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October 14, 2011

Expecting the Expected

Filed under: Football,Opponent(s) — Chas @ 2:07 pm

That’s the theme facing Pitt on Homecoming weekend.

Utah has an exceptional attacking defense that will pressure Pitt’s offensive line, but the Utes have had quarterback issues and their offense is a work in progress.

Sound like a team Pitt knows?

It sounds a lot like Rutgers, which defeated the Panthers, 34-10, Saturday.

Let’s face it, for any opposing defense, Rutgers laid out the best approach to stopping Pitt. The O-line is shaky. So is the QB. Attacking makes the most sense. Coach Todd Graham acknowledged as much.

Todd Graham said Utah (2-3) doesn’t blitz nearly as much as Rutgers, but he expects the Utes will change their defensive strategy against the Panthers.

“I look for them to (blitz) early and often,” he said. “They are going to game-plan and I think that is what you’ll see.”

The O-line will see some changes as Mark Rotheram is going to see action over Juantez Hollins.

Quick link hits after the jump.

Lucas Nix may be available, but realistically the best thing is to let him rest another game. As important as this (any) game is, it is still a non-con game. Todd Thomas is also a day-to-day/gametime decision.

I do think Pitt will be more prepared to face Utah than they were Rutgers. Hard to believe they could be less prepared.

The coaching staff took the deserved blame for not getting the players to focus and take Rutgers seriously, doing something about it may require some more shake-ups on the 2-deep.

We will see if the team really does take ownership for their play. More importantly, what they actually do about it on the field.

The offense remains the big, unstable question mark. If the mocking cry of Year 1 in the Wannstedt era was “get faster,” then for Graham it could be “more octane.”

And as always, the questions really begin and end with how Tino Sunseri will play.

 





Like I stated in a nother post, expect more of the same from Tiny. Hold the ball too long, look lost, get sacked, INT’s, a fumble or two and lots of 3 and outs. Defense gets gassed from being on the field so much and our secondary gets torched by the deep ball and poor tackling. We miss a FG or two, Ray gets 100+ and again is the lone bright spot.

We make the Utes look like a BCS contender.

I may just start my scotch tonight and avoid the pain later Saturday.

Comment by Pitt it IS 10.14.11 @ 3:24 pm

I’m attending the game tomorrow. That being said, I expect the Pitt team that destroyed USF to show up, and not the one that got embarrassed by Rutgers.

Also, I’m taking my girlfriend to her first “big time” college football game. Her only experience with college football is… wait for it, wait for it…. Edinboro!

Comment by Digdug(formerly known as dugdog) 10.14.11 @ 4:21 pm

Some info big east meeting with UCF TODAY

Comment by FRANKCAN 10.14.11 @ 4:29 pm

Does anyone know if Penn State has come out and said, “we really weren’t interested in Shell” yet????

Comment by Dan 10.14.11 @ 4:52 pm

Lookie who’s coming to the Big East! Maybe we are ACC bound next season after all…

link to rivals.yahoo.com

Comment by JCE 10.14.11 @ 5:23 pm

I also hope the Pitt team that played USF shows up tomorrow as I will be attending the game. Just hope I do not have to listen to my wife talk about her school fans never booing their team as our are prone to do when things go south.

Comment by John In South Carolina 10.14.11 @ 6:29 pm

MWC and CUSA merged. 22 team league.

Comment by Digdug(formerly known as dugdog) 10.14.11 @ 7:06 pm

Never mind, it was mentioned in that article.

Comment by Digdug(formerly known as dugdog) 10.14.11 @ 7:09 pm

Yes, it looks like it might stay together, and hopefully set us free.

Allthough, some have said, and I agree, if we have to stay, we can use those 2 years to get ready. Don’t get me wrong, I wanna get going yesterday.

The other thing, is if they get them, we would have some new teams to play for a year or two anyhow.

Most likely though, if they get to twelve, they won’t want anything to do with Pitt or Syracuse.

