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On location: No. 24 Duke 51, Pitt 48, 2 OTs 109
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for kickoff … Game: Pitt (4-4, 2-2 ACC) vs. No. 24 Duke (6-1, 2-1 ACC), 12:02 p.m., Heinz Field TV, radio: ESPNU, 93.7 The Fan Online: GameTracker / Multimedia / Official game notes
I don’t know if Pitt can get back into bowl consideration, but a upset today could help.
Go Pitt! Let’s get a “W.”
I’m still mad we lost the “Rose” Bowl to them.
The outcome from the remaining 4 games will determine what happens to the staff including Chryst!!
If Pitt loses all 4, Chryst and the entire staff will get the boot.
1-3, House and some assistants get the boot and no extension for Chryst.
2-2, few changes unfortunately. No ext.
Estimated crowd at kickoff. 10-15,000???
Pitt has to somehow manufacture a pass rush. This secondary just can’t cover for much play time.
Nice response, Pitt!
Good afternoon from Heinz Field with 20,000 of my closest friend. Looks like we are in for a shoot out, but the story maybe the crowd or lack thereof. Really bad turnout. Especially by the students.
Can we get some defense?
Maybe contest anything at all?
Finally!
JP Holtz is so underutilized. Great play to score on that catch in the flat.
Said the same thing Rock. Great call – finally!
House has no idea what the hell he is doing. A freshman covering Crowder man on man with no help?? The guy should have never gotten the job as defensive coordinator.
LaFayette Pitts strikes again–the kid is horrible
Another defensive battle, like last season. Can anyone in college football play defense? (Please don’t say Mississippi and LSU).
Pretty much only the schools that have a superior athlete & physical advantage at every position seem to be able to play consistent defense, Lucky. Otherwise, these offensive minds are so good now. But, that doesn’t excuse Pitt’s abysmal defense.
This defense is an absolute disgrace. No speed, no athletes, no playmakers. And no coordinator for that matter. But hey, the helmets look good.
That 1st half performance by Matt House is a fireable offense. But even if they do can the guy, no money will be made available for an upgrade. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Guess I should have read your comments before I jumped in and made mine below. House should be learning his job at a non-BCS school. He’s in so far over his head it’s ridiculous.
Duke has had the ball for only 9 minutes and 24 seconds, and scored 4 touchdowns.
Two defensive stops?
No matter how dreadful this afternoon turns out to be (no fans, no defense, no QB) Pitt still has two young, elite talents from Clairton & Erie Pa respectively that are a joy to watch.
This may be the best of the 12:00 tier games.
Chryst really needs to think long and hard about replacing House as DC. Let him learn to be a DC at some other school. I’m a huge Pitt fan, and I want to be positive. But, their defense … Ugh!
Nice corner blitz call there leaving the guy you can’t stop wide open. Luckily Duke stumbled their way to a FG.
This defense stinks physically and philosophically.
The other team can’t stop your running game. No more false starts, please!
This will come down to who has the ball last. I think Pitt’s only chance to win is to let Conner and Boyd play defense too.
Probably just gave away a TD by getting cute for no reason. Why not just run?
Yep
My goodness.
Is there a more poorly coached team anywhere??
Sadly, as much as I think the head coach is a class act and a great offensive mind, I’m seriously starting to question whether he’s anything more than just a good OC.
I am no football-ista….but I have to say that when I listen to Chryst talk, I feel like I’m going into a coma lol!
Seriously, can this guy get a team charged up? Yikes.
I think that sometimes hurts in recruiting. He’s just no frills, no nonsense, very genuine. I think some recruits find that boring.
Have you seen UVA or VT?
Brutal!
Conner is just a beast.
They do know how to come back! We can say that about them!
But, Oy.
Can Boyd and Conner leave or do they have to stay 1 more year?
I think it is 3 yrs after HS.
Thanks Jim
Classy comeback drive.
When they just line up and pound it, there aren’t many teams that will stop them.
Hold them to a FG, then win with a TD?
Last score wins baby
Hey, a defensive stop!
Time is wasting, guys.
Again – my GOODNESS!
Voytik struggles with arm strength & accuracy. But, he’s a great runner.
Can’t watch
Well they should gets W here, good win for an average team.
Why not center the ball?
Yeah, they deliberately ran to that spot.
Voytik did deliberately run to the right. Ridiculous.
Can I delete my post sorry guys
Which idiot wanted to be on the right hash?
This operation is a disaster.
I was thinking that too. Blewitt didn’t ask for that side did he?
Just like ND. Put the ball in the middle of the field. Not the right hash.
Blewitt–you have got to be kidding me??
Does it ever end for pitt?
