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March 29, 2010

Guys at the Cat Basket had been saying from the start, that Tino Sunseri was going to be handed the starting QB job by Coach Wannstedt in the spring. The early indications bore that out as the supposed to be a QB competition alternating the 1st and 2nd team between Pat Bostick and Sunseri went out the window as soon as practice began.

Now Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti is saying there is competition — but the description is in name only.

“Right now, there’s competition at every position. Tino’s number one and Pat’s number two, just like Dion Lewis is number one and Ray Graham is number two but there’s great competition. There’s competition at every position,” Cignetti said Thursday.

Cignetti’s analogy is telling: there’s no uncertainty about Lewis’s role in Pitt’s offense, and now there appears to be little uncertainty at the quarterback position as well.

Yeah, not the best comparison to suggest “competition” in the way expected. The thing that seems so odd is that Sunseri has hardly appeared to be running away with things by most accounts.

So far in spring camp, Sunseri has completed roughly 66% of his passes and has been intercepted six times, most coming in a rough outing on Tuesday when he threw four picks. Bostick has completed approximately 73.9% of his passes and has been picked off just twice.

“Some of the interceptions are bad decisions, and those are correctable,” Cignetti said. “Tino and Pat are doing a tremendous job of competing. The first thing we ask those young men to do is come out here and compete. They’re both out here to win a job, and they’re both here to win every snap and every drill. They’ve both done a very nice job running the offense. There are run-game adjustments, there are protection adjustments, and there are obviously decisions to make in the passing game, and I think that Tino and Pat have both made good decisive decisions.”

Yes, there is a big difference between passing against the 1st team defense and the 2nd team defense (especially with such low depth in the secondary). So that has to be taken into account. The fact that the coaching staff hasn’t even tried to switch things up early to pay lip service to competition with Sunseri and Bostick is still surprising. Even if the end result is predictable.

Also predictable. The story of a young player responding well to a new position coach and getting better. Hello, MLB Dan Mason and new Linebacker Coach Bernard Clark.

Mason has a new mentor who should help ease his transition. Bernard Clark took over as linebackers coach this spring after Joe Tumpkin left to become the defensive coordinator at Central Michigan.

Clark won two national championships when he was the starting linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes in 1987 and ’89. He wants to help Mason with his mental approach to the game.

“The best thing about Dan is he has such natural instincts,” Clark said. “The thing about Dan is you have to slow him down. He’s so excited about playing. He’s really hyper when he’s out there on the field. It’s basically pulling the reigns back and letting him know things develop in front of him — let it develop and react that way. He’s so quick to react right now. That’s the biggest thing we’re working with him on right now. His instincts and speed are outstanding.”

How’s it going in learning to handle pass coverage?

Clark said it’s not unusual for a linebacker coming from the high school ranks to be behind in pass coverage skills. Most high school teams do not face sophisticated passing schemes, so when they line up in college and face intricate passing games it is the first time they are exposed to it.

“It’s a situation where he hasn’t played the pass as much, so it’s getting used to it more than anything,” Clark said.

Insert cynical, snarky, outdated comment about going against Pitt’s offense to learn pass coverage.

Now for the silly. Pitt has depth at running back. We all know that. There’s some quality at the spot. So there’s the story of the competition pushing Dion Lewis and the absurd headline to the article. “Pitt rushing game won’t be one-man show.”

“We all know Dion had a lot of success last season. We know he did a great job,” said Pitt running backs coach David Walker. “But Ray Graham’s trying to win a job. Jason Douglas is trying to win the starting tailback job. Chris Burns is trying to win the starting tailback job. So, those guys are working hard, and they’re not going to concede anything to Dion.”

Now to be fair, there is nothing in the story to suggest that Pitt is even pretending that there will be a rotation at running back. Also keep in mind that the story writer is not the guy that writes the headlines for articles.

Take those factors out and it becomes a standard spring practice story on a position that is set. We know that Dion Lewis is the starter. That he is going to be the workhouse back — having already shown he can handle it — and that Coach Wannstedt is a one-back guy.





I’d like to see yardage stats as well. If Bostick is just dumping off passes to backs or throwing all routes under 7 yards (sound familiar?) and tino is throwing 15 yard in’s and posts mixed in with short passes…just saying, completion % and int’s doesn’t tell much of the story when you can’t see any of the passes.

