The Man Called Aerodynamics
by Akula Wolf on Sep 27, 2009 3:04 AM EDT
6 comments
It took less than six minutes for Pittsburgh to confirm my nagging suspicion that they were going to expose NC State's defense. Their offensive line looked like the experienced group I'd expected to see, Dion Lewis seemed impossible to tackle, and good lord it's 10-0 and I still don't know if the Pack's going to able to move the football against a I-A team. Another flameout seemed a foregone conclusion at that point.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter and the offense is moving the ball at will, Russell Wilson's asserting himself, doing whatever he wants through the air, running wild, and suddenly it's like that wonderful part of 2008 all over again, and what was that about doom, again? It's amazing how much your perception of the overall picture can change week to week, quarter to quarter.
If Tom O'Brien were sitting next to me right now, he'd say I had it right the first time. This team is not good. The defense got stops when it mattered--allowing the offense to climb out of the 31-17 hole, saving Ted Larsen's day--but the truth is they were exposed. Penalties were numerous, special teams were atrocious, and I have no idea what was going on with the clock management at the end of the first half.
But I don't figure the penalties or the special teams play are trends, and Russell Wilson sure makes the faults easy to gloss over. I don't know what there is to say other than, damn, he's fun. 21-35 for 322 yards (9.2 yds/att) and 4 TDs through the air, 91 rushing yards on 10 carries. When I think about both the number and the magnitude of the mistakes the Wolfpack made, that they prevailed anyway, I don't think there's any doubt about it: he's never played a better game here.
He was hardly the only big time performer or reason for enthusiasm, of course. They can wait. So can a more reasoned approach to the big picture.
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You pretty much nailed it, Steven
You captured our feelings last night… anger and frustration early, and honestly a first half that made us wonder what the hell TOB has accomplished in three years, given that it was a game straight out of the Amato era… then amazement at the turnaround where the penalty flags started going for us, not against us… and utter satisfaction at eventually taking over the game in all aspects down the stretch, in my mind culminating with the 4th-and-13 that we went for and picked up on Russell’s scramble.
The defensive stand at the end is what was DIFFERENT from the Amato era. A few years back, that’s a game we lose. We dominate it in every statistical category, but penalties early and a turnover late would’ve led to our eventual collapse, resulting in a demoralizing loss. Instead, our defense shook it off, stood up (thank you, Mr. Bishop!), and refused to let it happen.
THEN we actually line up and run the thing three times, picking up a first down, ending the game.
Potentially a new era… tell me it’s a new era… please….
Oh - and how cool...
… was the first TD to Gentry, where our WR took his guy deep into the end zone? (Even if he got taken down by the defender in the end… he did his job perfectly, regardless…)
by wolfonthehill on Sep 27, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, fine job of blocking by that receiver
And an epic fail by Pitt’s defense. I watched that play a bunch at home last night to see how Gentry ended up so open. The Panthers brought six, which left them manned up across the board, and nobody bothered to pick up Gentry. Not sure if that was one of the blitzers’ fault, or the fault of a linebacker who may have been mixed up (he just kind of hovered in the middle of the field, either spying on Russ or thinking they’d called for zone). Congrats to him for his first career TD. Dude had a nice block on the goal line that sprung Toney for the go-ahead score, too.
Any idea of a replay?
I didn’t get to see the game (don’t have ESPNU) and I was hoping to see a replay. Do any of you know if I might find one online?
For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Sep 28, 2009 7:50 AM EDT reply actions
our special teams
will lose at least one game (if not more) for us if they do not improve. We either need to change our blocking scheme on punts or the P is going to have to get the ball away much sooner. I shudder to think what VT will do to us.
Same thing on kickoffs
You can’t just spot the team the ball between the 35 & 50 every time… we’re giving up 15 yards on every single kickoff, and that damn near cost us the game Saturday.
Cjakowski (sp?) has a decent enough leg to get it inside the 10, but our cover team honestly looks like they’re jogging… the returner’s at the 25 before he even has a defender threaten him in any way. That’s just gotta stop…
by wolfonthehill on Sep 28, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions
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