I decided to rewatch the game since others have. I charted every pass play like Nate did, accept I looked at more specific things in each play, than just the outcome of the play. I'm not going to write them all down, rather sum it up in different parts.
I rewatched the game for another reason. After reading so many posts their were some people that had totally opposite views of the how they saw the offense unfold and reasons for it. Also of course many varying views on the coaching, play calling, execution, etc...
I am going to be totally fair in what I saw that was totally clear as day. I am not doing this looking for a reason just to point blame at the coaching, execution, players, etc... But good, bad, indifferent my opinion will be fair.
Also I was only able to watch until 2:20 left in the 3rd Qtr, because my recording cut out due to the timing with the weather delay. But it was still enough too see too have a fair opinion.
1. Blitz Pick Up
It wasn't all the RBs that did a bad job in the blitz pick up, it was mostly Slade. As others have pointed out he was horrible at trying to pick up the blitz. Theirs no need to go into detail it was just bad. But into the 2nd Qtr and 3rd Qtr, I did not see the RBs as the problem with Pitts pass rush. Basically once Slade was out, the RBs did not do a horrible job with the blitz pick up. But the Oline was a problem.
2. O-LINE
I am definitely concerned about the Oline. This is not some over emotional response, but they need to figure things out and be better prepared. They were not over matched physically and did not get pushed around. But they were pretty poor at picking up different rushers, it wasn't just the blitz. Several times when Pitt rushed with stunts, twists, dropping a DE into coverage and sending an LB, etc.... PSUs Oline was confused and late in picking up whatever rusher broke free on a stunt or LB that rushed when a DE dropped in coverage. They were not prepared for it, and it happened several times. If Pitt does a simple 4 man straight up rush, than PSUs Oline looks fine. Even if it's a straight up rush with a LB blitzing, if they know where the LB is coming from, even than the Oline does OK as long as it's not Slade picking up the blitzing LB. But when Pitt mixed up their pass rush just a bit, too many times PSUs Oline was confused and not prepared.
Here is why I say this and what I saw from many of Pitts pass rushes on some different plays
- 4 man rush - DL stunt - Slade and Thorpe both let the DL on the twist run by them and block no one.
-5 man rush with a DL stunt and LB blitz. Brown picks up LB, but DL stunt confuses the Oline, and the Dlineman from the stunt breaks free sacks Clifford.
- Than another time its the opposite. Another 5 man rush with a DL stunt and LB blitz. The Oline does a good job picking up the Dlinman twisting from the stunt, but no one picks up the LB blitz. Clifford sack.
- 4 man rush. Pitt drops one DE, and sends the LB instead. Confuses PSUs Oline. 2 of PSUs Olineman are double teaming a Dlineman and Gonzo is late trying to get a block on the LB. Clifford has to rush the pass - incomplete.
I've seen this ^ quite a few times in different games. The Oline will double a Dlineman, while another rusher or LB runs free to the QB.
- This was actually a completion, but came very close to a sack. This is the play when Clifford eluded the pressure and hit Cam Sully - Brown near the sideline for a 1st down. It was a 5 man rush. The Oline doubled a Dlineman leaving a free LB to come in clean at Clifford.
I know no Oline is going to have a perfect game and gets beat at times, but this happened way too much against Pitt. Limegrover and the Oline have to be better prepared.
3. Deep Balls and Passing Game
Some people are saying Clifford didn't have to throw the deep ball so much he chose too, but did have check downs and WRs running shorter routes. Clifford did choose to throw the deep ball, and they weren't all bad decisions, but some bad passes. However, it is not true that he had check downs and options to throw short on the deep balls. On every deep ball I saw I did not see a WR/TE/RB running a route under 10 yards. On every deep ball the other options were all running routes 10 yards or more. This is not to say they didn't have a short passing game, but on the deep balls thrown their were no short routes or hardly any check downs that I saw. Remember I did not see the 4th qtr. On most routes they had a deep route, mid level route (15 - 20 yards), and short to mid level route (10 - 15 yards)
The short passing game executed fairly well, but it seemed like all the short passes that were completed, were designed to go directly to that option. It wasn't Clifford going through reads with options, but designed to go to a specific RB/WR/TE. They weren't check downs. Their were designed swing passes to the RB, short passes to the flat, and quick hitters to the WR.
4. RB Rotation
Most people see that Cain and Brown should be the main options. Why the staff would still do an equal share type rotation, with having equal carries between the 4 RBs does not make sense. I do think Slade and Ford have a lot of skill, but Brown and Cain have proven themselves the most. And Slades blocking is a huge liability.
