Well it looks like the reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Week won’t go Lou Gerhig on Adam Gunn (yet). Not bad for a freshman making his first start and not being told until a few hours before the game.
It was clear to Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt that Mason would be inserted into the starting lineup when senior Adam Gunn limped about the practice complex last week. But Mason didn’t know for sure he’d start until hours before kickoff.
“I know I’m a freshman, but I don’t want to play like one,” Mason said. “I was a little nervous, but who wouldn’t be? I got my first bit of contact, and I got over.”
Mason wasted little time introducing himself to Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs. With Navy threatening to erase Pitt’s 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, Mason rushed past three Midshipmen to sack Dobbs on third-and-5 to force a Navy field goal attempt that Joe Buckley pushed wide right.
Granted, Gunn had the BEDPoW the week before Mason. Still, Coach Wannstedt may publicly declare now that there won’t be an increased effort to get Mason more work by altering the substitution patterns of the linebacking corps. The whole reason was in response to Wannstedt’s immediate comments after the game.
Because of his quick rise, Wannstedt feels his playing situation will have to be addressed in order to get him on the field more often.
“We need to take a look at Dan’s situation,” Wannstedt said. “He certainly needs to play more.”
After Gunn’s return, Mason may stay at middle linebacker with Gunn moving to outside linebacker, so the linebacker situation should be a key area of focus during Pitt’s practice this week in preparation for their next game, which is at North Carolina State on Saturday.
“I think I made some mistakes today, but they’re correctible,” Mason said. “I just want to continue to be aggressive and get better.”
The reality is, that Mason has to get more playing time. Everyone knows it. It is simply a matter of managing egos and team chemistry.
1. Recruiting – DW is excellent at this, Pitt gets the talent
2. Player development/management – Some areas good (defensive line, running back), some not so good (depth at key positions,position switches). Cignetti a big plus. Team chemistry, loyalty to those seniors who work hard vs. young talent is hard for “good guys” like DW to manage.
3. Game management, X & O’s, clock,etc. – DW is going to have his WTF moments (fake FGs, taking out a hot QB when game is still on the line, etc.) ND’s Charley Weis is the worst at this.
I’m optimistic that Pitt will be great this year.
Although athletic, Fields must learn how to hit with force consistently. Dom, in my opinion, is way to soft. I seriously question his ability to play defense in general. For god’s sake, the safety should be one of the most tenacious hitters on defense. Our cornerbacks are guilty of this as well. Heck, call me crazy but if I were DW I’d replace Dom with Mason. We desperately need help back there!
That being said, he does seem a bit “mistake-phobic” at times, i.e. his fear to pass over the middle.
Also keep in mind that the established starters have a bit of studliness to them as well. Would it be good coaching to bench good players just to see if the new guy is any better? Momentum and Morale do factor into the college game.
Yes, I’m afraid to believe this team is good until after the season. Every time I think they have turned the corner, something happens and they take two steps back. I WANT them too win SOOOOOO much, it hurts if/when they lose games that can put them on the road to respectability.
First – Cross’ talents and abilities are fast becoming stuff of urban legend. Yes – he scored the first time he touched the ball and BTW it was a broken play 17 yard run not 30. Cross rushed four times for a total of 15 yards – including his 17 yarder… what does that tell you? Geez – Bill Stull had a better 20 yard broken play run just last week – should he be rushing the ball all over the place?
However, if you followed closely you’ll remember that Cross couldn’t do a thing after that first play – quite literally. He’d turn the wrong way on handoffs to the RB and never grasped the passing offense enough to be even considered a viable option by the staff. Which is why the kid is at WR.
Secondly – interesting that you’d complain about DW ‘leaving young talent on the bench’ when we have just seen true freshman get in and contribute greatly over the last three years – McCoy, Baldwin, Lewis, Graham, Mason, Tags…etc, to say nothing of the rsFR who have played also.
I wasnt talking about playing Cross full time, just a few plays a game. I dont know what he was capable of handling , but I do know that the staff was pretty patient with other players who consistently made plenty of mental mistakes (stull, deciccio, fields, ). Would of just liked to see him in the backfield a little with Shady last year. I would think a coaching staff would be able to teach a kid at least a few plays.
Secondly, as far as playing younger kids, my point was that I wish DW would be able to evaluate these kids a little sooner to realize what they got. As I said, McCoy & Mason took injuries to get them into the game. Lewis & Graham, well what other choices are there, and Baldwin – for as talented as he is… was very under used last season.
Sorry for the error in the stats. Just trying to make a point and I cant believe you mentioned Stulls run with Cross’s run. Lay off the stats on this one… they do lie. I didnt say Cross was the next Randall Cunningham, just that I thought he showed something that would at least make me curious enough to put the ball in his hands a few more times. Go Pitt!
on Cross’s 4 carries for 15 yds, I think only one designed run failed to gain yardage. The others were sacks rolling out to pass. Cross could have been used better and more often by Cavanaugh. I never read or heard that he had problems with handoffs, and would not really have to grasp the passing offense to utilize his running ability. How about Cross, Shady and LaRod in a Wildcat? Might have scored a point in the Sun Bowl with that trio. Maybe a more innovative OC like Cignetti will redshirt him this year and work him into the lineup next year after Stull is gone and utilize his speed. You can never have enough offensive weapons.
