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June 13, 2007

A Whole Lot Needs To Go Right

Filed under: Football,Prognostications — Chas @ 2:16 pm

College Football News has its 2007 Pitt Preview. As I read through it, then the Defense preview and Offense preview, I could picture Pitt winning 7 or 8 games. The problem was that I could also picture Pitt losing 7 games.

Wannstedt sees progress, particularly along the lines, but that might just be coach-speak from a man reeling from a wildly disappointing couple of seasons. The perfect remedy for the Panthers would be for the team to manufacture seven wins and a bowl invite, but that’ll require a number of first-time starters on both sides of the ball to grow up real fast. On the plus side, those young players have tremendous upside as Wannstedt has upgrade the talent level in a hurry (at least according to the recruiting types). More realistically, Pitt will have a decent year setting the table for 2008 when all the new stars from the past two Februarys have some experience on their résumés.

I don’t think fans and myself are setting the bar too high. All I want to see is that the team on the field is making progress in strides to match what we’ve seen in recruiting and what the coaches have been telling us since 2005.

The talent is there. I don’t doubt it. I actually feel very good about the offense as long as things get cleared up with the O-line and who the center will be (stunning and disturbing that McGlynn might have to be converted because there simply isn’t anyone who can even match the distinctly average work of Joe Villani).

McGlynn moving to center, solidifying the position while getting Pinkston into the lineup. Wannstedt desperately wants to get his five best linemen on the field at the same time, and this is a move that would certainly address that desire. McGlynn has played center before and is the team’s long snapper so he’s no stranger to this role.

The depth and potential for the running backs is exciting, but they still need room to run. That doesn’t simply mean that the O-line has to be good. They also have to be healthy all season. The O-line still lacks much depth. Especially if McGlynn is at Center. If Pinkston is starting, then Pitt will have to get incredibly lucky with injuries on the line.

The Receiving corp is arguably the deepest in the Big East (Louisville offers a better top-2 in Urrita and Douglas), so the potential to do 4 WR or 3 plus the TE to really open things up makes me smile.

Then it comes back to who will be the QB and will he have time to throw? Last year, we saw that the adjustment any semi-competent team made against Pitt was to start bringing pressure. Sure enough, they could blow right through the O-line and keep the play from ever happening.

Yes, Pitt will have more balance with the run, but it still depends on the O-line to give the QB time. Regardless of who the QB is, he will need time. He will be a first-year starter.

Defense. I’m just scared. The write-up on CFN is typical in that a bad D-line last year will be better this year based in part on another year of experience. There’s more depth, yes, but I’m not sure that I feel great that the starters from last year still couldn’t be unseated.

Once everyone gets healthy, the defensive line will better than last year, but still not where Wannstedt needs it to be. While it’ll improve on last year’s 21 sacks, problems with the run defense won’t go away overnight.

I actually believe the run defense will be better statistically, by simple virtue of the fact that it will be hard for it to be much worse. Also, teams will be more willing to throw — challenge Aaron Berry and likely Kennard Cox.

The Defense will come down to whether Pitt can stop the run at even an average rate. The Offense will score. And I really think it will improve during the season. But to have the offense Wannstedt wants the defense needs to hold a lead. Something they haven’t been able to do against average teams or better in the first two years.





I agree, I dont expect a big season but I need to see some progress. And by progress I would like to see our team at least be competitive when we play WVU, Louisville, and Rutgers and hopefully win at least one of these. Also, the last 2 years our team has collapsed as soon as things get a little tough – lets see some mental toughness out there.

Comment by Rex 06.13.07 @ 3:07 pm

I agree- we need to see some killer instinct. I wonder if the players and coaches ever stop and think about losing to UConn and being surpassed in status by Rutgers. It would piss me the hell off. It DOES piss me the hell off.

Comment by Dan35 06.13.07 @ 3:54 pm

Agreed there has to be marked improvement….that means they have to have a winning record against BE opponents.

Comment by Kenny 06.13.07 @ 4:05 pm

4 receiver and 3 tight end sets??? in Matt Cavanaugh’s offense? you gotta be kidding. as soon as that derrick kinder deep play started working for touch downs, we quit running it. if you got a 125 lb running back like lsh you pound it up the middle 3 times and punt. one think about walt is he could get them to score points. with our defense we need to hang 35 pts a game on opponets to be even in the game at the end.

