Post by smurph on Nov 28, 2009 11:20:47 GMT -5
It was our best game of the season - far from perfect, but a lot of what we had hoped for from this team. We can still finish at 10-3 which would be a respectable season. Rutgers won't be easy, but if we play with the intensity of the last 2 games, we will win that one.
1. Quarterback - A-minus. JB has played well all season, except the 2 games following his concussion. His decison-making was excellent in this game. He actually threw the ball away a couple of times to avoid the sack! The problems we have on offense are not the fault of the QB. Our offensive line is just not very good. His scramble on 3rd and 9 on the final drive was huge.
2. Running back - B. Pitt did not give Devine much room. The TD was awesome. He made a couple of good blocks, dropped 1-2 passes. Other than the 88-run, not a great game.
3. Receivers - B-plus. Everyone that has been waiting for Wes lyons to use his unusual talents got their wish. Huge catch on 3rd and long in the first half. We didn't throw that much, but I thought it was one of the better games for our receivers. Jock didn't have his usual big game. Arnett had a good game. Receivers did a better job of getting open, and blocked pretty well.
4. Offensive line - C. IMO the offensive line is the only thing keeping this from being a truly great team. They were horrible in the first 10 minutes of the game. After that they were pretty good. Pitt has some very good players on defense. Some people were talking about Selvish Capers playing in the NFL. I don't see it at all. Both he and Jenkins get beaten regularly by defenders who outquick them. Barclay also looked like a statue on a couple of plays. Surprisingly, Eric Jobe has been (IMO) our best lineman.
5. Pass defense - A. Easily the best game of the year for our defensive backs. Tandy had a great game. He had one INT. He also did a very good job coming up up on sweeps and WR screens. Sands is a future star who could play on Sundays if he continues to improve. He had one (should have had 2) interception. Even Hogan played well - tight coverage, ball awareness. The pressure on the QB was good enough to force some hurried throws. Great game plan by the defensive coaches. JT Thomas played like I expected him to play all season. Where was this aggressive defense the first 8 games of the season?
6. Run defense. C-plus. Pretty good against a great running offense. I saw good positioning by the defenders, a few too many missed tackles. Good job by our defensive line not getting knocked off the ball, thereby limiting the amount of room Lewis had.
7. Special teams - C-plus. Too many big returns on kickoffs, as usual, but we did keep them on their side of the 50 (LOL). I was hoping for a big KO or punt return for us. I felt we would need one to win this game. Didn't get one but won anyway. Kozlowski had one of his worst games punting. He does not get enough height on his punts, but our punt coverage was excellent. Bitancurt was excellent. Three of his four FGs were from long range.
8. Coaching - A-minus. Excellent game plans by both coordinators. I don't have a problem with the decision to go for it on 4th down at the 1 1/2 yd. line or at the 28, both in the first half. He obviously felt a 45-yd attempt wasright at the edge of Betancurt's range in not perfect weather conditions. I do disagree with the play call on 4th and goal. You don't drop back and run a pocket pass play. Your odds are very slim at that spot on the field. Either pound it up the gut with Ryan Clarke, or run a fake run and a QB bootleg. I loved the fact that we started the 2nd half pounding the ball with Clarke to loosen up the defense.
9. Officials - D. Not one single penalty called on Pitt in the first half, and not one single holding call the entire game. I saw holding by Pitt's O-line several times. On Tandy's interception, he was leg-whipped by the tackler - no call. Give the Mountaineers credit. They started holding in the 2nd half also because the refs weren't calling it.
10. Announcers - F-minus. Admittedly, the 2007 game was relevant and deserved mentioning. However, after bringing up the subject for the 9th or 10th time, and spending 1/3 of the telecast talking about it, it started to get very tiresome and detracted from what was a great game.
Player of the game -Tyler Betancurt (memories of 1975 and Bill McKenzie).
