Here’s another view of Coach Graham’s post practice video done on Saturday afternoon.  This is the first time that he really seems to be telling it like it is and details the problems that he’s seeing out on the practice field.  Not that they are insurmountable by any means, but it is refreshing to hear him speak plainly on the progress of the team and on what actually transpired during the scrimmage.   For some reason I can’t find it on any normal PITT websites so this one was done on PITT’s Facebook page.

I love this Facebook comment on the video:  “Frank C. Rizzo: Very Bad not only is the body language indicating bad news but the speach indicates Depression. Look for a 2 win 10 loss season.” Wow, not only is the ex-Governor a football critic but he’s a practicing Psychologist to boot!  Must be a Penn State fan.

Bostick has another article on the individual units, this one dealing with the Defensive Secondary.  I think most of us are pretty worried about this part of our game and are taking a real ‘wait and see’ attitude toward how well the DBs do.

We’ve discussed Buddy Jackson and what the staff thinks about him at this point, but apparently Antwuan Reed is catching the staff’s eye also.

The perimeter of the Pitt secondary showcases a crop of talented corners. The most battle-tested member of this group is senior Antwuan Reed. Reed has 12 career starts, and has picked off two passes during his career. Reed’s combination of experience and dependability will serve the Panthers’ secondary well this season. “Looking at last year’s film, Reed, he’s very steady and dependable,” Coach Graham said. “There is no substitute for experience.”

Well, coach, there actually is and that is learning how to do something differently.  Reed seems to have been a penalty flag magnet whenever he was in the games last season.

And in what might be labeled “The Most Optimistic Thought of 2011” Bostick writes this: “The Pitt secondary has enough skill and experience to provide great coverage behind a blitz-happy front seven.” We do have some talent back there with Holley, Hendricks, K’Wuan Williams, Tags, etc… Let’s see if they can really produce to expectations this season.

(more…)

The defense is starting to overtake the offense in the Spring Camp which isn’t unusual in these early year sessions.  Both Sunseri and Gonzalez were pressured heavily by the DL and perimeter blitzing.  Sunseri was pretty much ineffective and a turnover machine.  Gonzales completed more than he missed, his 2^nd string offense scored some points and he was the ‘offensive MVP’ yesterday.  Take that for what it’s worth at this point in time.  Myers sat out the practice with a jammed thumb from Thursday but will be back soon.

The offensive line gave up 12 sacks and nine tackles for loss. Yikes.  At this point we roll out the old question “Is the defense that good or the offense that bad” and the answer is “It’s still April and this doesn’t mean anything”.    Graham states in his post-game video that the scrimmage was scripted so that Sunseri had a lot of adversity and pressure.  This was done under the guise of having ‘teaching points’ for Tino to look at on the film.  I think it was done just to give us fans another thing to worry about.  All of these questions about the team are trivial compared to the fact that I landed a job on Friday afternoon.  I suppose PITT fans may care how the team is doing… but really, isn’t this all about Reed anyway?

DiPaola of the Trib writes that Graham decided to let the defense show some things the offense hadn’t seen yet.  The result was as stated above and didn’t make Graham too happy.

I love this quote from the Trib article: “Sunseri, a rising redshirt junior, has a clear advantage over rising redshirt freshmen Anthony Gonzalez and Mark Myers after starting 13 games last season, but that takes him only so far.” What is this ‘rising’ he speaks of?

Then there is this…”The biggest change for Sunseri involves not having the luxury of strolling out of the huddle, surveying the defense and gauging who might be rushing.” DiPaola forgot this one important point; another big change is that Sunseri’s benefactor and protector who would never pull him off the field no matter how poorly he played isn’t on the sideline any longer.  Let’s hope Graham realizes just how important that QB spot is and doesn’t feel like he has to live with only one possible choice there.

(more…)

The Matt Painter scenario that played out last week for Mizzou and Purdue has many sides. Last week I wrote about how good coaches these days are looking for more than a mere cash grab. They are looking at overall fit and commitment from a program beyond being competitive.

Frank Haith left Miami for such a reason. Miami has great natural recruiting right in the area and throughout the state. But the program has no commitment from the athletic department or the fanbase. Haith left in a heartbeat for Missouri. Yes, he got a raise, but he also knew that Mizzou cares about their basketball.

Missouri, though, has not had wide acclaim for the hire. Not from the media. Not from the fans. For the most part, the reaction has been surprise and disappointment from fans. At best it has been a “meh” reaction, and trying to find the possible good.

That’s where the fallacy of aiming high in a coaching search comes into play.