Comment by Kurt 06.13.07 @ 4:58 pm

Kurt, offense was pretty much as good last season as any of Walt’s (statistically speaking). The problem was ~95% defensive. Bad DL couldn’t control the LOS against any decent team so teams with decent to good running attacks dominated us.

Comment by pitt72 06.13.07 @ 6:51 pm

It is unfathomable how bad our run D was last year. Bottom 5 in the nation in ypc allowed! How is that even possible for a major (non-Temple/Buffalo/Duke etc) football program?

Comment by Jon C 06.13.07 @ 7:38 pm

No, the offense was plenty to blame, too. They couldn’t run the ball consistently all year, even against bad teams, and the result was an offense that was entirely too predictable and couldn’t keep the team’s awful defense off the field.

Let’s face it, we were pretty awful on both sides of the ball last year.

Comment by Jeff 06.13.07 @ 8:55 pm

Harris’s teams the last couple of years couldn’t run it effectively either, that’s what I was comparing it to.

Comment by pitt72 06.13.07 @ 9:17 pm

Compare it to anything you. Fact is since DW has come to town beating teams that are good to decent has gone out the window. I for one need to be shown that this coach can do more that bring great player here.

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 06.13.07 @ 9:48 pm

7 wins will be a minor miracle…but I’m still going to go to each game…shame we can’t get to play the PShittersU beating them would make a 1-10 year worthwhile….Marco

Comment by Marco 06.13.07 @ 10:19 pm

how could anyone take a review seriously that declares that not only is McGlynn a potential all-star player, but he’s a “brick wall” on the right side. First of all, he’s not any good at RT period. Second of all, if he WAS any good, would Pinkston be playing? Obviously not.

So this is all a bit silly.

The way we are going to stop the run is putting Tommie Duhart on the field at end, putting a stronger John Malecki on the field at DT, and putting a better Gus Mustakas on the field next to him.

I also would NOT rule out Chris Jacobsen starting at a true Freshman at Guard by the end of the year moving Davis to center. He is THAT good.

Comment by Ryan 06.13.07 @ 11:12 pm

Anybody read this over there?

“Penn State is still in the running for…Terrelle Pryor… Did Pitt make the list? Not so much. Suck on that, Panthers. Tell me again how Pitt is taking recruits away from Penn State?”

“in the running for…”? Two words bitches: LeSean McCoy. Call us when you have Pryor signing to play for your basketball joke…er..uh…”team.” Or the other sport. I love how retards gloat before they’ve ever crossed a finish line.

Comment by Stuart 06.14.07 @ 3:15 am

Hey Stu, PSU wont get Pryor either. He’s going to OSU and he’ll whoop on your asses all day. Before you ripe on our bball team, you better ask yourself what NAIA team your bball team could beat!!

Comment by F. Paterno 06.14.07 @ 8:02 am

Stu is a Pitt fan…read a little bit closer next time.

Comment by Matt O 06.14.07 @ 8:36 am

I really hope we are decent this season. Going to football games and watching Pitt win is always fun. I don’t care who we are playing.

Comment by Omar 06.14.07 @ 9:26 am

ditto Omar. Last year had potential, one long run by Rutgers basically crushed the season – seemed like they gave up after that. The defense was soooo horrible that it has to get better this year – it cant get any worse. If the defense shapes up there are good things to come.

Comment by Rex 06.14.07 @ 9:47 am

Regarding the depth on the O-line. Is moving Bachman to center AND moving McGlynn such a wise idea? I know that center is a very weak position for Pitt…but moving McGlynn there should be enough. Let Bachman remain at left tackle.

Comment by George 06.14.07 @ 10:10 am

In Cirminiello’s preview, Wannstedt is credited with a 13-10 overall record entering his 3rd year as HC.

See right margin at second paragraph:
link to cfn.scout.com

Of course, DW is sub -500 in a two year combined effort resulting in 11-12. Which is quite an oversight, OR, CFN’s prediction that the team will one (1) game in ’07.

Of course, whatever the case may be, it doesn’t explain or sense of DW’s supposed 10 L column.

Comment by Neil 06.14.07 @ 10:28 am

I am so unexcited about this football season. Maybe they’ll be a pleasant surprise, but I’m not expecting much.

Comment by Carmen 06.14.07 @ 1:42 pm

Carmen, I agree. Its hard to be optimistic after the past 2 seasons. However one good thing about Pitt is they tend to do better when expectations are low and seem to flop when expectations are high. so if recent history is any indication maybe we are in for a pleasant surprise this year.