Honorable mention - Julian Miller (the most improved player on this team), JT Thomas, Robert Sands, Tandy, Hogan, Jarrett Brown, Williams, Wes Lyons, Scooter Berry, Chris Neild.
1. Quarterback - A-minus. JB has played well all season, except the 2 games following his concussion. His decison-making was excellent in this game. He actually threw the ball away a couple of times to avoid the sack! The problems we have on offense are not the fault of the QB. Our offensive line is just not very good. His scramble on 3rd and 9 on the final drive was huge.
2. Running back - B. Pitt did not give Devine much room. The TD was awesome. He made a couple of good blocks, dropped 1-2 passes. Other than the 88-run, not a great game.
3. Receivers - B-plus. Everyone that has been waiting for Wes lyons to use his unusual talents got their wish. Huge catch on 3rd and long in the first half. We didn't throw that much, but I thought it was one of the better games for our receivers. Jock didn't have his usual big game. Arnett had a good game. Receivers did a better job of getting open, and blocked pretty well.
4. Offensive line - C. IMO the offensive line is the only thing keeping this from being a truly great team. They were horrible in the first 10 minutes of the game. After that they were pretty good. Pitt has some very good players on defense. Some people were talking about Selvish Capers playing in the NFL. I don't see it at all. Both he and Jenkins get beaten regularly by defenders who outquick them. Barclay also looked like a statue on a couple of plays. Surprisingly, Eric Jobe has been (IMO) our best lineman.
5. Pass defense - A. Easily the best game of the year for our defensive backs. Tandy had a great game. He had one INT. He also did a very good job coming up up on sweeps and WR screens. Sands is a future star who could play on Sundays if he continues to improve. He had one (should have had 2) interception. Even Hogan played well - tight coverage, ball awareness. The pressure on the QB was good enough to force some hurried throws. Great game plan by the defensive coaches. JT Thomas played like I expected him to play all season. Where was this aggressive defense the first 8 games of the season?
6. Run defense. C-plus. Pretty good against a great running offense. I saw good positioning by the defenders, a few too many missed tackles. Good job by our defensive line not getting knocked off the ball, thereby limiting the amount of room Lewis had.
7. Special teams - C-plus. Too many big returns on kickoffs, as usual, but we did keep them on their side of the 50 (LOL). I was hoping for a big KO or punt return for us. I felt we would need one to win this game. Didn't get one but won anyway. Kozlowski had one of his worst games punting. He does not get enough height on his punts, but our punt coverage was excellent. Bitancurt was excellent. Three of his four FGs were from long range.
8. Coaching - A-minus. Excellent game plans by both coordinators. I don't have a problem with the decision to go for it on 4th down at the 1 1/2 yd. line or at the 28, both in the first half. He obviously felt a 45-yd attempt wasright at the edge of Betancurt's range in not perfect weather conditions. I do disagree with the play call on 4th and goal. You don't drop back and run a pocket pass play. Your odds are very slim at that spot on the field. Either pound it up the gut with Ryan Clarke, or run a fake run and a QB bootleg. I loved the fact that we started the 2nd half pounding the ball with Clarke to loosen up the defense.
9. Officials - D. Not one single penalty called on Pitt in the first half, and not one single holding call the entire game. I saw holding by Pitt's O-line several times. On Tandy's interception, he was leg-whipped by the tackler - no call. Give the Mountaineers credit. They started holding in the 2nd half also because the refs weren't calling it.
10. Announcers - F-minus. Admittedly, the 2007 game was relevant and deserved mentioning. However, after bringing up the subject for the 9th or 10th time, and spending 1/3 of the telecast talking about it, it started to get very tiresome and detracted from what was a great game.
Player of the game -Tyler Betancurt (memories of 1975 and Bill McKenzie).
Honorable mention - Julian Miller (the most improved player on this team), JT Thomas, Robert Sands, Tandy, Hogan, Jarrett Brown, Williams, Wes Lyons, Scooter Berry, Chris Neild.