Comment by TrolleyRider 03.29.10 @ 2:56 pm

How many times did Lewis attempt in the Car Bowl?

47?

Not a one man show?

Comment by WLAT Radio and the Big Beat 03.29.10 @ 4:25 pm

I hope Wannstedt figures this out on the two QB’s performances and not some other factor. Who am I kidding? Of course it will be on some other factor because that’s how Wannstedt operates. With Utah, Miami, and Notre Dame on the non-conference schedule, Wannstedt has no time to nurture his fantasies about this team. With Kelly at Notre Dame you can be sure the competition in that contest will be much tougher than its been the past two years.

Comment by TonyinHouston 03.29.10 @ 4:39 pm

QB- my concern is we have the same type of competition for the position as with Palko and Getsy . We all knew that if Pitt was ever to get another player from West Allegheny Palko better win the QB battle. Palko would have made a great safety while Getsy was a good QB . We could have had 2 atheletes on the field if Getsy would have been the QB. Does Sunseri’s bloodlines influence the outcome of the QB derby ?
I want to see the best QB out there not a father’s influence with the coaching staff make the decision.

Comment by Marty 03.29.10 @ 6:22 pm

people should remember last August when early on, Tino playing against the 2nd team defense, looked far superior to Stull ..who can forget all the conroversey that followed. I have to give Cignettit the benefit of the doubt here, and believe he will go with the best option.

Also, it would not surprise me at all if Graham were to get more playing time this year. Remember, Lewis had the benefit of enrolling last January and the spring practice experience,while Graham was new to the program in August.

Comment by wbb 03.29.10 @ 7:20 pm

If I were Bostick I would tranfer to Delaware like another Pitt reject, now playing in Baltimore. Tino is another Palko, bloodlines apparently mean more than ability and knowledge of the postion.

Comment by pghman 03.29.10 @ 8:22 pm

Tino has the bloodlines he’s from western Pa, etc…He’s the new Palko…He should transfer to Delaware like another Pitt reject playing in Baltimore.

Comment by pghman 03.29.10 @ 8:25 pm

I hope this is all sarcasm and not actual negativity. The program is moving in the right direction. I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out- spring game is less than 3 weeks away. Let’s enjoy looking forward to the season for once. Tailgate time, gentlemen

Comment by Dan35 03.29.10 @ 9:44 pm

Call me crazy, but how could you justify starting Tino over Bostick at this point? Pat was shoved into a shit storm as a freshman, did okay, not great, but won some games. As a sophomore, he was demoted then forced into two less than desirable situations, won both of the games. Both victories are current wins that are local legend, but is not given any credit. As a junior, takes a redshirt to improve. Please tell me why 14 completions as second string QB this past season amkes Tino the odds on favorite. I’m not anti Tino, I just don’t understand why Pat has been written off.

Comment by Fear The Mustache 03.29.10 @ 9:52 pm

Everyone needs to lay off Wannstedt and Cignetti when it comes to this QB competition. I’d say about 75% (or more) of us were all over them for going with Stull as the starter after the Sun Bowl and poor Spring/Fall practices and look how that turned out. They know what they’re doing and they’re going to chose the guy who gives this team the best chance to win games. If Bostick isn’t the guy, he isn’t the guy. He’s worked hard and done the very best he could when thrust into situations that were difficult, whether that was his freshman year being thrown to the wolves early on or whether that was coming in in crucial situations for an injured QB. We have to put aside recruiting rankings and put faith in the coaching staff that they know what they’re doing.

Things work themselves out. This program is moving in the right direction. When things weren’t going well, we were all on Wanny and the staff; now, things have a totally different feel and we must give them credit.

Comment by John from DC 03.29.10 @ 9:55 pm

The Palko/Getsay comparisons are a joke. Tyler was head and shoulders above Luke. I get the fact that it would be good to have two talented players on the field. But not at the expense of the QB position. It’s just too important. With the talent Palko had around him, we’re lucky as fans to get what we got.

Comment by wild wild billy west 03.29.10 @ 11:00 pm

Tino Time. Deal with it.

