Local Predictions Week 1
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Crimson09Crazy
Local Predictions Week 1
Pitt at Utah Thursday on Versus 8:30
Panther break in a new QB on a very tough place to play. I like my Panthers offensively, plenty of weapons to spread the ball around and Utah doesn't return anyone in the Back 7 of the Defense. So Baldwin Shanahan and Cruz will give us some mismatches, and Henry Hynoski should help relieve the new guards and center, and will open holes for Dion and Graham. It really depends on how Tino plays. On Defense we have a tough matchup. Utah's offense is similar to Cincy, obviously aren't as good as the Bearcats were last year. But The QB is athletic and they have two good backs. Dan Mason is going to have to be all over the field. New Corners, Gary and Reed are going to have to play exceptionally well. Luckily our safeties are experienced.
I'll take my Panthers, I think the talent level on our team is greater.
Panthers 31 Utes 17
Youngtown State at Penn State Saturday Noon on Big Ten
Penn State is going with a Freshmen on opening day for the first time ever. Bolden is going to be good in years to come, this year is going to be a struggle. Royster and Green should make this first game easy for Bolden. And I'm sure the other 2 QB's will get time as well. Moye and Zug are big targets and should be reliable, not game breaking. The Penguins really aren't really an imposing threat. PSU should win by 30, but they better not look to next week too soon. Take care of business. The Lions D is pretty good, and will keep them around all season long.
Nittany Lions 42 Penguins 10
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia 3:30
The Mountaineers don't exactly open with a powerhouse either. Geno Smith is also a brand new QB, and will also have a relatively easy transition. Noel Devine may be the most explosive player in Football, he can carry this team on his back a long ways. Sanders is a good secondary star, and can do just about anything. WVU returns a lot on both sides and won't have a problem with the Chanticleers. Devine will torch this team..
Mountaineers 45 Chanticleers 6
And in the Brian Kelly era........
Purdue at Notre Dame 3:30 NBC
I'm not sure how this one will go, once again new QB. But a different scheme then last year. Crist is coming off an injury and the spread isn't easy to run on a bad knee. Floyd is a great player, and Rudolph is reliable. Allen is a good back, and Kelly does use Running Backs. He should fit in well. Purdue hasn't been good in a while now, But Miami transfer Marve isn't too bad and can make some plays. ND will struggle but I think they'll win
Fightin' Irish 28 Boilermakers 21
Panther break in a new QB on a very tough place to play. I like my Panthers offensively, plenty of weapons to spread the ball around and Utah doesn't return anyone in the Back 7 of the Defense. So Baldwin Shanahan and Cruz will give us some mismatches, and Henry Hynoski should help relieve the new guards and center, and will open holes for Dion and Graham. It really depends on how Tino plays. On Defense we have a tough matchup. Utah's offense is similar to Cincy, obviously aren't as good as the Bearcats were last year. But The QB is athletic and they have two good backs. Dan Mason is going to have to be all over the field. New Corners, Gary and Reed are going to have to play exceptionally well. Luckily our safeties are experienced.
I'll take my Panthers, I think the talent level on our team is greater.
Panthers 31 Utes 17
Youngtown State at Penn State Saturday Noon on Big Ten
Penn State is going with a Freshmen on opening day for the first time ever. Bolden is going to be good in years to come, this year is going to be a struggle. Royster and Green should make this first game easy for Bolden. And I'm sure the other 2 QB's will get time as well. Moye and Zug are big targets and should be reliable, not game breaking. The Penguins really aren't really an imposing threat. PSU should win by 30, but they better not look to next week too soon. Take care of business. The Lions D is pretty good, and will keep them around all season long.
Nittany Lions 42 Penguins 10
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia 3:30
The Mountaineers don't exactly open with a powerhouse either. Geno Smith is also a brand new QB, and will also have a relatively easy transition. Noel Devine may be the most explosive player in Football, he can carry this team on his back a long ways. Sanders is a good secondary star, and can do just about anything. WVU returns a lot on both sides and won't have a problem with the Chanticleers. Devine will torch this team..
Mountaineers 45 Chanticleers 6
And in the Brian Kelly era........
