So, spring practice is over; we have seen three scrimmages including the Spring Game and have discussed the team and the program in-depth.  Now is the time for reflection and looking ahead to the more important summer training camp and the arrival of the 2011 recruits.

What have we learned so far and how do we feel about it… let’s see.  This was a big article so I’m splitting it up into two parts:

How well has Graham taken control of the program both on and off the field?

As far as off the field goes we have seen a few players decide to leave early.  In almost every case that was the natural course of things based on Lewis and Baldwin’s plans, it was pretty evident they weren’t going to stick around even with Wannstedt.  Hynoski’s decision was another matter and understandable given this new offense.  We had two other players expelled from the team in Diaz and Cruz after disciplinary issues (we think, no one really knows what happened in Cruz’s case except that he’s gone).

The Head Coach and his staff seem to have successfully coerced the players into accepting his philosophies.  The kids seem engaged and ready to play High Octane Offense, Nitro Defense and Alaskan Crude Oil Special Teams.  There was a lot of energy in that Spring Game and it was very impressive how all the kids battled to the end of the fast paced 135 minute scrimmage.

It’s hard to tell at this point whether that will translate into a big winning season but signs look good that we’ll continue to progress with the new systems..

Do we have the talent to successfully run Graham’s Offensive system?

We do.  It may not be the exact talent Graham envisions when he has his offense and defense exactly the way he wants them to be; he’ll recruit for that, but he has the playmakers on offense to execute the High Octane offense he’s been selling.  For a good review of why Graham has (apparently) picked Sunseri as the starting QB, please re-read this article by Pat Bostick.

In it he details the differences between Wannstedt’s I-Formation and what we’ll be seeing in 2011.  One salient point to know is that a staple of this new offense is the “read-option” play where the QB makes a split second decision to hand the ball off to the RB; keep it himself and run or keep it himself and pass… the QB keeping and running the ball is a main component of that, as is the pass option.  Sunseri fits that role the best out of our three QBs.

At our skill positions we have Ray Graham who just may have a monster year in this offense; not only will he get a lot of carries we’ll see 5-10 passes a game to him out in space where he can do real damage.  We are thin behind him but Des Brown is fast and quick and has impressed… but we need some freshman to give us depth there. I’d like to see Graham develop a short yardage back from one of the new kids, perhaps Isaac Bennett can fill that bill.

WR seems set with three pretty well proven kids in Shanahan, Street and Saddler with some talent behind them – we’ll be fine there.  TE is a wildcard because we have no real inkling of how they will be incorporated yet, but Hubie Graham has done well in the spring as has DeCicco.  I was really impressed with Brendan Carozzoni the times I watched him play and am hoping he gets a valid shot at playing time.  He’s tough and fast.  IMO this kid is too good not to make sure he stays in the program.

OL is a work in progress but Jacobson has begun to settle in at center and may turn out to be a good one there.  Nix and Gibbs are returning starters and the other two positions are in flux.

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If Ashton Gibbs is indeed staying in the draft then Pitt is in for quite the transition year. I know there is a lot of optimism with the incoming talent, and those who want to see them play sooner rather than later are definitely going to get their wish.

Right now, assuming all kids qualify academically, here is how the roster will look for next year:

rsJR G Travon Woodall

rsSO G/F Lamar Patterson

SO SF J.J. Moore

SR PF Nasir Robinson

JR F/C Dante Taylor

rsSO F Talib Zanna

rsFR G Isiah Epps

rsFR G Cameron Wright

FR G John Johnson

FR G Durand Johnson

FR C Malcolm Gilbert

FR F/C Khem Birch

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Well, so much for getting back to posting by focusing on Saturday’s spring game.

There’s still almost 3 weeks for him to change his mind, but the news is leaking that Ashton Gibbs will keep his name in the NBA Draft.

…Gibbs, however, has been interviewing agents and told at least one that he was “100 percent” certain to stay in the draft, according to the source. Gibbs has been training in Atlanta this month.

So there’s that. It is still rumor and unconfirmed at this point, but still a surprise that this is even happening. More in a bit.