(more…)

A few key points from Graham’s post-practice interview quotes:

“We did a lot of situational stuff today. We did our overtime situations – third overtime down by eight. We did our first overtime down by seven. We did what we call our landmarks – the ball is in our end, on the 42-yard line going in to score and the offense was pretty productive, they were able to get points every time they had the ball.

In what might worry some given Sunseri’s propensity to hold the ball too long last season Graham talks about what he wants in the rhythm of the offense after the snap: Holding the football is not in our offense. Our offense is one-two-three ball out. We need to get them out of that, and that has caused some sacks especially in Tuesday’s practice.

We are all very concerned about our defensive backfield and especially our corners who got beaten more often than we liked last season.  Graham addresses them but honestly, I can’t get a feel on what he really thinks they have been doing in practice:

“I would say K’Waun Williams is the most solid. Buddy Jackson is right up with him there. Looking at last year’s film, Reed, he’s very steady and dependable. There is no substitute for experience. We’re going to play a certain dime package with five or six corners. I see the dime package with all three of the corners and Andrew Taglianetti out there on the field. I like the group that we have. We want more than three corners because we’re going to need more than three. Right now I feel really good about those guys there.

The only real news that came out of practice yesterday is that the players are finally getting frustrated enough to start swinging at each other.  Zeise reports Ezell and Gibbs got into it at one point.  That would have been interesting to watch – they are both big boys; Godzilla vs. Haystacks Calhoun.  And Ifill and Cam Saddler got into another.

(more…)

Sorry about the late start. The morning was lost due to a pediatric cardiologist appointment for my son. Born with a heart issue, so there are routine check-ups to make sure all is well. All is fine, but it just took a while to get everything done today.

It is less than a week until the Villanova Wildcats make their decision on football and the Big East. In a related note, the most evil Wildcat of them all — Scottie Reynolds — lost it in a NBDL game.

VUHoops has the must read article on the subject. Quick executive summary: Looks like they are going to make the move to 1-A football.

We’ve covered the subject before, but I’m sure that won’t stop anyone from strongly repeating their feelings on this. I’m fine with it.

(more…)

If you want a good reason why I don’t like following the Twitter accounts of teenage boys (I mean, aside from the clear discomfort and creepiness of doing so when phrased that way), it is that they are more prone to emotional reactions that then create ripples of overreactions.

Let me put it this way. We keep seeing repeated examples of grown-ups being unable to handle the pitfalls of modern media. So who should realistically expect 17-19 year-olds to  react to news with the cold logic of Spock and handle Twitter with the wisdom of Solomon?

With Pat Skerry leaving his post as assistant coach at Pitt for the head coaching job at Towson, Khem Birch was bothered. Birch is very close to Skerry. He was prepared to go to Providence because Skerry was there. He opted for Pitt when Skerry changed jobs. He changed classifications to the class of 2011 and signed his NLI to Pitt.

(more…)

Well, the more things change the more they stay the same.  The OL pretty much has yet to find solid footing through 10 spring practices and, stop me if you’ve heard this before, are still search for the best five players to field by September.  It’s the same old song, just a different tenor singing it.  Able to make a silk purse out of a bull’s scrotum (nod to Jackie Sherrill) Todd Graham heaped praise on the DL for getting up to seed in “Operation Impact” and playing disruptive football.

The only OL position that has me a bit skeptical is at the Right Guard position where we will be seeing someone completely new to us out there.  Between Cory King and whoever is second string that will be an untested player.  rsFR Matt Rotherham was out there yesterday.  Left Guard has both Greg Gaskins and Demhasaj competing but both of them have post-HS starting time, even though Demhasaj’s was in JUCO.  At any rate we may see some players float up to 1^st string and move between LG and RG thought the remaining spring practices and into summer camp.  The nucleus of Nix, Jacobson and Gibbs is set though. I’m confident Lumpy will stay at Center and get the shotgun snaps down pat, although he’s still having problems with them.

I think we’ll see the same deal play out as we have most years.  The OL will worry us throughout the training camps, play so-so in the first two games then jell and be fine during the season.  I hope.  Let’s just get the five guys we want out there working together as soon as possible.  We don’t want to see a replay of 2010 where after a few games a personnel switch was made that probably should have been done in August.  Graham has the luxury in 2011 that DW didn’t have in 2010 in that Graham’s first two games are against relatively lesser opponents where the tenuous play of the OL won’t kill us.  We knew after the Utah game last year that something was wrong upfront.

(more…)

Jerry DiPaiola of the Trib-Review writes about the WPIAL alumni on the DL for PITT.

