Miami Throttles Pitt in 41-31 Win

“We just gotta run faster, it’s that simple,” were the infamous halftime comments former Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt made during an embarrassing 45-13 loss at West Virigina in 2005. Now 8 years later, those comments still ring true as Pitt put a wrap on its first season in the ACC after a 41-31 home loss to Miami.

Wannstedt, who was forced out by Pitt AD Steve Pederson in December 2010, had the Pitt football program at a 9-win level and contending for the now-defunct Big East Football Conference title. However, Pitt has had speed deficit issues against the elite teams for the better portion of a decade and the coaching turnover hasn’t helped matters. Yesterday was no different as Miami clearly looked faster at almost every position on the field.

Since then, Pitt has promptly gone 6-7 in 2011 under Todd Graham (who promptly left for Arizona State the following season), 6-7 under Paul Chryst in 2012 (his first season) and now 6-6 in 2013 under Paul Chryst with a possible bowl invite pending. Pitt also finished 3-5 in Conference play in its first season in the ACC.

The apparent lack of speed has contributed to a lot of those losses as well as issues on the offensive line and special teams.

Accordingly, big questions emerged following yesterday’s season ending defeat to the Hurricanes.

Should Pitt hire a Special Teams coach or at the very minimum, assign one of the current coaches to the job? Notwithstanding the fumble by Pitt kick-returner Lafayette Pitts on the game’s kickoff, which led to a quick 7-0 Miami lead on its first offensive series, Pitt has had too many special teams gaffes throughout the year. The most memorable yesterday was an illegal substitution penalty call on a Miami 4th down that kept a scoring drive alive for the Hurricanes. Prior to that, Pitt surrendered 2 TDs on punts to North Carolina in a 34-27 home loss two weeks ago as well as fell for a fake FG against Georgia Tech that kept a Yellow Jacket drive alive in early November. Not only has lane integrity become a major issue but also talent on the field on special teams. Pitt has looked incredibly slow against the competition and completely out of position in all of those situations.

Miami also blocked Pitt’s Matt Yoklic punt which led to a quick 14-0 Canes lead in the 1st Quarter. Pitt special teams once again reared its ugly head.

Pitt did strike back. Tailback Isaac Bennett broke a big run off tackle late in the 1st Quarter for a 45 yard touchdown to pull Pitt with one score, 14-7. It was Pitt’s longest rushing score all season.

Bennett quietly finished the day with 21 carries for 141 yards and 1 TD against Miami.

Miami though promptly marched the field and PK Matt Goudis kicked a 29 yard field goal to put Miami up 17-7 at the close of the 1st Quarter.

From that point, Miami’s big speed advantage began to emerge. Hurricane WR Allen Hurns, who finished with 9 grabs and 173 yards, took a screen pass for 66 yards to set up RB Gus Edwards for a 7 yard score and gave Miami the 24-7 lead.

A couple series later, Pitt answered with a 36 yard FG by Chris Blewitt to pull Pitt within 24-10 on a 13 play drive that took 6:34 minutes off the clock at the 9 minute mark of the 2nd Quarter.

But it was Miami freshman WR Stacy Coley who put the game out of reach with a 73 yard TD run to give the Canes a 31-10 lead. Pitt looked slow and out of position on the play. Coley also had 3 catches for 73 yards and 2 TDs on the day.

The next question emerged was whether Matt House was really ready for the job as Pitt’s Defensive Coordinator this year? Just a secondary coach the previous season, the 34 year old House was under fire all season long. Yesterday’s defensive performance only added to the doubt that he was. Pitt’s defensive backs gave Miami WR’s Burns and Coley 10 to 15 yard cushions and it was exploited time and again all game long. The scheme was very puzzling. Then Coley’s 73 yard run in which he looked untouched just made the situation look even worse.

To Pitt’s credit, though, they didn’t give up. Pitt QB Tom Savage, who finished the day on 24 for 43 passing for 281 yards, added a score of his own with a 7 yard scamper to pull the score to 31-17 Miami at the 12:27 mark of the 3rd Quarter.

Miami tacked on a Matt Goudis 39 yard FG early in the 4th Quarter to give the Canes the 34-17 lead.

Pitt answered with a 13 play, 95 yard drive capped by a 23 yard score from Tom Savage to RB Rachid Ibrahim on a misdirection passing play to pull the Panthers within 10 points at the 14:05 mark of the 4th Qtr. At that point, the Canes led 34-24.

Miami’s speed continued to wear the Panthers down and eventually, QB Steven Morris found TE Astane Cleveland for a 5 yard TD pass to seal the game for the Canes. Miami led 41-24.

Morris finished the game on 17 for 28 yards passing and 3 scores. He controlled the game with efficient play and displayed some very nice touch on the ball. In fact, the game could have been worse if the Canes hadn’t dropped sure TD in the first half on a sweet Morris toss on an end-zone post pattern.

Pitt did add a final TD in garbage time on a Tom Savage 12 yard pass to freshman phenom WR Tyler Boyd at the 1:03 mark of the 4th Quarter.

Boyd, in fact, broke Larry Fitzgerald’s freshman 11 year reception record at Pitt with 77 catches. Fitzgerald had 69 catches for 1005 yards and 12 TDs in 2002. Boyd finished the 2013 regular season with 77 grabs and 1002 yards and 7 TDs. He had 9 catches for 98 yards and a TD in yesterday’s loss to Miami.

Besides Savage’s and Boyd’s performances, there were a few other noteworthy takeaways from the game for Pitt. LB Anthony Gonzalez played exceptionally well, especially against the run and had several tackles for loss. Pitt’s OL only surrendered 1 sack to the Canes, who historically owned the Line of Scrimmage in their 16 wins out of the past 17 games against the Panthers. And of course, it goes without saying DT Aaron Donald had another tackle for loss and finished the regular season with 28, and at the time of this article, leads the nation in the category.

But with speed issues coupled with defensive breakdowns, special teams problems and having to replace the QB (Savage), one of its top receivers (Street) and perhaps its best DT (Donald) in its history, Pitt has many question marks heading into the 2014 season.

Perhaps an invitation to a bowl game will give the Panthers the much needed 15 extra practices, but recruiting faster players, fixing special teams and perhaps evaluating position coaches will most likely be Paul Chryst’s focus in the off-season.