Can't turn the ball over and expect to win a game against a good team. I think they are a good team and we are disappointed with the outcome. Our offense got back on track after the Clemson game, but still not quite where we liked. Sitting at 3-2, we've lost two top ten teams, but we can still do good things.
ON PITT LEADING ACC IN RUSH DEFENSE
They are always good in rush defense, look at the stats, will depend on who they play, they blitz and stunt a lot to create negative plays, helps the rush defense and very good at
ON 2014 BEING SPRING BOARD AT PITT
People were ready to give up the ship after two losses in 2014, a lot of football left to be played and we won the Orange Bowl. Maybe this is the week for us to play better.
ON PLAYS JUST MISSING TOUCHDOWNS
We are close, but that is the nature of the beast. Little things make big things happen, when you play better teams you can't squander those. It would've been big to score on the opening drive. The toss with the penalty, it was a little bit behind the ball, hard to fault the guy for cutting the guy, he was straight on him. They got them on the same thing.
ON PITTS PRICE
You better know where he is and he has several moves and when he gets you in passing situations, you better account for him because he is a good pass rusher.
ON JUSTIN THOMAS'S TURNOVERS
First one was not his fault, he would be first to tell you the second one was a poor decision on his part, we have to protect him, we need him to be more involved in the run game, but we have to seal it off better for him.
ON THINGS THEY'VE DONE WELL
We controlled the clock, held the ball well minus turnovers, we've been good in the red zone, got 3 TDs in 3 tries, haven't kicked many FGs. Defensively we've played better in the second halves of games, we have to find out.
ON STARTING FAST
If you go back to Vandy, we scored on the first play, Clemson we missed a block that would've been a big play. We have given up four opening TDs to start the games, we have to get a better start.
ON WORKING WITH OL
Will be the same as last week. I think there were some positive yes. Are we playing the way we want to play? No. We left two TDs on play-action if blocked better. If we turn a guy loose... no one does that on purpose and we have to explain how to block that better.
ON PITT'S HENDERSON
He is good at speed sweeps and they have the big back, they are similar to an option offense, do it with power and lateral. They keep guys out of the box with speed, then they pound Connor inside. Their QB is playing at a high level, WR #85 is a great player, made a ton of plays for them, very efficient offensively.
ON DEFENSIVE FOR THE TWO PITT RUNNING BACKS
You have to have a plan for both, they will exploit one or the other, limit big plays and create some negative plays. We need some blitzes and stunts to get them behind the chains. They are no huddle at times, the tempo isn't a problem, they change formations a lot. Be sound, don't be a guy short on the edge or in the box, that gives them the thing, that will be the challenge defensively.
ON ANTONIO SIMMONS PLAYING TIME
He has played well this season and he needs to be more consistent in the run game, but he has been our best pass rusher.
ON SECONDARY
Step missed the last game, Lamont Simmons got a start, Dorian Walker is playing more and more, has good athletic ability, Lance has been playing solely the field corner, Corey Griffin has been solid, AJ Gray hasn't been as involved as I would like, he hasn't played poorly. Jalen Johnson got in some last week so did Shaun Kagawa.
ON DEFENSE ABLE TO KEEP YOU IN GAMES
I guess it is a good job. Miami scored 2-3 times in the first half, then we pull within 7, they score in four plays. Miami scored on roughly half of the possessions of they had in the game.
ON PITT'S SCORING OFFENSE
They have been very efficient, when you get 20 possessions versus 8 you have to put it in perspective. They've done a nice job, in UNC game they held it 40 minutes, UNC at the start of the game UNC ran 6 plays in the first QT. It is relative, they've been very good offensively and they've played as well offensively as anyone we have played this year. Miami had been scoring at a high rate, but the competition is different, Pitt has played Penn State, Oklahoma State, UNC.
ON MID-TERMS THIS WEEK
It is a factor, you have to manage it. It is different for each player. You can kind of tell when it is going on, they walk around like zombies because of presentations or tests.
ON THIRD DOWN DEFENSE IMPROVING
We were much better in the second half, in first half only had one third down, in second half we got some three and outs in the third quarter. That was a positive and that is something we hope to build upon to carry over into the first half.
ON PASS COVERAGE BEING SOFT
We call press sometimes, when you are playing man to man, no one tells you to back up 9 yards, you play him where you can, we may need to challenge. There are guys you don't want to challenge. We have a TE or a slower WR, we need to challenge that guy. The 4.3 guy you can backup a little bit, sometime you have to have confidence in your ability and move up there. We seem to do much better when they are challenging guys, they have to catch fade routes, they are harder to complete.
