A win is a win, could there be hope?

Onto Butgers!!!

RU’s Defense is pretty solid… but the O is a mess.. but IF Pitt plays like they did against cuse, they should take RU down.

The belittling of the BigEast is getting tired. I hear it in the National Media and the Post Gazette, do we have to hear it on a Pitt blog as well. It is what it is, we get wrongly belittled when the conf. is good. So now people are saying even if we win the BigEast it won’t be enough for most after starting 2-3, as most of the fan base(at least on this blog)threw in the towel. We have a coach who has led Pitt to it’s MOST wins over two seasons since 1981-1982. Maybe you don’t agree with the experts, Pitt was picked by the experts to LOSE to Utah, Miami & ND, you know the betting experts, where money is involved. Even if Pitt wins another NC under Wanny, there will be those of you who would criticize the guy. Give it a frickin break ! Wanny & staff did a great job getting this team back on track and totally trashing a team that was 4-1, had their fan base motivated, had momentum on their side and beatup Syracuse for the 3rd straight time in the Carrier Dome. AGAIN SOMETHING PITT HASN’T DONE 3 TIMES IN A ROW SINCE 1978, 1980 & 1982. And we all know (or should know) who was on those latter two teams and all the future great NFL players as well. Again that is a long time, congrats to Coach Wannstedt.

Yes we crushed Syracuse. But was it impressive? Ehh…

Let’s face it, Syracuse is not a good team. I give them credit for going 4-1 to start the season, but I would not be surprised if they don’t win a game the rest of the way out. I am pleased that we won this game the with that score, but I am not getting overly optimistic because of it.

Personally, I think we are closer to the team that played Miami than the team that played Syracuse… especially since we are expecting Wanny to lead us to national relevance (top-10 rankings with conference championships).

Yes we can beat the lower level teams, but can we beat the good ones? We will see the rest of the year…

Wanny isn’t going to go anywhere no matter what happens……So just ride the lightning and evaluate the season when it’s over.

Tino is making progress as is the O-line and the linebackers. There is now hope.

I don’t like the term “can’t lose”, seen that mentality in the 4th Q too often by Wanny holding on to a thin lead and going comatosed on the offense. The Rutgers game is a “must win”. This team needs to keep its collective head out of its *ss and play with some emotion up to its potential, period. This team has talent, although it is young talent, mistakes and penalites, unacceptable. Ultra conserative coaching, unacceptable. Go out there with the attiude that we’re going to fly around and make this thing happen, play with real conviction and emotion and that talent should rise to the top. I saw alittle “fire in the belly” of Wannstedt’s 4th Q sideline game face and I liked it. Don’t play scared, bring it on and see what happens. Its more fun watching that kind of team anyhow, even if Pitt goes down in flames. Hail to Pitt.

You can dismiss this win in any way you want, but you can’t dismiss three things:

1. It was a win. A lot of teams lost on Saturday.
2. It was a conference win, so it’s one step toward the goal of winning the conference.
3. After opening with a tough OT loss, two unimpressive FCS wins, a beatdown loss and a loss to a hated rival team and coach, the players and coaches could have packed it in against the Orange – and many thought they would. They didn’t. They looked pretty good on both sides of the ball. So be happy about THIS ONE GAME.

That’s not asking you to be happy about the season, Wanny’s tenure, or the history of Pitt football since the ’80s. Just be happy about one good win and look forward to the next game against Rutgers on Saturday. It will make your day much more enjoyable.

they beat New Hampshire, not Maine

Chas when do we play maine?

Good point, TampaT! Let’s give the coaching staff some credit on this win. The offense came out throwing knowing that the Orange were going to sell out to stop the run. Sunseri looked more comfortable and the offensive line did a nice job giving him time to throw. I love the fact that Sunseri hit Shanahan over the middle of the field. Our wr’s were simply too talented fot the Cuse. For as well as Sunseri played, he still missed some wide open receivers for big plays (not complaining at all). Street looks like a real nice weapon too. The defense played well. Glad to see Williams and Roberts repond to Wanny’s challenge. Donald looks like he will have a bright future at Pitt. I don’t remember how Clemmings looked. Did he play well?

Pitt is an 8.5 point favorite against Rutgers, I have to say they looked pretty good against Syracuse.

Virgil, I like the cut of your jib!. It took courage to write what you wrote. I too, am weary of the Panther, anti-coach and Big East bashers, It was a relief to realize that you are among the Pitt supporters. The biggest problem with college football in Pittsburgh is PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. I wouldn’t pay a dime to watch the gladitorial mayhem i watched Sunday when a certain Steeler got away with not one, but two helmet to helmet violations. If that is football, why shouldn’t it be labled RUGBY. Rev. George

The linebackers only look good when playing against a pro style offense.

