It is missing a second round RT, an NFL RG, and a Rimmington Award watch list player at C.
I don't think ONeil has been horrible. In fact he reminds me a lot of Clemmings in pass protection... He is just SOoOoO inexperienced he doesn't realize when the defense is setting him up yet. He hasn't seen all the tricks... midway through the year I expect him to be a different player.
Officer has been really good in pass protection, he really stood out to me last night multiple times in picking up blitzes and helping the right guy.. But the whole right side has been really poor in getting run yards which was the biggest strength in 2014. Officer and ONeil just aren't moving the opposition like the Seniors last year.
Where I see a HUGE difference is run blocking at Center. It is atrocious. Pitt ran a play twice, once to each side of the line, where Rowell pulled and was to be the lead blocker. Both times Rowell got so deep the running back literally had to run backwards to follow him. Both plays for a huge loss. But that wasn't all. I saw Rowell multiple times try and cut guys and completely wiff... While Officer could turn or hold a big defensive tackle by himself, Rowell just can not do it. It is why Pitt isn't springing any big runs ... That and the lack of patience running the ball...
Hall is not doing very well following his blocks when they are there either. On the drive in the first half in the red zone there was an off tackle run to the left side Hall took and went right in over the A gap... If he had just followed his block I thought Bisnowaty and the lead blockers had the entire side sealed off for a touchdown. It is a play Connor has scored probably 10 touchdowns on for Pitt... God I miss him.
I realize this post is a bit negative so I want to say I thought there was a TON of good stuff last night for Pitt overall. This team will be a very tough opponent for every team on the schedule and I am really starting to believe in a special 2016.
TLDR: Pitt would be better with Officer at Center and Rowell on the bench...
I don't think ONeil has been horrible. In fact he reminds me a lot of Clemmings in pass protection... He is just SOoOoO inexperienced he doesn't realize when the defense is setting him up yet. He hasn't seen all the tricks... midway through the year I expect him to be a different player.
Officer has been really good in pass protection, he really stood out to me last night multiple times in picking up blitzes and helping the right guy.. But the whole right side has been really poor in getting run yards which was the biggest strength in 2014. Officer and ONeil just aren't moving the opposition like the Seniors last year.
Where I see a HUGE difference is run blocking at Center. It is atrocious. Pitt ran a play twice, once to each side of the line, where Rowell pulled and was to be the lead blocker. Both times Rowell got so deep the running back literally had to run backwards to follow him. Both plays for a huge loss. But that wasn't all. I saw Rowell multiple times try and cut guys and completely wiff... While Officer could turn or hold a big defensive tackle by himself, Rowell just can not do it. It is why Pitt isn't springing any big runs ... That and the lack of patience running the ball...
Hall is not doing very well following his blocks when they are there either. On the drive in the first half in the red zone there was an off tackle run to the left side Hall took and went right in over the A gap... If he had just followed his block I thought Bisnowaty and the lead blockers had the entire side sealed off for a touchdown. It is a play Connor has scored probably 10 touchdowns on for Pitt... God I miss him.
I realize this post is a bit negative so I want to say I thought there was a TON of good stuff last night for Pitt overall. This team will be a very tough opponent for every team on the schedule and I am really starting to believe in a special 2016.
TLDR: Pitt would be better with Officer at Center and Rowell on the bench...