Ezell is playing behind and learning from Caragein, who is entering his senior season and will start at nose tackle next to senior Chas Alecxih. “I can be better just watching him,” Ezell said of Caragein. “I told Myles I need him to stay on me, work me, tell me if I am doing wrong.” Alecxih likens Ezell to “Godzilla.” “He’s a big, strong dude,” he said. “He’s going to be a force when he gets his technique down a little better.

Yikes, don’t let Ezell go to Japan anytime soon, Godzilla is the last thing they need right now.  But in all seriousness, this is, to me, what college sports is all about: “I might be the only one in my family that I know of to graduate college,” he said, puffing out his massive chest.  “I am going to try to get that.”  Don’t just try Ezell, do. There are things more important than sports and with those circumstances your getting that degree is one of them.  Head Coach Todd Graham appreciates the WPIAL kids’ dispositions though… What Graham does like is his young linemen’s demeanor. “Our guys have some mean and nasty in them,” he said. “They play irritated. I like that.”… If that’s the case let’s hope the whole defense gets hemorrhoids.  There is nothing more irritating then that is there?

PITT has produced the second installment of the Spring Camp Insider Show and it’s another great and in-depth production.  This one is 27 minutes long – all PITT all the time.  It starts off with an interview with Devon Street and goes from there.  Again, it is the coaches post-practice videos interspersed with footage and interviews.  It really is nice that PITT is providing this much info for us this season.

The blog Cardiac Hill has a short piece on Buddy Jackson and the staff’s plans for him in 2011.  This quote hits home: “I just need to make sure I catch the ball and get up the field, see that gap and go into it. I am just going to use my speed and do what I have to in order to get that shot in the game. Once I get that ball, I’m seeing the end zone, I want to get there as fast as possible.”  OK, that’s a change from catching the ball after waving your arm over your head and walking off the field as fast as possible that we’ve seen over the last few years.  If Cam Saddler is going to play a bigger role in the offense from the LOS, then let’s not have him back returning kicks if there is a viable alternative.

(more…)

Well, with Pat Skerry off to Towson University, the speculation turns to who will be Pitt’s new top assistant for Coach Jamie Dixon. There’s the question of whether an old assistant returns.

Rohrssen had a chance to become an assistant on Steve Lavin’s staff at St. John’s when Lavin was hired last spring.

There has been speculation that John Calipari, his old friend from the Five-Star Basketball camps, would create a position on his staff at Kentucky.

Rohrssen certainly has options, but he developed a fondness for Pittsburgh during his time here and this might be his first choice. Rohrssen has maintained good relationships with Pitt over the years. Every time Pitt played at Madison Square Garden in recent years Rohrssen would be in attendance if there was not a conflict with his team at Manhattan. After he was fired in March, Rohrssen was spotted sitting with Pitt fans at the Verizon Center for the Panthers’ two NCAA tournament games against North Carolina Ashveille and Butler.

Barry “Slice” Rohrssen was a very good recruiter at Pitt, and yes, other head coaches actually tried to hire him from his head coaching gig at Manhattan. Yes, he has an affection and good relationship with Pitt and he knows the system Coach Dixon.

The negative is that that same high interest from other deep-pocketed programs could well price Rohrssen out of Pitt’s price range for an assistant

(more…)

In the past week, as Pitt fans have continued to angst over not being in the NCAA Tournament after the first weekend. As Khem Birch shined in the McDonald’s All-American Game. There’s been a lot of questioning regarding Coach Jamie Dixon.

Some of it, is understandable. One area I don’t quite get has been conflating Coach Dixon with former football coach Dave Wannstedt when it comes to starting experience over talent. So before Birch even gets to campus. Before summer league even starts. People are making complete declarations and speaking in absolutes about Pitt’s future and whether guys like Khem Birch and J.J. Moore will and/or should be installed as starters. Making it practically a referendum on Dixon as Pitt’s coach and what to expect.

The case seems to boil down to Chris Taft not starting immediately as a freshman. John DeGroat getting token minutes to start every game as a senior. Sam Young not starting over Levon Kendall. And the playing time for J.J. Moore and Talib Zanna this past season.

(more…)

Here are some thoughts and links that I took my time getting to.  Commenters to previous posts have asked specific questions and here are some answers, hopefully.

I didn’t see Sunseri throw many deep balls at all, in either the practice or the scrimmage.  However he was hitting the deep out routes well when I watched.

