OFFENSIVE LINE

I’ve been trying to hold off in writing anything on the Offensive Lineman and the Tight Ends because there just doesn’t seem to be too much to actually say at this point in the preseason.

But that never stopped any PITT fan from speculating, has it?  So, let’s look at who we have returning and who we may see on the field for 2011.  Here’s how our OL two deep looked at the end of the season last year:

LEFT TACKLE

77 JASON PINKSTON (SR, 6-4, 305)

68 Jordan Gibbs (JR, 6-7, 305)

LEFT GUARD

54 CHRIS JACOBSON (JR, 6-3, 290)

75 Ryan Turnley (SO, 6-6, 305)

CENTER

61 ALEX KARABIN (SR, 6-1, 290)

72 Jack Lippert (FR, 6-4, 275)

RIGHT GUARD

52 LUCAS NIX (JR, 6-6, 305)

60 Greg Gaskins (JR, 6-4, 285)

RIGHT TACKLE

68 JORDAN GIBBS (JR, 6-7, 305)

78 Cory King (FR, 6-6, 315)

So, we lose Pinkston and Karabin to graduation – with Pinkston being a key loss for sure, he was that good.   This spring we have this shaping up so far – and please remember this will be in flux for quite some time probably.

LEFT TACKLE

68 JORDAN GIBBS (JR, 6-7, 305)

Juantez Hollins (rsSO, 6-5, 290)

LEFT GUARD

54 CHRIS JACOBSON (JR*, 6-3, 290)

Ryan Schlieper (SO, 6-5, 300)

CENTER

ZENEL DEMHASAJ (rsR, 6-7, 322)

Brandon Sacco (rsFR, 6-3, 255)

RIGHT GUARD

CORY KING (rsSO, 6-6, 315)

Matt Rotheram (rsFR, 6-6, 300)

RIGHT TACKLE

52 LUCAS NIX (SR, 6-6, 305)

60 Greg Gaskins (SR, 6-4, 285)

Our returning OL are Gibbs, who acquitted himself very well last year after coming in to replace Greg Gaskins; Lucas Nix and Chris “Lumpy” Jacobson, both of whom have played good football for us.  These three kids should only get better with a year’s experience under their belts.

Nix has apparently moved out from right guard to the tackle spot on that side.  He’s quick enough on his feet to do that I think and if the lefty QB Myers gets playing time that position becomes more important.

The remaining two positions will be where we see the competition this year.  As of now the junior college transfer Demhasaj has been getting the 1^st team snaps at center as he’s been the most consistent shotgun snapper so far.  He may end up the tallest football center playing Div I this year if he starts. Brandon Sacco has been backing him up and, at this point, Jack Lippert is getting a bit of 2^nd team play but seems to be fading in the competition.

One note about Lippert:  Last spring I predicted that he’d be our starting center.  I also predicted Todd Thomas would be getting a lot of playing time at WR and that Mike Shanahan would get more catches that Baldwin.  My predicting sucks.  I’m surprised these kid’s parents aren’t offering me cash to not mention their kids at all.  Although back in the preseason of 2008 I also predicted that PITT wouldn’t miss a beat in the running game with McCoy leaving – so I’m not always wrong. Thanks Dion!

I have scoured the internet trying to find some official word from the staff on the OL and how it is progressing so far… basically zilch except for this on 3/26:

Chris Jacobson and Lucas Nix really stood out to me this spring and are really solid up front.

Thanks coach, firm grasp of the obvious there. Would it kill you to let us fans know that whoever is the starting QB may not get killed back there?

TIGHT ENDS

They are dropping like flies on the Southside.  Andrew Devlin’s football career is over due to a recurrent medical problem; he’s been offered a scholarship to be able to finish his degree so let’s wish him the best for the future.  I appreciate any kid that transfers in and wants to play at PITT, so thanks to him also.

Mike Cruz has left the building.  Either he was suspended then quit or he quit and then was suspended depending on who you believe.  It’s kind of like “You can’t fire me I quit!” or “No, I’m breaking up with you, you can’t break up with me.” Either way he’s gone, supposedly he tired of football and is to pursue a career in Law Enforcement.   I’ll bet a dollar we see him on some school’s roster in the future though.

Justin Virbitsky has been moved over to the OL to provide depth so that leaves PITT with three scholarship TEs on the roster; Brock DeCicco, Hubie Graham (no relation to the HC) and rsFR Dan Schneider.  Wait! I forgot about Brendan Carozzoni a rsFR who is listed as a TE also, so that gives us four scholarship TEs without a position to play.

I really don’t know what to say about this position at all as I’ve no idea what role the TE is going to play in the High Octane offense.  Tony Greco of the Panther Digest wrote a good article about our TEs a while ago.  He quotes Todd Graham as saying this about the position:

Another thing Graham likes about this tight end position, or three-back as it’s referred to, is that it’s a multitude of positions all into one, but he’s still able to use all the abilities he has as a tight end.  “It’s just a hybrid; it’s a fullback, it’s a wide receiver, it’s a tight end all into one,” Graham said. “It’s not really too different if you look at it as a position. Yeah, we’re motioning around and coming out of the backfield, but that’s football and I definitely think that myself and the guys at my position are definitely capable of doing a good job.”

Both DeCicco (whose father looks like he could suit up and play tomorrow BTW) and Graham have the reputation as being good receivers but the jury is out on their blocking skills – in their defense Graham couldn’t play last season and DeCicco really saw limited playing time when he was used as a receiver when he got in the game.  One point about Brock DeCicco – he has a 100% Reception to TD ratio so far in his career.  I suggest throwing to him every play.

Walk-on rsJR Chris Mike was moved from FB over to TE so that makes me think we will see that hybrid H-Back/TE position out there.  Mike ripped off a very nice 16 yard run last season so it looks like he can carry the ball.

The bottom line is that I don’t think we’ll see another Nate Byham or Dorin Dickerson in the TE position this year.