There is some eye opening news being reported by Zeise about some position battles in his RedShirt Diary this morning. Perhaps the more unusual news is that Gonzalez has seemed to find a home in that hybrid “3-Back” position. “…both Dodge and Graham said he is the third quarterback but he has taken almost every rep at the three back or receiver spots over the past few days and he is going to play somewhat of a “slash” role according to Graham. “ DiPaola over at the Trib touches on this move also.
Trey Anderson has apparently moved ahead of both Gonzalez and Myers into the QB2 position. The fact that Myers has dropped down the chart should surprise no one who has been reading this blog since the Spring Camp. We’ve stated all along that Graham has a specific idea of what he wants at QB and Myers, being recruited by Wannstedt as a pro-set quarterback, doesn’t fit that image. Myers is talented as hell but nowhere near as mobile as what is needed for the QB in this offense. “The one thing I will say is that he was going to be in a fight with Gonzalez – who this new coaching staff really likes – so it wasn’t a given (like it would have been had the old staff been in place) that Myers was going to be the guy.”
Zeise goes onto reference that Coach Dodge may be being lighting a fire under Myers for competition but in my opinion that is something that we read every offseason about a player who isn’t in the immediate plans. But when Graham and Dodge enticed Anderson onto the squad as a walk on it was for a reason – they were very familiar with his skills and success in this system in HS.
Three ‘new’ LBs are making their moves to get into the starting lineup also… Todd Thomas, Juan Price and Shane Gordon are pushing the incumbent starters G. Williams and Tristan Roberts. Price won’t replace Lindsay at the Panther position unless something drastic happens though but he’s learning from one of the best. Price gets a nice write up by ESPN on that also:
Price is a natural pass-rusher, and he hopes to help the team in that area, especially on third-and-long. But he also is looking to get better, and learning behind Lindsey has been a big help.
“I feel like it’s a real advantage,” Price said. “Instead of throwing me in right way, this way is better because he’s already played. He’s already made an impact. I can learn the ropes, and it’s making me better. His intensity is something I watch. He helps me a lot with the plays. Sometimes coach lines me up right behind him so I can study his techniques and pass-rushing moves, so I watch that closely, too.
And here’s something distressing indeed… ‘The most distressing news of camp is the injury to starting wide receiver Devin Street. Graham stopped short of calling it a concussion, telling reporters that it’s a “bell-rung deal.” But Street hasn’t appeared at practice — even just to watch — since suffering the injury in a drill Monday morning. We need street early and often this season. The staff can talk all they want about having six WRs to field out there but make no mistake; Devin Street is going to be the bell cow of the passing game in 2011.
Bringing in the Legend. Tony D. addressed the team yesterday. Not much reported of substance but here’s a slideshow of Dorsett showing them his investment portfolio.
To come around full circle and since it all starts with the QB (and just to make sure everyone knows who that is this season) the P-G has this piece about Sunseri. In what may be the most ridiculous lead-in headline every for an article we start off reading this… “Pitt QB Tino Sunseri scouted himself this summer and learned his biggest weakness was throwing the long pass.” Wonder how many hours of watching film it took him to realize that? It gets better; “His conclusion was simple — he didn’t throw the deep ball very well, and it got worse, not better, as the season went on. He was trying too hard to place the ball instead of just letting it fly. I’ve said many times that Sunseri has done well so far in this offense. You could see it in the spring when he grasped the whole concept and made it work by the end of the camp and obviously, this issue of his throwing deep is huge. But I think that saying this…”Now that we’ve been able to go vertically down the field, it has been fun to watch this offense develop…”
But Sunseri goes on with a honest assessment right after saying that; “And the read-option stuff [running plays involving the quarterback] is fine for me, I’m not going to break off 75-yard runs, but I can run fast enough and well enough to get first downs, to keep drives alive, to make defenses respect that part of my game — it is just something to think about. He’ll have to be more involved than that I believe, Norvell will call his number a few times a game at least.
Here’s Coach Dodge on video talking about his new starting QB.
PITT’s going into shutdown mode starting Saturday morning so there will be mass speculation in the media from that point until the Buffalo game.
Hey Miami, sucks to be U!
Wonder if the Ibis also had prostitutes ordered for him?
Amazing how this 30 year, 5’5″ Shapiro had EVERYONE at the U bowing down to him like some sort of god for almost 10 years. Perfect example how money in the wrong hands corrupts EVERYTHING.
If the NCAA is going to attempt to retain ANY semblance of credibility at all, the U has to get the Death Penalty and Shalala and AD Dee should both lose their retirement pensions. Not that Shalala needs another one anyway, she already has a Gov’t pension. And obviously she needs fired and shunned.
I’m pro shunning, I am going to institute this new policy at the office today!!!
I’ve never been there but South Beach is an area that just seems to beg for illegal activities (since the days of Hyman Roth, haha, .. not to mention the summer home of Capone.)
Back in the early 90s (pre BE, SI called for the U to drop their FB program (of which Beano responded “that will happen when SI drops its swimsuit issue”) While Butch Davis did appear to clean the program up, it appears that program may now be in even worst shape than when they were the scourge of the NCAA back then.
It coud well be that the ACC may be looking for another member pretty soon .. and it will have nothing to do with SEC expansion.
