Why Style Of Play Matters:
Its an argument that has been had on this board many a time in the past half decade. Every time pitt has had a search for a new OC, there is always the debate of air raid, vs pro style, vs whatever other combination there is that exists. Then there are those that argue balance is what matters regardless of what it looks like, and there is some truth to that.
But yesterday's slate of games, as well as Pitt being a case study last year and this year, prove that style of play matters.
Its largely about close games and margin for error. If you are going to be a run focused ball control offense, you have very little margin for error, regardless of your talent level. Look at Georgia yesterday. They play a style of football that is conducive to closer games. Its a style that limits possessions for both teams and more often than not lacks explosive plays in the pass game. Its a style that pitt has had forever but especially last year. But when you limit possessions, any mistake is amplified. Georgia had several mistakes on offense yesterday that they couldn't overcome. The same goes for Iowa, the same has gone for Michigan for Harbaugh's tenure there, the same has gone for Miami.
On the flip side, take Oklahoma. Against better competition, OU made several mistakes as well, turning the ball over and hurting themselves repeatedly. The difference was they play a style that maximizes their possessions and is conducive to more explosive plays. They generally have far more margin for error and they were able to overcome those mistakes.
Look at LSU. That game last night was a game LSU absolutely loses in year's prior. But their change in offensive philosophy has turned them from a uber talented team with a self-imposed ceiling into a national title contender.
I am not saying that controlling the clock is invaluable and im not saying that running the ball is unimportant. What i am saying is, if you do not have the ability to open things up with tempo and an explosive passing game, you impose upon yourself to be mistake free and frankly put a cap on what your team can accomplish. And style of play absolutely plays a part in that.
Whipple and Pitt's Future:
Along these same lines, despite the struggles this Pitt offense has had this year, Pitt's new style of play has undoubtedly correlated to late game wins/competitiveness.
If pitt has last year's offense late in games this year, they lose to Duke and UCF, and they more than likely are not in a position to tie/win against PSU. In all three of those games, Pitt needed explosive plays through the air and a level of comfort in an uptempo offense that they simply haven't had. (Outside of '16). And those are games where pitt made critical mistakes. Hundreds of yards in penalties, turnovers, special teams issues. Their margin for error is bigger than what it was.
There is no doubt that Pitt's offense has warts. They need to find a way to run with some more efficiency. They need more explosive skill players. And Whipple has had questionable/bad calls (every oc does lets not kid ourselves). But the change to Whipple and this style of offense has raised Pitt's ceiling in my opinion.
I genuinely believe that if Borbely can get the OL playing even just a little bit better in the run game and you add some guys with some more pop to the skill group, this offense and subsequently the team/program will take off. And Im not really a fan of Narduzzi, but he did have the foresight to know that an identity change like this needed to be made, so i give him a lot of credit for that. It was a total identity overhaul and you rarely see a head coach willing to make changes so drastic.
Its an argument that has been had on this board many a time in the past half decade. Every time pitt has had a search for a new OC, there is always the debate of air raid, vs pro style, vs whatever other combination there is that exists. Then there are those that argue balance is what matters regardless of what it looks like, and there is some truth to that.
But yesterday's slate of games, as well as Pitt being a case study last year and this year, prove that style of play matters.
Its largely about close games and margin for error. If you are going to be a run focused ball control offense, you have very little margin for error, regardless of your talent level. Look at Georgia yesterday. They play a style of football that is conducive to closer games. Its a style that limits possessions for both teams and more often than not lacks explosive plays in the pass game. Its a style that pitt has had forever but especially last year. But when you limit possessions, any mistake is amplified. Georgia had several mistakes on offense yesterday that they couldn't overcome. The same goes for Iowa, the same has gone for Michigan for Harbaugh's tenure there, the same has gone for Miami.
On the flip side, take Oklahoma. Against better competition, OU made several mistakes as well, turning the ball over and hurting themselves repeatedly. The difference was they play a style that maximizes their possessions and is conducive to more explosive plays. They generally have far more margin for error and they were able to overcome those mistakes.
Look at LSU. That game last night was a game LSU absolutely loses in year's prior. But their change in offensive philosophy has turned them from a uber talented team with a self-imposed ceiling into a national title contender.
I am not saying that controlling the clock is invaluable and im not saying that running the ball is unimportant. What i am saying is, if you do not have the ability to open things up with tempo and an explosive passing game, you impose upon yourself to be mistake free and frankly put a cap on what your team can accomplish. And style of play absolutely plays a part in that.
Whipple and Pitt's Future:
Along these same lines, despite the struggles this Pitt offense has had this year, Pitt's new style of play has undoubtedly correlated to late game wins/competitiveness.
If pitt has last year's offense late in games this year, they lose to Duke and UCF, and they more than likely are not in a position to tie/win against PSU. In all three of those games, Pitt needed explosive plays through the air and a level of comfort in an uptempo offense that they simply haven't had. (Outside of '16). And those are games where pitt made critical mistakes. Hundreds of yards in penalties, turnovers, special teams issues. Their margin for error is bigger than what it was.
There is no doubt that Pitt's offense has warts. They need to find a way to run with some more efficiency. They need more explosive skill players. And Whipple has had questionable/bad calls (every oc does lets not kid ourselves). But the change to Whipple and this style of offense has raised Pitt's ceiling in my opinion.
I genuinely believe that if Borbely can get the OL playing even just a little bit better in the run game and you add some guys with some more pop to the skill group, this offense and subsequently the team/program will take off. And Im not really a fan of Narduzzi, but he did have the foresight to know that an identity change like this needed to be made, so i give him a lot of credit for that. It was a total identity overhaul and you rarely see a head coach willing to make changes so drastic.