I’ll withhold judgement on their progress.

The offensive line and Tino both appear to be progressing as the weeks go on, which is a good sign.

It’s tough for these teams to play a tough early schedule when you’re replacing a QB and most of the offensive line. For a team in that situation, Pitt was definitely ranked too high going into the year.

Florida and Penn State are both playing new QBs, and they haven’t lit the world on fire either.

These things take time.

There is, however, no excuse for the defense being unable to effectively defend against the spread.

Rutgers loves the crossing patterns. We will see if the LB’s can cover once again.

I agree, the LB’s are better suited to play against a pro-style offense. I’m still not certain Roberts and Williams can cover well enough in space. The difference between Williams batting the ball down in pass coverage against Syracuse TE and the Miami or Utah game may be the speed and athleticism of the TE. However, maybe he is progressing. I am happy with the Syracuse game and I feel like we made a lot of improvement but time will tell how just much improvement we’ve made. Also, Dion looked solid and more comfortable. The RB situation is a tough one to figure out. Both are excellent backs but both seem to get better as the game goes on. Hopefully we can find a nice balance so that they compliment each other and wear down our opponents.

With the way Dion and Ray block I’m sure you’re going to see both in the backfield soon.

Graham clearly looks quicker and faster than Lewis this year…Dion is a workhorse but its apparent to me he’s the second best back. If Graham had been given as many carries last year, he would have put up very big numbers as well. Nice problem to have as everyone says, but not if it gets in the way of one guy really being great…maybe let each guy have one half to run and see how that plays out?

On a side note about special teams…

Can someone explain to me who is the backup Punt Returner? Is it Ray Graham? He is part of the Kickoff return team, but not sure if he has the backup role for PRs too?

Cam Saddler (sans his “big” run vs. the Cuse) has been awful this year…and worse yet, appears to be playing scared. I feel like he is closer to botching than breaking one…

Why is the coaching staff so high on him? Please explain.

Don’t beat up on Chas for having us playing Maine. Hell, until they amended the copy, the Post-Gazette had Doug Marrone coaching WASHINGTON to a 4-1 record prior to the Pitt-Syracuse game.

I’m anti-Wanny until he can consistently prove me wrong. Syracuse is just one game on the path to redemtion. Let’s see if this team can do what the Big East coaches and sportswriters said should happen and that’s win the Big East. I’ll reserve my final judgement until then and hold off on the bashing. At that point, I’ll determine if I should ‘boost’ my contribution to the program or cut bait and move to a better fishing hole like basketball.

Rev. George/Virgil,

I believe as an anti-Wanny guy, I have been nothing but civil and reserved.

I do not agree with the both of you but I have not vehemently or viciously attacked you for your pro-stance.

I merely have pointed out that I have a different criteria for what I consider acceptable or successful for a college coach.

In fact, I am letting the season unfold to determine my arguement. As you know by now I think they are at parity with the Uconn/USF/Rutgers/Louisvill of the conference and lesser than WVU/Cincy. I think they will at best be 7-5, I consider that a failed season.

I have seen Cincy who has played 8 sophmores on the defensive side of the ball this season and look much better to be honest.

for every point you or I make There can be a counterpoint made. In the end it’s just an opinion.

I think it would be wrong to dismiss your Pro opinion, but please try to understand…I was once a Pro Wanny guy…I was excited about the hire… I was amazed at his recruiting ability, I reveled in his ability to build relationships that Walt had destroyed at the High School level. I rallied around his Pro Pitt attitude.

Many a time I wish that we could figure a way to keep Wanny the recruiter and get rid of Wanny the coach.

I just cannot accept what I have seen for 6 years for another decade…this guy will always lose a close game that matters which will prevent a BCS birth. Even Ziese in his blog said last year was the year Pitt needed to break that glass ceiling(in defense of your opinion :)).

He will never provide underclassmen the valuable in-game experience to develop, because he won’t pull away from lesser talented schools until the 4th Q.

He just plays it too close to the vest and when you rely on the bounce of the ball and not your execution it will come back to haunt you in a 12 game season.

Anyway, I don’t disparage your opinion, please try to understand that I do not share it and I have fairly sound reasons why I don’t share it.

One Thing we can agree on however…

HAIL TO PITT!

DaveD

Pauly: The depth chart on PantherLair lists Holley as the back up. Heck, I’d like to see Street back there, but don’t how sure-handed he is on punts. That’s an art form in itself.

The reason Saddler’s there is surely his potential to break the “big run” and until the Miami game, he had the guts to take chances on making that happen. IMHO the Miami fumble got into his head because it killed any momentum Pitt had going and contributed to the blowout score. Had to weigh heavy on him at the end of the ND game, especially with Wanny saying ‘Play safe’ on those last two ND punts.

