Strickland was very good

[Millhouse]

Yeah, the fumble. But he ran so hard. Physical, confident. Happy for him

 

[Ragman2000]

He had been a different player the last two weeks. A light bulb has definitely gone off for him. This is a different offence when he hits the hole like he did the last two weeks.

 

[FAL]

I want to say he became a man tonight, but that sounds demeaning. But man o man that young feller came to play tonight! Go get 'em, Dontae!

 

[NineOneSeven]

He's falling forward and running through tackles to get extra yards. Also great balance to stay on his feet on the screen.

 

[DomeStranger]

Wonder what happened to Moe? He started off like a mad man that first drive and didn't see him much after that.

 

[anomander]

Dino said before the game that Strick had been playing injured. He said he was finally fully healthy for the first time last game. He was a different player tonight.

 

[skurey]

He's falling forward and running through tackles to get extra yards. Also great balance to stay on his feet on the screen.

I didn't really celebrate that touchdown because I thought there was no way he kept his knee off the turf.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Dino said before the game that Strick had been playing injured. He said he was finally fully healthy for the first time last game. He was a different player tonight.

Hmm. That's interesting.

 

[Digger]

He absolutely was better ANNND the the OL (particularly the interior) amazingly held their own/did not regularly "lose" in the trenches (against Clemson?!?)

Their improvement the past couple weeks has probably been my favorite development of the season

 

[OrangeTarheel]

His third down runs in the past two games have been critical. He is running hard and down hill. Happy for him since this board, myself included, has torn him up at one time or another.

 

[SmilinBob]

You can see he works hard. You can either turtle and give up or overcome it by continuing to get better and better and to always learn. Very happy for Donte.

 

[RF2044]

Said it last game, it seemed like the running game came together last week. I wondered aloud if it was just because it was a bad Pitt team, or if we were seeing signs that the OL was gelling and Strickland was rounding into form.

General consensus last week was that it was the former, but it seems like the more optimistic latter view is what's really happening.

 

[SmilinBob]

Said it last game, it seemed like the running game came together last week. I wondered aloud if it was just because it was a bad Pitt team, or if we were seeing signs that the OL was gelling and Strickland was rounding into form.

General consensus last week was that it was the former, but it seems like the more optimistic latter view is what's really happening.

Agreed...you can see Donte moving differently going into the line, a little more left or right and not always up their backs thus gaining an extra yard or 2.

 

[st_machine]

i think Strick has been playing well the last 2 weeks. noticeably better than anytime in the last 2 seasons...looks like he's trying harder, giving a better effort.good for him

 

[storange]

He had been a different player the last two weeks. A light bulb has definitely gone off for him. This is a different offence when he hits the hole like he did the last two weeks.

What I was going to say. For the last game and a half he has been tough.

 

[kcsu]

He is finally healthy. Dino said he had been playing injured.

 

[ClkWrkOrange]

He is finally healthy. Dino said he had been playing injured.

I think it's this and a very inexperienced OL starting to come together.

 

[JEF44]

Just like anyone I was upset with the fumble at the time, but that was his first fumble in college?! Amazing!

 

[kmart128]

Him and the run blocking line had their best game yet. There was finally some push up front. Strickland still left a lot to be desired once he got to the 2nd level. But atleast we moved forward instead of 1 yard runs

 

[SoBristol]

He absolutely was better ANNND the the OL (particularly the interior) amazingly held their own/did not regularly "lose" in the trenches (against Clemson?!?)

Their improvement the past couple weeks has probably been my favorite development of the season

Yes -- we have young OL in the interior, and Strickland is in the middle of his second year at RB (played as a true frosh in a hybrid role). Maybe it is a young combination, getting better. Having a tough RB to complement Dungey rounds out this offense.

 

[AZOrange]

He absolutely was better ANNND the the OL (particularly the interior) amazingly held their own/did not regularly "lose" in the trenches (against Clemson?!?)

Their improvement the past couple weeks has probably been my favorite development of the season

Agreed. It’ll go almost unnoticed but they are ten times better than game 1 and probably 100 times better than last year.