One of the really great things that happens when you travel to away games is you always run into folks you haven't seen in forever and at Duke I ran into a bunch of old friends . A great time to share laughs, drinks, share memories form Pitt and watch the Panthers:
1. Got in Friday night and tried to watch the hockey match in Japan but obviously our attention was diverted to goings on in Paris. Prayers and thoughts are with those people and I just shake my head at the senseless loss of life.
2. Look at the box score and tell me about Coach Chaney. Look at how many touches different players had and look at how he attacked Duke. Very impressive. Boyd in the backfield with another RB, reverses of that formation to #10. Deep ins to Holtz. Getting someone else besides #23 involved. #80 with great catches. Thought the O was diverse, was multiple and unpredictable. But the base is always the power runs of Ollison. Really loved the game he called.
3. Play of the game was the batted down fake FG in the end zone but I'm still scratching my head as to why you even attempt that. Either kick the FG or go for it but a fake off that formation is a weird call. The way Duke was running the ball from the 1 I take my chances with my offense.
4. So I sat next to a Pitt fan who was never happy with anything on defense. You'd think we'd gotten gashed the way he was screaming. At one point I turned to him and said you do realize that Duke has 13 pts that's. it. It's always about Points Allowed for the D.
5. Boy we played a ton of folks on D. Ditino and Moody along with Fulsom on the DL rotated a bunch. Mitchell played a bunch as well. Kudos to the staff who essentially didn't have 2 DT yet managed to shut down Duke albeit without their starting QB.
6. I get the distinct sense that Boyd couldn't care less if he catches nothing as long as we win. The way he went up to Challingsworth and Holtz after their TD's and hugged them was all you need to know.
7. How nice is it to have a reliable FG kicker and a punter whose hang time was outstanding? Blewit's kick was huge at the end of the half.
8. UNC is really being devalued. I believe they will win out and beat Clemson. Getting no respect.
9. Saw Chaney and Coach Duzz celebrating on the sideline. It was also very nice to see. Thought there might be tension between the two but it all seems good.
10. I get the distinct impression that Coach Narduzzi has really given maximum flexibility to his assistants to run their schemes. I don't see him meddling or going into a shell. Late in the game with an 18 pt lead we are still playing aggressive on Defense gotta love it. He's really transitioned to the HC position very well.
11. Justin Moody on zone blitz essentially dropped a pick six right in his hands. Great execution on the blitz too. But DL's don't get those opportunities a lot.
12. This Pitt team has a chance to win 9 to 10 games without Conner, his backup, the starting LT. I mean is this a coaching job or what? And let's be clear, this D is not super talented. The LB"s are just ok and the DL needs pass rushers and there's not a ton of options on Offense aside from Boyd and yet this team is doing it. The difference in coaching is so evident.
13. Next time you watch Pitt O'line watch O'Neill (#70) carefully and you'll see why the staff is so high on him. I mean his feet are great and his arm extensions are really NFL like. Needs to really drive block better but he's going to be very good.
14. I thought Jordan Whitehead was really special. While he's got an extra gear and can be a force on Offense I'm really wondering if it's wise to do that because he's SO good on D. I counted 4 times where he made tackles where he was last line of defense. And he doesn't just make tackles he brings it. The interception was a classic bait of the QB. I know last week i was all in on the snaps on offense but I'm wondering.
15. So what do you do with Iowa if they win out? or ND? I'm thinking they might have some real chaos. And what about OK State? Then if Fla beats Bama all hell is going to break out.
16. Coaching searches around the country is going to be wild. Think about how many P5 jobs are available. Wow
17. The Duke fans like the GT fans were remarkably cordial and friendly. Really nice atmosphere. Love it when you can watch a game away and not be bombarded by drunken knuckleheads.
18. I think Miami is mailing it in. Just weird what's happened there. Don't get it. UL still has fight so I think of the two remaining games UL is going to be the tougher one. I really hope we have a good showing to help this team get to 9 wins.
19. At drinks after the game, a bunch of guys were saying how they would talk Boyd and Conner into staying and I smiled. Gotta love fans but 99% they are both gone but it's kinda nice to dream of having them both. Could easily be top 15 pre season..
