con·tro·ver·sy
1. a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.
2. contention, strife, or argument.
First off, let’s make something clear. Todd Graham, and the media who have quoted him, have it all wrong when they say there is “no QB controversy”. Why? Because it really doesn’t matter what Graham said. He may be truthful in stating that in his mind the decision is already made to stick with Sunseri, but by definition there’s a controversy if a ”prolonged public dispute” ensues… and there sure as hell is one now. There may not be a question in Graham’s mind about his course of action, there may not be debate in the Staff’s offices on this issue, but every blog, every message board, every newspaper article and thousands of PITT fans were, and are, talking about little else following the game yesterday.
Blather readers who have read my stuff on here may have noticed two things about my opinions on our QB’s. First, I’ve said that I thought Tino Sunseri would be a success in this new offensive system. I based that on his physical skills and the assumption that he’d progress as a gameday quarterback from year one to year two as a starter. I’ll say now that, at this point, I was mistaken. If anything he’s regressed in what is perhaps the most important aspects of successful QB play, his confidence, the ability to remain cool under pressure and to effect correct decision making.
Second, since Trey Anderson was recruited to PITT and signed up as a walk-on, I have championed him as a player where the common preconceived notions that a true freshman walk-on QB couldn’t be ready to play at the Div I BCS level didn’t apply. Especially now, after seeing him play yesterday, I’ve strengthened that opinion. I do understand fan’s concerns in this area but feel that a lot of the pushback is because they really don’t know what kind of a player, and person, Anderson is.
If you really want to understand, and be able to logically discuss, what we have in our #2 QB then you have to watch this video detailing Anderson’s play over the course of his 16-0 Texas state championship senior season. Remember as you watch it that Pearland plays in the biggest (“five star”) HS football conference in that state. It wouldn’t be too much of a reach to say that it is the highest quality of HS football in the U.S. Please, take some time and watch it as we’ll be talking about this issue all season.
All that said; circumstances have combined to create a controversy. Mostly this is the result of Sunseri’s play last season and his poor play in the 1st half of the Buffalo game, good play in the second and very uneven play throughout the Maine game. He has lacked consistency in six out of eight quarters of play so far this year. His decision making is, at best, head scratching. Aside from the blatantly obvious interceptions he threw, two examples of this in the Maine game come to mind.
In the 3rd quarter Sunseri was forced to rollout. He didn’t see that Shanahan had noticed and broken off his route to come back to help. The DB was five yards downfield from the WR when Sunseri missed Shanahan’s action and purposely threw the ball into the sidelines right in front of the receiver. Later on in the game Sunseri had defensive pressure, held the ball too long and ran out of bounds for a two yard loss as opposed to getting rid of the ball to save the lost yards. Both of these plays should never be done by a second year QB.
After Sunseri’s second INT Graham called Anderson’s number and was rewarded with 5 of 7 passing over the next two series. The first series resulted in an 11-play, 52-yard scoring drive. Both times Anderson moved the team crisply down the field and positioned us for scores; the second being a shot at a makeable 33 yard FG. You could see just how comfortable Anderson was in the shotgun and running this offense; his experience in this system showed through. Plus, it was pretty evident in seeing that the offensive players were re-energized when he went in.
Regarding the substitution Zeise of the P-G wrote: … the timing of the change raised a few eyebrows because it came right after Sunseri threw his second interception of the game. Graham had this to say:
“We planned on putting Trey in anyway, it wasn’t that I pulled Tino, it was a planned deal, we were going to play [Anderson] anyway. I still have 100 percent belief in Tino and like I told you at the beginning of the year, he has a very difficult job, he has a lot on his plate and we’ve got to execute better at that position. OK coach, sure.
I do feel the HC will stick with Sunseri as the starter until we actually lose a game based on Sunseri’s play. However, I don’t believe that it was just a coincidence that Anderson was put in directly after Sunseri’s 4th quarter INT from Maine’s 30 yard line just as we were holding onto a 13 point lead. Maybe Graham was sending a strong message to Sunseri with that move, at least I hope so. But I also feel that Graham has all the confidence in the world that Anderson can be successful running this offense.
