Thoughts on the Pitt game

[JasonB]

What a great crowd and a great game. Yet another unforgettable experience at Ford Stadium. Just finished rewatching the game and wanted to share my thoughts...

- I mentioned a key to the game was going to be our defensive line pressuring Pitt so that they couldn't pick on our corners. PFF had us at 30 pressures, an incredible number! I'd say that is job done! Really impressive performance by the front 4. JHH on only 38 plays had 4 hurries and a sack. And another sack taken off the board because of a holding call. Harvey had almost identical numbers. Amazing performance and it rattled the Pitt QB early. And that early pressure was Isaiah Smith. 4 hurries, two hits and a sack, he was an absolute beast early in the game and really set the tone.

- That said, even though the Pitt QB was rattled, I thought the corners played their best game of the season. Deuce has really taken hold of the corner role on the other side from Crossley and had a very good game. Smoke sat out, and we will have to see what is going on there. Deuce, though, really struggled against Duke and was effectively benched after his early performance. To come out and play that way tonight is just as impressive as the resilience Jennings showed at QB.

- The other level of the defense, the LBs were all over the place in both the running game and the passing game. All three of them were fantastic, fast, and physical. That RB and their QB are really, really good players in the running game. To be able to have the speed to shut down Reid and the strength to stand up Holstein is incredibly impressive.

- On offense, I mentioned two things before the game that came to fruition. The first was that I thought our OL could handle their DL 1v1 which would free up a lineman and the H-Back to go after linebackers, and that was absolutely the case. Both Osborne and especially Parr were on the second level constantly - The tackles would seal the edge and Clark handled the DT inside. Pitt blitzes non-stop, so sure there were times we ran into the double blitz. That was always going to happen. But they HAD to blitz to stop the inside run, which is what opened up the edge runs, the screens, and exposed them in the passing game. PJ was great in the running game on the edge, which has been the case all year, but Clark was awesome inside. His play allowed us to get to that second level. The staff did a great job (Justice in particular) of allowing Pitt to run through their responsibilities on the blitz and taking advantage of it in the running game.

- Brashard Smith and Junior are incredible, elite athletes. They make such a difference when trying to defend the team.I'm still concerned about LJ not getting enough touches. Hopefully he gets right during the bye week and can take the load off of Brashard. No sign of McFall either, which means they are really pushing for a redshirt, but IMHO something else has to be going on with him.

- The entire WR corps came up big against a very talented Pitt CB room. Those plays by Keyshawn and Moochie were huge. Hudson was marked against their best corner, but made a couple of plays. Speed and athleticism kill and they have that to burn.

- Hibner surprised us all fall in camp with his catching ability. But I would never had put money on him in a footrace! He isn't the dynamic player that RJ is, but man, those two plays last night were awesome. Huge impact, and we need that from him to close the year out.

- And now Jennings. To put together that performance after the one against Duke is remarkable. Remember, that first play was even batted in the air and almost picked! Such a strong head on his shoulders. Somehow, PFF only have him credit for 1 Big Time Throw, but the angle change on the pass in the flat to Brashard was elite, and the TD pass to Brashard was elite. The deep ball to Keyshawn shows you how he has improved his deep ball as well - early in the season, that ball is flattened out and he overthrows it. This time he threw it up and let his WR make a play, which is exactly what you want when there is no safety help. His decision making is absolutely elite against the blitz. He also showed that he prefers to be a passing QB. He wasn't involved in the running game at all, and was outstanding. He has the athleticism to move and keep things alive, but he really wants to throw the ball. Yes, we protected his knee in the game after the Duke game, and he will be much more active in the next game after the bye. But I thought in the Duke game we tried to use him too much in the running game and it really got away from what he is, which again, I believe is Russell Wilson. If Cam Ward wasn't in the league, he would be in the running for the best player in the ACC.

- Final note - great players make great plays when it matters. On 3rd down. Rewatching the game, it stands out - in the first half, when Pitt got to third down, we made a big tackle or a sack and forced them to punt. When SMU got to third down on offense, someone makes a play and steps up. Their third and long was game over. Jennings completed multiple passes on third down and long.

We have a really freaking good football team. Need to rest up in the final Bye of the season, hope the team stays healthy, and hope for no crazy weather games. Each of the three teams we play have very good defenses that can keep the game close. But if SMU does what is expected the rest of the season, we will be a top 10 team going into the ACC Championship game against Miami and be a sure bet for the CFP in our first power conference season. What an incredible season!

[ponyswim]

Thanks Jason. I hope Smoke is ok. It was a little different to see Nettles, Abiara and others in the game in the 3rd quarter. I think we have a VERY good coaching staff.

