In light of the injury to Mike Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, there is a good question being asked: what happens to Pitt if QB Rod Rutherford goes down?
The highly anticipated 2003 season could quickly dissolve, unless backup quarterbacks Luke Getsy or Tyler Palko proved capable of leading a team that some project as a BCS contender.
“Rod can carry us,” senior wide receiver Chris Curd said Monday, the eighth day of training camp. “We just hope the other guys can do the same thing.”
It would be difficult for sophomore Palko or redshirt freshman Getsy to duplicate what Rutherford did last season in leading the Panthers to a 9-4 record and No. 18 ranking. He passed for 2,783 yards, ran for 398, and amassed the third-highest combined total in Big East history.
It was his emergence that prompted many preseason prognosticators to deem the Panthers national championship contenders.
With Palko or Getsy at the controls, those aspirations might be far too ambitious. That’s not to discredit either, but Palko has thrown only three college passes, completing two, and Getsy has thrown none. He’s never even played in a collegiate game.
This is where I worry. Harris never seems to give the back-up much work. Even in mop-up duty. This leaves them ill-prepared to do much when they do get into games. Looking back on the 2001 season, a season of much frustration. Harris would make a big show, of subbing out the starting QB (David “Jason” Priestley) for Rod Rutherford. The problem is everyone in the stands and the field knew that Rutherford was out there to run the ball. Rutherford was the second leading rusher on the team in terms of carries (81) and yards (255). He only made 59 attempts the entire season (completing a paltry 19 and 4 interceptions). Rutherford was never given more than 2-3 plays in the offense before he was yanked back out of the game. You could hear audible groans from the fans the minute he started running — because everyone saw it coming. It took Rutherford a couple starts in 2002 before he really started getting comfortable in the game situations.
Now Palko (a much heralded recruit) has gotten practically no game experience — despite a couple games that Pitt had complete dominance and would have been perfect scrub time. Hopefully, Harris will have figured out the importance of giving Palko or Getsy some real playing time before it becomes necessary.
