Well, the Cats lost to Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl – 27 to 10. Let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly.
[B][COLOR=”blue”]The Good[/COLOR][/B]
Morgan Newton’s play was actually pretty good. His QB rating was higher than Pitt’s Tino Sunseri (107.8 to 95.8). Newton finished the day 21 of 36 passing for 212 yards. He was sacked 3 times for a total loss of 18 yards, and threw no touchdowns but had no interceptions either. Newton also had 12 rushes for 16 yards and a fumble.
Derrick Locke had 182 all-purpose yards (rushed 12 times for 71 yards, had 6 catches for 62 yards, and 2 kick returns for 49 yards). Randall Cobb had 202 all-purpose yards (rushed 3 times for 23 yards, 5 catches for 62 yards, 6 returns for 117 yards).
[B][COLOR=”blue”]The Bad[/COLOR][/B]
Martavius Neloms dropped an interception that looked to be VERY catch-able. It was tipped off of a Pitt receiver and essentially popped right into his hands… and then right out of them. Morgan Newton overthrew Derrick Locke with nothing between Locke and the end zone. Had he been about six feet closer (or had Locke been a little faster), it would have been a touchdown. One WR (I forget who) was wide open in the end zone, the pass was perfect, and he dropped it. The commentators mentioned something about the sun being in his eyes, but isn’t that what the eye black is for (I noticed on the replay he wasn’t wearing any).
There was also the 4th and inches play where Newton carried it and UK didn’t get the first down. In fourth and inches, everybody knows it’s going to be smashmouth up the middle and it’s a battle of wills. Which team wants it more? Evidently Pitt did.
[B][COLOR=”blue”]The Ugly[/COLOR][/B]
First was overall QB protection. Newton was sacked 3 times and Matt Roark was sacked once (compared to Pitt’s QB not being sacked at all). Then there was Matt Roark’s only play of the game. For some reason the junior WR lined up behind center and attempted a rush… and was sacked for a 12-yard loss (I guess you can take that play out of the playbook). Also, there was the McIntosh FG attempt that was embarrassingly wide left. Seriously, not even close.
Finally, file under “might as well”: a late-hit on Pitt QB Sunseri caused a full-team melee. Nobody was hurt, and I don’t condone illegal hits, but it was kind of funny to watch. It’s like the UK defensive back didn’t hear the whistle or couldn’t stop in time. The hit wasn’t so much a hit as a grab the legs and let the quarterback fall, but when the UK player was getting up a Pitt offensive lineman shoved him back to the ground and chaos ensued. Please tell me there’s footage on YouTube somewhere.
