Irish are 20+ point favorites at home, and after 2 big time emotional contests with Stanford and Va.Tech there has to be concern for a let down. Pitt has not been very good this year, they are 3-3 losing big time to Penn State and UCF and a narrow loss to a UNC team that isn't very good either. They did upset Syracuse this past weekend. From what I'm reading they have a good OL and running game, averaging more on the ground than the Irish. But they haven't got much of a passing game. Narduzzi the Pitt coach was known for his defenses at Mich State when he was Dantonio's Coord but the Pitt defense hasn't been even close to what he had at MSU. I think we'll still be without Jafar Armstrong, and Tony Jones didn't see much action last week vs Va.Tech so the assumption is that he's nicked up a little bit, I think he left the Stanford game with a twisted ankle. So likely we'll see a lot of Avery Davis as the backup to Dexter Williams, with one of the freshmen RB's getting in there for some carries as well. No injuries on the OL or the defense that I'm aware of, so we should be good. Naturally we'd all like to see this game be a blowout in the 1st half and get a lot of 2nd team players some work. Lea has been able to rotate the DL quite a bit, but against the Hokies the LB's pretty much got no rest, we need to get those backups some playing time. That'll only happen if the game is under control and we're on cruise control for a lot of the 2nd half. I hope Ian Book gets to throw down the field some and be successful at it to show that those big misses in the Va.Tech game were just an anomaly. I do remember the 2012 Pitt game that we came very close to losing. The normally reliable Pitt kicker missed a FG and we got the win. Hopefully this game doesn't come down to having to make a play at the end to preserve the win.
So he's not in trouble from everything I read. I'm not exactly sure what the deal was, but it seems to be a tempest in a teapot. Some kid on campus decided he needed to be an Internet Hero and got it started with some partial information about alleged cheating. Book will play on Sat and this will turn out to be Fake News.
Pitt lost their starting MLB this week. He was reportedly their best player on the defense. I have a question. I really wanted Brandon Wimbush to be successful this year, but after 3 games it was clear he was struggling and not likely to have that ah ha moment where he turns into a top notch college qb. Watching Book has confirmed that Brandon belongs on the bench. I don't really even see why we would continue to prep Brandon as the #2 QB, when we have Phil Jurkovec who has Book like skills but is bigger and faster and has a stronger arm. So why not move Jurkovec to #2 and start prepping him to come in if Book needs a break due to injury or there is a blowout. I know it must suck to be Brandon and watch these other QB's run that offense better than him, but he's a smart kid who will do well in life so no worries about his future. Burn Phil Jurkovec's redshirt. If he's as good as everybody says he is he is not going to be coming back for a 5th year anyway. Make the move now.
ND <r>Terry,<br/> <QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> I agree with you on this 100%. If we get a chance let's get Jurkovich some playing time this year. As much as I like Brandon it's over, he's has had his opportunity and the negatives outweigh the positives on him as far as being a starter. Let's Jurkovec ready.</r>
ND <t>Please excuse my previous post. I had a couple of beers and sat down at my computer without my reading glasses...so there are some mispelling and omitted words which I’m not able to edit. 🤪</t>
Oh Tim, Never apologize for getting housed and making posts on the forum. That's what we're here for Look at it this way, I don't drink anymore. The last time I did was at my wedding and prior to that, I can't even remember... Yet I still spew forth the stuff that I do stone cold sober!
Tim not sure why you couldn't edit your post, but I'm not really seeing anything you need to apologize for in that post.
I was greatly offended by Tim's post and am calling on a Senate committee to review his suitability to continue to post here. I am out auditioning witnesses for the hearing..... 8)
ND <r>George,<br/> I know your post was a joke but the way things are in this PC world nowadays you’re not far off. <E></E></r>
If I had a book I'd take Pitt and the points. Every time we want to see our backups get some good playing time, the starters let the opponent hang around and hang around. We've got some good leadership on this team so maybe they will play up to their potential but I'm expecting to spend tomorrow squirming throughout the game.
ND <t>Well Pitt's best defensive player is out for the season. We should win by 21 but....I'll just say we will win.</t>
ND <t>Well this is already starting off wrong...this is how you get beat by teams you are suppose to beat easily.</t>
ND <t>interception, like I said...this is starting wrong. if we're not careful we'll be behind the whole game.</t>
Whew...19-14 Irish Terrible game by the offense. That last 4th down play, I hated that call! The 2 pt conversion I didn't see the need and even so Book had him open but just missed him. But Book made some plays in the 2nd half that last TD pass was a thing of beauty. Just win.