Are the players playing up to their fullest capabilities? Probably not. They can play better, but why would you put in the effort for this abomination of a coaching staff when the season is basically over? It's not fair the defense has to continuously bail out the combination of an ancient, ineffective (to put it lightly) offense combined with undoubtedly the worst special teams unit in all of P5. Why should wide receivers try to create separation if the defense knows exactly what routes are being run coupled with the fact that our offensive line won't give the quarterback more than 3 seconds of time in the pocket? And when Malik was QB, why try and get open if EVEN WITH TIME, the Quarterback can't properly hit you in the numbers?
I know I know you should always give your best effort blah blah blah, but in today's age, kids give up all the time when there's no goal in sight. Pitt had already basically clinched the coastal and the season was lost when Richt yanked 'Kosi against UVA. It all falls back on the coaching staff not properly managing the team, the inability to coach up talent and teach proper technique, and playing upperclassmen over your more talented underclassmen just because. Now Richt is going to hear it from the BOT, AD, and especially fans. No father wants to hear their son repeatedly attacked on social media and message boards, but he brought that on himself for making a lazy and ineffective hire. No coach wants to admit he sucks at calling plays, but the proof is literally on the scoreboard. If you can't score 28+ continuously in today's game, you don't deserve to be a Top 15 team.