We saw what Anderson could do in his first action and it was very impressive, especially considering we haven’t seen what may be his strongest attribute yet; the ability to run with the ball. Let’s hope the HC won’t hesitate with the hook if needed because he doesn’t want to hurt Sunseri’s confidence. Sunseri’s a big boy, or should be, and must take it in stride if it happens.
One last point; spare the “but a true freshman going into a crazed Iowa stadium on the road is putting too much pressure on him!!!” refrain. I heard that over and over from Colin Dunlap on 93.7’s post-game show and I’ll counter with this; the kid took a huge underdog Pearland team into the Texas state championship game in front of 43, 321 people, completed 17 of 23 passes and came out with a win… I’d say he already knows what pressure is and so can handle it at this level.
This guy is earning two million dollars to take Pitt to the next level. He already has done that with Tino Sunseri at the helm. Unfortunately the next level that we’re at with Tino at QW is the MAC or Sunbelt level!!!!
Common sense dictated going with the QB that has been on board with the new system since spring ball, Thats Tino. Who else did we have that was a valid alternative at the start of the season? I’m not a Tino basher, nor do I love the guy’s performances but I really thought that he was the best option that Pitt had to begin the season.
My logic was that with a couple easy games under his belt to start the season that our offense would begin to fire on all cylinders and by Iowa we would be prepared to take on some big boys.
Now, reality check, this offense has gone backwards in it’s play during these two games that should have been warm-ups. We have a lot of problems to work on. At many positions(like offensive line) we don’t have the option of plugging in new troops for those 1st stringers who aren’t cutting it right now. Graham has to work with what he has in those circumstances.
At QB, as stated above, Graham had little to work with other than Tino in fall camp. Now a month later it has become PAINFULLY obvious that his offensive system is DOOMED to failure with Tino Sunseri running the show. Graham has to see that!!!!! How can you possibly study film of the Maine game and come to any other conclusion?
If Tino got hurt, who would replace him, Trey Anderson. Well, considering how Sunseri has been performing, it looks like he IS playing hurt. He is S-L-O-W, can’t throw the deep ball and his decision making processes looked impaired as if he has hade a concussion.
If Graham really wants to salvage this season, then he has to recognize that his QB starter needs to be replaced ASAP. Graham should welcome Trey into the fire and pray that he doesn’t shit his pants on national TV against Iowa next week.
Start Anderson, back up your talk and let the cards fall where they may Mr. Graham, Hail to Pitt!!
9/17 at Iowa; 9/24 ND; 9/29 USF
Then we panic
If Graham can’t do it, then, as the soup nazi would say….. next!!
“Yinz, want to get a beer n’at. How bout’ a chipped ham samich, and we’ll go dahntown afterwards n’at”
Ah, no thanks!!! LOL Moving forward!!
Also, not a question of panic but the next three games could make or break the year — all possibly very embarrasing national profile losses for Pitt if they shlep through them like these first two. Coaching and assessment are not just about reviewing results, they’re also about taking those results and making projections based on future situations/competition. Do you have to play your 4th best db against an all american wide receiver in order to have undebatable evidence he will get toasted and you lose the game because of it? He gets paid the big bucks because evidently he can see that’s not how to operate and has done differently, successfully, in his past. Its clear many guys on this board are afraid of change, but damn, things have to change a little if you want better than what you had…unless you were digging 8-4/7-5 and nauseating losses versus anyone remotely good.
Of course I want to win every game.. but undefeated in the Big East would be a big step for this team, but with WVU and USF…thats gonna be tough.
So far Tino hasn’t shown that he is a good passer. He may be accurate on short passes but he is woeful in the vertical passing game. Also, his decision making has been poor and he seems to hold on to the ball far too long.
I find it hard to believe that Anderson isn’t AT LEAST as good of a passer as Tino has been so far. Add in the athleticism Anderson possesses along with his comfort running this type of offense and I think it is clear that Anderson should start moving forward.
