I would say we’re in the bottom 40% or less of all P4 programs in the talent department. Fortunately most of the other teams in our league are in essentially the same boat. Clemson, Miami, FSU being the only real exceptions. And yes I’m very intentionally leaving SMU and its group of top 25 program castoffs off of that short list.
Thoughts
- Thread starter TheWerewolfFromTwilight
- Start date
Regardless of the brand, or logo on the helmet, or recruiting rankings say, SMU is more talented than FSU.
Miami, Clemson, SMU, UNC, VaTech, and Louisville are the most talented teams in the ACC, imo.
hard to say this team is particularly talented. It was senior day and the kicker got the loudest ovation
UNC is perennially overrated in the talent area by posters on this board. They have more than Pitt and most of the ACC schools, but they’re no recruiting powerhouse. Only 2 classes under Mack have been in the top 25. And their results reflect their talent level.
VT hasn’t been top 35 in recruiting in many years. Louisville is about the same.
FSU has more talent than SMU and will have more and higher overall NFL draft picks than SMU. Just drastically inferior coaching.
Composite rankings under Brown are:
31
14
14
11
31
26
That's pretty good for the ACC. Pitt in that time is:
54
45
28
76
52
41
As for our overall talent, I was thinking today just how little of it we have on offense. I mean, I guess you can say we've made the best of it, but I don't think a single guy starts on an "All Narduzzi" Pitt offense... and it's not like we've been loaded with offensive talent in the Narduzzi era. And don't tell me Bartholomew.
On defense, I think there is something there. It might be tough to hold onto everyone, but that front seven could be pretty good these next few seasons.
On defense, I think there is something there. It might be tough to hold onto everyone, but that front seven could be pretty good these next few seasons.
That's exactly how I see the offense.
I mean, yeah, the penalties and that goal line fiasco was maddening, but I can't really fault the overall production.
Given the talent on hand, especially with what Pitt is actually putting on the field due to injuries, I think most OCs would give you something that more closely resembles what we saw last year rather than today's offensive performance.
First & foremost, Pitt has to get a lot better upfront.
I mean, yeah, the penalties and that goal line fiasco was maddening, but I can't really fault the overall production.
Given the talent on hand, especially with what Pitt is actually putting on the field due to injuries, I think most OCs would give you something that more closely resembles what we saw last year rather than today's offensive performance.
First & foremost, Pitt has to get a lot better upfront.
On 2 - Even in the wake of the loss I initially thought playing for the FG and trusting your D that had been amazing all half against an offense that was struggling with no timeouts seemed understandable, but I’m changing my stance on that. I feel like usually the defense has come up but in those spots, just can’t rely on it all the time.
The first down may have been tough to get, but given it was just 10 yards that probably would have won it, they should have been more aggressive there. And agree on their offense playing it different - losing the way they did was frustrating but it just as easily could have been one of those seam routes or a receiver breaking free that could’ve burned them too.
The first down may have been tough to get, but given it was just 10 yards that probably would have won it, they should have been more aggressive there. And agree on their offense playing it different - losing the way they did was frustrating but it just as easily could have been one of those seam routes or a receiver breaking free that could’ve burned them too.
The stats look good but they came in chunks and not always at the right time. We constantly would be 2nd down and 4 yards to go and yet punting on 4th down. We also inexplicably gave up running the ball inside the 25 yard line which killed drives and more than once put is in 4th and long and kicking from a mile away.
We had some great drives but like Virginia too often we sputtered out with no points because of unaware and clueless playcalling. I hope Bell is realizing the defenses on this level are not as prone to mistakes and choas the way they are at the FCS and you can't just run every play out shotgun and expect to maintain drives. If Pitt didn't have a pretty damn good defense we woould be getting blown out of the water every game like we did against SMU when they just couldnt handle what SMU was going for some reason.
You saying its absurd doesn't make it absurd. I'd be interested in why that's your opinion, maybe some facts or examples. Pitt has put enough solid to all pro like players in the NFL recenly to suggest there isn't this huge gap in talent compared to most teams in the college football let alone the conference that you suggest. They literally did win the conference 3 years ago so they must have at least had the talent to do it then.
What I meant is PSU definitely recruits higher than us and still can't win the big games. More often than not that's because of poor gameday coaching by Franklin and his staff.
Yet Nate had plenty of time to throw the ball on many of his drops. Often, so much time that he held the ball forever and took a sack.
I read a lot about how Clemson's lines were just going to dominate, and I didn't see it. The other teams have players too.
You're kidding me, right? Nate Yarnell was getting pounded like a rag doll. There was a play when Jackson Brown didn't even lay a finger on the defender and he hit Yarnell so hard I thought we might be seeing an ambulance. Our offensive line sucked ass and gave up 8 sacks. That's awful. If anything, he was lucky to barely get some balls away or it would have been a dozen sacks.
Also, I'm sure you know about Clemson's injury situation on their O-line. They had one starter playing in position: the center. That was their JV team up front. Dabo talked about how happy he was to get this win for that exact reason. I'm not saying we didn't also have injuries up front, but I am saying that both offensive lines sucked.
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What's Pitt's injury situation on the offensive line?
They dropped back over 60 times. Half those sacks were on Nate. And yes he did get hit a lot, but that's what happens when you drop back 60 times against a pretty good defense.
They dropped back over 60 times. Half those sacks were on Nate. And yes he did get hit a lot, but that's what happens when you drop back 60 times against a pretty good defense.
Branson Taylor and Jacoby. Not sure what was related to performance vs unavailability with some other guys. I don't recall seeing Enos, for example, though he might have played.
Cooper got hurt late in the game too. Then Minor proceeds to get a false start after he comes in.
Also Baer was moved from RT to LT. I know, not a huge deal but it matters. Look at Jones on the Steelers.
I was very happy with the time Nate had on many of his throws. It's not like he's a guy that's gonna evade much. He's basically a statue in the pocket.
Also Baer was moved from RT to LT. I know, not a huge deal but it matters. Look at Jones on the Steelers.
I was very happy with the time Nate had on many of his throws. It's not like he's a guy that's gonna evade much. He's basically a statue in the pocket.
Yes and have their best player in the game on 2nd and 3rd down. Why are we running Derrick Davis up the middle on 2nd down?
And I thought Nate started slow and got a lot better as the game went on.
Biggest problem for me was the play calling and always being late in the clock. Way too many times.
Biggest problem for me was the play calling and always being late in the clock. Way too many times.
It sounded like the approach got more conservative after 2nd and 9 turned into 2nd and 14. Maybe they thought they could make it a more manageable third down attempt by carving some space? I don’t know. Still would’ve tried something different. The risk, aside from throwing being a bit more risky itself, is that Clemson ends up with an extra timeout or two, whatever. You can still kick the field goal to take the lead. And go figure Clemson didn’t need any of those timeouts anyway.
If these were normal times in college football, Lashlee would already be having secret meetings with LSU about their job. But with all the money tied up in NIL, and the upcoming settlement, coaches won't change like dirty socks now. I think Lashlee is the real deal as a coach.