[tristatecoog]

Thank you. How much play did backups get in the game? Mostly final 6-8 minutes? What did Pitt do to score those last two TDs? Maybe we were playing prevent or they still had starters in, except QB. Just looking at depth. Glad we weren’t as banged up as I thought, except the notables who can’t play.

[Terry Webster]

One of the things I noticed, as did the tv people, is how well our linebackers go east/west.

[Charleston Pony]

Thank you. How much play did backups get in the game? Mostly final 6-8 minutes? What did Pitt do to score those last two TDs? Maybe we were playing prevent or they still had starters in, except QB. Just looking at depth. Glad we weren’t as banged up as I thought, except the notables who can’t play.

Pitt scored two 4th quarter TDs against our backups including 3rd teamers who never get to play

[Topper]

Our DL is elite thanks in very large part to mastery of the transfer portal. SMU has a history of producing NFL caliber linemen. Anxious to see if we can keep this up when the next bunch of transfers declare.

[Charleston Pony]

We have a really freaking good football team. Need to rest up in the final Bye of the season, hope the team stays healthy, and hope for no crazy weather games. Each of the three teams we play have very good defenses that can keep the game close. But if SMU does what is expected the rest of the season, we will be a top 10 team going into the ACC Championship game against Miami and be a sure bet for the CFP in our first power conference season. What an incredible season!

Will have to disagree with the suggestion that just reaching the ACC Championship would make us a "sure bet" for the CFP. I don't see a 2 loss SMU getting an invite ahead of what will probably be several 2 loss SEC and B1G teams. A one loss BYU (assuming they run the table in regular season but lose in the Big XII Championship) would also get an invite before SMU based on their having beaten us in Ford

[BUS]

Just keep winning and we will see where we go.

[BUS]

Just keep winning ans we will see where we go.

[Charleston Pony]

Absolutely. Just get healthy during this bye and focus on BC

[highlander]

We have a really freaking good football team. Need to rest up in the final Bye of the season, hope the team stays healthy, and hope for no crazy weather games. Each of the three teams we play have very good defenses that can keep the game close. But if SMU does what is expected the rest of the season, we will be a top 10 team going into the ACC Championship game against Miami and be a sure bet for the CFP in our first power conference season. What an incredible season!

Will have to disagree with the suggestion that just reaching the ACC Championship would make us a "sure bet" for the CFP. I don't see a 2 loss SMU getting an invite ahead of what will probably be several 2 loss SEC and B1G teams. A one loss BYU (assuming they run the table in regular season but lose in the Big XII Championship) would also get an invite before SMU based on their having beaten us in Ford

It's hard to say. It would depend on how well we and Miami play in the last 3 games, and if we were to lose to Miami, how close the score is. If both teams blow out everyone the rest of the season, and we lose to Miami by a TD or less, that would improve our chances. It would also depend on how well BYU looks the rest of the way. We need to root HARD for the Cougars.

[Charleston Pony]

It's hard to say. It would depend on how well we and Miami play in the last 3 games, and if we were to lose to Miami, how close the score is. If both teams blow out everyone the rest of the season, and we lose to Miami by a TD or less, that would improve our chances. It would also depend on how well BYU looks the rest of the way. We need to root HARD for the Cougars.

Would help our case for BYU to go undefeated and win the Big XII and we also have to pull for Louisville, Pitt & TCU to finish strong, although it's tough to root for TCU

[Mustangs35SMU]

We have a really freaking good football team. Need to rest up in the final Bye of the season, hope the team stays healthy, and hope for no crazy weather games. Each of the three teams we play have very good defenses that can keep the game close. But if SMU does what is expected the rest of the season, we will be a top 10 team going into the ACC Championship game against Miami and be a sure bet for the CFP in our first power conference season. What an incredible season!

Will have to disagree with the suggestion that just reaching the ACC Championship would make us a "sure bet" for the CFP. I don't see a 2 loss SMU getting an invite ahead of what will probably be several 2 loss SEC and B1G teams. A one loss BYU (assuming they run the table in regular season but lose in the Big XII Championship) would also get an invite before SMU based on their having beaten us in Ford

It's hard to say. It would depend on how well we and Miami play in the last 3 games, and if we were to lose to Miami, how close the score is. If both teams blow out everyone the rest of the season, and we lose to Miami by a TD or less, that would improve our chances. It would also depend on how well BYU looks the rest of the way. We need to root HARD for the Cougars.

My thoughts as well.

I want to believe it would be hard to keep a two loss SMU team out, if both of their loses are extremely tight games against undefeated BYU and undefeated Miami.

But ya know how things go...

[Water Pony]

Beat Boston College. Nothing else matters for the next two weeks.

[jpe747]

I just want to recognize ace Collin Rogers. He has been 'ace' all season.