Purdue at Notre Dame 3:30 NBC
I'm not sure how this one will go, once again new QB. But a different scheme then last year. Crist is coming off an injury and the spread isn't easy to run on a bad knee. Floyd is a great player, and Rudolph is reliable. Allen is a good back, and Kelly does use Running Backs. He should fit in well. Purdue hasn't been good in a while now, But Miami transfer Marve isn't too bad and can make some plays. ND will struggle but I think they'll win
Fightin' Irish 28 Boilermakers 21
Last edited by Crimson09Crazy on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Local Predictions Week 1
Just a thought on your PSU prediction:
I think people are underestimating this Penn State offense a little bit in this preseason. Everyone is saying that the defense is going to keep Penn State in a lot of games but offensively there is a good bit returning. Penn State is going to be green at QB and TE but four of the OL started most of the games last season. The receiving corps is possibly the best Joe Pa has ever had (top to bottom depth). Royster, Green, and Suhey are all back. This offense is going to be a little better than people may be predicting. The defense is more of the concern right now for me (understand that I have higher expectations each year for PSU's defense than offense). They need to replace a 1st round pick on the DL and all 3 of their LBs. Devon Still will fill in nicely for Odrick but there is no way that the LB corps is where the LB of last year was at during this point. They have a lot of talent and depth at that position but they are living up to pretty high standards playing LB at Penn State.
Basically all Penn State is only filling holes at TE, QB, and LB (DL is still fine w/o Odrick) from an 11 win, top 10 ranked team from last year. I thought next year would be a great year for the Nittany Lions with a ton of this years team returning but now looking at the schedule for 2011 this year may look a little more promising than next.
But for some predictions of my own:
-Pitt 24/Utah 21
-Penn State 48/YSU 6
-WVU 45/CC 7
-Purdue 23/ND 21
-USC 52/Hawaii 13
-South Carolina 14/So. Miss 13
-Ohio State 56/Marshall 3
-Oregon State 31/TCU 28
-LSU 24/UNC 14
-Boise State 24/VT 23
I think people are underestimating this Penn State offense a little bit in this preseason. Everyone is saying that the defense is going to keep Penn State in a lot of games but offensively there is a good bit returning. Penn State is going to be green at QB and TE but four of the OL started most of the games last season. The receiving corps is possibly the best Joe Pa has ever had (top to bottom depth). Royster, Green, and Suhey are all back. This offense is going to be a little better than people may be predicting. The defense is more of the concern right now for me (understand that I have higher expectations each year for PSU's defense than offense). They need to replace a 1st round pick on the DL and all 3 of their LBs. Devon Still will fill in nicely for Odrick but there is no way that the LB corps is where the LB of last year was at during this point. They have a lot of talent and depth at that position but they are living up to pretty high standards playing LB at Penn State.
Basically all Penn State is only filling holes at TE, QB, and LB (DL is still fine w/o Odrick) from an 11 win, top 10 ranked team from last year. I thought next year would be a great year for the Nittany Lions with a ton of this years team returning but now looking at the schedule for 2011 this year may look a little more promising than next.
But for some predictions of my own:
-Pitt 24/Utah 21
-Penn State 48/YSU 6
-WVU 45/CC 7
-Purdue 23/ND 21
-USC 52/Hawaii 13
-South Carolina 14/So. Miss 13
-Ohio State 56/Marshall 3
-Oregon State 31/TCU 28
-LSU 24/UNC 14
-Boise State 24/VT 23
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Crimson09Crazy
Re: Local Predictions Week 1
I mean great Pitt game, we sucked for 3 quarters. Tino got some poise late in the game despite the late pick, other then that. He did well in the 4th quarter, not packing it in and fought.
Tough way to open, But New Hampshire is a nice ease away from this game.
We can still win the Big East and go to the Sugar or Fiesta Bowl. All is not lost. That was a tough game, against a good football team, in a very tough place to play. We battled. Not much else you can say.
QB-Tino needs work, but showed a desire that he wanted the ball in his hands and wanted to make the plays a veteran would make.
RB-Dion had a good first half, didn't have much room to run, but still made things out of nothing. Hurt not having Graham, Hynoski did very well.
WR-Saddler was good underneath. After Sunseri woke up, He found Shanahan and Baldwin for some big catches.
TE-Cruz made 3 Big catches. Did ok blocking.
OLIne- ehhh we need to get a lot better. Dion had no room.
DLine-Caragein played well, Romeus was non existent for the most part, Didn't hear much about Sheard either.
LB's- got burnt all day in pass covering, Mason did a lot of good and a fair amount of bad things.
DB's- Shaky at best. Reed made some nice plays but got beat as well. Didn't see what was up with Decicco.
Special Teams-One missed FG. It was pretty far though. Dropped Kick Return that led straight to a Utah score, He hangs on. We win the game, That turnover was painful.