The sooner the better!!

Comment by Dan 10.14.11 @ 7:15 pm

I have also come full circle on something.

Previously I have stated I hope WVU ends up ok, in the Big 12. After reading a lot of their posts and blogs, I realize, there are quite a few A.H.’s down there, that even though they are adult by age, they act like little kids, and spew the hatred, even if you try to have a civil dialogue with them.

This is petty, and childish, but, it is where my mind is at right now. I hope Missouri stays put, the Big 12 decides to stay at 10, and WVU ends up getting stuck in the new Big Least!!!

Comment by Dan 10.14.11 @ 7:18 pm

22 team super league. The Big East is so screwed they might only have each other.

link to sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Comment by ReedsTaint2011 10.14.11 @ 7:52 pm

Shell is wonderful.

Comment by steve 10.14.11 @ 8:08 pm

If you are not watching Shell on ESPNU right now you should be. I hope we are recuiting Robert Foster on the opposing Team (Central Valley), he is lightning fast and looks like a baller.

Comment by gc 10.14.11 @ 8:22 pm

I jinxed him, Foster down with an injury.

Comment by gc 10.14.11 @ 8:25 pm

Foster looks fragile

Comment by steve 10.14.11 @ 8:25 pm

Great broadcast crew as well

Comment by steve 10.14.11 @ 8:26 pm

Great game too

Comment by steve 10.14.11 @ 8:28 pm

ESPNU is showing Chad Voytik’s game next Friday night.

Comment by Scott 78 10.14.11 @ 8:37 pm

Pitt it is…missing homecoming and watching on tv. Like you, starting scotch tonight…Can we just avoid embarrassments like 2 no. 5’s on the field at the same time??

Seriously, if Pitt gets crushed or beat by more incompetence at QB and coaching, they will lose what is left of the crowd. I predict 41,000 paid and about 33,000 actual. Until Pitt gets it’s own stadium in Panther Hollow, the disappointing crowds will continue.

Comment by Dan 72 10.14.11 @ 8:45 pm

Stupid, macho Hopewell coach wins it for CV

Comment by steve 10.14.11 @ 8:48 pm

Dan 72 – hope were wrong, but…

McCallum 12 yo here on the rocks…you?

BTW, Boise will never join the BE. They are grasping at air now.

Comment by Pitt It Is 10.14.11 @ 8:57 pm

Marrianto is an idiot. If he was proactive adding Boise St. and UCF along with TCU coming in the league may have had a chance to survive. That would have been two really strong programs added to the league. Good work Providence.

Comment by OntarioLett'sGoPitt 10.14.11 @ 9:12 pm

Robert Foster is 5-star Scout.com and already been offered by Pitt. PSU and OSU is showing big interest. He is 6-2 180 and has blazing speed. I’ll guarantee Pitt has him as a priority.

Comment by wbb 10.14.11 @ 9:27 pm

An amusing excerpt from ESPN.com on how the very 1st prime time college FB came to pass when in ’69, Bama hosted Ole MIss (and the power of Bear Bryant:

When the crew returned, Arledge called Bryant. ESPN analyst Beano Cook, then the ABC publicist for college football, happened to be in Arledge’s office as he spoke to Bryant. Cooke recalled the conversation as follows:

“Coach,” Arledge said, “we’re not going to be able to do the night game because the candlepower of the lights is not strong enough. Do you think you could do something about it?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Bryant replied. “I’ll talk to the mayor. If he won’t do it, he won’t be re-elected.”

“Bryant talked to somebody,” Cook said. “We sent somebody to check the lights again. They were good enough. We did the game.”

For the record, Birmingham returned Mayor George C. Siebels Jr. to office in 1971

Comment by wbb 10.14.11 @ 9:43 pm

Foster closed fast on Shell tonight, showed real speed. Hopewell lost but threw once for an interception and TD. There was a Trey Law that played well, probably related to Ty. Shell should be awesome in a balanced offense. Big Day for Pitt, keep those linemen and QB’s coming. A couple stud linebackers wouldn’t hurt either.Graham showing he can recruit.