Comment by Perry 03.29.10 @ 11:02 pm

For those commenting about bloodlines, Tino’s father interviewed for a position with Wanny when he was hired and did not get the job. How can you focus on bloodlines as a controversy? The coaches see something in Tino – coaches who are supposed to know about the game – not fans that read stats and pretend to know football.

Comment by PittFBFanCuz 03.29.10 @ 11:54 pm

Interesting (or perhaps not so interesting) stat, RS sophomore Tino is a month older than RS Junior Pat Bostick.

Comment by BigGuy 03.30.10 @ 12:19 am

According to the CatBasket: Wanny contract extension tomorrow.

Comment by Robert 03.30.10 @ 12:43 am

I would like to see Tino starting with Pat backing up. Tino is the qb of the future and getting him out there now will pay off. Plus you have the luxury of having an experienced backup there to step in at any moment.

It seems like nobodys ever happy. If DW chooses Bostick he gets critisized for playing experience over youth. If he chooses Tino he gets critisized for giving the job to the son of a Pitt guy….please.

Its Tino Time and I agree that comparing Palko/Getsy to Sunseri/Bostick is ridiculous. If you think Palko was the starting qb because he was from western PA and because of his Dad then maybe you have forgotten what he accomplished and did it without a good O-line:

“Palko ended his college career tied for second in school history in career touchdown passes with former Panther Alex Van Pelt with a total of 66 and was second in university history in career passing yardage, trailing Dan Marino by 254 yards. Palko’s career totals of 8,343 passing yards with 66 touchdown passes rank him as one of the top-three passers in Panther football history.”

Comment by Coach Ditka 03.30.10 @ 6:57 am

One hidden item buried in the Palko/Getsy story – this was at a time when we had that great Walt Harris offensive line. Palko was much more mobile and much more durable – remember how he would wallop safeties while scrambling? Getsy would have been killed behind that offensive line – I think this had a lot to do with Palko being the QB.

Comment by KeyboardKev 03.30.10 @ 7:56 am

REQUIRED READING FOR ALL ON THIS BLOG IS TODAY’S P-G BLOG FROM PAUL ZEISE. Here are is an excerpt:

Last week when I was in Syracuse, Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti told my good friend Chris Peak of the Pantherlair that Tino Sunseri was the Panthers “No. 1 quarterback.” That isn’t a surprise to anyone who has covered this team but it is a bit of a surprise that Cignetti would say that given that the coaching staff has been very sensitive about trying to keep the “competition” alive. But Tino has taken all the first-team snaps in the spring because coaches are really committed to trying to get him as much work as possible to get him ready for the season.

The only thing I’d caution is this – Tino is the No. 1 quarterback because he is physically more gifted than Pat Bostick and has far more upside. But that isn’t any different than the way things were last year during training camp – he threw the best ball, could make all the passes, had the strongest arm and quickest release of any quarterback in camp. But when push came to shove, he couldn’t seperate himself from the other two so the coaches opted for the experience and grit of Stull and well, that worked out obviously. So while he is clearly on track to be the starter, when they put him in position to win or lose the job against a live pass rush, blitzes and changing defenses in the fall — will he be able to win it this year or will the coaches be in the position to opt for experience again? I’m thinking he’ll get it done but until it happens, you just never know.
_________________

Zeise also addresses Ray Graham, the starting CBs, the OL and Wanny’s contract extension among other things.

Comment by wbb 03.30.10 @ 8:39 am

this is nothing like the Palko situation. People need to get over that. Flacco had tools but wasn’t developed and ready to start at the time. Yes he’s become one helluva QB but it just wasn’t his time. He made a good decision to go somewhere where he could play and develop. He was naturally talented but not ready.

Tino is more like Flacco than Bostick is. Tino is the one who is more naturally gifted and lacks the experience. Give him a chance and he may thrive and develop (a la Flacco). Bostick has the weaker arm (like Palko), but probably knows the stuff better and may make better reads at the time (like Palko), and is somewhat like a coach on the field (again like Palko). So for all of you comparing that situation and claiming this is the same situation, you are right, sort of. Except the coaches are going with the guy with the tools (which is what you want right?). Bostick transfering would not pan out like Flacco, he doesn’t have the arm, mobility, etc. to ever be a pro prospect. You have to give Bostick credit, he is exactly what you want in a Pitt kid. Comes out, competes, doesn’t complain, and when called upon succeeds. But the coaches are giving a kid who has more natural talent the shot. And can you blame them? After all so many people on here are still so caught up in losing Flacco.