Coaching- Our playcalling was expected with a first time QB, We needed to find a way to open things up more on the ground though. Defensively....We didn't make many adjustments? We committed dumb penalties.
Hey its week 1. Still have the World to play for.
Tough way to open, But New Hampshire is a nice ease away from this game.
We can still win the Big East and go to the Sugar or Fiesta Bowl. All is not lost. That was a tough game, against a good football team, in a very tough place to play. We battled. Not much else you can say.
QB-Tino needs work, but showed a desire that he wanted the ball in his hands and wanted to make the plays a veteran would make.
RB-Dion had a good first half, didn't have much room to run, but still made things out of nothing. Hurt not having Graham, Hynoski did very well.
WR-Saddler was good underneath. After Sunseri woke up, He found Shanahan and Baldwin for some big catches.
TE-Cruz made 3 Big catches. Did ok blocking.
OLIne- ehhh we need to get a lot better. Dion had no room.
DLine-Caragein played well, Romeus was non existent for the most part, Didn't hear much about Sheard either.
LB's- got burnt all day in pass covering, Mason did a lot of good and a fair amount of bad things.
DB's- Shaky at best. Reed made some nice plays but got beat as well. Didn't see what was up with Decicco.
Special Teams-One missed FG. It was pretty far though. Dropped Kick Return that led straight to a Utah score, He hangs on. We win the game, That turnover was painful.
Coaching- Our playcalling was expected with a first time QB, We needed to find a way to open things up more on the ground though. Defensively....We didn't make many adjustments? We committed dumb penalties.
Hey its week 1. Still have the World to play for.
Last edited by Crimson09Crazy on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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KirkHerbstreit
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Re: Local Predictions Week 1
Crap I thought this was going to be the year Pitt was in National Title Contention!!!!
Here is what I saw....
Dave Wanstaddt face....oh crap it's 3rd and 8? we better run i don't want to risk anything.
Tino Sunseri has happy feet. He completed the blown coverage bomb and a nice pass to baldwin on an out pattern. He is in trouble if Pitt gets in a lot of third and longs this year. But he's young yet.
Pitt's linebackers are slow. Mason is overrated by Pitt Fans
Both of Pitt's interior lines were blown off the ball.
Dion Lewis and Baldwin look like the spent the summer at Primati brothers training.
Here is what I saw....
Dave Wanstaddt face....oh crap it's 3rd and 8? we better run i don't want to risk anything.
Tino Sunseri has happy feet. He completed the blown coverage bomb and a nice pass to baldwin on an out pattern. He is in trouble if Pitt gets in a lot of third and longs this year. But he's young yet.
Pitt's linebackers are slow. Mason is overrated by Pitt Fans
Both of Pitt's interior lines were blown off the ball.
Dion Lewis and Baldwin look like the spent the summer at Primati brothers training.
Last edited by KirkHerbstreit on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Local Predictions Week 1
I saw two very poorly coached football teams.
Utah was predictable on offense. Their running back was ok, but their QB was spotty at best and never consistent.
There were probably nearly as many penalty yards as there were yards on offense for Pitt. How many false start penalties did Pitt have? Five or six?? Maybe playing in front of a full stadium actually got to them????
Why can Pitt students show up to watch a game on tv for free but not at the stadium on Saturday???
Dion Lewis had a horrible game for a player that the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette said would contend for, if not win, the Heisman Trophy. Maybe he can get it together against New Hampshire.
Depending on the results from this weekend and what other teams do I would not be surprised if Pitt falls out of the top 25.
Utah was predictable on offense. Their running back was ok, but their QB was spotty at best and never consistent.
There were probably nearly as many penalty yards as there were yards on offense for Pitt. How many false start penalties did Pitt have? Five or six?? Maybe playing in front of a full stadium actually got to them????
Why can Pitt students show up to watch a game on tv for free but not at the stadium on Saturday???
Dion Lewis had a horrible game for a player that the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette said would contend for, if not win, the Heisman Trophy. Maybe he can get it together against New Hampshire.
Depending on the results from this weekend and what other teams do I would not be surprised if Pitt falls out of the top 25.
Last edited by frostlion on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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KirkHerbstreit
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Re: Local Predictions Week 1
My favorite part of the Pitt Student section was when they showed them at one point I believe when Pitt did something and 80% of them weren't paying attention and were talking to each other. My guess is they were talking about Kennywood, the Pirates, or the Pittsburgh Zoo's newest Animal.