As DeVanzo knows, I defended Tino last year because it was his first and I thought of all the QBs on the roster, he gave Pitt the best chance to win because of the system that Wanny played. Like Reed and others, I expected that with a year of experience and an offense that better fit his strengths, we’d see the Stull-like improvement that wbb mentioned.
Obviously, that hasn’t happened, and whether it’s mental, physical, the system change, or whatever, it’s just not happening for him. I don’t question the coach’s decision to start the season with him. He was the returning starter and by all accounts showed in practice that he could run the offense effectively. But, it’s game day that counts and Anderson had a better game day albeit in a much more limited role than Tino.
So IMO, Tino sill starts vs. Iowa, but his leash is about one quarter long. If he doesn’t get it done, Anderson plays QB in quarter two and whoever has played the best in the first half starts the second half.
Spurrier ran a 2 QB system at Florida for a number of seasons, and he was prepared to do it at S. Carolina until Garcia stepped up and proved he deserved the job outright. Kelly did the same with Rees and Crist, and the backup proved he was the better choice. Alabama is #3 in the nation and they’re still not 100% settled on a QB. Neither is Texas. And I’m sure others can name even more teams. So, I don’t have a problem with playing the hot hand whether that’s Tino, Trey or even Mark when he’s healthy.
I don’t think Graham does either. He just has to be a little more judicious in his decision because his choices are either the returning starter, a true Freshman and a rs-Freshman more suited to the pro-style game. For the long run, I think he’ll go with the one who gives him the best chance to win the Big East – his goal this year – and that’s all we can ask for.
As I said many times … as a Pitt fan, I hope he succeeds … I justwill skip all the press conferences.
93.7 FM The Fan any evening. They get lots of call ins from yinzers.
link to pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
This is Pitt’s flagship radio station and several hours per night is Pitt Talk. So while the yinzer quotient is low in this show, you can always tune in when they have Stiller Talk where you’ll always here lots of yinzers. enjoy !
I think today and tonight will be all about the Stillers – some Pitt, maybe some PSU or Pirates – but mostly Steelers due to that ugly, ugly showing yesterday.
Iowa came to town with a 2 QB platoon system, they started some lefty guy and then he was replaced by Stanzi. So now the roles could be reversed. Very interesting.
Maine opened their season playing Bryant University.
Quite by coincidence, Bryant was the only school that offered Trey Anderson a scholarship according to Rivals. Strange but true.
You have a QB treasure in Trey Anderson. I live in Pearland and watched Trey lead the Pearland Oilers to the 2010 Texas 5A Division 1 Championship. At the beginning of the year, Pearland was ranked third in our district – mainly because the team was so small. Trey led his team past Katy (ranked second in the state) and Euless Trinity (ranked #1 in THE COUNTRY) during the Pearland 16-0 run to the championship. If nothing else, Trey is a winner – in all things he does. The highlight video clips of Trey (above) is so long because he created so many plays – and he consistently did this all year long. He never lost his cool once the entire year – even when Pearland was down in the final seconds. No matter what, he led Pearland to victory. Now some may worry Trey is too small, but Coach Heath runs a very impressive program that focuses on conditioning. Texas 5A Division 1 Football is tough – we played against NCAA Division 1 recruits all through the playoffs. Trey is tougher. Keep him safe and healthy and he will lead you to a division championship.
P.S. Trey’s running back from Pearland, Dustin Garrison, ran for his first collegiate touchdown as a true freshman for West Virginia this weekend. Dustin Garrison wasn’t heavily recruited either – because he was also ‘too small’.
My Alma mater !
Kind of neat your two star players went to the Backyard Brawl hated rivals of Pitt & WVU.
And apparently there is no love lost between Todd Graham & Dana the Drunk Holgorson.
Hopefully we got the winner of the two.
The school district where I live is also represented in the Rivals 100, howver, the high school I attended, like most in Western PA, has been decimated by mill closings … as a result, there is less than 50% enrollment than when I attended.
