Pitt State @ Harding

[tch4psu]

Thoughts and comments?

[Divisiontwo]

Bisons by 14-21 is my guess. I don’t think Pitt state will handle HU offense very well.

[LakerDad]

Pitt got hammered last year. I don't expect a hugely different game, to be honest.

[BisonBones]

If HU beats both MIAA co-champs, could we get an MIAA trophy, too?

[GorillaTeacher]

Pitt got hammered last year. I don't expect a hugely different game, to be honest.

I agree. Sadly

[CatFan88]

Pitt got hammered last year. I don't expect a hugely different game, to be honest.

If they don't defend the trap or the pitch any better than NW did today, it will be very long day for the Pitt defense.

[Predatory Primates]

Pitt got hammered last year. I don't expect a hugely different game, to be honest.

I wish I could disagree.

[Predatory Primates]

Congrats to Harding on their upcoming win.

[Blockandtackle]

Today Northwest refused to let Harding pitch for the option around end. So, Harding took what was given to them, fullback and QB up the middle. They got up by a couple of scores and then do what they do best- run 3-4yards per play and keep the ball away from Northwest’s offense. Classic Harding!

[Predatory Primates]

Last year Pitt just couldn't stop the dive for more than 1 play in a row. Then Jay got em on the Pitch a couple of times and it got ugly.

I hope there is a way for Pitt to win, but I have trouble seeing it. It seems like your D has to totally shut them down or you have to have a great O to force a track meet. I don't think either one is in Pitt's wheelhouse this year. But I can still hope.

[transparent58]

I love option football. There was a time not too long ago where Pitt State ran it out of Split Back/Veer as well as anyone in the country, and defended it well, too. Hope Coach A has corrected the numerous missed assignments and tackles that lead to last year's drubbing. You can't be undisciplined against the triple option, and you have to execute your offense and stay balanced. Harding is built to dominate TOP and make you play from behind.

[PSR]

You don't need to win by track meet. UCM tried it and almost did, but didn't.

We need to beat them just like teams beat us when we ran the veer and was the best at it. Move the ball on offense and pick up first downs. When in the red zone score TDs. Get timely stops on defense and try and hold to field goals. Limit the number of times they have the ball and stop them just enough to get the game to the fourth quarter, hopefully with the lead and make them have to do what they don't want to do and that is pass the ball.

Not many teams were able to do that to us but the teams that did, beat us. NDSU, UND, U of Northern Colorado, Jacksonville St. NWMSU

I don't know if this defense is good enough to do that. I think if we stick with the run and mix in some down the field pass plays our offense could keep the ball and drive it on them.

Tall order.

[CatFan88]

You don't need to win by track meet. UCM tried it and almost did, but didn't.

We need to beat them just like teams beat us when we ran the veer and was the best at it. Move the ball on offense and pick up first downs. When in the red zone score TDs. Get timely stops on defense and try and hold to field goals. Limit the number of times they have the ball and stop them just enough to get the game to the fourth quarter, hopefully with the lead and make them have to do what they don't want to do and that is pass the ball.

Not many teams were able to do that to us but the teams that did, beat us. NDSU, UND, U of Northern Colorado, Jacksonville St. NWMSU

I don't know if this defense is good enough to do that. I think if we stick with the run and mix in some down the field pass plays our offense could keep the ball and drive it on them.

Tall order.

Harding sits there and makes the defense wait and than snaps the ball around 5-9 seconds left on the play clock. If they get 3 or 4 yards per down, your defense will wear down. Defense has to win 1st down. Pitt has to be balanced on offense and be efficient to keep their defense on the sidelines as much as possible. Gotta establish the run though to keep Harding honest and I think Pitt can do that. Harding is pretty aggressive on passing downs and will blitz.

[Predatory Primates]

You don't need to win by track meet. UCM tried it and almost did, but didn't.

We need to beat them just like teams beat us when we ran the veer and was the best at it. Move the ball on offense and pick up first downs. When in the red zone score TDs. Get timely stops on defense and try and hold to field goals. Limit the number of times they have the ball and stop them just enough to get the game to the fourth quarter, hopefully with the lead and make them have to do what they don't want to do and that is pass the ball.

Not many teams were able to do that to us but the teams that did, beat us. NDSU, UND, U of Northern Colorado, Jacksonville St. NWMSU

I don't know if this defense is good enough to do that. I think if we stick with the run and mix in some down the field pass plays our offense could keep the ball and drive it on them.

Tall order.

I'm not saying everyone has to beat them that way. I'm saying that some teams can probably only beat them that way. That's how Beck did it when they played bitd. That's how UCM did it a couple of years ago. Sure some can beat them by forcing a rock fight. I just don't think this version of Pitt can.

[Predatory Primates]

Win or lose, these are the things I look forward to seeing.


The one DE for Harding is a beast. He is great at getting after the QB. I didn't see them moving him around a ton other than side to side. I wonder if Pitt will run a lot of 2 TE stuff or TE at personal protector like we have seen them do at times.

I'll be curious to see what HU does to keep Berry from rolling out or ducking under and buying time to create chaos.

I'll be curious to see what ZPG can do against this really good D, and if any of the other HB can get anything going.

I'm really curious as to what Pitt does on O. They are always balanced, but run a ton of different personnel and scheme variations. (Some of them, us Pitt fans have admittedly hated) Not a world beating O, but not a super easy one to prep for.

On D, I'm looking forward to seeing if Pitt can do any better than last year. I honestly think they'll scheme against it a little better. They have a lot more depth up front this year, but a lot less experience at LB. Not sure how much that matters since the HU offense is so specialized.

Injuries are sort of an issue for Pitt, top 2 RBs, one of the top 4 WRs, a couple of DL, and the QB have all been dinged a little. The CB group has been hit hardest.

That said OL, TE, DL, WR, and LB as individual groups may be the healthiest examples of those position groups to make the playoffs for Pitt post covid. Not sure if that will translate to anything, but more depth should be available at those spots than the last few playoff teams Pitt has fielded.


Special teams. Pitt has some really good returners and a decent punter. The FG kicker has made more long kicks and missed more makeable kicks than most D2 kickers. I hope the latter 2 players are seldom seen.

It's supposed to rain. I don't think Pitt has played a rainy playoff game since 2011. I have seen the rain give both passing and running teams fits at different times. I'm not sure if it favors one more than the other. IDK if we are talking sprinkles, a downpour, or something in between. This one could be fun or painful to find out.