Odds and ends before I start drinking early to brace myself for Yankees-Red Sox, Game 6.
The start of basketball practices was this past Saturday. On Friday, the coach and players talked to the media. Pitt finally got around to putting up some of the comments from Coach Jamie Dixon and some of the players like Krauser, Taft and Troutman. I liked this comment from Krauser about practices this year (Pitt got to do some early practices because of their early trip to Canada)
“It’s same old Pitt defense, same old Pitt practices. We’re going to continue to work hard, play hard, and go out there be aggressive like we usually do, and go to work.”
If the offense improves as expected and the defense is even close to what it was last year, I see no reason why this will not be a top-10 team.
Walt Harris’ press conference is now available in video feed (Windows Media).
Former Pitt star wide receiver, Antonio Bryant was traded to the Cleveland Browns. Dallas must have just wanted to get rid of him and clear a little salary for next year. Dallas got WR Quincy Morgan, who is inconsistent at best. Morgan is also in the last year of his contract. Well at least there will be someone for me to root for on the Browns when the wife is watching them.
Finally Joe Bendel has his ESPN.com Big East Insider column posted. He uses the dreaded D-word.
Coach Walt Harris endured heavy doses of criticism last week due to remarks made by his agent (“resign him or let him go.”) and by all-time great Tony Dorsett (“Pitt is not it.”). The veteran coach never flinched. He got his highly criticized team ready for Boston College and led it to a 20-17 overtime upset at Heinz Field. All of a sudden, the Panthers (4-2, 2-1) control their own destiny in the conference and have an air of confidence about them. Two of their final three league games are at home, starting with a Rutgers team they’ve beaten five years in a row. Senior left tackle Rob Petitti said adversity brings out the best in Harris. “When we start having problems and things are bad, he gets it going,” said Petitti, who recalled the 2001 season when the Panthers opened with a 1-5 record, but came back to win six in a row. “He has this way about him.”
If the Big East gave out a “Warrior Award,” Panthers sophomore quarterback Tyler Palko would be a leading candidate. He is as gritty as it gets and he proved as much when he sprinted down the sideline and drove his shoulder into BC cornerback Peter Shean. The latter ended up flat on his back, with his helmet off of his head. The Pitt bench went wild, and the collision signaled that these Panthers would not be bullied. Pitt went on to control the line of scrimmage, something it’s rarely done in two years, and might have found an identity. The offensive line, intact for the first time this season, paved the way for 177 rushing yards against a BC defense that ranked No. 8 in stopping the run. “Things are changing for us,” Petitti said. “I don’t think we’ll get pushed around anymore.”
The Pittsburgh defense got stellar play from linebacker H.B. Blades and lineman Dan Stephens in holding BC to 56 rushing yards, 128 below its average. The Panthers also held BC scoreless during two trips inside the 4-yard line. Blades, the son of former University of Miami and NFL star Bennie Blades, had 13 tackles. His average of 9½ tackles per game ranks third in the league. Stephens contributed five tackles, including two for losses. BC came in with a reputation as “O-Line U.,” but Stephens repeatedly beat the Eagles up front.
As for Rutgers, well Bendel notes that Pitt should be looking to pass, not necessarily run, against a Rutgers team that was already 106th against the pass before the accident. Of course, Pitt is 100th, so there might be a lot of throwing in this game (Pitt is 69 and Rutgers 86th in Total Defense; 83 and 52 in Total Offense) . Note, that those stats do not include games from this past week.
