The picture that defines Pitt passing game....(a picture is worth 1000 words)
- Thread starter cpc247
- Start date
Actually pickett looking at his wrist band on the sideline while the play clock shows 5 and narduzzi running the sideline towards ref to call timeout
Yeah, those unis really helped us last night. I really wish people would quit talking about script, uniforms, throwbacks and on-campus stadiums. None of any of that matters. We don't have the players and coaches.
I don't think you can put the passing game blame on any single component - there are multiple bad ingredients.
1. Kenny Pickett isn't very good. We can say it. He can't read defenses, if the first option isn't there he's tucking it and running. He has a weak arm. He isn't good throwing it on the run.
2. The offensive line is putrid in pass protection. As good as they can be in run blocking at times, they can be that bad in pass protection. What makes this issue worse is that Pickett is not a good QB. When you have a line that can't pass protect, you call plays to negate it - quick short/moderate passing game, bootlegs, etc. See reason #1^ Pickett is inaccurate and can't throw on the run = sacks and interceptions.
3. Coaching. The combination of Watson and Narduzzi contributes to the most ineffective passing game in the country. Let's be honest, Narduzzi doesn't have any knowledge of offensive strategy/playcalling - it is what it is, he hangs his hat on his defensive background. As a result, he delegates the offense completely to his OC. Watson is not capable of out-scheming teams with similar or better talent. Matt Canada remedied this situation because of his knowledge of that side of the ball. Outside of Matt Canada, Narduzzi has not been able to identify an OC capable of running the offense on their own.
1. Kenny Pickett isn't very good. We can say it. He can't read defenses, if the first option isn't there he's tucking it and running. He has a weak arm. He isn't good throwing it on the run.
2. The offensive line is putrid in pass protection. As good as they can be in run blocking at times, they can be that bad in pass protection. What makes this issue worse is that Pickett is not a good QB. When you have a line that can't pass protect, you call plays to negate it - quick short/moderate passing game, bootlegs, etc. See reason #1^ Pickett is inaccurate and can't throw on the run = sacks and interceptions.
3. Coaching. The combination of Watson and Narduzzi contributes to the most ineffective passing game in the country. Let's be honest, Narduzzi doesn't have any knowledge of offensive strategy/playcalling - it is what it is, he hangs his hat on his defensive background. As a result, he delegates the offense completely to his OC. Watson is not capable of out-scheming teams with similar or better talent. Matt Canada remedied this situation because of his knowledge of that side of the ball. Outside of Matt Canada, Narduzzi has not been able to identify an OC capable of running the offense on their own.
I do like the darker blue jerseys but they are darker because they are soaken wet from the rain and not due to a night game.
The 2 jackets I had on at the game were also 3 shades darker from the rain.
Fight the Power
NGF
you need the Old Gold helmets again. These are yellow
Disagree Mack is a pretty solid WR and Ffrench has become a pretty good WR and has game breaking type of speed. Carter right now is a jet sweep type with great speed, but could become a weapon in the passing game. TE yes your right there is no talent. Problem isn't the WR its the guy throwing the ball and the OL blocking for the guy throwing the ball. Picket isn't good at all and he doesn't even do the things like get in and out of the huddle well.
Things won't be changing anytime soon. Duzz always-always says this is Pittsburgh. We run the ball. Not sure what that means. As a so-called defensive guru, you'd think he'd want an offense that is hard to scheme against - you know - like today's college offenses. If he actually looks at the tape he always promises he'll do, then you'd think he'd see an offense he could rather easily defend as a defensive guru coordinator. It was nice running for gobs of yards the 2nd half of the season that is until we ran into a couple staunch D lines. We had no answer for that.
Do we ever send a TE out in a pass pattern. I though they we just another lineman for blocking.
The best offenses run the ball well. Take a look at The four playoff teams in fact they don’t chuck the ball all over the field
Duzz has said many times thay you need balance. I’m not sure where people get this stuff that he prefers 3 yards in a cloud of dust. After all he did hire Canada and let him run the offense. His mistake was hiring Watson Gotta hope he realizes Watson is a huge problem and fixed it.
Matt Canada had a lot more talent to work with at Pitt than Watson has at his disposal. It's not even close.
National TV game and PITT does what they do. I didn't expect PITT to win barring a miracle but to lose the way the team did was ridiculous. 8 freakin yards passing in this day and age of college ball. Penalties out the wazoo, the announcers were laughing about this team on national TV. Can't make excuse for that stuff.
I would agree with everything here except the part where you say “Pickett isn’t good AT ALL.”
Yes, he was atrocious in the Clemson game and the Miami and PSU game and he was bad for much of the ND and UCF game too.
Yes, he can be inconsistent with his throws and make his fair share of bad decisions when under pressure
Yes, he has a very slow release (which allows more time for a DLinemen to get their hands up and and knock down passes or for a DB to break on the ball).
Yes, he’s had a number of receivers he didn’t see who were wide open.
Yes, he only has one game with more than 200 yards passing.
Yes, he can’t seem to play well when the field is wet.
And yes, he takes too long getting in and out of huddles at times.
But just to be fair...
Pickett has shown he can play like a winner when the field is dry AND he has good pass protection AND the playcalling sets him up with enough options for success.
