them good advice here. Yesterday was O'Neil cleanest game. He was basically flawless and if he gets a 1-2 round grade the kid can't stay. Too much $ too much risk of injury. I think Whitehead will enter the draft as a top 5 safety. I think they are both gone. I'm not sure about Q Henderson. Basically to me he's going to be a speciality guy. There's a need for that in the NFL but usually they are either street free agents or much later in the draft.
5. Tell you what this game showed to me. If you look at the entire game objectively at no point during the game did I think that Miami's talent level was way over Pitt's. At no time did I think that Pitt did not belong on this field. In fact a buddy of mine texted me during the 4Quarter and said "Pitt Oline just dominating their front. Miami looks gassed"
6. A word on Shawn Watson. We all go nuclear and nit pick each call. Let's acknowledge that the offensive game plan was great. First, he shortens the game by continually running down the play clock. Second he probes the edges of Miami's D with some jet sweeps and ROP keepers. Third he never doesn't give Pickett a clean pocket because he keeps a TE or Ollison in to block. It wasn't a pure max protect scheme but close. And fourth the naked boot on 4th down. Yes I thought also where was that last week but what a great call. Then in fourth quarter when you needed first downs he runs power between the tackles and gashes the Miami front.
7. Q. Ollison. As unselfish a player on this team as there is. I mean the kid blocks like a guard, doesn't complain about his carries. Ran like a beast yesterday. Refused to be tackled. And him and Aston are back along with Hall and the rest. He finished off runs yesterday like a man possessed.
8. Your going to need DiNucci next year. I hope he doesn't transfer because while I love Pickett's enthusiasm and his willingness to hit he needs to learn to slide. Too valuable, but need a back up that's been there. I don't want to go into the season with Pickett and no one who has taken a snap. Critical that DiNucci stays.
9. I know we all have Paris Ford and Hamlin penciled in but I think the coaching stuff is going to have a very tough time keeping number 24 out of the lineup. From what I see he takes much better angles than Hamlin right now and is a surer tackler.
10. I thought a relatively clean game by the officiating crew. Don't know how the onside kick stayed in bounds frankly but the replay angle was terrible. They could have called a few holds on both teams but bottom line you really didn't feel that the crew had an impact on the game and that's what you want.
11. I look up at the UNC/VT games and frankly the Cuse and GT games as well and think what might have been but I also think if you schedule some cream puffs vs PSU/OKS your going to a bowl. next year is brutal with PSU/UCF and ND. Very very tough gig for this team but at least they will have a ton back. I think that schedule will hold the team back from a 10 wins but hey if Scott Frost leaves UCF and PSU is at home so there's that. My issue is back to back PSU then UCF.
12. I am 57 and come in from New York for the games. I love Heinz Field because of the ease of access for me and the fact that I can stay at a nice hotel and have options for post and pre game food and entertainment. I'm of the belief that if this team gets on a roll you can consistently average 50K in that stadium with the sellout for ND, PSU, WVU. I think 50K is the top end. So I understand the tarp or the smaller on campus stadium arguments I really do. It's not an easy question. I do know that in the days of Pitt Stadium it was brutal parking in Oakland.
13. Boy, I was really not impressed with the U OL. Thought they would be way way better. I mean I know our front 4 has been improving but they got abused by a DL that has been underwhelming all year. I'm wondering how they are going to handle the Clemson front.
14. The loss means that Miami has to beat Clemson. Had they won yesterday they could have lost to Clemson and had a shot at getting in. If Clemson loses tonight at South Carolina, a possibility, then the ACC might be shut out if Clemson beats Miami.
15. I know the crowd wasn't great yesterday in numbers but on TV you really heard them. I wish I was there but day after Thanksgiving is a tough one with family in from out of town. Me getting 3 hours to watch the game was a difficult task considering the glares I was getting from the family.
16. I know this may sound silly since the game progressed the way it did, but Kessman getting the FG and the early lead was huge.
17. Probably my last musings till the spring. But on those dark dreary cold February nights at least I can fire up that VCR and watch the Miami game all over again, that's a real good thing. Best to all during this Holiday Season.
Pitt82
1. Major kudos to the seniors for stepping up especially Mr. Maddox. I'm not sure there's a player in the past few years who has gotten more out of his skill than Avonte. Kid is tough as nails. Completely unafraid of failing and a true leader. Played with a dislocated elbow for his team. Think about that. Thanks to him and all the seniors.
2. Last week Pickett made a throw that I said "Hmmm that was interesting". It was a wide field out pattern than he put on the money. A 15 yarder that traveled about 30 yards. Yesterday he made a great pass to Ffrench under duress on an inside cut over the middle that Ffrench dropped but he put it in an area where if Ffrench's catches it he cuts up field and has daylight. The skinny post to Weah was a thing of beaty too. Again he stood in the pocket and delivered a perfect ball, did not look at the pass rush. Good mechanics, in rythm throw. Boys we have us a qb! (Not to borrow a line from Remember the Titans) and he really made one bad decision all day that almost was a pick six.
