mmmm sweet beat down of the U and then mockery of my coworker. That was such a complete game and as dominant of a performance by our defensive line (MISSING TWO OF THEIR BEST PLAYERS!!!!) that I've ever seen. Man that was fun! but...now its onto that dreaded other place.
yes its pitt week
Seriously I feel like when the football team pulls up to Pittsburgh it looks something like this outside
Flaming dragons, ring wraiths and the works
My first memory of playing pitt was my dreaded sophmore year when the wheels on the bus didn't just come off they blew off in a fire born metal death trap. All of my hopes and dreams came crashing down, as I watched the hokies implode that season and not even look like we were getting back on track (aside from the brief joy of beating anOSU) until this year. I didn't believe in cursed places until that game
real footage of our hype train 2012 post Pitt
However with a new coaching staff and a new sense of energy surrounding the program hopefully we can finally get this monkey off of our back and destroy the one ring....er break the curse and win in Pitt. With a new offense that bases its game off of some misdirection and taking advantage of our opponents weaknesses (SOMETHING THATS BEEN PROMISED FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE A DECADE!) and hopefully they can keep up with Pitts offense and we can get enough stops to escape that cursed place with a win (god it feels weird saying the game isn't totally on Bud)
bud seems relieved
Anywho I'll leave that film stuff to French and move onto my part, the weather! I have good news and bad news regarding this weeks weather report. We'll start with the bad news. Its probably going to rain Thursday, its going to be a really messy day for tailgating. A trough ridge system has taken over for the continental United States an upper level trough will be moving over the region bringing with it a low pressure system. Low pressure systems typically indicate upwards motion and bad weather creating a pretty dreary day. Hopefully this takes a little bit of steam out of tailgating and the overall mood for Pitt going into the game. The good news is the bad weather should clear out for the game (even if we do have a pretty good record in bad weather games...) it should clear out to a light drizzle if any rain at all. Weather I believe will still have a slight impact on the game however, wind gusts could reach between 10-15 MPH as the system works its way out, and the field should still be pretty wet from the rain earlier in the day. Some slips and spills would not surprise me.
might be a tad like this
I also think the temperatures around kickoff could get a little chilly. With rain coming in earlier and the high topping out around 60 and the low dropping down to about 40 that evening we could be looking at a pretty chilly game. If you're travelling for the game make sure you bring a few layers for sure.
Final Predictions
Ultimately if its as windy as I believe it will be the advantage does play in the defenses favors (albeit not quite like a hurricane but still..) as french mentioned in another thread Pitt relies on the short passing game whereas we rely more on stretching the field with our passing game (correct me if I'm wrong french!) ultimately I believe winds at this strength would probably effect all throws but deep throws will definitely be tricky to hit on. I think this could play into Pitt's advantage a little bit, however if wind does take over I trust our ball hawking defense to make some plays!
High - 59
Low - 40
Kickoff Temperature - 46
Winds - Moderate
Clouds - VERY CLOUDY
precipitation - little to none
GO HOKIES!!!!!!!!
Comments
Heinz Field is already a dreaded place for field goals. Throw in some sog and who knows what'll happen. Reminds me of the MNF game about 10 years ago between the Dolphins and Steelers. Final 3-0 with the lone highlight being a punt that didn't bounce.
Surprise surprise. Cloudy in Pennsylvania. Pretty sure the sun just hates that state.
Eat shit Pitt.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
I predict shitty field conditions and condiments because, Pittsburgh
Yep. Their field is absolute garbage and it is embarrassing for an NFL team to play on that.
I've never been a fan of the fake stuff, but turf should be installed at Heinz Field.
The field isn't usually that bad. The infamous Mud Bowl in 2007 happened because there was a USF-Pitt game on Saturday and at least 4 high school playoff games during the week leading up to the game, and it was raining most of the week. The field never really had a chance.
Thanks shibe. The humor and pictures were a nice touch.
If our defense controls the flow of their offense and gets them in 3rd and long "passing down" situations, ball hawking defense might happen. Otherwise, as stated, those short passes might not be impacted as highly as our long "stretch the field" passing. Unfortunately, gusting winds, will play into their defenses favor, more so than ours. Lets hope we can get a run game established on offense (tough to do with Pitt), or that the wind isn't too much of a factor in our passing game. I think the quickness and discipline of our defense against their run will be the biggest factor in this game.
Go Hokies!!
Edit: Grammar policing myself
I also think as long as we score more points than them, we should get a "W" in the win/loss column!
This might work too
As long as the field doesn't end up doing this, I think it will be a good game.
via GIPHY
I can only assume that Fuente and Co. are aware of the wind conditions of one side of the field compared to the other. Definitely should alter game plan (e.g., long passes, field goal attempts), depending on the quarter.
If you win the coin flip, do you go field position with the wind Q1 and Q3, to build up a lead and let Bud's D do the rest, or with the wind Q2 and Q4, for a game winning pass or FG?
If you win the coin flip, you either take the ball or defer options to the second half and take the ball then. No way field conditions are enough of an impact to elect to forfeit the ball at the start of both halves.
Can't you defer, they ask to receive the kick, then you decide the field to defend? I thought that's how it worked. Otherwise, how are the sides chosen?
Yea, that's correct. When I read your post, I thought you meant a scenario where the winner of the coin toss chose a side as their first election.
Yes but then the team who doesn't get the ball is going to take the wind in their favor so it could very well flip-flop between halves
NOTE: might be a little rainier than originally anticipated but the worst should still come during the afternoon. Expect some scattered showers earlier during the game with it easing up as the game progresses
****nightmare****no no fuck you Larry
BLECH!! EW!! GEEZE!!
Kinda hoping this is bud foster and the D tomorrow.
Actually I think we want them to pass, don't we? You know, stop the run and make them earn it through the air AKA play catch with our DBs?
If Pitt is 1 dimensional in this game, it plays into our hands. Doesn't matter if its our defense or the weather that makes them that way.
I meant it more like...when we shut down the run we're gonna shut down the pass as well, but yeah probably should have clarified
Supposed to be raining here, too.
It's too early for that shit.
Maybe Heinz will freeze over.
Frozen ketchup? No thanks.
Historically, the first snowfall of the year in Albany occurs on average on 10/28, so we're only a day ahead of schedule.
I believe it's called snow..... /s
Where IS that.....and you have no idea how glad I'm not there.
new york i assume? its so friggin tough to forecast snow/rain this early in the season. maybe ill do a write-up as to why next week. a degree here or there within like 2 kilometers of the surface could give you snow vs rain and as spectacular as radiosoundes and models are expecting that kind of perfection is difficult. That degree makes a huge difference but to reliably forecast that on such a small scale is asking a lot
Update- still supposed to change over to sleet/snow mix in southern Adirondacks region any time now.
