Paul Chryst barely mustered a monosyllabic hiccup in his Tuesday press conference when asked if Pitt will have difficulty avoiding overconfidence after crushing Delaware, 62-0, in its opener.
“No.”
That was it.
He wasn’t being glib, either. You could see from his expression he was actually reaching for a way to expound upon the answer, then didn’t even bother.
And why should he have?
No means no, right?
And it also means this, though no one could, of course, say such a thing on the record: The Panthers know they achieved next to nothing Saturday with those 501 yards of offense, five total first downs allowed and all the other superlatives that were much more a reflection of the opponent than their own performance or potential. They know Delaware was a cupcake. They know they had overwhelming natural edges in size, speed, you name it. They know that, even if they had played poorly — they did anything but — they’d have still run up the score.
As a result, then, they also know Friday in Chestnut Hill won’t be that way at all.
Certainly not for the offense, which will be most under the microscope against a large, physical Boston College defensive front headlined by 6-9, 288-pound Brian Mihalik and 6-7, 290-pound Mehdi Abdesmad, both seniors and both sizable enough to swallow Delaware’s campus whole.
I asked Chryst about that challenge: “I think it will truly be a good test, both in the run game and handling their pressures so it’s not just falling on the offensive line. I think we’ll certainly be tested. They looked good on film and didn’t give up many yards against UMass.”
Only 87 yards on the ground in the Eagles’ 30-7 opening W.
“Knowing Steve Addazio and the types of teams he has and who he is, I thought they did a good job of running the football and they’re going to stop the run. It will be a true test.”
• Here’s what Addazio had to say on the same front Tuesday, emphasizing “physical game” and Pitt being a “power-running outfit:”
If that comes across as if Addazio and Chryst are cut from the same cloth, so be it. This is what Chryst has wanted for Pitt since the day he arrived, that Wisconsin-style offense built on big men that basically bullies its way down the field. All passes and other gadgetry optional.
• Here’s Pitt’s senior guard Matt Rotheram, honored Tuesday as the ACC’s offensive lineman of the week, on the climb from Delaware to Boston College:
And here’s James Conner, whose 153 yards and four touchdowns on just 14 carries earned him ACC offensive back of the week:
• Best news of the day for the Panthers was Chryst’s announcement that Tyler Boyd was back at practice after having his finger dislocated in the first half Saturday. He’ll be ready for BC.
September 2, 2014
News with Views: Pitt’s (much) taller task
by Dejan Kovacevic • News/views • Pitt
Pitt’s James Conner saw more green than the Amazon rainforest Saturday at Heinz Field. — PETE MADIA / PITT ATHLETICS
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Paul Chryst barely mustered a monosyllabic hiccup in his Tuesday press conference when asked if Pitt will have difficulty avoiding overconfidence after crushing Delaware, 62-0, in its opener.
“No.”
That was it.
He wasn’t being glib, either. You could see from his expression he was actually reaching for a way to expound upon the answer, then didn’t even bother.
And why should he have?
No means no, right?
And it also means this, though no one could, of course, say such a thing on the record: The Panthers know they achieved next to nothing Saturday with those 501 yards of offense, five total first downs allowed and all the other superlatives that were much more a reflection of the opponent than their own performance or potential. They know Delaware was a cupcake. They know they had overwhelming natural edges in size, speed, you name it. They know that, even if they had played poorly — they did anything but — they’d have still run up the score.
As a result, then, they also know Friday in Chestnut Hill won’t be that way at all.
Certainly not for the offense, which will be most under the microscope against a large, physical Boston College defensive front headlined by 6-9, 288-pound Brian Mihalik and 6-7, 290-pound Mehdi Abdesmad, both seniors and both sizable enough to swallow Delaware’s campus whole.
I asked Chryst about that challenge: “I think it will truly be a good test, both in the run game and handling their pressures so it’s not just falling on the offensive line. I think we’ll certainly be tested. They looked good on film and didn’t give up many yards against UMass.”
Only 87 yards on the ground in the Eagles’ 30-7 opening W.
“Knowing Steve Addazio and the types of teams he has and who he is, I thought they did a good job of running the football and they’re going to stop the run. It will be a true test.”
• Here’s what Addazio had to say on the same front Tuesday, emphasizing “physical game” and Pitt being a “power-running outfit:”
If that comes across as if Addazio and Chryst are cut from the same cloth, so be it. This is what Chryst has wanted for Pitt since the day he arrived, that Wisconsin-style offense built on big men that basically bullies its way down the field. All passes and other gadgetry optional.
• Here’s Pitt’s senior guard Matt Rotheram, honored Tuesday as the ACC’s offensive lineman of the week, on the climb from Delaware to Boston College:
And here’s James Conner, whose 153 yards and four touchdowns on just 14 carries earned him ACC offensive back of the week:
• Best news of the day for the Panthers was Chryst’s announcement that Tyler Boyd was back at practice after having his finger dislocated in the first half Saturday. He’ll be ready for BC.
• Here are this week’s official media notes.
• As a reminder, I’m flying up to Boston to cover this game for the site. Hope to have you along.
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