Too early to look at the Pitt game?

[sjt18]

Big early test for UT according to most sources. Addison is now a Trojan. He makes 5 of their top 7 receivers that will not be in their line up this fall. Rising Jr Barden appears to be stepping into a starting role. An Akron transfer Mumpfield appears to be the 3rd starter. He had 63 receptions for 751 yds on a 2-10 team. Bradley returns with their top 5 WR's being rounded out by a La Tech transfer- Bub Means. Means LT's 3rd receiver with 23 catches for 458 yds.

Slovis is physically talented. But he is very up and down. He has a tendency to throw the ball to the other side. His numbers got worse in each season at USC until he was permanently replaced by Dart. Dart also transferred after the coaching change. So they have one solid but not spectacular WR returning, a new QB with a very inconsistent history, and a new OC.

They're solid at RB. Abanikanda is very good with 3 more solid guys behind him.

They lose 2 OL's from a line that was 10th in sacks allowed last fall, 11th in rushing yds, and 12th in yds/rush.

It isn't an exaggeration to say that Pickett was their Offense. He covered a lot of "sins".

Thoughts?

 

[dduncan4163]

While this is a big test I see no reason we don't win this game. Pitt doesn't have a great home field advantage and they've lost a 1st round QB. I expect us to grab a big lead and hold on for the W. It's a looseable game but Hooker will play lights out and pass for 300 and run for 50

Vols 41
Pitt 27

 

[sjt18]

This video appears to be pretty good. The WR they were all jacked up over last year, Jacques-Lewis transferred to Akron.

They were 76th nationally in recruiting and dead last in the ACC. They signed one 4*, 10 3*, and got 5 from the portal.

 

[LittleVol]

While this is a big test I see no reason we don't win this game. Pitt doesn't have a great home field advantage and they've lost a 1st round QB. I expect us to grab a big lead and hold on for the W

Vols 41
Pitt 27

I'd be THRILLED if that happens.

Pitt is an emerging program. I don't think it was a fluke last year. Had Hooker been the guy from the jump, maybe we would have won. Maybe.

Theyre faster and more physical than people realize. Well coached.

They lost Addison, but they still have running backs and a good QB . That defense will be sound again.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

An absolute must win to me.

It sure looks like they will have some holes.

I think losing their TE is an underrated big deal for them.

I'd say we will be fine if we don't turn the ball over 3 times and get penalized 13 times. We were a mess in that game and that turned out to be pretty uncharacteristic for us.

 

[SoddyAllVol]

We should’ve beat them last year. If we lose this year then we have a problem.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Gonna whip dey ass

 

[sjt18]

I'd be THRILLED if that happens.

Pitt is an emerging program. I don't think it was a fluke last year. Had Hooker been the guy from the jump, maybe we would have won. Maybe.

I think if Milton had hit those 3 or 4 wide open deep plays early or Hooker had been the starter.... that game would have looked a lot like Mizzou IMO. Their DB's couldn't run with UT's WR's. Milton just kept missing throws.

Theyre faster and more physical than people realize. Well coached.

They're physical. They're well coached. They are a model of a team that recruits lower rated players, develops them for 3 or 4 years, and then fills their 2 deep with experience.

We have a lot of conversations here about whether and how much the recruiting rankings matter. Pitt's last 5 classes have been 76th, 29th, 45th, 48th, and 37th. That should be enough of a differential that UT has a significant talent advantage. Couple that with Hooker returning and UT's odds have to be pretty good in this game.

They lost Addison, but they still have running backs and a good QB . That defense will be sound again.

Strength is their RB's but they weren't a very good running team last fall. They were good vs the run but not great vs the pass.

An interesting match up stat for this game- Pitt was 12th in the ACC in pass plays over 30 yds. They allowed 25 of them. UT was first in the SEC in pass plays over 30 yds with 30.

 

[Zues1]

Gonna whip dey ass

That's what I'm talking bout

 

[VetVol]

My prediction:

 

[sjt18]

Watched most of their spring game. Obviously there's a lot more to spring than just the game but Slovis didn't look great. Patti looked better but still not good. Overall, their O wasn't very good. They have a true FB named Carter who is 5'10", 240. He was their best offensive player.

As best I can tell, Narduzzi hasn't named a starter and the QB battle will continue into August.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

This guy says:

Josh Pate: “Tennessee at Pitt in Week 2. This one was fun last year. Pitt edged (Tennessee) down at Neyland last year. So Tennessee goes up there in Week 2. This is where you’re going to find out one of two things. Very clear. You’re either going to find out that Pitt made the right moves and they saw Kenny Pickett go to the NFL draft and they got Kedon Slovis, presumably, he ends up starting at quarterback. They brought in some receiver help. And it was enough to where their offense was potent enough, where they absorbed the challenge from Tennessee and they responded and they beat them again. Which probably also indicates Pitt is going to be a big player in the ACC race, even though it’s not a conference game.