That one horse race finished yesterday with Tino Sunseri winning the pot for all intents and purposes.  He started for the “Blue team” yesterday and played well, that is if you don’t like deep passes called by your Offensive Coordinator.  He was accurate with a 64% completion rate on 55 attempts and threw for 418 yards.  His main receiver; Shanahan, Street and Saddler all did well but also missed accurate passes in the rainy and windy weather that showed up for the first 2/3s of the scrimmage.

He can make all the short and intermediate throws, especially on called rollouts, and he does that with power behind the ball. But we saw again yesterday that he lacks the arm strength and touch on the deep ball.  That is rather weird in that you’d think that if he can throw strongly between 15-25 yards he should be able to go deep, but that really isn’t the case.  He underthrows on the fly pattern on a continual basis. That 51 yard TD to Shanahan was a great catch and run on Shanahan’s part, not a deep pass by Sunseri.

I particularly paid attention to how Sunseri looked out on the field as far as “generalship” goes and he was fine.  One point to note is that I timed the ‘no-huddle’ from the placement of the ball to the snap probably 50 times and only two (that I counted) were over the 15 second target… plus I saw only one procedure penalty.  Surprisingly for only three weeks in this new offense that went very well – and I think is the basis for Todd Graham to be saying the players are ahead of where he and the staff though they would be.  Sunseri has a good command of the nuts and bolts of this new offense and ran it well yesterday.  The execution of the actual plays had some poor moments though – but he obviously ‘gets’ the no-huddle at this point. (more…)

One of these years the Blue-Gold game will take place, and it will be a warm, sunny April day. This won’t be that year.

Miserable, wet, windy. Can’t wait.

If you are heading over early, Reed and I will be having a few at the Tilted Kilt near Heinz Field. Never been there before. Guess it’s some Scottish theme? Come on by and say hello.

Chris Peak from PantherLair has a good piece on what he’s looking to see at the scrimmage.

I’ll be tweeting all day — or until the battery on my phone dies — so if you can follow here.

You know, there’s something about the Big East and the member programs that continually miss opportunities, moments and chances. I don’t know how or why, but as much as anything else the history of the Big East is about moments that could transform or change the entire face of programs and the conference — and waiting until after the moment has passed to make a move.

If Villanova had made the decision anytime before 2010, they would be in or on their way to being a full Big East member. The stadium would have been less of an issue to the members simply because the Big East football schools really, really, really wanted that 9th football member.

Up until the point last fall when it came out that TCU would join the Big East, the only way it seemed that the Big East would add that 9th member in football it would be from within. The basketball schools seemed intent on blocking other options, and there was no slam dunk option out there.

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In what is increasingly becoming a one-horse race, Tino Sunseri continues to impress the coaching staff as the de facto starting QB.  Paul Zeise has, in what is a departure of sorts for him, a two page article on this subject.  Somehow Zeise swings and misses by giving the PITT team a 9-4 record in 2010 but other than that it’s a good look at where Sunseri is at this point.

But just to be contrary I’ll also disagree with this statement: “Sunseri improved as the season went on and felt more comfortable in the offense. Now he has been asked to start over again in a new offense, and he believes the transition is almost complete.” Really, Sunseri hit a high point in mid-season then went downhill over the last six games, but why nitpick when writing a puff piece?

Coach Graham weighs in on the progress so far in these spring practices and how it compares to his other coaching gigs… from the Trib-Review:

“We are coming together as a football team,” he said. “We are mentally way ahead of where I thought we would be. We coached them hard, put them in situations where they really weren’t in shape to go at.”

He said spring practice at Pitt went better than it did in initial drills at his previous coaching outposts (Rice and Tulsa).  One similarity: “We didn’t have the speed we wanted, but we developed it,” he said.

In his only season at Rice, the Owls were 7-6 and went to their first bowl game in 45 years. The next year, at Tulsa, he led the team to a 10-4 record.  “The difference (at Pitt) is we are playing a heckuva lot tougher opponents,” he said.