Comment by gc 10.14.11 @ 9:43 pm

Gateway vs Central being shown locally. Good game, lots of D1 players. Good ones from Central going to Maryland (Gattuso)Maybe a couple left for us.

Comment by gc 10.14.11 @ 9:48 pm

Wbb some info for you Charleston WV is the most unlucky city in the usa per mens health magazine.

Bad enough that they are stuck in big east WV cant get a brake.

Comment by FRANKCAN 10.14.11 @ 9:54 pm

gc and wbb, you allready said it, was able to watch a little of the game, #4 on CV, ya, try to grab that guy!!!

Only a junior, he can bulk up a little, but, to me, not only does he look fast, looks like a “football” player.

Comment by Dan 10.14.11 @ 9:55 pm

Many of you have probably watched him, and know quite a bit more about him, I just know him from his name, and watching a game last year, and one and a half this year.

First thing I noticed, runs “standing” up like Eric Dickerson used too. No, not comparing him to him or anything like that. Just reminded me of Dickersons style with the “heads up” style.

Comment by Dan 10.14.11 @ 9:57 pm

Oh, I meant Shell with post about running style, realized I commented on both players.

Comment by Dan 10.14.11 @ 9:58 pm

What a showdown! And it was right from the Monaca/Aliquippa PA area, my old stomping grounds!

Shell vs. Foster.

It looked like two men playing amongst boys out there.

We’ve got Shell this year, we need Robert Foster next year!!!

Comment by Jimbo Covert's My Dad 10.14.11 @ 10:28 pm

It was crazy watching that Hopewell/CV game tonight…literally Shell is that entire Hopewell team…they didn’t complete a single pass CV stacked 9 in the box and he STILL runs for 260+??? He looked completely GASSED by the end of the game but I guess carrying it 40 times and playing D will do that to anyone.

I liked Fosters speed, and did you see that KO return for 77 yards?!? Bad news on him is he got hurt TWICE in that game. First the elbow, and then whatever finally knocked him out from the KO return….

It makes me feel good that Shell can put up such crazy numbers on a horrid team with 0 passing ability…even if Tino sucks at least the opposing team can’t bring 9 every play. Look for Shell to put on some muscle, get a little faster and light it up for Pitt in the coming years!! HTP!!

Comment by BCPITT 10.14.11 @ 10:33 pm

Foster’s only a Jr. in HS. No doubt he’s going to bulk up some in the next couple years.

Shell’s already 210. He’ll be a beast if he starts lifting more!

Comment by Jimbo Covert's My Dad 10.14.11 @ 11:02 pm

I was go to almost all Central Valley games and Foster has never been hurt yet. This was the first game we have seen him with injury. Please dont label him that after one game. Like “Dan” mentions he is a “Football” player. He couldnt even walk before that big kick return.

BTW Tre Law is not directly related to Ty Law but he does have some pedigree. I believe he is Essex Laws son. Probably the best running back ever in WPIAL.

Comment by QuipPitt 10.15.11 @ 2:22 am

Too late in the night, not sure what the heck I was saying there. hmmm Try it again. I go to almost all Central Valley games… yeah there, that is better

Comment by QuipPitt 10.15.11 @ 2:24 am

Dan:
I agree with you. WVU -Obnoxious fans, underwhelming academics, fans from opposing teams have to fear for their well-being in Morgantown…I don’t care if Pitt continues the series or not..never liked the fact the Big East made the hoop series two games every year.

Comment by TonyinHouston 10.15.11 @ 4:47 am

Navy has already said no to the Big Least, LOL! From what the blogs are saying – Army is skeptical and Boise State has no plans on going anywhere. That still leaves Villinova and Temple available.