Comment by Rex 06.14.07 @ 2:04 pm

Did anyone notice the article on the post-gazette today about Tom DeCicco played defensive end in the Big 33 game? How is Wanny not flipping out. Who puts a quarterback/safety at end?

Comment by Matt 06.14.07 @ 3:45 pm

“There are a lot of people who have told me they think it’s stupid for me to play in an all-star game like this. I don’t worry about that. I don’t worry about getting injured. That’s part of the game. I just know that the chance to play in this game was not something that I wanted to pass up.”

Yeah, I have to agree with you, Matt. I don’t think DeCicco quite gets that the stupid part is to play completely out of position…

Comment by Greg in Columbia 06.14.07 @ 4:28 pm

why does wannstedt let these guys play in the big 33 game? dorian dickerson ankle, that central bucks west running back concussion. the list goes on john malecki’s shoulder was reinjured. i guess i’m am tired of seeing our top recruits get injured in a meaningless allstar game. trying to think of the running back’s name, was the next mike alstott much like hyno is now.

Comment by Kurt 06.14.07 @ 6:05 pm

Picciotti.

I’m so juiced up for football. Championship or bust.

Comment by ChrisA 06.14.07 @ 7:02 pm

I think DW’s name would quickly turn to mud with many of the high school coaches and players’ families if he tried to restrict his recruits from playing.

Comment by geeman2001 06.14.07 @ 10:46 pm

[…] It’s the 50th Anniversary of the Big 33 game, and I think it’s safe to say that most college football fans just hope that the kids coming to their school don’t get hurt. The offline world kept me from doing this yesterday, but judging by the comments at the end of this thread, the general view to knowing Pitt commits are playing is fear of injury. […]


Geeman -I agree that forbidding participation in the Big 33 would squanded a lot of the attention and goodwill Wannstedt has restored to PITT & HS relations.

Also, PITT doesn’t own these kids until they are enrolled, so DW really has no say in the matter until then. I’m sure he could bring pressure to bear if he wanted, but that might be overstepping some bounds if a kid has grown up wanting to play in the game.

Comment by Reed 06.15.07 @ 8:59 am

Hey Stu,

PSU is in Pryor’s top 11. Pitt isn’t. Neener neener!

Comment by blahblahblah 06.15.07 @ 9:54 am

The only reason PSU is still being considered by Pryor is because they don’t have a QB.

But, if he’s sane, he won’t go to PSU because:

1) They don’t have a track record of developing quarterbacks.
2) He’s more of an option-type guy and Penn State isn’t that kind of offense.
3) If he has any intention of trying to play basketball, PSU is a wasteland.

I’d love to have him at Pitt but the timing is bad. With Bostick coming in, the QB position is going to either be filled or he’d have real competition.

Comment by frankinchicago 06.15.07 @ 11:51 am

the offense was a thunderbolt (kinder pass) here and there no sustained running game and no rest for the defense i was dumb enough to go to all but 2 home games(work) or i would have gone to all. will be down there again this year as well. well hs allstar games are nice, we seem to have had many set backs with injuries, let alone time lost in learning the system. dicicco would been better served enrolling early and seeing if he could break into the starting line up of what appears to be a weak, inexperienced linebacking core, unless his redshirt is a foregone conclusion. i was relieved when bostic was snubbed for the big 33 game. now he may at least push stull, if not seize the position himself. I think pryor was ill advised going to osu. he could have come in and been the man at pitt. wannstedt would have had to play him as we still don’t (and with the regression of joe thomas) won’t have one this year either. i’m of 2 minds on starting bostic this year, on one hand, the experience would be invaluable next year, but he could get seriously killed or maimed behind our line this year. if we are ever to have an o line 2008-9 would be the year, and he might even have time to throw. I think our offense should be 80% shotgun, try to get mccoy and lsh to the outside or past the los with screens, mid range te passes to avoid making the line have to block. only throw the deep ball on 1st down or 2 and short (if we ever find ourselves in this position) to keep them off balance. something like this would chew some clock and help the defense a little.

Comment by Kurt 06.15.07 @ 1:52 pm

You gotta give PSU credit…..I mean they have a 9% chance of landing Pryor…..and if that isn’t something to brag about, then I don’t know what is. JoePa must have crapped his pants when he heard the news.

Comment by Jon C 06.15.07 @ 7:24 pm

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