For those still following the exchanges with Struggling Joe, you can find parts 1 and 2 from him here and here and my thoughts over here and here.

Here’s some more answers from Joe to some of my questions.

Back to the subject of the offense. Is there a running back that is expected to emerge and help open things up for the running game, and what part is the offensive line playing in the offense’s overall struggles?

Well the talk around Huskerland is freshman phenom Marlon Lucky. The Huskers were able to get a player out of North Hollywood, CA. Do you think Tommy Osbourne blazed those recruiting trails too many times? Lucky was considered the #2 back out of HS last year, according to rivals.com but his playing time has been limited thanks to Sr Cory Ross. Lucky has only carried the rock 15 times in the first two games, but that is still 2nd most behind Ross who has 40 carries.

Ross is still the man and I don’t think the problems have been his or any other Husker back’s. Like you stated above, the Nebraksa O-line has been suspect just the Pitt O-Line, so as soon as they can figure out their problems it would help on the running game a lot. I think part of the problem that the line is having is that they switched around a lot in spring practice and in pre-season practice which has led to guys still trying to figure out their position. The funny thing about the O-line this year is that they are giving Zac Taylor plenty of time to throw, yet are not giving the RB’s room to run. It’s like they’re dealing with the bizarro o-line.

How visibly do Nebraska fans wince whenever Lawrence Phillips name is mentioned or he makes yet another police blotter?

Oh, I think they are somewhat amused by Phillips these days. I think when you when a national championship with him in the lineup as opposed to losing a national championship with him in the lineup the shame that one might feel is diminshed some. The only thing that Nebraska fans probably wish wouldn’t happen is that when he gets in trouble, Tom Osbourne’s name gets his name brought up as well. Like in his last instance back in August, when Lo went and choked his girlfriend, there was Tom’s name being brought up again. I think that would bother a Husker fan more than Phillips misbehavin’ again.

Will Nebraska’s men’s b-ball team make the NCAA Tournament this decade? Which is actually more popular the wrestling team or b-ball?

Being that I barely follow either sport for the Huskers, (I’m a Husker football fan, what can I say?) the only thing I can reference about Husker basketball is Eric Piatkowski. Growing up in South Dakota, you get to experience about one high school basketball player every 3 or 4 years making it to the 1A level. So when Dakota guys go “big time” you tend to follow them a bit closer. So the “Polish Rifle” who is still playing in the NBA these days for the Bulls, is about the only Husker basketball reference that I can pull from. He played for them from 1991-1994 and is the 2nd leading scorer in Nebraska history and made the 2nd most career 3-pointers. Sorry to disappoint.

As far as what is more popular? Well according to the ESPN 50/50, wrestling isn’t even important enough to receive votes and 3.7% of the state thought basketball was the favorite sport of the state. So by a slim 3.7% margin, I’ll give the nod to basketball.

I owe Joe a couple more responses, so you can look for them on his site tomorrow.

It never fails.

No matter how down I get about the chances of the team, I find myself constructing scenarios in which they win. Not sure what it is or how to explain it at times, but it sure as hell undermines that bitter, cynical attitude I work so hard at cultivating.

If any thing, the predictions of a Pitt loss by the punditry such as here:

Nebraska -9 1/2 over Pittsburgh: Can’t see how Pitt is going to score against a revived Nebraska defense which shut down a much more powerful Wake Forest attack last week. Add to that Pitt’s offensive line problems, which might be why their vaunted quarterback, Tyler Palko, looks like he just was handed a football for the first time. The loss to Ohio was devastating for Dave Wannstedt’s team. There will be a hangover from it and Lincoln, Neb., is not the recommended place to try and pick up the pieces.

The pick: Nebraska, provided they can find a way to put 14 points on the board.

and here:

Nebraska 34, Pittsburgh 20: The Panthers’ offensive shakeup (starting WR Derek Kinder over Joe DelSardo) might spark things a little, but Nebraska’s active pass rush against the shaky Panther O-line doesn’t bode well for the hurting Pitt fortunes.

Plus placing Coach Wannstedt at #1 in the crosshairs, and I start to get that perverse optimism going.

