After Syracuse...the home stretch

After a week off, the Panthers took a full 30 minutes to realize they were back on the field Saturday against a depleted Orangeman squad. Special teams play, if one can call it that, threatened to keep the Orangemen in the game. Muffed punts, horrendous decisions on kick-off returns and general ineptitude made the first half way too uncomfortable. The best coverage of the first half was undoubtedly provided by Coach Wanney, who was seen stalking several players from the special teams as they came off the field.

As we approach the home stretch, several areas of concern remain.

Defensive End wide-out theory. Teams continue to have success running straight up the gut of the Pitt defense. I can't help but think this is due to ends Sheard and Romeus lining up a good fifteen yards from the offenses center. Pitt's ends seem to be in "sack mode" on every snap. Subsequently Pitt's defensive line in reality consists of two defensive line man. Sheard and Romeus are lined up so wide, the burden of stuffing the run falls squarely on Pitt's interior linebackers in the second level. As noted in the first quarter, this can result in 60 yard runs if the linebackers are successfully blocked.

Lewis and Baldwin. It also seemed as though Pitt intentionally avoided using their two best playmakers in the first half. Lewis had very few touches in the first half and Jonathan Baldwin was thrown to only once. Get your best players the ball.

Tramp on the opponents neck. Perhaps it's the pro mentality of the Coach, but Pitt tends to take it's foot off the gas as soon as they get a lead. This is college football guys. The way the system works, you've got to run up the score on opponents you're expected to beat to keep the pollsters on your side.

All things considered however, it's obvious that better recruiting has upgraded Pitt's talent level to the point that this program finally is back to a potential BCS bowl bid on a more consistent basis however.

Now, for the homestretch.