After watching the first 2 Pitt games, I am not too optimistic about our chances against Iowa. There are simply too many questions surrounding Pitt and on the road at night against Iowa is not the place to find answers.
1) According to Chris Peak, we will be using another starting offensive line combination against Iowa. Not Good; the offensive line has not had enough game experience to gel. Plain and simple. We could not run the ball inside consistently against Akron and even struggled inside run plays in camp.
2) The Quarterbacks. We don't know who will start, according to Narduzzi both are going to play but neither has looked overly impressive running or throwing. The read option QB runs have not been successful with either QB........ period. Chris Peak has a good breakdown of both Qb's throwing statistics. Peterman has been better downfield and able to hit more second and third throwing reads, completing first downs and moving the chains. In my opinion he must start and play the whole game. He should only come out if he struggles passing.
3) The running backs. No Conner, possibly no James; we are going with Ollison and Hall. They are what they are, young.
4) The play calling. I have really been surprised by Chaney. He seems to have a Pittpori approach. Literally lining up in as many formations as possible trying a bit of everything and hoping (maybe praying) something works. I know Narduzzi said that the exhibition season is over and I hope he means it. The ONLY WAY PITT WINS THIS GAME is with improved play calling. We all know that the questions Pitt has on offense but I believe Pitt can be successful if THE PLAY CALLING IMPROVES:
A) We ditch the read option and either run or throw. The read option has to stop it is NOT WORKING.
B) We use the throw to set up the run. I know this sounds crazy and given our lack of success in the air with either QB, but I really think it is the only way we can win.
C)faking inside hand off and either hitting our TE and RB in space away from the line of scrimmage. Which both narduzzi and chaney said they wanted to do from the beginning of the season.....gues what, it has worked
D)Moving the pocket on rollouts and hitting secondary WR's and TE's.
E) Faking inside handoffs and running outside including sweeps to the receivers, pitches and outside draws.
F)The best QB runs have been in man to man and the QB taking off once on one was open.
If Pitt thinks we are going to line up and run inside or be successful with Peterman running zone read we may not move the ball at all against Iowa. We WERE NOT successful doing either of these things against AKRON. It is hard to win offensively when you cannot win in the middle at the line of scrimmage but good play calling can spread the field and mediate this deficiency.
In writing this the post where I'm surprised to say there are not many questions is on DEFENSE. I think we will get burnt a couple time in island DB one on one WR coverage. The middle linebacker will be out of position and not make a lot of plays. Iowa's Qb/RB will have some success against; we will give up some points but after evaluating the offensive line, QB, RB and play calling QUESTION MARKS?????? I am REALLY concerned we may not be able to score or possess the ball at all against IOWA.
1) According to Chris Peak, we will be using another starting offensive line combination against Iowa. Not Good; the offensive line has not had enough game experience to gel. Plain and simple. We could not run the ball inside consistently against Akron and even struggled inside run plays in camp.
2) The Quarterbacks. We don't know who will start, according to Narduzzi both are going to play but neither has looked overly impressive running or throwing. The read option QB runs have not been successful with either QB........ period. Chris Peak has a good breakdown of both Qb's throwing statistics. Peterman has been better downfield and able to hit more second and third throwing reads, completing first downs and moving the chains. In my opinion he must start and play the whole game. He should only come out if he struggles passing.
3) The running backs. No Conner, possibly no James; we are going with Ollison and Hall. They are what they are, young.
4) The play calling. I have really been surprised by Chaney. He seems to have a Pittpori approach. Literally lining up in as many formations as possible trying a bit of everything and hoping (maybe praying) something works. I know Narduzzi said that the exhibition season is over and I hope he means it. The ONLY WAY PITT WINS THIS GAME is with improved play calling. We all know that the questions Pitt has on offense but I believe Pitt can be successful if THE PLAY CALLING IMPROVES:
A) We ditch the read option and either run or throw. The read option has to stop it is NOT WORKING.
B) We use the throw to set up the run. I know this sounds crazy and given our lack of success in the air with either QB, but I really think it is the only way we can win.
C)faking inside hand off and either hitting our TE and RB in space away from the line of scrimmage. Which both narduzzi and chaney said they wanted to do from the beginning of the season.....gues what, it has worked
D)Moving the pocket on rollouts and hitting secondary WR's and TE's.
E) Faking inside handoffs and running outside including sweeps to the receivers, pitches and outside draws.
F)The best QB runs have been in man to man and the QB taking off once on one was open.
If Pitt thinks we are going to line up and run inside or be successful with Peterman running zone read we may not move the ball at all against Iowa. We WERE NOT successful doing either of these things against AKRON. It is hard to win offensively when you cannot win in the middle at the line of scrimmage but good play calling can spread the field and mediate this deficiency.
In writing this the post where I'm surprised to say there are not many questions is on DEFENSE. I think we will get burnt a couple time in island DB one on one WR coverage. The middle linebacker will be out of position and not make a lot of plays. Iowa's Qb/RB will have some success against; we will give up some points but after evaluating the offensive line, QB, RB and play calling QUESTION MARKS?????? I am REALLY concerned we may not be able to score or possess the ball at all against IOWA.