Add in an analyst from Rivals.com ruminating on whether this will cost Pitt some of its early, outstanding verbals.

Considering how many were picking Pitt over ND, this kind of downgrading is more of what I want to see. Some underestimating Pitt. So, it just bothered me when someone from SI.com actually picks Pitt in an “upset special.” (hat tip to B.B.)

Back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Ohio isn’t the start that first-year Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt envisioned. And Lincoln isn’t the best place to go in search of your first collegiate victory. But Nebraska (2-0) isn’t as good as its record indicates. The Cornhuskers had 234 yards of offense in their 31-3 win over Wake Forest, and Pitt’s D is much better than Wake’s. Look for the Panthers to have Nebraska QB Zac Taylor on his heels and come out with a victory.

I still don’t know, but I at least expect Pitt to cover.

Paul Zeise’s Q&A (hat tip to Jason for letting me know it was up) is must read just for the opening rant.

Support for this team is truly almost exclusively superficial.

If the past two weeks have taught us anything — judging by the e-mails and voice mails I’ve received and listening to talk shows and reading letters to the editor — it is that many Pitt fans deserve their reputation as being as fickle as the weather in Western Pennsylvania.

Dave Wannstedt has had two, count them, two, games with a team that is compiled of somebody else’s players and already way too many so-called Pitt fans have either jumped off the band wagon or are ready to run him out of town (even though they ran Walt Harris out of town because they didn’t like his style of football and demanded a better run game out of the new coach).

The Ohio loss was no worse than the South Florida loss in 2001 — that one, in fact, was much worse and much more embarrassing for a lot of reasons — but some people insist last Friday was an all-time low for the program.

No doubt things have not begun the way many would have liked, but my goodness, it is ridiculous how quickly the Pitt fan base seems to crumble every time there is some adversity or the program hits a bad stretch.

I wish I could disagree, but if the rapid drop in hit counts to this site since the Ohio game are any indication he’s dead on. People have flipped and given up on the team this season.

I’m trying to strike a balance between Eeyore and Pollyana in outlook. Right now I can’t argue with the columnists ripping on Wannstedt and Pitt’s performance, because, quite frankly it has been atrocious. Still, I believe Pitt will get better. Even this year. And beyond that, the talent that is coming should give hope.

I’ll disagree with Zeise over the issue of not playing to some of Pitt’s strengths rather than going with the so-called power running. The comparison to WVU in 2001 is weak. Pitt hasn’t run the ball well. It hasn’t adjusted during the games to run the ball away from straight up the middle — where quite frankly the line is getting killed — to off tackle or outside consistently. Pitt completely failed to use the short pass over the middle last week (except in the 2-minute drill), getting the tight ends involved and taking some deeper shots to help loosen the defense. That wasn’t just going with a new system, that was just stupid play calling.

Like I said, just read it all.

Looks like Rashad Jennings will not play because of a shoulder injury. This means Kirkley, Stephens-Howlings and Mason will get the handoff. Fullback Tim Murphy is also battling a sore shoulder so it should be expected that Kellen Campbell will see some action. Perhaps even one of the freshmen fullbacks. I suppose what unnerves me is Coach Wannstedt is not looking to change things if the personnel shifts.

“If Rashad’s out, Brandon becomes the third back in the rotation,” Wannstedt said. “But will we vary what we do or how much we do it? No.”

Good God, there are beat writers in Cincinnati lecturing Wannstedt about using what you have in the right way.

Stubbornness can be an admirable quality for a college football coach, but in Dave Wannstedt’s case, it’s damaging his team’s potential.

The first-year coach is doing a disservice to the Pitt players he inherited from coach Walt Harris by dramatically restructuring the team’s offense without the personnel to complete the task.

Harris ran a West Coast style built on speed and precision. The former Miami Dolphins coach, Wannstedt is (pathetically) running a smash-mouth, up-the-middle system that is obviously failing with players who are better suited to spread out the ball.
…
The best coaches, the ones who aren’t recycled through the system with a new team every three or four years, can adapt to new personnel they inherit. Those like Wannstedt are bound to endure seasons such as this because of inflexible attitudes.

