Granted, Pitt won’t be on national TV as much this year so we may not be bombarded with them. Still, Pitt’s athletic department has put together a “personality profile” for each player.

Rather than click on over right away, test your knowledge of this year’s Panthers.

(more…)

Free t-shirt time.

It’s back. After a bye week and no winner from the USF game.

Reminder, only size Large remains.

Predict the final score of the Syracuse-Pitt game and get a free “Baldwin for Heisman” t-shirt. Courtesy of PittsburghSteelRocks.com.

There is a variance of +/- 3 points from the actual score if no one hits the exact numbers.

Added bonus this week for those going to the game. I’ll be giving one away while tailgating in Lot 23. All you have to do is find me. I’ll be wearing the Pitt sweatshirt.

That seems to be the question today in the Pittsburgh papers. They just noticed that Syracuse has been tremendous against the run.

Syracuse is first in the Big East and seventh in the nation, allowing 88.9 rushing yards per game,

–The Orange limited Penn State’s Evan Royster to a season-low 41 yards on 12 carries and held the Nittany Lions to only 78 rushing yards, their worst showing of the season.

–They held Northwestern to a season-low 52 yards on 28 carries.

–They stopped Akron for zero yards on 24 carries, the best effort by a Syracuse defense in 18 years.

First-year coach Doug Marrone’s team has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this year, and they are one of only two teams to hold West Virginia star Noel Devine under 100 yards.

This would be a concern if it weren’t for the fact that their pass defense wasn’t 117th nationally and this was last year when Pitt forgot the existence of the forward pass. Coach Wannstedt says he will throw — not that the run will be forgotten.

“But like I said, I have enough confidence in our passing game now to make some plays throwing the ball. That is probably the difference in this year’s team compared to what we’ve had in the past. I don’t believe we are just one-dimensional anymore.”

…

He [Dion Lewis] said the key to this game is simple: Forget about his stats and concentrate on taking what the defense is giving. That might mean a day full of 3- and 4-yard runs, but if that is the case it is exactly the kind of day he is willing to have in order to help the Panthers win.

“If you watch [the Orange] on film, their safeties come up to support the run all the time,” Lewis said. “So, we just have to stay patient and let the game come to us and not try to force anything in the run game. We just need to play smart. I just don’t want to try and force anything and not worry about big plays. I just need to keep having faith in the blocking schemes and stick with it. It is a matter of letting things come to me.”

Part of why Syracuse is so strong against the run is their only clear NFL-caliber defensive player, Arthur Jones. He oddly came back for his final season despite the coaching change and everyone telling him he would be a 1st or 2nd round pick.

Between ‘Cuse’s poor secondary, less than stellar receivers and a quarterback that has a — shall we say — propensity for throws that suggest a blindfold in the helmet the Orange is -7 turnovers in the Big East (with an average of 4 turnovers/game).

Oddly, the Orange have had six straight home games, so this is actually their first road game since early September.

The good news for Syracuse — despite having little talent, depth, players suspended, quitting the team, horrible attendance — they are closing ranks and practicing hard.

“We got after it,” said Syracuse linebacker Derrell Smith. “It was old-school football; mano y mano.”

“I haven’t seen one like that in a long time,” said Syracuse tailback Delone Carter. “It’s all this adversity. I think we just pulled together. Let’s get rid of all the negativity and let’s go out here and get ready for this one like we’re supposed to. I was pleased and surprised by my team. Normally, distractions like that can hinder us. It’s just a testament to us and what we can do.”

Syracuse All-Big East Conference defensive tackle Arthur Jones called it a “great physical practice.” He compared it to the first day of training camp whenever all the players pull on their shoulder pads for the first time. He said it was intense and the Orange was fired up.

“We’re a real, brought-together team right now,” Jones said. “We’re excited. We’re really excited to play Pittsburgh.

Well, then.

Meanwhile Pitt’s bye week creates the concern of breaking the rhythm of an offense that was in sync. At least that would arguably be the concern. Not really buying it.

Especially since Pitt seems well aware of what lies ahead if they just focus on the game at hand.

Mike Shanahan got some love and attention this week with a story in the P-G.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said that Shanahan has become a valuable weapon for Pitt because he is such a big target (6 feet 5) and so reliable.

“There is no substitute for his height, and you combine that with a guy who has good hands,” Wannstedt said. “He is a smart guy, too, so he is a fast learner. So, even though he is a redshirt freshman, he understands what we’re trying to do and, when his number has been called, he has responded.

“He had a very good training camp before he broke that bone in his hand, so we were really disappointed when he got hurt because we expected him to be a big part of this thing. It is good to have him back.”

Plus a post by ESPN.com’s Big East writer that notes how diverse the Pitt receiving corps now is.

“Some guys just have a knack for going up, using their bodies and catching the ball at the high point, and some guys don’t,” Wannstedt said. “Mike and Jonathan can make those difficult catches and I think it’s because they have great body control and they have great hand-eye coordination.”

Shanahan’s emergence only adds to the arsenal that Pitt has assembled in the passing game. Along with Baldwin, there’s tight end/hybrid Dorin Dickerson, who’s become a go-to guy with nine touchdown catches. Oderick Turner can split out wide opposite Baldwin, and Cedric McGee is another solid possession receiver, with freshman Cam Saddler a speed threat when healthy. And that’s not even mentioning reigning All-Big East tight end Nate Byham.

“I think we’re all unique in all of our respective areas,” Shanahan said.

As Zeise has noted at the end of his chat, the emergence and reliability of Shanahan has led to diminished opportunities for Turner. In the last two games, Turner has two catches.

Lot of frustration in a Q&A over Max Gruder. Some speculation for the future over incoming dual-threat QB Anthony Gonzalez becoming a safety and how the O-line will look next year with 3 seniors gone from the line.