I rewatched the game for another reason. After reading so many posts their were some people that had totally opposite views of the how they saw the offense unfold and reasons for it. Also of course many varying views on the coaching, play calling, execution, etc...
I am going to be totally fair in what I saw that was totally clear as day. I am not doing this looking for a reason just to point blame at the coaching, execution, players, etc... But good, bad, indifferent my opinion will be fair.
Also I was only able to watch until 2:20 left in the 3rd Qtr, because my recording cut out due to the timing with the weather delay. But it was still enough too see too have a fair opinion.
1. Blitz Pick Up
It wasn't all the RBs that did a bad job in the blitz pick up, it was mostly Slade. As others have pointed out he was horrible at trying to pick up the blitz. Theirs no need to go into detail it was just bad. But into the 2nd Qtr and 3rd Qtr, I did not see the RBs as the problem with Pitts pass rush. Basically once Slade was out, the RBs did not do a horrible job with the blitz pick up. But the Oline was a problem.
2. O-LINE
I am definitely concerned about the Oline. This is not some over emotional response, but they need to figure things out and be better prepared. They were not over matched physically and did not get pushed around. But they were pretty poor at picking up different rushers, it wasn't just the blitz. Several times when Pitt rushed with stunts, twists, dropping a DE into coverage and sending an LB, etc.... PSUs Oline was confused and late in picking up whatever rusher broke free on a stunt or LB that rushed when a DE dropped in coverage. They were not prepared for it, and it happened several times. If Pitt does a simple 4 man straight up rush, than PSUs Oline looks fine. Even if it's a straight up rush with a LB blitzing, if they know where the LB is coming from, even than the Oline does OK as long as it's not Slade picking up the blitzing LB. But when Pitt mixed up their pass rush just a bit, too many times PSUs Oline was confused and not prepared.
Here is why I say this and what I saw from many of Pitts pass rushes on some different plays
- 4 man rush - DL stunt - Slade and Thorpe both let the DL on the twist run by them and block no one.
-5 man rush with a DL stunt and LB blitz. Brown picks up LB, but DL stunt confuses the Oline, and the Dlineman from the stunt breaks free sacks Clifford.
- Than another time its the opposite. Another 5 man rush with a DL stunt and LB blitz. The Oline does a good job picking up the Dlinman twisting from the stunt, but no one picks up the LB blitz. Clifford sack.
- 4 man rush. Pitt drops one DE, and sends the LB instead. Confuses PSUs Oline. 2 of PSUs Olineman are double teaming a Dlineman and Gonzo is late trying to get a block on the LB. Clifford has to rush the pass - incomplete.
I've seen this ^ quite a few times in different games. The Oline will double a Dlineman, while another rusher or LB runs free to the QB.
- This was actually a completion, but came very close to a sack. This is the play when Clifford eluded the pressure and hit Cam Sully - Brown near the sideline for a 1st down. It was a 5 man rush. The Oline doubled a Dlineman leaving a free LB to come in clean at Clifford.
I know no Oline is going to have a perfect game and gets beat at times, but this happened way too much against Pitt. Limegrover and the Oline have to be better prepared.
3. Deep Balls and Passing Game
Some people are saying Clifford didn't have to throw the deep ball so much he chose too, but did have check downs and WRs running shorter routes. Clifford did choose to throw the deep ball, and they weren't all bad decisions, but some bad passes. However, it is not true that he had check downs and options to throw short on the deep balls. On every deep ball I saw I did not see a WR/TE/RB running a route under 10 yards. On every deep ball the other options were all running routes 10 yards or more. This is not to say they didn't have a short passing game, but on the deep balls thrown their were no short routes or hardly any check downs that I saw. Remember I did not see the 4th qtr. On most routes they had a deep route, mid level route (15 - 20 yards), and short to mid level route (10 - 15 yards)
The short passing game executed fairly well, but it seemed like all the short passes that were completed, were designed to go directly to that option. It wasn't Clifford going through reads with options, but designed to go to a specific RB/WR/TE. They weren't check downs. Their were designed swing passes to the RB, short passes to the flat, and quick hitters to the WR.
4. RB Rotation
Most people see that Cain and Brown should be the main options. Why the staff would still do an equal share type rotation, with having equal carries between the 4 RBs does not make sense. I do think Slade and Ford have a lot of skill, but Brown and Cain have proven themselves the most. And Slades blocking is a huge liability.