Anyone who saw the Washington Redskins and Joe Gibbs last year try to turn Clinton Portis into Gerald Riggs (or had family members ranting to the point of incoherence about this) knows what he is writing. I’m not saying do not be untrue to your football philosophy, but show some flexibility in how quickly and stubbornly you implement it. Just because you want to run the ball, and go to power running more, doesn’t mean you have to keep running it right up the middle.

It’s that approach that makes me fear that he’ll keep trying to run Kirkley up the middle rather than try and get him to the outside, where he has some speed to turn the corner. It’s that approach that makes me wonder whether he really will use Stephens-Howling more. He’s definitely got potential if run on a sweep or an end around. Something where he has a chance to use his speed.

Tight End Steve Buches was named one of the team captains for the game, along with Safety Tez Morris, Linebacker J.J. Horne and Running Back Ray Kirkley.

This story effectively explains the pressure on both coaches and teams, but also the potential ugliness of the game.

Two proud programs will match downright embarrassing offenses when Pittsburgh and Nebraska meet on Saturday.

Pitt (0-2) comes into Memorial Stadium seeking relief from the heat already on first-year coach Dave Wannstedt after losses to Notre Dame and Ohio University. Another loss would mark the Panthers’ worst start since 1984.

Nebraska (2-0), which relied on its defense to beat undistinguished Maine and Wake Forest, wants to work out the kinks on offense before Big 12 play opens against defending North Division co-champion Iowa State in two weeks.

“I know we need improvement,” Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan said. “It’s clear to my eyes and anyone else’s eyes.”

Fans have wanted to cover their eyes when Pitt and Nebraska’s offenses have had the ball.

The Panthers are 95th nationally in total offense; the Huskers 99th.

Pitt is 92nd in passing and 75th in rushing and is converting a miserable 32 percent of its third downs.

“There are no shortcuts to solving this thing,” Wannstedt said. “You have to go out and do it. We have to improve.”

The Huskers are 100th in passing and 77th in rushing and converting just 30 percent of its third downs.

Each team has just two offensive touchdowns so far.

The bright side (if you choose to see it that way) for the 3:30 away game start — no early start on the beer. For some reason, the wife casts a disapproving an eye when I shift from coffee directly to beer or bourbon when there is a noonish start time.

There is the obligatory story about 2 washed out NFL coaches facing each other.

The Pittsburgh papers take notice of Nebraska’s defense. One piece is a puffer on Linebacker Corey McKeon and his trash-talking. The other piece is a little more substantive about the actual style and play.

“Active is a great word to describe their entire front seven,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. “They are very active the entire game and they keep the pressure on from whistle to whistle. They look an awful lot like those great Nebraska defenses from the 1990s when it seemed like they were winning national championships every year.”
…
Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh said the most impressive thing about the Cornhuskers’ defense is that it is simple in concept, yet difficult to defeat. He added that Nebraska’s players are fundamentally near flawless and overwhelm teams with discipline and athleticism.

“They play a real sound scheme,” Cavanaugh said. “And they are very, very good at playing their scheme. They don’t do a whole lot, but what they do, they do it very well. They don’t try and fool you or trick you, they come right at you. They are able to bring pressure with just their four guys up front and they’ve been able to pressure quarterbacks into making poor throws.”

The O-line for Pitt is going to have to play an outstanding game.

Strangely, in Nebraska there is some concern that the defense is not really that good, since it hasn’t been tested yet.

Can you blame them? Probably not when they point out, with good reason, that the defense appeared to be doing just fine last year, too, until that 70-point night in Lubbock. Before then, Nebraska had the nation’s fifth-ranked defense, and the Blackshirts were coming off a tough 14-8 victory against Kansas.

Today, some folks don’t want to risk praising the defense, only to be burned and disappointed by another implosion. Those four touchdowns by the Blackshirts in two games? That number might as well be 44, because, well, Texas Tech hasn’t come to town yet, so what difference does it make?

Perhaps such hesitation is warranted. It has only been two games — one against a Division I-AA team — and the opposing quarterbacks haven’t exactly elicited thoughts of Joe Namath.

Reasonable concerns, but apparently Pitt isn’t causing the fans much concern.