Seriously???
Let’s give dude the most severe angle possible. Unbelievable.
More brilliance by the Pitt coaches.
I didn’t understand that either …….
Guys I’m so clueless I don’t understand the options the coaches had on that FG with ball placement….you’re saying they could have centered it??
I guess it was cos of the run out wide?
Voytik would have had to have run to the center of the field rather than outside.
So…we should have run to the middle.
Ugh.
On the play before the field goal, Voytik could have taken the snap moved to the left to get in the middle of the field, and dropped to the ground. The field goal would then have been snapped from that spot. By running to the right sideline that put the ball on right hash.
Wow that was awful defense
Connors a freak!
Go for two–run Conner
Oh well???
What a game! Crazy.
DEEEFENSE!!!
Um…or not LOL?
Well hopefully they play better on D. But how is Duke 6-1? Their D is as bad as Pitt’s
They don’t give games away.
Should have definitely gone for two and run Conner.
Yah….is the FG make able ???
Win or lose, cfb ot is dumbest thing in sports. Worse than nhl ot.
Ehh…I’m OK w NHL OT….short and sweet and exciting.
Terrible play selection.
Does Pitt not have a hot read on an obvious blitz?
Does this coaching staff know what a hot read is???
No Conner plays in 2OT. Yeah, that’s a winner.
House didn’t know what Duke was going to do??
We shoulda gone for 2 yeah?
I was thinking that, too. The D wasn’t stopping anybody.
Absolutely. Got to show some guts there. It’s not like Duke was stopping Pitt. And that’s not a 2nd guess. Everyone I was watching the game with said the same thing. I’m sure it never even occurred to Chryst.
If anyone thought Chryst would go for 2 there, then they live in a fantasy orld. Not in Chryst’s DNA. Saw it for years at Wisconsin. Very conservative coaching philosophy.
Wow….and we are seeing it here for sure.
And last week too, with that punt…..
Last week they fumbled 5 straight possessions vs GA Tech to start the game, & couldn’t recover. Before that, they blew games vs UVA & Iowa. Now, this loss. These are not great teams they are losing to. They are just teams accepting Pitt’s charity.
Am I only one that gets a ZZZZzzzzz vibe when I listen to Chryst,mor even read his remarks?
Geez.
Check out DK’s tweets with Chryst’s explanations. His answer on why they kept running right before Blewitt blew it is baffling. This game was completely mangled by the coaching staff.
He also said he THOUGHT about gong for 2 after the TD…..but…..didn’t ……
Arggh….
As a coach it’s your job to take the temperature of each game and react accordingly. Chryst obviously chose to ignore the fact that his defense was running a 104 degree fever. What good did he think would happen putting the game in their hands ?
Takes a facile mind to think on fly with game on line. Best coaches have it, others don’t. Chryst doesn’t.
I really like Paul Chryst but he is a poor head coach. He hired House as DC and he is clueless, runs to the right hash for a field goal attempt and gives a gobblie gook response for why he did it and then, to top it off said “I thought about going for two”.
Here’s what kills me about going for 2 or not. Our group of dummies, myself included, hashed that out before Duke returned the kickoff for a TD in the 4th quarter.. We talked about doing it late in regulation if the situation warranted.
How much do they pay Chryst?
Let’s split it!!!
I was sitting on the couch – after opting to watch the remainder of the game rather than rake leaves – thinking the same thing. Go for 2. Now, I still have to rake those darn leaves.
Chryst isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. The Pitt defense is terrible. Blewitt did. #PittBeingPitt
I feel bad for James Conner. What does he have to do to get Pitt a win?
Hopefully, the hoops season will be much better as it usually is at Pitt. There’s that.
Pitt plays CBB for real starting November 14. Can’t wait. Pitt is a basketball school-lol.
True statement.
When you score 38 points in regulation at home you’re not supposed to lose…..PERIOD. Atrocious defense.
I know that Conner needs a blow every now and then, but on every drive on which they faltered, he was out.
They need lost of bodies on D and a new D coordinator.
The times they blitzed and put pressure on Duke’s QB he looked unsure of himself (IMO).
Bad teams lose!
fire Chryst…
dejan- great question, i brought it up on Pirates message baord, why not go for 2 in 1st ot, Pitt d was not going to stop the Duke offense…
that play to set up last fg in regulation was so ridiculous…what was the thinking there????
At’s my boys!! Go DUKE!
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You guys should lay off Paul Christ——if his supposedly dependable kicker makes an extended extra point, Pitt wins that game in regulation. Chip shot.
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Pitt has youngest team in Division 1——takes longer to learn to win with sophomores as your leaders.