ON PITT LEADING ACC IN RUSH DEFENSE
They are always good in rush defense, look at the stats, will depend on who they play, they blitz and stunt a lot to create negative plays, helps the rush defense and very good at
ON 2014 BEING SPRING BOARD AT PITT
People were ready to give up the ship after two losses in 2014, a lot of football left to be played and we won the Orange Bowl. Maybe this is the week for us to play better.
ON PLAYS JUST MISSING TOUCHDOWNS
We are close, but that is the nature of the beast. Little things make big things happen, when you play better teams you can't squander those. It would've been big to score on the opening drive. The toss with the penalty, it was a little bit behind the ball, hard to fault the guy for cutting the guy, he was straight on him. They got them on the same thing.
ON PITTS PRICE
You better know where he is and he has several moves and when he gets you in passing situations, you better account for him because he is a good pass rusher.
ON JUSTIN THOMAS'S TURNOVERS
First one was not his fault, he would be first to tell you the second one was a poor decision on his part, we have to protect him, we need him to be more involved in the run game, but we have to seal it off better for him.
ON THINGS THEY'VE DONE WELL
We controlled the clock, held the ball well minus turnovers, we've been good in the red zone, got 3 TDs in 3 tries, haven't kicked many FGs. Defensively we've played better in the second halves of games, we have to find out.
ON STARTING FAST
If you go back to Vandy, we scored on the first play, Clemson we missed a block that would've been a big play. We have given up four opening TDs to start the games, we have to get a better start.
ON WORKING WITH OL
Will be the same as last week. I think there were some positive yes. Are we playing the way we want to play? No. We left two TDs on play-action if blocked better. If we turn a guy loose... no one does that on purpose and we have to explain how to block that better.
ON PITT'S HENDERSON
He is good at speed sweeps and they have the big back, they are similar to an option offense, do it with power and lateral. They keep guys out of the box with speed, then they pound Connor inside. Their QB is playing at a high level, WR #85 is a great player, made a ton of plays for them, very efficient offensively.
ON DEFENSIVE FOR THE TWO PITT RUNNING BACKS
You have to have a plan for both, they will exploit one or the other, limit big plays and create some negative plays. We need some blitzes and stunts to get them behind the chains. They are no huddle at times, the tempo isn't a problem, they change formations a lot. Be sound, don't be a guy short on the edge or in the box, that gives them the thing, that will be the challenge defensively.
ON ANTONIO SIMMONS PLAYING TIME
He has played well this season and he needs to be more consistent in the run game, but he has been our best pass rusher.
ON SECONDARY
Step missed the last game, Lamont Simmons got a start, Dorian Walker is playing more and more, has good athletic ability, Lance has been playing solely the field corner, Corey Griffin has been solid, AJ Gray hasn't been as involved as I would like, he hasn't played poorly. Jalen Johnson got in some last week so did Shaun Kagawa.
ON DEFENSE ABLE TO KEEP YOU IN GAMES
I guess it is a good job. Miami scored 2-3 times in the first half, then we pull within 7, they score in four plays. Miami scored on roughly half of the possessions of they had in the game.
ON PITT'S SCORING OFFENSE
They have been very efficient, when you get 20 possessions versus 8 you have to put it in perspective. They've done a nice job, in UNC game they held it 40 minutes, UNC at the start of the game UNC ran 6 plays in the first QT. It is relative, they've been very good offensively and they've played as well offensively as anyone we have played this year. Miami had been scoring at a high rate, but the competition is different, Pitt has played Penn State, Oklahoma State, UNC.
ON MID-TERMS THIS WEEK
It is a factor, you have to manage it. It is different for each player. You can kind of tell when it is going on, they walk around like zombies because of presentations or tests.
ON THIRD DOWN DEFENSE IMPROVING
We were much better in the second half, in first half only had one third down, in second half we got some three and outs in the third quarter. That was a positive and that is something we hope to build upon to carry over into the first half.
ON PASS COVERAGE BEING SOFT
We call press sometimes, when you are playing man to man, no one tells you to back up 9 yards, you play him where you can, we may need to challenge. There are guys you don't want to challenge. We have a TE or a slower WR, we need to challenge that guy. The 4.3 guy you can backup a little bit, sometime you have to have confidence in your ability and move up there. We seem to do much better when they are challenging guys, they have to catch fade routes, they are harder to complete.