He has thrown the ball well at times and can be a threat with his feet when the field is dry... and he is quite good at faking handoffs.
He needs to work on seeing the field better and becoming more consistently accurate. He needs to learn to make smarter quick decisions when he has pressure. He also needs to learn to read defensess better and audible when he sees something he doesn’t like.
Does he possss the confidence and poise that’s required to be a good QB? Yes.
Can he get better in the areas where he struggles? Yes.
Am I convinced he will? No.
That is why Pitt desperately needs another legit ACC level QB on the roster to push him.
I disagree about the receivers lacking talent. There is a lot of talk about them not getting separation, but I see a lot of games where the receivers don’t get wide open. Yet, they catch the ball in tight coverage because the QB gets it to them. Pickett won’t throw unless the receiver is open by 5 yards or unless he has to get rid of the ball.
PITT can't trust the pass game because the OL can't pass block a D line of grandma's.
They get trashed forcing the QB to run for cover.
We could have one of the best college QB's and they would have no stats to speak of.
PITT hasn't had a good OL in about four years.
"it's five o'clock somewhere"
Signed: Mr Buffett
Go PITT & CSU Rams!
They get trashed forcing the QB to run for cover.
We could have one of the best college QB's and they would have no stats to speak of.
PITT hasn't had a good OL in about four years.
"it's five o'clock somewhere"
Signed: Mr Buffett
Go PITT & CSU Rams!
Great post I’d add he needs to learn to stop staring down receivers and check down to second and third options
Thanks. Yes... he does that too.
I guess you could say your observation is the reason “He’s had a number of receivers he didn’t see who were wide open.” One might argue he doesn’t always have enough time, but the truth is it happens even on plays where he has great pass protection. Though, I think we all would agree that the OL and the playcalling haven’t made it easier for him to succeed during the past few games.
Honestly, I do see some qualities in Kenny that are important for your starting QB to have and I would love it if he could just take his passing game to the next level. I would also love to know the Pitt coaches have a legit QB ready to go in case he can’t.
The thought that we might be hearing PN and Pitt fans making the comment, “He gives the team the best chance to win” next year about another Pitt QB who can’t throw the ball accurately downfield (leaving the team one dimensional again)- just because the coaches didn’t land or develop a QB capable of stepping in and preforming well at any moment next year- makes me a little nauseous.
I agree Watson is THE problem with this team... and we aren't anything close to balanced on offense.
I actually don’t think his arm strength is an issue. Like you said though, he’s really bad at reading defenses. And tbh most of this season he became hesitant to tuck and run. Sometimes he had no time too but sometimes he was hanging onto the ball way too long. Seems he won’t attempt a pass most times unless the receiver is wide open.
I disagree wholeheartedly about Pickett reading defenses. He actually in my opinion does this well. Where he fails is having confidence in his protection which is partially not his fault. If we ran more pass friendly patterns (think slot receiver slants, tight end curls, etc...) that relied more on shorter drop backs then I think he would have more success. One thing our receivers need to improve upon is getting separation off of the line. But there is no doubt pickett had really bad happy feet by the end of the year. That has got to change
I definitely think that would help him have more success. Idk though, he seems to just not see an awfully lot of open receivers. The play where he got ollison killed on Saturday was one of the biggest head scratchers I’ve ever seen.
No I hear you on that play. I would argue that is him having happy feet from taking a beating every time he dropped back. I think he is risk aversive and having him under center do play action hurt his passing. I think where picketts abilities would excel would be out of the diamond formation we occassionally ran. Having wrs in motion with multiple backs (ollison and hall) in the backfield at once running option plays/read option plays/quick hitting slant passes/wr shovel passes to guys in motion would be to picketts strength in my opinion
And obviously not having roll to the left to throw would help him too, no idea why we keep doing that. Regardless I think we both agree the kid’s not terrible, a lot of factors into saturday’s Poor performance. I think Watson is the biggest problem, then the line, then probably Pickett holding onto the ball too long.
I just hear a lot about his arm strength and I don’t think that’s the issue. He made quite a few really nice passes on deep throws this season.
Agree. Arm strength is just fine. Look at wake forest game and you see some really nice zip on the pass
I just dont see KP going through progressions on the field. He almost always locks on to one guy and never looks to go to second or third options. IMO that is the biggest issue and I cant help but think that is coaching.
I think Duzz was mostly right though. The issue with the passing game is on everyones shoulders. KP for sure but I saw WRs running down field without even looking back.......How the hell does the QB throw the ball to you when your not even looking....Also I think the play calling leaves a lot to be desired. We rarely if ever use Play action on early downs to keep the D off balance. We dont have dump offs over the middle to guys like Ffrench and Carter. And while our TEs are not world beaters they are never targeted. Aston was used far more in the passing game with Canada than Watson uses him
I think Duzz was mostly right though. The issue with the passing game is on everyones shoulders. KP for sure but I saw WRs running down field without even looking back.......How the hell does the QB throw the ball to you when your not even looking....Also I think the play calling leaves a lot to be desired. We rarely if ever use Play action on early downs to keep the D off balance. We dont have dump offs over the middle to guys like Ffrench and Carter. And while our TEs are not world beaters they are never targeted. Aston was used far more in the passing game with Canada than Watson uses him
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