So far this season, the Big Red has taken some hard hits. So, too, has Fan Conventional Wisdom, or FCW for short. What’s that, you say? FCW is the dominant opinion that emerges from the plurality of voices that make up the Husker fanosphere. Its most important function is to help us fanboys get a bearing on the next game’s most likely outcome.
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This week, Pitt (and it’s OK to call ’em Pitt again) is 0-2 after losses to Notre Dame and lowly Ohio. Unsurprisingly, FCW is calling for a big-time Husker win tomorrow. Most folks I talk with expect the Panthers to barely get a whiff of the end zone. Predictions around the Web are bursting with victories in the 34-7, 49-6 and 38-10 range. Wow. I hope they’re right.

But, at the risk of the Husker Nation Loyalty Patrol coming to my house and confiscating all of my red clothing, I sense Saturday’s game will again stubbornly refuse to follow FCW’s script. The Panthers seem to own most of the intangibles: They’re upset and hungry, and they’ll likely play with a renewed sense of urgency. They’re a veteran team that has its back against the wall.

The game will be Red Cross Day at Memorial Stadium. Donations will be raised before and during the game. It’s also worth noting that the Pitt Athletic Department has raised over $70,000 for relief efforts.

Some articles and things I never got around to posting about yesterday.

Another piece asking for patience, mainly based on how Pitt rallied last season after a bad start.

Freshman offensive lineman C.J. Davis gets a puff piece concerning his quick climb on the depth chart.

At the Big East Coaches Teleconference on Tuesday, a reporter from Florida asked Coach Wannstedt about the pressures on coaches at programs. He’s been posing this question to various coaches for a few weeks now:

So, here’s the question posed to some of these coaches: If you had 10 times less pressure but made 10 times less money, would you take the trade?

This, apparently is what passes for a philosophical question on the Florida Space Coast. It seems the coaches all managed to be polite and not tell the guy what a stupid question that was. That if they wanted to make that trade, they’d be coaching at Division 1-AA or Division 2 schools. They all pretty much said that the pressure is self-imposed more than felt from others.

In the teleconference, the Coach Wannstedt’s answer was apparently much the same response given by Bob Stoops. It was during this question that he broke out the Chuck Noll quote.

Wannstedt said 90 percent of pressure is self-imposed.

“I think (former Steelers coach) Chuck Noll said it best 15 years ago,” he said. “He said pressure is when you don’t know what the heck you’re doing. When you get out there at game time, you’re confident in your game plan, that you’re going to be successful.”

A lightweight piece on the new Big East, where BE Commissioner Mike Tranghese and St. John’s AD deny that the BE will eventually split. Of course they would.

In ESPN.com’s Big East Notebook there were questions about Palko’s performance, and noting Kinder getting elevated to start at flanker. Starkey tries to add pressure to make sure LaRod Stephens-Howlings gets the ball more.

Speaking of speed, Wannstedt needs to make good on his intention to get true freshman tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling more involved in the offense.

Stephens-Howling made his first collegiate kickoff return a memorable one, taking the opening kick 95 yards for a score against Ohio, but he has only three carries for 17 yards.

Finally, an AP piece on Offensive Coordinator Matt Cavanaugh also feeling pressure about the lack of offense.

The move from the NFL to major college football hasn’t been as seamless or as successful as he wanted, with questions quickly arising about his plain-vanilla play-calling and the big falloff by one of the nation’s best quarterbacks last season.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt isn’t alone in feeling the heat during what has been a trying and, so far, victory-free move from pro football to NCAA Division I-A.

Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, who was running the Baltimore Ravens’ offense a year ago, is getting plenty of questions about an underperforming offense. The running game has been ineffective amid a frequent shuffling of the running backs, and the passing game looks nothing like the innovative system Pitt had for eight years under coach Walt Harris.

Not that Baltimore was looking all that impressive on offense for the first week of the season without him. It may be grasping at straws, but apparently Cavanaugh is starting to realize one important thing.

“We probably should take some more shots down the field,” Cavanaugh said. “We need to give those guys an opportunity, and Tyler’s got to get the confidence that if he puts the ball up, his guy’s going to go up and compete for it and come down with it.”

Whether Pitt actually does, remains to be seen.