Some changes to the line-up had to be expected. What, with injuries on the defense. The offense seems to need it, but let’s face it, no one was absolutely sure if Coach Wannstedt would make some changes that weren’t necessitated by injury. Well, it has started.
…the Panthers have benched right guard Greg Gaskins and shuffled the right side of their offensive line.
Jordan Gibbs, a 6-foot-7, 305-pound junior and one of the biggest players on the team, will start at right tackle. Lucas Nix (6-6, 305), who had manned right tackle since last season, will slide over to replace Gaskins as part of a re-worked starting five for the Panthers (1-2).
The right side of Pitt’s line now averages 6-feet-6 1/2, 305 pounds.
“We want to take a look at this lineup and see if this doesn’t give us the best five,” coach Dave Wannstedt said.
When he was hired six years ago, Wannstedt vowed to build the program from the interior – the offensive and defensive lines. While the defensive front is deep and talented, the offensive line left few options prior to the recent switch. As a whole, the group hasn’t developed as consistently as their defensive counterparts despite having well-regarded offensive line coach Tony Wise.
“We’ve been talking about our offensive line,” Wannstedt said. “Is there anything we could do? We’ve got to be very honest about it and play the best players that give us a chance to win at this point.”
So, is this a tacit admission that Greg Gaskins hasn’t exactly been up to snuff? That, but for Ryan Turnley continually banged up and Jake Lippert being the only option at center keeping Coach Wannstedt from giving Lippert time anywhere else on the line?