Well Todd, you have heckuva lot better athletes than you did at those schools also so we’ll still expect a very good first season – whether you have the ‘speed’ you want or not.

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Any talk of Big East expansion and Villanova, always brings us back to UCF.

Inevitably in any post on the matter, there is the usual complaint that Villanova isn’t worth bringing into the Big East, and the Big East should just invite UCF into the Big East.

The reasons in favor of UCF are well known:

— Quality and new facilities including a sparkling 45,000 on-campus football stadium, and a new 10,000 seat arena for basketball.

— Located in Orlando, which is now a top-20 TV market (35th in radio) –links are PDFs.

— Located in Florida which is a fertile football recruiting state.

— Is the Number Two university nationally in enrollment when you include the 10 satellite campuses, and their community college partnerships.

— A rising program in C-USA under George O’Leary after winning their first bowl game ever in 2010 — a 45-44 record in the past 7 years.

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Take a day off, and recriminations, blame and spin rule on how FUBARed the entire Villanova moving to 1-A level have been.

Nova Blog is probably most accurate in saying that there is plenty of blame to go around for the present mess. While he naturally defends Villanova and sees them as mainly a victim of this — their only true fault was moving too slow on deciding — I do agree that the Big East offices deserve a lion share of the blame.

To recap the process, after TCU was announced to be the 9th/17th Big East member, the pressure and eyes turned towards Villanova to become the 10th Big East football program. They have had a standing invitation for years from former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese and then present commish John Marinatto. Much like UConn had.

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Todd Graham, in his post-game video, seems to be petty content with the way the troops are taking to the new Command.  He singles out Street and Saddler as having TDs on big, ‘explosive’ plays.  Had some long drives on offense and the passing game seemed to click.  I’m sure he dialed the defense back down from its super-aggressive play on Saturday to give the Offense a chance to get back to firm footing.

The HC mentions Gonzalez had another ‘big day’ as QB2 with Myers still sitting out with a jammed thumb. Long snapping was good and he mentions the kicking game producing with our Punter and Place Kicker putting them deep.  Something that was obviously missing from the program last season was the energy level and interest that the players seem to have as the season went on.  That seems to have been readjusted with this new staff…

The guys really got after it today and they were extremely physical. I really think that when we came here these kids were tough. Most of them had that already, and I think we’ve built upon that. It was a lot of fun today, and I saw a lot of smiles. You can work at it, be physical, play with a hard edge, and have fun too.

But, the players have had a lot thrown at them over the last five months and the last three weeks specifically.  It has been a time of changes and they seem to have weathered it well – according to Zeise of the P-G.  His article is here and talks about the team’s progress in that area.

Graham said the thing he liked the most about the most recent days of practice is that the energy level has been high and the players have had some fun without having a drop-off in production.

“I want our guys to be genuine and be who they are, but we all need one standard … they all know when we step across that white line we go to work,” Graham said. “But this is supposed to be fun and we had some fun. We had some jawing going back and forth [between the coaches] in a competitive fun way, so I like the team, I like the discipline.

Graham also talks about that specifically in his post-game interview, quoted here.  This is extremely important IMO.  There is literally a four month period where these young men are not going to be physically playing or practicing football, but are going to be sitting around shooting the bull, fueled by beer in some cases, about it on a regular basis.  This is when individual and team attitudes are cemented – not necessarily out on the practice field but off of it, in the locker room and dorm rooms and this is when the team’s student leadership has to step into that role.

DiPaola of the Trib has a piece on Jacobson and his travails in the switch to the Center position.  It has been pretty well documented so far and I’m sure we’ll see some botched snaps on Saturday.  I’m also sure we shouldn’t worry too much about them and remember that this is spring ball.  There are five months before the season starts and Jacobson will most probably have the muscle memory of the deep snap in place by then.

