CollegeFootballNews.com does yeoman’s work each year with its 119 previews of all D-1A teams. Not only are they detailed and fairly accurate, the writers actually put their name to the work so people know who to yell at when things are wrong. In something of a change of pace, they put their Pitt preview up on the Fox Sports site before their own. (Thankfully an eagle-eyed reader alerted me.)
Head coach Dave Wannstedt is a pro coach who realizes when a talent level isn’t quite where it’s supposed to be. He knows his team has to be faster on defense, stronger against the run, more efficient in the passing game, and far more effective running the ball. In other words, the Panthers have to become the Steelers.
While winning a world championship isn’t likely to happen any time soon, being more of a player in the Big East race would do for now. While all the attention will be paid to Louisville and West Virginia and their national title hopes, the road to the Big East championship and the BCS will literally go through Heinz Field.
Pitt might not be as talented as the Mountaineers or Cardinals, but it has some great pieces in place to work around and should be better overall by the end of the season. That means the timing is perfect; the final two games are at home against … take a guess.
One of the more optimistic previews on Pitt you will find.
The season will be a success if … Pitt wins the Big East title. Crank the expectations up a notch. The team should be an experienced, hardened squad by mid-November. It’s not often you get ten games to prepare for your two biggest home games.
I have an element of “I want to believe” going as I read this. Turning to their offense profile, really drives that feeling home. While Jeff Otah and Kevin Collier are conspicuous by their absence in talking about the particular units, there is still a lot of “if… , then…” pervading the view. Honestly, I look at Pitt’s offense and there are legit questions about the running game, receiving game and the O-line. There seems to be a cautious amount of optimism about each unit, to lead to the higher expectations.
The offense preview strikes me as most concerned about the running game, but knows that Coach Wannstedt will be stressing it.
Running Backs
This could be a problem even with the return of leading rusher LaRod Stephens-Howling. The most talented runner on the roster, Rashad Jennings, transferred to Liberty after things didn’t quite work out with the coaching staff. Raymond Kirkley wasn’t able to stay healthy last year, but he was a good back and will be missed. Stephens-Howling isn’t big, so he’ll need plenty of help in the rotation meaning Brandon Mason and Shane Brooks have to be steady reserves from the start. The fullbacks will be a strength as the season goes on despite the limited experience.
The key to the unit: Average more than four yards per carry. The running game was non-existent at times last season, and didn’t exactly rock anyone’s world in spring ball, so this will have to continue to be a focus of the coaching staff before the opener.
Running Back Rating: 6
As for the offensive line, well the good news is they have more experience — which they seem to like. The bad news, is they weren’t that good last year and it won’t be too different a squad.
Moving to the Defense preview, the big issue is the D-line. The secondary seems to be in good shape with Revis on one side, Phillips coming back at safety, so the real question is who will step up to take the other corner position. The linebackers are led, of course, by H.B. Blades so that isn’t as big a concern. On this side of the ball, it just keeps coming back to the D-line.
There’s plenty of experience but not a whole bunch of size and there needs to be far more from the pass rush. There will be a rotation of sophomores at tackle who need to hold up better than departed starting tackles Thomas Smith and Phil Tillman did, while end Chris McKillop, the only returning starter, has to be an even better pass rusher. The depth isn’t bad, but that’s primarily because the starters are hardly a lock to keep their jobs.
The key to the unit: All the young players have to become savvy veterans, while Chris McKillop and Charles Sallet must get in the backfield more from the outside.
Defensive Line Rating: 6.5
It’s terribly scary that the lines are the biggest question marks — again — heading towards September. As additional reading, be sure to read this “primer” on O-linemen.