Not that I like disagreeing with a Reverand, but you aren’t correct in this case George. I was there. The second hit occured right in front of me and it happened so quickly that you could put as much blame on the receiver as you could on Harrison. You could also blame the QB for throwing it. Here is another Ohioan’s take:

link to chronicle.northcoastnow.com

TampaT, Holley was an All State running back in HS.

Thanks for the reminder, steve. Wasn’t questioning him as the back-up. I know he’s one of your local boys.

I’m sure he can do the job, but, I for one would hate to risk him getting injured on a return. Much too valuable in the defensive backfield and Pitt’s thinner on talent there than at WR or RB.

Gotcha, TT

“BIG GUY – You are delusional. Plain and simple. If you cant see that he (Sunseri) cant make reads over the middle, see downfield, or even throw downfield… you are simply an ignorant football fan.”

DeVanzo, maybe you have a point. Perhaps DW should go out and try to recruit a QB who can complete 70% of his pass attempts against a BCS school, and who could throw, say, 4 TD passes without an interception and maybe gain at least 260 yards passing. But it would have to be against one of these schools that the odds-makers say that Pitt is no more than a 1 or 2 point favorite going into the game. If we had such a QB, maybe we could blow one of those “pick-’em” BCS schools out of the water by 30 points or better.

Where do you suggest that we begin our search for such a QB? (BTW, please help me out. What were Tino’s statistics for the Syracuse game?)

I think there are two “deficiencies” in Tino’s skill set at the moment BigGuy, and it’s long pass velocity / strength, and cross-field reads. The latter should be the easier of the two to fix, the former I’m not so sure about. All of the long balls on Saturday seemed to just hang up there forever without the “zip” you see from some other QBs at the College level. I think that’s another reason why you see more screen WR throws than long balls in order to get the defense to commit up front and therefore give Tino a bigger window of error on the long ball until he gets the timing / reps in.

Thank you David and Bobby for your prompt, courteous and rational opinions. You have not convinced me. Thus, I reiterate what is obviously my opinion that ” I wouldn’t pay a dime to watch such gladitorial mayhem”. Furthermore, I do not agree that football is about deliberately hurting people. It is NOT good football and violators should be called out. In the meantime,I encourage your prayers for the Rutgers player and the Brown players who suffered serious or potentially serious injuries over the weekend. Rev. George

Rev,

I don’t think I discussed the hit(s). Regardless I already sent my prayers to a link provided by CFT for a Rutgers site to send prayers.

Btw on a more personal note…my father attended but did not graduate Pitt back in the early 50’s. I believe I saw somewhere you were born in 1932.

If that is the case is there some way I could send you an e-mail to see if you knew my Dad?

We used to go to Pitt games every weekend (at least when I was in town).

I remember our last game together in Dec of 2001 and eating a Primanti’s together at Heinz Field for USF game (postponed due to 9/11).

Miss him everyday….sorry for the life story.

DaveD

Dave, Condolences on your father’s passing. I;m sure he is sorely missed. I was not born in ’32. I would be delighted to have your e-mail. You will find my e-mail address in the latest Pitt Alum Directory. I was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and covered Pitt Frosh sports for the Pitt News. I won’t go beyond that due to a fear of scamming. Not that there is anything worth scamming. Nice culture we live in eh? George

Thanks Tampa T…. Seems like we need a sure catcher more than a game breaker, huh?

I hate to call it out, but Wanny’s style of play (you would think) would put a premium on special teams. How many games have we blown (or led to a loss) due to poor special teams play?

Last year…cost us the BCS, almost the ND game. Miami game this year. Nebraska on the road a few years back. ND game this year.

Seems like we would have this area buttoned down, huh?

Pauly P: I’d actually like to have my cake and eat it too as far as a returner. You may recall the groans in the stadium last year when Aaron Smith fair caught every punt. He had great hands, so the catching part was solid, but it took him the entire season to realize he could actually run the ball after he caught it. I feel bad that his career is over and hope that whatever medical issue he has is resolved. I actually like Saddler. He just needs to get over the Miami muff and he’ll be fine.

Special teams are Wanny’s. Again, I’d like to see him focus on being a CEO-type head coach. I’ll say no more on that subject.

Thanks Rev. for the comment, while I was extremely critical of the QB situation, it was not the players fault, that was purely a coaching decision and therefore a coaching problem. And those of you that have read my posts, while lately have been supportive of DW, you would not have guessed that, say 2-3 weeks ago. While I have some problems with who is playing and why, I don’t have a problem with DW in general and the general direction of the program. If that makes sense. Beat Rutgers badly !

I watched Holley play in high school. He did everything but kick it to himself, and then return it for a touchdown. He wasn’t very big, but what an athlete. It is nice to be cheering FOR him now, instead of watching him make my team look silly.