Pitt has lots of depth at WR. Even more as Greg Cross has emerged.
“I want to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Cross said. “I was excited when we first talked about moving to receiver — I never played this position before but I always wanted to because I always believed I could do some things catching passes, returning kicks and blocking.
“Really, I felt like, when I first was talking to the coaches about moving, all I needed was just some extra time and that’s why redshirting last year as a junior was so important.”
Cross caught only one pass for 15 yards in the scrimmage Saturday but showed a glimpse of the weapon he could be. He ran a reverse and also threw the touchdown pass to Baldwin on a trick play.
He ran only 4 yards on the reverse. The truth is the play should have been an 8-yard loss but he made two tacklers miss with a little shuffle of his feet and made a positive play out of nothing.
Some have made much of a seeming obsession among a contingent of Pitt fans that have decried the non-use of Cross after one successful Wildcat TD run against Iowa two seasons ago. Count me among that contingent.
And maybe it has only grown in my own mind, but what I remember when he came in was that everyone knew he would be running it. Everyone. Including Iowa. He didn’t appear to be moving that fast, but he just kept moving and evading. He stayed upright and was seemingly untouched for the 17 yard TD.
Pitt’s receiving depth is in far better shape than down in WVU where two consensus 4-star WRs have left the team without even finishing their freshmen seasons — apparently because they are lazy (H/T to Dave).
Walk-on Alex Karabin may be the starting center come the fall. He’s also hoping for a scholarship for his final season at Pitt.
“Alex is one of those guys you probably take for granted,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “He’s very consistent. He knows his strengths and weaknesses. … He continues to get better.”
Lippert, a redshirt freshman, might be the center of the future, but Wannstedt said he is lagging behind Karabin after making the transition from defense.
“Jack Lippert, every day is a new adventure,” Wannstedt said. “He’s not ready to line up and play center and win for us yet. Might he be in September or October? I hope. I’m very pleased with the progress he has made, but he has a long way to go.”
That leaves Karabin as the starter entering camp in August. Even if he does earn the job, he might not get a scholarship. Last season, Wannstedt gave scholarships to three former walk-ons — kicker Dan Hutchins, reserve quarterback Andrew Janocko and defensive lineman Chas Alecxih.
“If we have one, nothing would make me happier than to give one to Alex,” Wannstedt said. “He’s deserving.”
Hopefully it will work out for him.
Finally a piece on new linebackers coach Bernard Clark. Hits the expected notes. Played for the “U.” Check. Still looks like he could play. Check. Intensity still there. Check.
That said, I really like to read about emphasizing tackling. Not hitting.
Clark has greater expectations for what could be among the best trio of linebackers in the Big East next season. He isn’t bothered by much but admitted he’ll be troubled if his safeties, Jarred Holley and Dom DeCicco, lead the Panthers in tackles.
“The first thing (Clark) said to us was that his priorities are tackling and make sure we aren’t loafing,” Gruder said. “He wants us to be 1, 2, and 3 in tackling. That’s the way it should be. That’s the way it’s going to be.”
Even though Holley and DeCicco will play close to the line of scrimmage, Clark said he fears the run defense will break down if the safeties are being pressed to make tackles.
“A linebacker should be sick to his stomach to see a defensive back with more tackles,” said Clark, who has coached at Florida International and South Florida. “Our linebackers understand the pressure, but if they learn something new every day — like how to take on blockers — they’ll play well.
“Of course, the biggest thing is intensity. If they go full speed, we can correct a mistake. If they’re loafing, we can’t correct that. The only thing you can’t coach is effort.”
Not talking about being fearsome hitters. Or setting tone. It is about making the tackle and stopping the play.
Right on, wbb: What would it have hurt to try it in the Sun Bowl? Stull couldn’t get the ball downfield in the wind and they were stacking against Shady all day. Oh right, Cavanaugh was calling that game, not Cignetti.
I do agree Cross is talented and its a shame Cav didn’t find a way to use him, althought it seems Cig will. Maybe running some read type WVU stuff with him and Shady would have been interesting. But I think the main thing was he was not trusted to throw. So the coaches probably didn’t see much of a difference in using him from the backfield vs. a receiver on an end around as a decoy (the receivers actually aided as lead blockers and backside blockers a lot, giving them extra value). Regardless the Wildcat was highly successful for Pitt (remember the ND game?). Cross is a talent, they should find a way to use him. But, plugging him in the wildcat to hand-off 90% of the time was not necessarily the answer.
I understand that Cross was not much of a passer but he was a JC QB who thew some and had to be better than Shady … even if he was able to complete a few short roll-outs, it would have given the Oregon defense a little concern, as opposed to stcking the defense against Shady .. which the did all day …Wildcat or pro set.
I have gone from questioning Wannstedt to assuminng that he sees these kids every day and is the best one (with staff) to make decisions.
I think our new Offensive coordintor and Clark with the LB’s will give us our best team ever this year.
Anyone know if we can watch the Blue Gold game anywhere?
Fans have very short memories when it comes to Cross – one good play and the kid should be starting when in reality that one good play was not a called running play, it was a pass play where he had to scramble because he froze in his progression… luckily a good thing came out of it. But also – please remember the other three times he had the ball in his hands as the QB – unmitigated ‘deer in the headlights’ effect with the kid to the tune of -2 yards.
This year may be completely different in that the staff has put him in a position at WR where he can work on instinct once the ball lands in his hands. He has running talent for sure and apparently has gotten his WR patterns down to the point of effectiveness. Still, he may have a hard road to hoe to see any consistent PT with the WRs we have on the depth chart.
But, two years ago, not using him as the QB in any formation was the right choice.
The attached link is today’s (4/13) story from the Tib-Review about the Pitt secondary and amazingly makes no mention at all about JC transfer Imoru who has thus far won the starting CB position. For all we know, Mr.Paulk could have well written this story 3 weeks ago before camp opened … speaking of mailing it in!
But I guess a trip to the south side practice facility may exceed the Trib’s budget.
Also, I could be wrong, but I think his touchdown run was a trick play where Stull was in the backfield too. Later in the Iowa game, they had Cross in to pass and he was sacked, and yes, he did have the “deer in the headlights” look that time. Then he ran twice in a row against USF for +8 yards and was never seen again.
And to PITTapotamus’ point, maybe “Wildcat” was the wrong term. Agree that should be a direct snap to a RB and Shady ran that well. Maybe a read-option set with Shady in the backfield is a better term. That’s what they supposedly recruited him to do. But, as Dan 72 said, maybe the coaches had reasons unknown to us for not using him in that role.
Anyway, let’s hope that Cross continues to shine in his new role as a WR with a breakout season like Dickerson had last year.
Cross could, if he gets the chance, be a major factor – I truly believe that. However, I’ll say the pretty much the same about Thomas, Street and Saddler. the is a ton of talent at the WR position and it will be hard for everyone to get playing time and touches.
Chas, count me as one of the contingent who couldn’t understand at least trying Cross in the Wildcat in that fateful Sun Bowl — how could it have hurt?
Once again, I believe the key to be the OL … if Pitt can establish the run, they will be in every game.