North Carolina decided during the week that it needed to take drastic measures to keep up with the Pitt offense.
Pitt entered its conference opener scoring just about 49 points per game, averaging just over 522 yards per game, and UNC head coach Mack Brown knew that the Panthers would rack up points against his defense. So, he decided — with his coaching staff — to go for it on fourth down if the opportunity arose.
It resulted in UNC going 2-of-6 on fourth down throughout the afternoon, with both conversions coming early on a 19-play drive that resulted in no points.
“We didn’t think we were going to stop them very well, just going into the game, so we made a conscious decision going in that we need to score touchdowns — we couldn’t be kicking field goals … It stems from their quarterback being really good,” Brown said Saturday afternoon. “They’re one of the highest-scoring teams around. And they were really good. The analytics said to go for every one of them. Usually, they’ll tell you to kick, but they knew Pitt was gonna score points.”
UNC converted a 4th-and-2 and a 4th-and-3 on a 19-play drive that lasted just over nine minutes in the first half, but an incomplete pass on 4th-and-2 from the Pitt 9 resulted in a turnover on downs. And the Tar Heels weren’t able to convert another in a 34-24 loss at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
UNC turned the ball over on downs three more times, including on 4th-and-2 from the Pitt 31 with just over a minute left in the game.
Pitt made its plays defensively, especially in the second half, but it wasn’t a fear of the Panthers’ defense that led to Brown choosing an aggressive approach. It was Eli Holstein.
“Pitt’s really a good team, we knew that,” Brown said. “The difference in their team, they’ve always had good skill, they’ve played good defense, there always aggressive, the quarterback. The quarterback’s really good. He’s a guy that came in, made all the difference in the world.
“He threw the ball well; he threw for 381 yards. We had a couple of opportunities, if we intercept the one at the goal line at the end, we still have a chance to win the game. So, we had our opportunities to get done what we needed to get done, but they’ve got good skills, he dropped the ball off the backs and did a good job, we gave up four or five explosive plays that we can’t continue to give up that was a difference for us.”
Holstein completed 25-of-42 pass attempts for 381 yards with three touchdowns and an interception — adding 10 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. He was electric, yet again.
“I’m amazed how good their quarterback is and how poised he was as a young player that’s started five games now, on the road, with pressure,” Brown said. “He’s a really good player. He just came from nowhere. So, he was the fifth guy, I think, at Alabama. It just shows you how good Alabama is, so he hid in the depth chart, but he’s changed who they are completely.”
Holstein put together yet another strong performance against UNC, the most prolific of his short career. He racked up over 400 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, and the Panthers had two touchdown drives in under two minutes and all five in under five minutes.
When Pitt was clicking, the offense appeared unstoppable. It wasn’t always easygoing, but the Panthers were able to control play against UNC through their offensive performance.
Brown was extremely complimentary of Holstein and the Pitt offense, but he views the Pitt Panthers very highly after the loss.
“Pittsburgh is the best team we’ve played by far,” Brown said.
Wow, to hear that coming from Mack Brown is impressive.
I find it interesting that a guy with as much coaching experience as mack brown has relies on analytics to make 4th down decisions.
He should have kicked field goals, the last drive they could have set up a third field goal to win
I don’t think the “analytics” account for all the intangibles, ie: Reward vs risk, specific success on short yardage of your team and other team, timing of the game, etc.
Glad NC went for it so any times though!
H2P!!!
Offensively Pitt was a Beast. # 0 is a big Talent in a small sized package. Tough as nails though, took a helmet to the knee, on a runnig play, came right back in!!
QB. play is the biggest improvement. Eli thru some balls that he should not have.
He floated one near the Goal Line that should maybe have been picked.
We shall see what the story is against SMU. The Mustangs have a high caliber team.
Over all though an Impressive game! H2P 5-0!!