[d4cohn]

What is most terrifying to me about Pitt is watching their run game. Among all the All-ACC teams, they have 2 running backs and **ALL 5** interior linemen recognized, and deservedly so.  No team stops them from scoring 10-20ish. No matter what, it's hard to imagine Pitt not getting 130+ running yards -- I just hope it's not 300+. The run game is a beast on tape. They blow lines back, they have athletic linemen getting hands on people at the second level, their running backs wait for the blocks to open up, they get good creases, then they zigzag through defenses with patience, balance, power and speed for big gains. I don't think Stanford has played a run game game this good all year, and I can't think of something comparable in recent years. It looks familiar -- like a 2016 Stanford line with 2 Love-like running backs (with less breakaway speed) plus a 230-lb full back (and Stanford has shied from tackling big runners lately).

Oregon (when their line was healthy, which was when we faced them) doesn't fit that mold? Pitt ran for 250 yards against Penn State, and still lost 51-6, because their QB threw for 55 yards, 0 TD's and 1 INT's against a relatively mediocre defense. Pitt's QB threw for 8 yards (on 4-of-16 passing) against Clemson. They may not run a triple option, but this team on a normal day (when their QB isn't delivering an above average performance) is basically a triple option team in terms of run-pass balance. 

This feels like a repeat of Big Game, except Pitt's defense is significantly worse than Cal's.

[d4cohn]

What is most terrifying to me about Pitt is watching their run game. Among all the All-ACC teams, they have 2 running backs and **ALL 5** interior linemen recognized, and deservedly so.  No team stops them from scoring 10-20ish. No matter what, it's hard to imagine Pitt not getting 130+ running yards -- I just hope it's not 300+. The run game is a beast on tape. They blow lines back, they have athletic linemen getting hands on people at the second level, their running backs wait for the blocks to open up, they get good creases, then they zigzag through defenses with patience, balance, power and speed for big gains. I don't think Stanford has played a run game game this good all year, and I can't think of something comparable in recent years. It looks familiar -- like a 2016 Stanford line with 2 Love-like running backs (with less breakaway speed) plus a 230-lb full back (and Stanford has shied from tackling big runners lately).

Oregon (when their line was healthy, which was when we faced them) doesn't fit that mold? Pitt ran for 250 yards against Penn State, and still lost 51-6, because their QB threw for 55 yards, 0 TD's and 1 INT's against a relatively mediocre defense. Pitt's QB threw for 8 yards (on 4-of-16 passing) against Clemson. They may not run a triple option, but this team on a normal day (when their QB isn't delivering an above average performance) is basically a triple option team in terms of run-pass balance. 

This feels like a repeat of Big Game, except Pitt's defense is significantly worse than Cal's.