Last edited by KirkHerbstreit on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Local Predictions Week 1
You forgot to mention the Science Center and Pirmanti Brothers.....you know....all the countless things to do in PIttsburgh other than going to cheer on their school.
Last edited by frostlion on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Crimson09Crazy
Re: Local Predictions Week 1
Well Kirk, First Game doesn't define a whole season. Breaking in a new QB on the road in a hostile environment isn't exactly an easy thing. You'll see just how easy it is next Saturday. I'm sure Bolden won't play 1/4 as good as Tino did.
Dave didn't exactly run the ball on 3 and 8ths? Maybe we got different games but Dion didn't see many carries in the 2nd half on my tv?
It wasn't great coverage but Baldwin did put a nice move on the corner and broke open, no safety help made it look blown.
Pitt's Linebackers were very slow. Once again. MLB is a key position and Dan Mason isn't ray lewis by any stretch, but with his body, the skills will develop and make him a good player.
Couldn't disagree more about that Dion and Baldwin thing. Dion made some really good runs that anyone could appreciate, if he would have had more holes, I'm sure 100 yards would have ensued. Tino didn't look Baldwin's way a lot, He got into two situations 1 on 1 with a Sunseri poorly thrown jump ball, the Utah defenders made the plays. He still made 3 big catches in a row.
At Frosty
Utah's Asiata was a tough runner, I came away impressed with him. He torched Bama in the Sugar Bowl a couple years ago. he's a good back. The QB is also young, He was definitely better in the first half, Pitt's D improved throughout the game and made it a little more difficult for him.
Yeah Utah had a good environment, But this team has played in some big games before, I think 3 new linemen had a lot to do with it.
I was in the Pitt student section last year and got nowhere near the field, The Students haven't been the problem with Pitt's attendance the past two years. They've been excellent.
Horrible game from Dion? I saw a guy with nowhere to go. Maybe I see games differently.
Dave didn't exactly run the ball on 3 and 8ths? Maybe we got different games but Dion didn't see many carries in the 2nd half on my tv?
It wasn't great coverage but Baldwin did put a nice move on the corner and broke open, no safety help made it look blown.
Pitt's Linebackers were very slow. Once again. MLB is a key position and Dan Mason isn't ray lewis by any stretch, but with his body, the skills will develop and make him a good player.
Couldn't disagree more about that Dion and Baldwin thing. Dion made some really good runs that anyone could appreciate, if he would have had more holes, I'm sure 100 yards would have ensued. Tino didn't look Baldwin's way a lot, He got into two situations 1 on 1 with a Sunseri poorly thrown jump ball, the Utah defenders made the plays. He still made 3 big catches in a row.
At Frosty
Utah's Asiata was a tough runner, I came away impressed with him. He torched Bama in the Sugar Bowl a couple years ago. he's a good back. The QB is also young, He was definitely better in the first half, Pitt's D improved throughout the game and made it a little more difficult for him.
Yeah Utah had a good environment, But this team has played in some big games before, I think 3 new linemen had a lot to do with it.
I was in the Pitt student section last year and got nowhere near the field, The Students haven't been the problem with Pitt's attendance the past two years. They've been excellent.
Horrible game from Dion? I saw a guy with nowhere to go. Maybe I see games differently.
Last edited by Crimson09Crazy on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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davesandstorm
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Re: Local Predictions Week 1
How big of an arse did Utah's coach look calling that timeout when Pitt's kicker shanked it. Good thing they got the W.
Last edited by davesandstorm on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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KirkHerbstreit
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Re: Local Predictions Week 1
Bolden will be playing against the #1 team in the nation on the road as a true Freshman not an unranked team as a sophmore. You're really going out on a limb there. Hopefully he will be able to muster 11/19 for 89 yards 3/4ths of the way through the game tho.
No Safety help was the reason why it was BLOWN. When a guy expects help, let's his receiver run by, and gets no help it's blown coverage.
I wasnt commenting on Baldwin's plays or Lewis's, but they look heavier and not in a good way. I thought dion looked fairly ordinary tonight. His first carry was for 18 yards. After that he carried 24 for 57 yards.
No Safety help was the reason why it was BLOWN. When a guy expects help, let's his receiver run by, and gets no help it's blown coverage.
I wasnt commenting on Baldwin's plays or Lewis's, but they look heavier and not in a good way. I thought dion looked fairly ordinary tonight. His first carry was for 18 yards. After that he carried 24 for 57 yards.
Last edited by KirkHerbstreit on September 20th, 2011, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.