3. The front seven was very disruptive yesterday especially Watts and Zeise. It's like they knew the Miami plays. The one thing I'd caution is that the Miami QB just missed a ton of deep throws. That's essentially what Pitt was giving him yesterday and Richt recognized that. Sometimes you get fortunate like that..
4. I think you'd be doing a disservice to O'Neil and Whitehead if you don't seriously look at the NFL. Coach Duzz will have to give them good advice here. Yesterday was O'Neil cleanest game. He was basically flawless and if he gets a 1-2 round grade the kid can't stay. Too much $ too much risk of injury. I think Whitehead will enter the draft as a top 5 safety. I think they are both gone. I'm not sure about Q Henderson. Basically to me he's going to be a speciality guy. There's a need for that in the NFL but usually they are either street free agents or much later in the draft.
5. Tell you what this game showed to me. If you look at the entire game objectively at no point during the game did I think that Miami's talent level was way over Pitt's. At no time did I think that Pitt did not belong on this field. In fact a buddy of mine texted me during the 4Quarter and said "Pitt Oline just dominating their front. Miami looks gassed"
6. A word on Shawn Watson. We all go nuclear and nit pick each call. Let's acknowledge that the offensive game plan was great. First, he shortens the game by continually running down the play clock. Second he probes the edges of Miami's D with some jet sweeps and ROP keepers. Third he never doesn't give Pickett a clean pocket because he keeps a TE or Ollison in to block. It wasn't a pure max protect scheme but close. And fourth the naked boot on 4th down. Yes I thought also where was that last week but what a great call. Then in fourth quarter when you needed first downs he runs power between the tackles and gashes the Miami front.
7. Q. Ollison. As unselfish a player on this team as there is. I mean the kid blocks like a guard, doesn't complain about his carries. Ran like a beast yesterday. Refused to be tackled. And him and Aston are back along with Hall and the rest. He finished off runs yesterday like a man possessed.
8. Your going to need DiNucci next year. I hope he doesn't transfer because while I love Pickett's enthusiasm and his willingness to hit he needs to learn to slide. Too valuable, but need a back up that's been there. I don't want to go into the season with Pickett and no one who has taken a snap. Critical that DiNucci stays.
9. I know we all have Paris Ford and Hamlin penciled in but I think the coaching stuff is going to have a very tough time keeping number 24 out of the lineup. From what I see he takes much better angles than Hamlin right now and is a surer tackler.
10. I thought a relatively clean game by the officiating crew. Don't know how the onside kick stayed in bounds frankly but the replay angle was terrible. They could have called a few holds on both teams but bottom line you really didn't feel that the crew had an impact on the game and that's what you want.
11. I look up at the UNC/VT games and frankly the Cuse and GT games as well and think what might have been but I also think if you schedule some cream puffs vs PSU/OKS your going to a bowl. next year is brutal with PSU/UCF and ND. Very very tough gig for this team but at least they will have a ton back. I think that schedule will hold the team back from a 10 wins but hey if Scott Frost leaves UCF and PSU is at home so there's that. My issue is back to back PSU then UCF.
12. I am 57 and come in from New York for the games. I love Heinz Field because of the ease of access for me and the fact that I can stay at a nice hotel and have options for post and pre game food and entertainment. I'm of the belief that if this team gets on a roll you can consistently average 50K in that stadium with the sellout for ND, PSU, WVU. I think 50K is the top end. So I understand the tarp or the smaller on campus stadium arguments I really do. It's not an easy question. I do know that in the days of Pitt Stadium it was brutal parking in Oakland.
13. Boy, I was really not impressed with the U OL. Thought they would be way way better. I mean I know our front 4 has been improving but they got abused by a DL that has been underwhelming all year. I'm wondering how they are going to handle the Clemson front.
14. The loss means that Miami has to beat Clemson. Had they won yesterday they could have lost to Clemson and had a shot at getting in. If Clemson loses tonight at South Carolina, a possibility, then the ACC might be shut out if Clemson beats Miami.
15. I know the crowd wasn't great yesterday in numbers but on TV you really heard them. I wish I was there but day after Thanksgiving is a tough one with family in from out of town. Me getting 3 hours to watch the game was a difficult task considering the glares I was getting from the family.
16. I know this may sound silly since the game progressed the way it did, but Kessman getting the FG and the early lead was huge.
17. Probably my last musings till the spring. But on those dark dreary cold February nights at least I can fire up that VCR and watch the Miami game all over again, that's a real good thing. Best to all during this Holiday Season.
Pitt82