Pitt82
1. Got in Friday night and tried to watch the hockey match in Japan but obviously our attention was diverted to goings on in Paris. Prayers and thoughts are with those people and I just shake my head at the senseless loss of life.
2. Look at the box score and tell me about Coach Chaney. Look at how many touches different players had and look at how he attacked Duke. Very impressive. Boyd in the backfield with another RB, reverses of that formation to #10. Deep ins to Holtz. Getting someone else besides #23 involved. #80 with great catches. Thought the O was diverse, was multiple and unpredictable. But the base is always the power runs of Ollison. Really loved the game he called.
3. Play of the game was the batted down fake FG in the end zone but I'm still scratching my head as to why you even attempt that. Either kick the FG or go for it but a fake off that formation is a weird call. The way Duke was running the ball from the 1 I take my chances with my offense.
4. So I sat next to a Pitt fan who was never happy with anything on defense. You'd think we'd gotten gashed the way he was screaming. At one point I turned to him and said you do realize that Duke has 13 pts that's. it. It's always about Points Allowed for the D.
5. Boy we played a ton of folks on D. Ditino and Moody along with Fulsom on the DL rotated a bunch. Mitchell played a bunch as well. Kudos to the staff who essentially didn't have 2 DT yet managed to shut down Duke albeit without their starting QB.
6. I get the distinct sense that Boyd couldn't care less if he catches nothing as long as we win. The way he went up to Challingsworth and Holtz after their TD's and hugged them was all you need to know.
7. How nice is it to have a reliable FG kicker and a punter whose hang time was outstanding? Blewit's kick was huge at the end of the half.
8. UNC is really being devalued. I believe they will win out and beat Clemson. Getting no respect.
9. Saw Chaney and Coach Duzz celebrating on the sideline. It was also very nice to see. Thought there might be tension between the two but it all seems good.
10. I get the distinct impression that Coach Narduzzi has really given maximum flexibility to his assistants to run their schemes. I don't see him meddling or going into a shell. Late in the game with an 18 pt lead we are still playing aggressive on Defense gotta love it. He's really transitioned to the HC position very well.
11. Justin Moody on zone blitz essentially dropped a pick six right in his hands. Great execution on the blitz too. But DL's don't get those opportunities a lot.
12. This Pitt team has a chance to win 9 to 10 games without Conner, his backup, the starting LT. I mean is this a coaching job or what? And let's be clear, this D is not super talented. The LB"s are just ok and the DL needs pass rushers and there's not a ton of options on Offense aside from Boyd and yet this team is doing it. The difference in coaching is so evident.
13. Next time you watch Pitt O'line watch O'Neill (#70) carefully and you'll see why the staff is so high on him. I mean his feet are great and his arm extensions are really NFL like. Needs to really drive block better but he's going to be very good.
14. I thought Jordan Whitehead was really special. While he's got an extra gear and can be a force on Offense I'm really wondering if it's wise to do that because he's SO good on D. I counted 4 times where he made tackles where he was last line of defense. And he doesn't just make tackles he brings it. The interception was a classic bait of the QB. I know last week i was all in on the snaps on offense but I'm wondering.
15. So what do you do with Iowa if they win out? or ND? I'm thinking they might have some real chaos. And what about OK State? Then if Fla beats Bama all hell is going to break out.
16. Coaching searches around the country is going to be wild. Think about how many P5 jobs are available. Wow
17. The Duke fans like the GT fans were remarkably cordial and friendly. Really nice atmosphere. Love it when you can watch a game away and not be bombarded by drunken knuckleheads.
18. I think Miami is mailing it in. Just weird what's happened there. Don't get it. UL still has fight so I think of the two remaining games UL is going to be the tougher one. I really hope we have a good showing to help this team get to 9 wins.
19. At drinks after the game, a bunch of guys were saying how they would talk Boyd and Conner into staying and I smiled. Gotta love fans but 99% they are both gone but it's kinda nice to dream of having them both. Could easily be top 15 pre season..
Pitt82