This is one of the many reasons why Pitt is not likely to compete on an annual, national level like back in the late 70s / early 80s.
I would day that is a problem for ALL of Pa, Ohio, New York State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois (affectionately known as the Rust Belt) Half the people I meet down here in the Carolinas are from one of those states.
As far as the latest Golden Era in Pitt football, yes Marino & Dorsett were local kids, but we had a lot of kids from the south (Green & Jackson) and from Eastern Pa(Maas), Ohio(Olsavsky), NJ (Ironhead) and even VA. (Hamilton). The word among the better recruits was you wanted to play at Pitt. To a certain extent Wanny was doing that, except he never had an elite QB or all the right pieces assembled at the right time.
Whether it can be done again or not, who knows.
But they invested $2Million/year betting that TG can. He’s got a nice QB coming in and who knows how Trey will work out. I’d like to see him get a chance before Voytik gets here.
Not you wbb, others. You got drawn in because of my comments. Ok enough on that.
OL from Western PA in late 70s,early 80s: Grimm, Covert, Fralic, Sweeney, Brzoza … all in lates 70s / early 80s, and I’m sure I left out more than a few
This is one of the main things that has been missing from Pitt for a couple of decades.
QB’s. I just rewatched espn3.com replay, (no, not the whole game, you can go on and just watch what you want), so I watched Andersons play.
I know there is a faction that says, “you can’t throw a freshmen in there”. I understand that point of view, respect that point of view.
However, and no, I don’t think Anderson is the next Pat White, allthough he may be someday, but, with Tino’s regression (and I had his back hoping for improvement this year), if we would get down to Iowa early because of some Tino mistake, Graham has got to make the move.
I thought part of the spread, is giving the defense a fear that the qb may fake handoff, fake pitch, and take off??? Not only does Tino not have the speed for that, he’s barely even trying. I know Tino’s not gonna bust a 50 yarder, but even if you just go for a couple yards, you have to let them know, “I may run”.
Even if he gets stopped for no gain, gotta run sometimes just to soften them up.
One thing I know, that I saw at the game and on the replay, Anderson is fast as lightning, and seems comfortable in the offense.
I know, he could easily blow up, he’s a freshmen, but if Tino keeps struggling, you have got to try something.
We have two decent o-linemen from the Burg area, but they don’t seem to from the same cut of cloth as these guys were talking about. I don’t think guys with kids like that exist anymore. That is an era that is over in American history, sadly.
I hope Graham stays true to his word that “the best players will play” and there will be true competition to get playing time. Surely Graham is going to realize sooner or later that everytime Tino lays an egg the noose is going to tighten around him. So unless he wants to hang himself out of some unexplained loyalty to Tino then I believe he will eventually make the move.
You’re right, the spread offense loses a lot of it’s options and threats(it’s pizazz, if you will), without a QB to pull the trigger, so to speak. This is why this offense has looked so flat. With the field position we had through out the last game, we should have put up 50-60 points easily.
And then if they scored 27 or whatever it was, it’s no big deal. You could live with say 56-27.
‘Ole Gray Mare she ain’t what she used to be…”
My answer to these questions is that I have no freaking idea!
The defense has me terrified. I’m no expert but our defense has been anything but “flying around and impacting the quarterback” against two inferior teams. We looked lost in the secondary and I’m not sure how we rectify that. We all know the criticism of our LB’s but our DL hasn’t exactly been dominate for whatever reason either. I’m not saying the unit has been bad at all but we need them to be magical at times to help this defense and IMO they have not.
this offseason really mellowed me out haha… i imagine it did the same for many of us
regarding Tino
he will be 23 – he is not young or raw
we have seen the peak of his college abilities, and he belongs in the FCS as a back up – he has no business starting at Pitt. His inability to make any downfield throws completely handcuffs the offense.
Even worse – where he was to EXCEL (moving around, running, quick decisions) he has truly been awful
I cannot take another year of this.