Comment by PITTapotamus 03.30.10 @ 8:54 am

Although I wasn’t the biggest Palko fan, since when did Palko morph into a horrible QB? Getsy or Flacco wouldn’t have lasted a whole season with that horrible offensive line. Pitt was pretty low on talent then.

And who is going to have a better handle on the QBs? Frankie Cigs who works with both Bostick and Sunseri daily or random dude on here who last saw Sunersi play in mop up situations and last saw Bostick in a game in 2008. I’m trusting Frankie Cigs judgment on this one and I’m not going to worry about meaningless spring stats.

Comment by XblackmagicismyheroX 03.30.10 @ 9:03 am

I think you’ve got to give Bostick the starting nod. He’s not that mobile and he doesn’t have the greatest arm, but he has more big game experience and I want to win now. (13-9 and the 3OT ND win) I’m worried Tino is going to crap his pants at Utah beacuse the only signifcant action I think he saw last year was against the mighty Buffalo Bulls.

Comment by AJ 03.30.10 @ 9:20 am

I am surprised — somewhat, I guess — by the certainty of some comments about just why Tino is apparently the #1 QB at this point and who is more suited to be in that position. wbb’s comments summed up things pretty well for me. Go with the QB who you believe has more upside and more potential to benefit your team and program over the long run.

Comment by Carmen 03.30.10 @ 9:33 am

Fran Cigs… turned billy stull into a potential NFL qb….(Abet a free agent pick). Would anybody have ever have thought that ?

A years work with Cigs, turned Stull into something nobody thought possible. I’ll take his judgment on our starting QB… no questions.

Comment by Snala the Panther 03.30.10 @ 9:57 am

Anyone have a sense what’s going on with the women’s program? Two more players have decided to transfer to other schools, which makes three total since the season ended….add in Pitt’s failure to make the NCAA tournament (considering it was in Pittsburgh this year) makes me wonder if we have the right coach at the helm….anyone have an idea of what’s going on?

Comment by Marco 03.30.10 @ 10:54 am

[…] went back and looked over my post on how it seems that the QB competition is over before it started. I certainly don’ t make the claim that Bostick should be the starter over Sunseri, or vice […]


I’m kinda with Fear the Stache on this one…
I sometimes marvel at the development of QBs by this regime. I just don’t get it. It smells funny to me.

How is it that a coaching regime that has built it’s entire decision making process (for getting kids on the field) has been made on favoring experience and tenure over talent and youthful exuberance….all of a sudden, ignore a guy that has way more experience (over 10 college starts, engineered two of the greatest wins in recent Pitt history, and is a Junior) over a kid that has 7 passes and no starts as a Sophmore. I just don’t get it. If he is the real deal, he should have been out their last year taking lumps and preparing for 2010. He certainly could have handed off to Dion 40+ times and rode a 9 win season like Stully boy.

If Wanny & Co are having a change in philosophy, it just makes me perturbed about last year. I’m more pissed off that Tino wasn’t playing last year because Stull was at his highest level of development and we would be set this year with a tenured QB running the show.

But, of course, we have Tino walking into a sh*t storm in Utah for his first starting game… brilliant. Wake me up versus New Hampshire when everyone is crying for Bostick after a 45-10 shillacking…

Comment by Pauly P 03.30.10 @ 12:21 pm

Pauly, under your scenario, then maybe Pitt should start either Gonzales or Myers since both are higher rated and presumably have higher upsides than Tino. The other argument, of course, is to play the QB each year that would likely produce the highest amount of wins for the year … such as Stull last year.

Comment by wbb 03.30.10 @ 2:27 pm

Marco,
I too am wondering about the women’s BB team. If you follow it at all, they have no post player remaining on the roster. Pepper Wilson was dominate 2 years ago as a freshman, injured much of last season. the other big, Popovec(sp) was a capable back up so this is interesting.

Comment by Kurt 03.30.10 @ 2:47 pm

c’mon, stop with the girls hoops talk.

Comment by hot sauce 03.30.10 @ 5:44 pm

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