Pitt - Delaware Official Game Thread

[Crimson's Ghost]

Discuss the Pitt game here, any opinions predictions...fire away.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I won't be able to make this one, I have a wedding in Columbus. I'll probably be huddled around my laptop in the hotel as I get ready. Pitt fans are really optimistic about this team, they are young and a few could be potential stars. In fact Pitt is the youngest team in the entire country 125 out of 125 teams in least amount of upper classmen, 83/103 players either freshmen or sophomores. (The second youngest team...Penn State) It's an interesting dynamic and with that kind of youth it makes things bright and exciting, but also scary for the present.

Pitt is starting sophomores at QB,RB,FB,WR,LT,LG,DE,MLB,CB,FS,K,P. That's an absurd amount of sophomores, and they also have 5 TRUE freshmen on the two-deep across the board. It's wild.

Here are the first few posts I've done for our weekly football coverage at Cardiachill.com

Talking about Delaware's best player.
http://www.cardiachill.com/2014/8/26/60 ... -blue-hens

Some questions I asked a Delaware fan
http://www.cardiachill.com/2014/8/26/60 ... ent-hurley

And my answers
http://www.thefightinhens.com/2014/08/2 ... chill-com/


To be honest I'm worried Delaware will be able to move the ball well against Pitt. Pitt has an inexperienced defense and not a very deep secondary. Losing Aaron Donald is bad enough, but losing one of your starting corners to graduation followed up by two corners transferring and one to suspension puts Pitt in a bind in the secondary.


I do think Pitt comes out victorious, and I hope they use this game to get better. Certainly a lot different than last year's opener and all that hoopla.

[crfball]

Why is Coles transferring if he was a projected starter?

[Crimson's Ghost]

He went from 2 on the depth chart at the start of camp down to 4 as of last week. He kept dropping and didn't appreciate it.

I'll tell you what, I can't imagine many 6'3 guys skinnier than him. The word is he is transferring to Utah State, but I can see him at Cal or IUP when it's all said and done.

[S Cube]

Unfortunately I'll miss this one also due to the Northern Bedford baseball alumni game. I should be in attendance for the rest of the schedule though.

I'm pretty excited to see all the young talent at work, but I also anticipate some growing pains. Vegas has Pitt at plus/minus 7 1/2 wins. Not bad for such a young team. If Pitt can go over that projection, then hopes will be very high for 2015.

I think Pitt will score some points against DE, I just hope the defense is ready. I could definitely see the total points going over 60 in this one.

[KirkHerbstreit]

Isn't it a little early to say Pitt has a very strong offense? They ranked 81st out of 126 teams in scoring last year and are replacing a QB who was drafted. I think Pitt's offense has as many questions as their Defense. WR they have a great player in Boyd. There is no doubt about that, but lost a good WR on the other side. The rest of their WR are either inexperienced or are former tight ends. Oline is a question mark. Horrible last year, but maybe they improved. RB they have Connor who had great games against weak competition and was completely shut down by defenses with a pulse. Best case scenario for Pitt, in my opinion, is Chris James is the real deal at RB and you move Connor to Defensive End.

Pitt will win this game, but it will be interesting to see in what fashion. Delaware was picked to finish 6th in their conference. They will be outmatched, but if they keep it close it might mean a long year for Pitt even with a cupcake schedule.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I mean if Pitt's offensive line was horrible last year then it would make a lot of sense Conner didn't succeed against better defenses...he had no holes to run through. Fact still is, he led the team in rushing by taking 100 less carries than the starter. The 100 yard game against a good UNC team is a good telling sign of what he can be. I think he's a good back. And you aren't the first person to question Conner, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and won't blame him for poor line play.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Jordan Whitehead will be an official visitor for this game. He's been to Pitt a million times, don't think it makes a difference. He's a strong Ohio State lean right now. Still nice to have the best local prospect stop down anytime though.

[KirkHerbstreit]

Connor is a non typical Pitt back, which may be a good thing eventually, but for years Pitt had RB's who made things out of nothing. Ray Graham, Dion Lewis, McCoy, etc. I think Connor will get yards if holes are there, but will be frustrating to watch if the oline breaks down. The pitt backs of the past were very good at making the first man miss.

I expect Whitehead will either go to OSU or with his buddies at WVU.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Ohio State has a Beaver County guy from his area on the staff. That connection will be tough for anyone to overcome.


Wannstedt's take on the pro style running game and Chryst's seem a little different. Wanny liked quick backs running behind reasonably athletic offensive lines.

Chryst likes massive linemen and big backs running for 5 yards and a cloud of dust.

James Conner is definitely different, we just don't know if this offensive game plan will work how he wants it to or not.

Again nobody is saying Pitt has a great offense, but they do have one with promise and potential. To be the youngest team in the entire country is definitely not a good thing, but like I said it's an exciting thing moving forward. We're hoping they can piece it together this year with the schedule and make some moves in 2015 and 2016.

Pitt's rebuilding job wasn't easy, and Chryst appears to be heading in a right direction. Some new coaches' plans never work out but Chryst's plan is unfolding how he wants it to, now it's a matter of it working or not. At the very least he can point to next year and 2015 and have something to sell to the fans.