The Center position seems to becoming fixed with Chris Jacobson at that spot.  The staff is talking him up at every turn and forgiving his poor snaps at this point in the preseason.  If he keeps doing it in summer training camp they’ll take a different view I’m sure.

As far as the TEs go that’s a hard question; both Hubie Graham and Brock DeCicco have been wearing green jerseys (injured) so haven’t been scrimmaging and didn’t on Saturday.  Yesterday I wrote about Brendan Carozzoni who made some good plays – one being a beautiful catch and long run down the sidelines for a TD.  So the jury is out I think as far as how the TEs will do in this offense.  I did get into a conversation with someone that knows more than I and he though the TE position could account for as many as 60 catches in this offense.  We’ll see, but that would be a huge change for us.

Paul Zeise has a couple articles on the Saturday scrimmage, one on the new defense and what to expect and also his weekly Scrimmage Notes in his Redshirt diary:

A five-letter word to summarize the biggest difference between Pitt’s defensive philosophy the past six years under Dave Wannstedt and what it will be under Todd Graham — blitz. The Panthers will likely blitz more in the first half of their opener than Wannstedt’s teams did in six seasons. That might be a bit of a stretch but not by much. After talking to players and coaches, Graham’s defensive philosophy mirrors his offensive philosophy: “When in doubt, attack.”

That may be music to PITT fan’s ears, at least until the first long TD that comes off a blitz.

(more…)

Well, damn.

Pittsburgh assistant Pat Skerry has been hired at Towson.

Sources told FOXSports.com that a news conference is scheduled for Tuesday.

Skerry, 41, replaces Pat Kennedy — who parted ways after a 4-26 campaign this past season.

Skerry is regarded as a relentless recruiter. He helped Providence land its backcourt of Gerard Coleman and Vincent Council and also was responsible for getting Jamie Dixon his highest-ranked player in Pittsburgh school history with the commitment of Canadian big man Khem Birch.

Good luck to Pat Skerry at Towson. But, damn. Would have like to have him stick around for another year. Towson will be a tough place for Skerry to build his head coaching resume.

Looks like Coach Dixon will be looking at options again for a new assistant. I’m extremely curious who is hired (or promoted and someone else hired below). One area I don’t think anyone can argue has been Coach Dixon’s track record with hiring assistants.

(more…)

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was offered a chance to sit in on a few practices and the Spring Game by the PITT SID department, so I took advantage of that today.  It was pretty eye opening, especially compared to what we had seen from the PITT team in the last few years.

The practice started at 9:30 am and we were allowed to watch just about the whole practice (1^st half of the session) and the scrimmage (2^nd half).  We were asked to move out of the facility at around 11:15 or so.  They did things a little differently as the kickers and punters were out before the actual practice session started, which is normal, and then the rest of the players came out and ran through units drills for about 10 minutes… at half speed, which looked damn fast to me anyway.  Then they went into their stretching exercises and then onto full speed units drills.  I concentrated on watching the offense run through some ‘special plays’, mostly double reverses, and was pretty impressed.  They had some miscues but, with no doubt, Cam Saddler is a rocket when he gets the ball in his hands.

After that they ran kickoff coverage and kickoff returns for about 15 minutes and that was very informative.  One thing I’ll say – if Buddy Jackson wins the return job we may see good things.  He took a kick on the bounce, made one move and out ran the coverage for a 90 yard TD return.  He is extremely quick and very fluid when he’s sprinting.  Harper’s kicks were done well, high and deep.

(more…)

I’m pulling for VCU at this point. Probably the kiss of death, but what the hell. Least evil team at this point for me.

About the only way I can find myself pulling for Butler is if they play Kentucky on Monday.

Kentucky is one of those teams I find easy to actively root against.

UConn. Well, there is the whole Big East solidarity thing, but we aren’t in the SEC, and those ridiculous S-E-C chants.

I hate destiny, fate and all that other crap. The fact that Butler and UConn could very well end up with those stories written if they win it all would render Pitt merely a footnote in those stories. I may be drinking hard(er) tonight.

I should be in Houston.

I’m sure many of you had some sort of plan in place to get there as well. Some of you probably have money sunk from the hope/expectations of Pitt being in Houston. This is the selfish, self-pitying, disappointed part of Pitt not making the Final Four. Beyond simply my love of Pitt and the joy I would take in seeing the Men’s Basketball team still playing, winning and being one of the four teams in Houston. There were selfish interests.

I was going to go to Houston for free if Pitt made it.

You probably noticed that Buick is one of the major corporate sponsors for the NCAA Tournament this season. They had a little extra money in the sponsorship budget after dropping Tiger Woods last year.

(more…)