MikeyCanez
Sophomore
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2018
- Messages
- 551
Late start here, but the quick answer is yes. The longer answer is...I am optimistic we can win (sorta) comfortably. Why am I confident when for the last 25 years I would have been better off punching myself in the nuts every November?
I believe the offense has turned a corner, I believe the defense is elite even without key players and I think Pitt is a smidge overrated except at linebacker.
They are a Top 20 passing offense in the country, but it feels misleading. It starts with Mason Heintschel. Setting aside the fact that it is impressive for any true freshman to walk into a P4 conference and have success, Heintschel is still VERY unproven.
You want to talk about a murder's row? Heintschel's career has thus far come against -- BC, FSU, Syracuse, NC State, Stanford, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. The Fighting Irish are obviously a really good unit. He was terrible with a capital T against them. There is zero reason we shouldn't be able to harass him into bad decisions.
OF COURSE the running back is a Florida kid. I think Ja'Kyrian Turner is almost like an undersized Isaac Brown, if that makes sense. He is shifty, but he is small. We should be too physical for this rushing attack and Pitt prefers to throw the ball anyway. We should tee off.
The receivers are fine. I don't remember Raphael Williams as a recruit and I only sort of remember Cataurus Hicks, but I respect guys that small who can compete at this level. But none of these guys are Chris Bell and Heintschel isn't even Miller Moss. Our secondary has been electric this season.
Say what you want about Notre Dame but one area where they are unquestionably better than us is in the run. Pitt has been injured at defensive tackle and the ends are nothing special at best. We have the clear advantage at the line of scrimmage on paper...but we all know what that looks like on Saturday. It will be all that matters in this game.
The reason they have a Top 10 run defense is because I'd probably trade linebacker rooms with Pitt today. Kyle Louis is probably the best known since he was an All-American last year, but Braylan Lovelace looks the part and Rasheem Biles is no slouch. The trio literally never come off the field (only one other player took two snaps at linebacker against GT) and they are all potential pros.
The secondary is average but I sorta like Rashad Battle. He's been injured but he has also played a ton of football. I am pretty sure we offered Shadarian Harrison but we never get anyone from Lakeland. He has nice size and athleticism. They can definitely be beat though. The safeties are the weak spot. They stink. We need to exploit them.
I am super nervous. But I am also weirdly confident. Primarily because I think this defense is as legit as its been in years. Unfortunately, I don't think we thump them like Notre Dame did. We just don't have the big play potential in the running game and Notre Dame had a defensive touchdown.
But let's win, get some help and get to have nice things just this one ******* time.
I believe the offense has turned a corner, I believe the defense is elite even without key players and I think Pitt is a smidge overrated except at linebacker.
They are a Top 20 passing offense in the country, but it feels misleading. It starts with Mason Heintschel. Setting aside the fact that it is impressive for any true freshman to walk into a P4 conference and have success, Heintschel is still VERY unproven.
You want to talk about a murder's row? Heintschel's career has thus far come against -- BC, FSU, Syracuse, NC State, Stanford, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. The Fighting Irish are obviously a really good unit. He was terrible with a capital T against them. There is zero reason we shouldn't be able to harass him into bad decisions.
OF COURSE the running back is a Florida kid. I think Ja'Kyrian Turner is almost like an undersized Isaac Brown, if that makes sense. He is shifty, but he is small. We should be too physical for this rushing attack and Pitt prefers to throw the ball anyway. We should tee off.
The receivers are fine. I don't remember Raphael Williams as a recruit and I only sort of remember Cataurus Hicks, but I respect guys that small who can compete at this level. But none of these guys are Chris Bell and Heintschel isn't even Miller Moss. Our secondary has been electric this season.
Say what you want about Notre Dame but one area where they are unquestionably better than us is in the run. Pitt has been injured at defensive tackle and the ends are nothing special at best. We have the clear advantage at the line of scrimmage on paper...but we all know what that looks like on Saturday. It will be all that matters in this game.
The reason they have a Top 10 run defense is because I'd probably trade linebacker rooms with Pitt today. Kyle Louis is probably the best known since he was an All-American last year, but Braylan Lovelace looks the part and Rasheem Biles is no slouch. The trio literally never come off the field (only one other player took two snaps at linebacker against GT) and they are all potential pros.
The secondary is average but I sorta like Rashad Battle. He's been injured but he has also played a ton of football. I am pretty sure we offered Shadarian Harrison but we never get anyone from Lakeland. He has nice size and athleticism. They can definitely be beat though. The safeties are the weak spot. They stink. We need to exploit them.
I am super nervous. But I am also weirdly confident. Primarily because I think this defense is as legit as its been in years. Unfortunately, I don't think we thump them like Notre Dame did. We just don't have the big play potential in the running game and Notre Dame had a defensive touchdown.
But let's win, get some help and get to have nice things just this one ******* time.
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