*Caution: pessimistic panther crossing ahead*
Tino is going to get rocked in the first half and leave us in a hole for the second and Graham will yank him and put in Anderson. Anderson will show some flashes and bring us back close in a dog fight, which we ultimately lose. Anderson is named the starter and Steve P decides that the helmets should be in script lettering.
Hooray!
Imagine if he could mix in a little “Troy Nunes” slight-of-hand to go with his quick feet, decision making, & strong arm.
Could be top QB in the Big East, juat sayin’
they probably won’t do it.
I’m thinking the PAC 12 only is taking OU & Okie State(both not very good academic schools) because they believe Texas has no recourse except to join them. Berkeley, Stanford & USC/UCLA do not really want OU & OSU academically(at least that’s the line given by their Presidents). But we know what’s driving this whole process and it has nothing to do with academic$ ,,,,does it.
On another front, we fizzle in the 1rst quarter and score no points, don’t move the ball, maybe a pick. I use the hook. Iowa is very beatable.
Vegas only has us a 3 point dog on the road. Meaning the Hawkeyes are not very good either.
At this point I could care less about expansion, etc. I am very interested in what is going to happen in Iowa City on Saturday. Agree with melvin… that the spread should be a lot higher based on how Pitt has performed. Iowa has an atrocious rushing defense but if I was them I would load the box with 8 to 9 people with a shadow on Ray Graham. I would also run blitz a lot based on the assumption Sunseri would misread the blitz as a pass blitz and hand off.
For those who wish that Wanny was still here, please remember the Ohio game, the Bowling Green game, the Virginia game, etc. He talked about how he needed to get his kids in place and that the cupboard was bare especially on the offensive line but then never recruited an offensive line and seemed to forget that he should recruit a center every two or three years. I will take a losing season this year if it comes to that before pining for the good old days of Wanny.
Doubling up on the two Iowa teams has to be tempting. ISU getting 3 to UConn is a steal. Paul Rhoads has done a surprisingly good job there. Another guy Smug Steve apparently considered too “regular unleaded” to be worthy of wearing the Pitt head coaching mantle. And Iowa is a legitimate Div 1 team.
Lets get real, If anybody re-reads this thread from start to finish it is as plain as the nose on your face that everyone knows that a change at QB is essential to successfully run Graham’s spread offense. Tino had two weeks to show his ability against inferior opposition and demonstrated his glaring shortcomings. We ain’t going anywhere fast with him driving this bus.
Anderson is our only option at this time, BUT he is a valid option. Give him the chance for two games, just like Tino had, to show us what he can do running the same no huddle spread type of offense that he managed to win the Texas State Championship at Pearland with. If he shits his pants and fails what have we lost? Tino can still start against USF. If Anderson succeeds, then he has gained valuable playing time before BE play begins. Is there another choice if we really want to compete for the BE Championship for real?
This is Graham’s chance to seize the opportunity to really back up his talk by going all in and walking the walk. As he says, “pull into the left lane and put the hammer down”!
These last two games demonstrated that we ain’t gettin there with Tino. And unless this defense decides to play a lot better than it has in the last two games, we are going to need to score about 50 points a game to win against better competition. I don’t think that Tino can pull that off either, maybe Trey can. Lets find out, and soon!!
You’re good on the conferences, was funny stuff.
Ya, if you win, it will take care of itself.
I could guarantee a win for Pitt, I’ll go out and put 1000.00 on Iowa straight up.
In a couple years we’ll see him throwing to all those 5’8″ receivers. Mighty midgets or not, we’ll beat ’em all.
Hail to Pitt
Just think, a whole other thread were we can vent about the QB situation!
No need to say thanks…
I do it all for you guys. I get up at 0430 so that I can have something written for you to read on your first coffee break at work. Then I go back to sleep for a little while, wake up again and start researching for the next post.
Just remember me when I’m gone will ya?
looks like nothing has changed at qb though… Tino is still wholly inadequate to play qb in division 1/fbs
in fact, after the Maine game… id say he is inadequate for 1aa/fcs
the kid is not good and couldnt put a solid game together against Maine
please… no mas