This is the frustrating thing about watching Pitt, so far this year. There hasn’t been much improvement from week to week. Okay, that’s not entirely true. The running backs — prior to the rash of injuries — had shown promise and the receivers and tight ends have been showing more confidence.

It’s the line play, though, where there has been nothing. Notwithstanding pounding on YSU, both lines have just continued to be beaten up front. Today, the majority of the attention is on the Offensive Line.

True the Panthers have many problems — a 1-4 record (0-4 vs. Division I-A teams) would seem to suggest as much. But one thing that has become increasingly clear is that the offensive line is incapable of blocking effectively and there appears to be few solutions.

Palko dropped to pass 63 times Friday. He was sacked five times, the Scarlet Knights were credited with 20 quarterback hurries and even though there is no official statistic for “hits taken,” he likely set a school record in that category. Rarely did he finish a passing play on his feet.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt did not comment specifically on the offensive line other than to say, “They blitzed us early but at the end of the game, they were rushing three guys and we had difficulty with both. We had a very difficult time [protecting Palko], a very difficult time. He got hit on almost every play until the last play of the game. On that last snap, he got knocked on his back.”
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The offensive line’s struggles, however, go further than just failing to protect Palko.

The running game, which has been a major point of emphasis with the new coaching staff, was non-existent and not for lack of trying.

Pitt fell behind so quickly it was forced to pass more than normal, but the run game was ineffective from the start because the backs were getting hit before they got to the line of scrimmage.

Tyler Palko is naturally not saying a bad thing about directly, so it makes even these comments surprising.

Palko did offer, “When you start worrying about making sure you are safe in the pocket, your vision is not down field all the time and you are a little late to look at the coverage and the secondary.”

During the game, the announcers noted that Palko was missing open receivers, simply because he didn’t have any time to look for everyone.

Apparently some of the O-linemen were getting into it with each other.

The Panthers’ inability to effectively pass block could be leading to some dissension. In the first half, linemen Joe Villani and Mike McGlynn got into a shouting match and had to be separated by their teammates.

After the game, neither Villani nor McGlynn wanted to discuss their sideline fireworks display. They were only slightly more enthusiastic when asked about their inability to stymie Rutgers’ sack attack.

“It’s been the story of our year so far — inconsistency,” Villani said. “One guy doesn’t execute on this play. One guy misses a block on that play. One guy takes himself out for one play. You need all 11 guys on every play, or you’re not going to win.”

“We’ve got to get everybody on one page,” McGlynn said. “It’s hard when one guy messes up, you pick him up and the same thing happens the next play. It’s disappointing.”

Considering how much pressure was coming straight up the middle and that prevented Palko from even trying to step up in the pocket, if changes really are coming I would expect Chris Vangas to be given a shot at Center. Vangas was expected to win the Center position but Villani, a walk-on, surprised everyone by outperforming him in spring drills. You hate to change centers in a season, but Villani is just not doing a very good job on the line. Looking at the O-line and depth chart, he seems the most likely one to face a demotion.

Of course, Pitt’s defensive line was exposed again. Only 1 sack, and very little pressure on the QB. They allowed 203 yards on the ground. Lots of poor tackling. Instead, they were trying to hit. In the opening series they kept getting right past DE Chris McKillop. He actually got penetration in the backfield, but would allow himself to be juked out of a tackle. The other thing, is that he still slowed the runner, made him pause, but there were no other members of the defense swarming on the play.

The secondary was also very guilty of not tackling. They too kept going for the hit — and failing badly. Not to mention 2 dropped interceptions.