Maybe Shalala should have to wear a Scarlett Letter too! (well maybe a different color) But what hypocrites both her and Thug U AD Paul Dee are. Dee if you remember was in charge of the NCAA Oversight
committee who lambasted USC for the Reggie Bush affair causing him to give up the Heisman and he had the utter gall to personally verbally blast USC.
And that whole USC thing is small potatoes compared to this Miami criminality which went on right under Shalala’s and Dee’s nose for almost 10 years. I wonder if that Presidential Medal of Freedom medal Shalala got in 2008 was awarded to her by Bush or Nevin Shapiro.
Wonder how Al Golden feels about his new gig as the U’s Head Coach now?
I was lucky enough to stand on the field last year when Miami waxed Pitt. Being that close, I was stunned at the size, speed, athleticism difference between the two teams. There were only two Pitt players (Baldwin and Sheard) who belonged on the same field with those guys. Miami looked like a pro team.
Call me naive, but I do believe Pitt runs as clean an athletic program as any. For many reasons, these “Shalagans” couldn’t happen here.
Are these two things related – cheating and having pro talent? I don’t know. But it sure does seem that way. Sad.
9-10 former Miami players have already substantiated Shapiro’s role in Miami athletics over the last 10 years.
Plus there are over a 1000 photos of Shapiro with various players at nite clubs, on his 1.6 million dollar yacht, the basketball coaches, the University President at school sponsored fundraisers. They have over 20,000 pages of Shapiro’s cell phone records and over 5000 pages of his Amex statements. This guy even had dinner and picked up the tab various times for the Miami Beach Chief of Police and is pictured with current Attorney General Eric Holder. (you know the guy who’s suing the state of Arizona for trying to protect their own borders & citizens)
Hell, Shapiro even led the Hurricanes team onto the field several times and was a regular in the Press Box and of course his own luxury suite which Shalala frequented when bouncing around from her luxury suite to his.
And his was part owner of Axcess Sports agency that signed several Miami players that were First Round NFL Draft picks and lots that were drafted in the lower rounds. Miami is toast. (or should be) Only ESPN/Disney/ABC can probably save them.
Graham’s offense depends strongly on the read-option which means that the QB HAS to be a threat to pull the ball back and run. If he isn’t that ‘option’ disappears. Myers does not fit that criteria.
Myers would be perfect for DW’s offense which is what he was recruited for. But if you’ve been observing the type of personnel Graham is concentrating on getting and who are moving up the depth chart they are all fast and quick guys. Including the QB position.
IMO Graham wants not only to win now but wants to win using as much of his system that he can implement as possible in year one. That way he has a firm foundation for the next few years.
One other point… this is Day 9 of training camp and the last week will be completely shutoff to reporters/observers. Graham hasn’t listed a depth chart yet so a large part of this current QB story is speculative. Myers may very well end up QB2 when the dust settles – but he’ll not supplant Sunseri unless Sunseri has a melt-down.
They attempted 469 passes and 537 carries (13 players.
I expect the ratio (rushes to passes)to be similar this year but will be very surprised if the Pitt RBs (Graham and Brown) get many more carries than Tino.
One more thing of note. Tulsa averaged 8 yards per passing ATTEMPT (not completion), so expect a lot of short passes. Personally, I’ve always found all these short passes from a spread to be more boring than watching a good RB at work, however, hopefully it will be more interesting if it comes from the team I’m rooting for.
Sounds like hes hinting at Pitt. Id say we’re on the rise. As long as they dont blow it before then. I dont see how they could be any worse than 3-3, but if they are Shell may change his mind.
And he’s now the backup QB at Pitt. He must feel like he won the lottery. I realize he was being recruited by Graham at Tulsa, but that’s still insanity.
Let the O$U’s, the U$C’s and the $U pay to get all the 5-star, NFL calibar athlete out there. I’ll take staying off probation and a few Big East titles.
Pitt would never be able to pay enough for those players so I think it is wise we compete based on the style of play/system using a different kind of athlete not typically recruited by the big boyz.
Although I must admit I the variation that college offenses provide vs the NFL, I get bored seeing balls thrown allover the lot, especially when the majorirty of the passes are < 10 yards
I wasn’t surprised at all to read that Trey Anderson has made an impression. The fact that no PITT fans knew who he was didn’t matter – Graham and Dodge did know who he is and got him here – and are putting him in a position to succeed.
Graham is going to roll the dice and will live with the results. As much as he says he wants to win now… and I believe that is true, it is just as important to him to get his imprint on this program as soon as possible. If that means breaking some eggs he’ll do that.
– with all of the hullabaloo about the offense, it seems like our defense will not only be solid, but some of the new and redshirts will provide much needed depth at LBs and CBs.
– if Sunseri improves anything close to what Stull did from year 1 to 2, then Pitt should score quite well. In fairness, he and his mates are still learning a new system so it will still be a WIP .. but nonetheless, it is all pretty much positive (unless Street’s injury is more serious than expected).
– it appears Myers may have to make the same decision as B DeCicco. He is tall and strong-armed and shoud be attractive to other programs. It’s a shame especially since he already used a redshirt year. This is where the NCAA rule is unfair since if he decides to transfer to another D1 program, he will have sit yet another year.