“Either that happens, or Tennessee goes up there and wins. And however Tennessee wins, I personally wouldn’t care. Get the win on the road by any means necessary. But that puts Tennessee on track to be undefeated when Florida comes to town in Week 4. As you know, there are few games I get selfish on. And one of them is I would kind of prefer to see Florida versus Tennessee as undefeated versus undefeated in Week 4. Part of that equation relies on Tennessee going and beating Pitt. I don’t like to play favorites, but I kind of am.”

Source: Late Kick Blitz: Tennessee-Pitt will be one of September's biggest swing games

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

They were lucky to beat us last year and lost their 3 best players. And our best player was on the bench. A loss would be a kick in the nuts.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

No reason to lose this one. If we lose this one then it’s going to be a long season.

 

[BLUTickbusdriver]

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

I don’t see us losing this one. It will be high scoring, but we have the better QB and that will be the difference. If we win the coin toss, I say take the ball first and get a quick 7-0 lead. Vol fans will takeover their stadium.

 

[LittleVol]

No reason to lose this one. If we lose this one then it’s going to be a long season.

I got us going 7-5, 8-5 with a bowl

Pitt is a good team.

It'll take a much better coaching job in 3rd down and short from Heupel this time around.

Those senior edge rushers need to play like it's the last go. (Young and Harrison)

We have a good senior class. I think they can carry the day and pull out a win

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

I got us going 7-5, 8-5 with a bowl

Pitt is a good team.

It'll take a much better coaching job in 3rd down and short from Heupel this time around.

Those senior edge rushers need to play like it's the last go. (Young and Harrison)

We have a good senior class. I think they can carry the day and pull out a win

So 3-5 in the SEC? That’s pathetic and a regression from last year. I don’t see that happening at all. I think we will match last year’s SEC record at a minimum if not go 5-3.

 

[jbr82]

If the defense can get better at pass rush and secondary play and then not squander opportunities on offense then they should come out with a victory imo.

 

[VOLywood]

The Pitt game won't be close. Vols will win easily. 50+ points to maybe 21-28 points.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I think if Milton had hit those 3 or 4 wide open deep plays early or Hooker had been the starter.... that game would have looked a lot like Mizzou IMO. Their DB's couldn't run with UT's WR's. Milton just kept missing throws.

They're physical. They're well coached. They are a model of a team that recruits lower rated players, develops them for 3 or 4 years, and then fills their 2 deep with experience.

We have a lot of conversations here about whether and how much the recruiting rankings matter. Pitt's last 5 classes have been 76th, 29th, 45th, 48th, and 37th. That should be enough of a differential that UT has a significant talent advantage. Couple that with Hooker returning and UT's odds have to be pretty good in this game.


Strength is their RB's but they weren't a very good running team last fall. They were good vs the run but not great vs the pass.

An interesting match up stat for this game- Pitt was 12th in the ACC in pass plays over 30 yds. They allowed 25 of them. UT was first in the SEC in pass plays over 30 yds with 30.

I also remember Pitt DB's like to hold a lot because they almost exclusively play press man.

I think Tillman could maybe win this one by himself lol

Great point about the roster ratings.

I've brought up similar points before.

The talent gap between schools isn't actually that great. People talk around here about how you can beat Bama or UGA with 10th ranked recruiting classes.

No you can beat them. Especially if you have a great QB. Kinda like Pitt last year with Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett had a whole lot to do with beating us last year. Oh and the bikitnikoff winner, their TE etc.

Slovis with less talent is going to have to somehow outplay Hendon Hooker with more talent.

Not a game we should be losing.

 

[LWSVOL]

Pitt Football: 2022 Panthers Season Preview and Prediction

 

[sjt18]

I also remember Pitt DB's like to hold a lot because they almost exclusively play press man.

I think Tillman could maybe win this one by himself lol

Great point about the roster ratings.

I've brought up similar points before.

The talent gap between schools isn't actually that great. People talk around here about how you can beat Bama or UGA with 10th ranked recruiting classes.

No you can beat them. Especially if you have a great QB. Kinda like Pitt last year with Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett had a whole lot to do with beating us last year. Oh and the bikitnikoff winner, their TE etc.

Slovis with less talent is going to have to somehow outplay Hendon Hooker with more talent.

Not a game we should be losing.

Slovis is an enigma. You can get Peyton Manning one game and Jarrett Guarantano the next. Which guy shows up will help determine how close the game is.... if he's the starter. To me, Patti looked better in their spring game.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

If UT doesn’t beat Pitt this year, then prepare yourself for a sub par season.

 

[savannahfan]

An absolute must win to me.

It sure looks like they will have some holes.

I think losing their TE is an underrated big deal for them.

I'd say we will be fine if we don't turn the ball over 3 times and get penalized 13 times. We were a mess in that game and that turned out to be pretty uncharacteristic for us.

We were learning to play really fast which caused problems (to me a big one was overall concentration) as they were trying to learn how to stop a team playing so fast. They just learned quicker AND had a better guy at QB. But we learned who our no. one QB was to be....