On the defense:
- Narduzzi's defense is designed to put the CBs on islands and bring the heat. This is why Narduzzi's defenses will likely always be near the top of college football in sacks (and Pitt is)... but also give up big plays - especially until we get the types of CBs that Narduzzi wants. After the half, Pitt made adjustments to free up the pass rush - more stunts, more zone blitzes.... and it showed. OSU had 31 points and 467 yards in the first half... but only 14 points and less than half that many yards in the second half. Pitt also scored a TD on a sack.
On the offense:
- The offense only scored 31 points, not 38 as so many keep saying. The defense scored 7. And 31 points in today's college football ... especially against a Big 12 team.... is not enough. It is average. That's just the nature of today's game. A team in the Big 12 that averages 31 points will lose most of their games. Every team plays fast and wants to win a track meet. They also get 80+ plays per game, so their stats will be outlandish. Pitt wants a 60-play game in which they gain 200+ on the ground. That will work in November in Heinz Field.... but not on artificial turf in September against a run-and-gun offense.
The Coaching:
- It is obvious that Matt Canada and Pat Narduzzi have zero confidence in any receiver not named Quadree Henderson. It is also obvious they have no confidence in Nate Peterman to put the game in his hands. I think Canada wants to do much more with the offense, but simply doesn't have the personnel. Another year of Tyler Boyd would've made all the difference in the world.
Future games:
- Teams with dynamic QBs and receivers will toast us. Pitt will have very little chance to beat either Clemson or Miami on the road. But the REST of the schedule does not have teams like that... and the defense will be able to hold its own. Pitt can beat every team on the schedule except at Clemson and at Miami, if they protect the ball and play the way they have the past two weeks. 9-3/6-2 is the high-water mark this year.... and 7-5/4-4 is the low end.
- Narduzzi's defense is designed to put the CBs on islands and bring the heat. This is why Narduzzi's defenses will likely always be near the top of college football in sacks (and Pitt is)... but also give up big plays - especially until we get the types of CBs that Narduzzi wants. After the half, Pitt made adjustments to free up the pass rush - more stunts, more zone blitzes.... and it showed. OSU had 31 points and 467 yards in the first half... but only 14 points and less than half that many yards in the second half. Pitt also scored a TD on a sack.
On the offense:
- The offense only scored 31 points, not 38 as so many keep saying. The defense scored 7. And 31 points in today's college football ... especially against a Big 12 team.... is not enough. It is average. That's just the nature of today's game. A team in the Big 12 that averages 31 points will lose most of their games. Every team plays fast and wants to win a track meet. They also get 80+ plays per game, so their stats will be outlandish. Pitt wants a 60-play game in which they gain 200+ on the ground. That will work in November in Heinz Field.... but not on artificial turf in September against a run-and-gun offense.
The Coaching:
- It is obvious that Matt Canada and Pat Narduzzi have zero confidence in any receiver not named Quadree Henderson. It is also obvious they have no confidence in Nate Peterman to put the game in his hands. I think Canada wants to do much more with the offense, but simply doesn't have the personnel. Another year of Tyler Boyd would've made all the difference in the world.
Future games:
- Teams with dynamic QBs and receivers will toast us. Pitt will have very little chance to beat either Clemson or Miami on the road. But the REST of the schedule does not have teams like that... and the defense will be able to hold its own. Pitt can beat every team on the schedule except at Clemson and at Miami, if they protect the ball and play the way they have the past two weeks. 9-3/6-2 is the high-water mark this year.... and 7-5/4-4 is the low end.