What I find more interesting are the random notes at the end of the column:

Backup quarterback Mark Myers was limited yesterday with a jammed thumb, but Graham hopes he will be ready for a complete workout tomorrow. … Graham said defensive coordinator Keith Patterson hasn’t decided on a starter next to senior Tristan Roberts at inside linebacker, but rising redshirt sophomore Shane Gordon is pushing senior Max Gruder. … Graham said sophomore cornerback K’Waun Williams “can be as good a cornerback as we have coached, and we have coached some good ones.”

Myers has missed almost a week of practice and how well does that play into his comfort factor with this new offense?  Especially given how Gonzalez is producing in his time out on the field.  Looks like Roberts is set inside and we all have been keeping an eye on Max Gruder’s hold over that other Inside Linebacker slot.  If Graham wants “Speed, speed, speed” on the field this will be a position to watch in August.

Staying with the LBs, rising media personality Pat Bostick kicks out another detailed Inside the Huddle article on those Panther, Spur, Will and Sam positions…

Pitt’s new multiple 3-4 defense will put a premium on linebacker play, tasking these players with a multitude of responsibilities. The Panthers’ multiple front defenses will showcase the Pitt linebackers in a variety of different alignments. As the defensive line shifts, so will the linebackers. Thus, these linebackers must be able to take on varying responsibilities.

I still think that by the ends of the season the coaching staff will have to find a way to get Todd Thomas on the field of play, he’s too good an athlete to be given a spot-duty role.

And we all have wanted to see some new faces at the DB position; from the sounds coming out of camp K’Waun Williams might be that guy.  He played well in his limited time last season and could surprise this year.  Wouldn’t that be nice? Finally?

What is nervous making is that all three main contenders for the two DB spots have some real and valid question marks.  Reed has shown some poor mental aspects of play out there, Jackson has been potential unfulfilled and K. Williams is inexperienced.  This type of thing happens to every team from year to year but that position wasn’t a strong point even with experienced guys out there last season.

Odds and Ends:

The Spring Game format will be two squads, 1s and 2s split up, playing against each other as in a actual game.

DiPaola at the Trib talks about how this offense will be friendly to PITT’s ‘playmakers’ and in it QB coach Dodd is candid about where we stand right now:

Anointed the starter because of his experience and the fact that redshirt freshmen Anthony Gonzalez and Mark Myers have none, Sunseri must play well for Pitt to thrive.

Quarterback coach Todd Dodge believes that will happen, but in a new offense, it’s not an overnight makeover. “There is no substitute for being able to start 13 football games (last season),” said Dodge, who played quarterback at the University of Texas from 1982-85. “It has shown some, and we have to get better at it now in making better decisions in certain situations.”

And here Dodd states what is expected at the position with a slight modification of what we had heard before:

Dodge’s vision of a quarterback in this system comprises the ability to pass and run. That includes, he said, a 90 percent completion percentage on sprintouts, nakeds and bootlegs, 60 percent on intermediate throws, two or three successful deep throws and about 45 yards rushing per game.

OK. ‘Two or three’ successful deep throws is a large difference from ‘We are going to take ten shots of over 40 yards outside the hash marks per game’… unless Graham and Dodd are happy with a 20% or 30% completion rate with those plays.  So, already we are seeing some changes based on Sunseri’s limitations – which is a good thing.  It shows the staff is willing to adapt to the tools at hand.

Phraseology Alert! New saying coming out of the Southside: “We want to slay ’em with our arm and hurt ’em with our feet.”  Of course the sequencing there is a little backwards; it should read “hurt them with our feet and slay them with our arm” but who’s counting and you have to love the sentiment.  We fans have been used to “We want to lay siege to the opponent’s defenses and outlast them on the battlefield…hopefully…if all goes according to plan that is… can’t guarantee anything you know.”

The PITT website has a nice video of DB Coach Tony Gibson posted.  It shows a bit of the drills he runs the kids through.

PITT is hyping the final scrimmage of the spring season and, as they do every year, and are making it fan-friendly with an emphasis on families with kids – as it should be.  Also, for you Western PA people The Spring Game will be on Pitt Panthers Television on The Comcast Network (Ch. 188 or 210) | Game coverage begins at 1:30 p.m.

