Specifically the offensive line.
Offensive tackle Mike McGlynn felt almost powerless as Utah’s defense mercilessly blitzed Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko in the Utes’ 35-7 Fiesta Bowl shellacking of the Panthers in January.
He was horrified when he watched film of the game and found out Palko was sacked nine times.
How do you think we felt?
The players on the offensive line seem very optimistic about the running game. Saying this gives them a chance to be more aggressive and attack. I like the optimism, but I’m hoping for more than that. I’m hoping they, you know, learn more technique and get more skilled. Pitt’s running game last year, was practically null, in large part because the offensive line couldn’t produce any penetration or create holes.
The change in offensive philosophy, while welcomed by the offensive linemen, will not come without sacrifice. The first thing is, all of the linemen have been asked to drop a little bit of weight — on average between 15 to 20 pounds — because they will be asked to move around a lot more.
Losing weight, however, does not mean losing strength. McGlynn and Simonitis said they are losing weight gradually while getting stronger and quicker. That should produce a line that is not only fast and physical, but lean and mean as well.
Because Wannstedt wants his linemen to be leaner and quicker, there could be a number of players who will lose their jobs. The competition for starting jobs on the offensive line figures to be intense as the players must prove they are capable of playing physical football.
Well, that and graduation of a number of players on the O-line.
The P-G Pitt football beat reporter Paul Zeise has a Q&A this first week of spring practice. A lot of the questions involve individual present and former players. But there is this.
Q: Is it true Pitt is changing its uniforms for the 2005 season?
ZEISE: Yes, but from what I understand the changes, while noticeable, will be more subtle than the rumors out there would suggest. This is not going to like 1976 or 1982. From what I was told it will look more like last year with some slight alterations to the numbers and the logo. You never know, though, the athletic department is trying to keep this secret until they have a grand unveiling later in the spring or early summer. You’d think by the way everyone is so hush, hush about it they were holding nuclear secrets or something.
Q: How well is Dave Wannstedt being received by high school coaches in recruiting?
ZEISE: Tremendous. He is being given celebrity coach status almost everywhere he has been. That’s the kind of respect and attention that is usually reserved for the big-name coaches out there. One assistant told me they used to walk in the back door of a lot of schools in Florida, for instance, and head straight to the coaches office. Now, they walk in the front and they are greeted by teachers and students looking to meet coach Wannstedt and even get his autograph. That kind of buzz is what the last regime lacked, although they obviously had success in a lot of areas as well. I think — although the Penn State-conspiracy theories about certain high school coaches in this area are juvenile – it is significant that Wannstedt’s first recruit for next year is from Gateway. The last staff seemed to shun and push away, rather than embrace and work with, Terry Smith because of his Penn State roots, which was a mistake. Pitt likely wouldn’t have gotten Justin King anyway, but let me tell you, as many players as Gateway has and will have, this is certainly a coach you want on your side. So that’s a great sign and it is an even better sign that I’ve seen Smith at practices this spring with some of his other players and I’ve talked to him and he really likes and respects Wannstedt and appreciates the way Pitt is doing things.
Also, the strength and conditioning coach, Mike Kent is still with the team. Zeise seems quite pleased with that.