Comment by winedogs 10.15.11 @ 7:46 am

I wonder what the excuse will be today? We were not prepared? I didn’t get them ready? We just didn’t executed today. How many times will QB TA be in for one series to break the offense’s rhythm with no positive result, except maybe a pick six. Well, to get to that elusive 9 & 3 record we have to win them all from here on out. I’m certain that will happen, esp beating WVU.

Comment by IH8PITT 10.15.11 @ 8:33 am

Completely off topic, but VERY funny!!!

occupyherbstreit.tumblr.com/

Check this out, you’ll love it.

Comment by ME 2001 10.15.11 @ 8:43 am

Try that link again…

link to occupyherbstreit.tumblr.com

Comment by ME 2001 10.15.11 @ 8:44 am

@Jimbo – even though he is has a bigger build, he needs to add lean muscle. Look at his arms compared to Ray Graham’s, there really is no comparison. I am by no means knocking Shell the kid is a man amongst boys and anyone who has seen him play can attest to it. The fact of the matter is he has acknowledged that he has never really lifted weights and plans on hitting the gym at the completion of his senior year to get ready for the new level of competition in D-1A football. Give him a spring and summer with a trainer and he will be a big ball of lean muscle

Comment by BCPITT 10.15.11 @ 11:18 am

@ gc Aaron Law and Tre Law of Cnetral Valley are both seniors and both are Essex Laws boys.

Comment by QuipPitt 10.15.11 @ 3:35 pm

Mark Myers

Photo Gallery

Pro-style quarterback
Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius

Ht: 6-foot-4
Wt: 220 lbs
Class: 2010 (High School)

Rivals.com Rating: 5.8 (About)
Position Ranking: 11

Rivals.com Rivals250 2010
QB Rankings 2010: Strongest arm (4)
Rivals.com pro-style quarterbacks 2010 (11)Prospect Ranking
QB Rankings 2010: Strongest arm | Rivals.com Football Recruiting | last sorted on 12/1/2009

2010 Rank Pos Ht/Wt Schools
1 Robert Bolden
Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s QB 6-4/195 Penn State
This dual-threat quarterback had former NFL QB Rob Johnson coveting his arm strength during the EA Sports Elite 11 this summer.
2 Devin Gardner
Detroit (MI) Inkster QB 6-4/195 Michigan
Gardner is ranked slightly ahead of Bolden as a prospect, but his arm strength trails Bolden by a bit.
3 Phillip Sims
Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith QB 6-2/209 Alabama
Sims is No. 2 in our pro-style quarterback rankings, and his strong arm is one reason he ranks so high.
4 Mark Myers
Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius QB 6-4/220 Pittsburgh
This southpaw and first-year starter displayed a rocket arm versus traditional Ohio power Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier.
This is what Rivals rated Myers – 4 stars same as Schell and Voylic. Athletic played basketball (much more athletecism regarded then football) and ran 310 hurdles. These are the facts. Redshirted by DW rightfully to help work on his mechnics. Simply because he is proper size of my successful college QB’s he must be slow footed (Rothensburger)or slow release – I do not know about his mechanics but realse has a lot to do with height and strength Tiny and Tino have to wind-up to throw the ball beyond 15 yards and it still is a floating duck (safties collapse immediately). As for a running game strecing the field horizontally without the threet of streaching it vertically is worthless. Like basketball the sidelines are your double team and trap. So why Graham can not run is not the OL it is because the opposition knows Tino and Tiny can not throw beyond twenty yards so they play man coverage with the corners bring their safties in as linebackers (9 man front) and punish the RB and QBs. Tino and Tiny because of their physical limitations can not prevent this in any system – at least in a proset Graham has a fullback to get him to the second level. If you think because of his rankings Voylcick is the answer read Myer’s rakings or continue to assume that because Dodge QB coach with no college experience and Graham the men who gave us a marginal high school QB (TA) are objective and competent evaluators of talent than keep raping Myers. I only know what I read and see on the field and Myers was DW QB of the future.

Comment by DRW 10.16.11 @ 11:33 am

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