Pitt fans will get their first glimpse of the new-look Panthers under Coach Todd Graham this Saturday, April 16, when the team concludes spring drills with the Annual Blue-Gold Game at Heinz Field at 2 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to arrive at the stadium beginning at noon for Pitt’s “Spring Football Festival” presented by Western Pennsylvania Chevy Dealers. Activities include:

A free youth clinic for kids (8th grade and under) beginning at 12:30 p.m. Kids will receive personal instruction from Pitt players and coaches right on the playing surface of Heinz Field.

Pitt’s radio flagship, 93.7 The Fan, will broadcast live from the Gate A plaza. Gregg Giannotti, Joe Starkey and former Pitt standout Darnell Dinkins will be talking Panthers football and host an array of Pitt-oriented guests from noon to 4 p.m.

Fans will be treated to live music, games, prizes and face painting throughout Heinz Field. Official Panthers merchandise and season tickets will also be on sale.

Admission for the Blue-Gold Game is free. Parking is available for $5 in Gold lots 1 and 2.

Former QB Kevan Smith is tearing it up with the PITT baseball team and here is some game film on our newest WR recruit, Josh Brinson.  The film is from his senior year in HS.

Next Practice: Thursday, April 14^th.

With last week’s UCONN win over Butler, the entry “coolpawduke” won the tournament challenge with a score of 1,120. You can claim your prize by contacting Chas at pittblather@gmail.com

About the only thing that I still hold of value from law school is that I met a woman that somehow still puts up with me. Its been 9 years since she made the life changing mistake of marrying me. The least I can do (and all too often, that is all it seems I do) is take the day to spend with her and our kids.

Posting resumes tomorrow.

Recruiting never ends. Even for the 2011 class. Pitt has apparently added a new WR from the JUCO ranks ($).

His name is Joshua Brinson from El Camino College in Torrance, California. Brinson is originally from Miami, Florida. The El Camino roster (PDF)lists him at 6-2, 195 pounds.

Based on this, Brinson was originally a signee of UAB back in 2008. A 2-star WR out of high school. UAB was his top option followed by Kent State.

It would appear that Brinson was considered one of the top JUCO WRs available ($). You might be able to watch some highlights of Brinson here.

Coach Todd Graham had complained that there wasn’t sufficient depth at the WR spot at the start of spring practices. This is one way to address it.

Last week when Pat Skerry became the guy for Towson and Khem Birch was having his Twitter moment (and panicking the easily panicked), there was some questioning why Assistant Coach Brandin Knight was planning a meeting later that week with Birch to reassure him, but not Coach Jamie Dixon.

As usual, there is a decent reason. Coach Dixon made advanced plans to be elsewhere — and was. In this case New Zealand.

Instead, University of Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon is in Wellington barking out instructions to young Kiwi hopefuls at a two-day camp at Newtown’s Southwest Stadium.

Judging by the picture at the top of the article, that includes a future Panther that Coach Dixon obviously wanted to pay a visit.

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Uh-huh.

To recap, the Villanova trustees were supposed to vote on moving to 1-A football and becoming the 10th Big East football team. It all looked like a go. This despite Pitt raising some concerns about the size of the stadium where the Wildcats would play.

Well, as the day of the vote is only one day away, more of the Big East football members seem to be getting a little nervous about the stadium issue. So the vote has been delayed.

The chief sticking point, according to the source, is Villanova’s plan to use PPL Park in Chester, the 18,500-seat home of the Philadelphia Union, as its primary venue.

PPL Park would be the smallest stadium in the league. Potential plans to increase the seating capacity to roughly 30,000 have not convinced all the Big East schools to support the move. However, some Big East football members are in favor, and it still could be approved, the source said.

Aside from the financial issues of such a small stadium — all expansion of the stadium to even 30,000 is  — is at the mercy of the soccer team ownership. That means no set timeline that Villanova can lay out for that issue. So the Big East might want Villanova to explore the possibility of other venues (Lincoln Financial is out of play until 2017). So things are back on hold.