A morning spent prepping tailgate food for tomorrow. Chicken drumstick wings, spicy pulled pork, and the stuffing for Jalepeno poppers. If my friends aren’t befouling port-a-johns by 5pm, then I did something wrong. Luke has signed on to man the liveblog tomorrow night. I’ll be tweeting all game.
In case you missed it, Ray Graham had what is (of course) being termed successful surgery to replace the ACL in his right knee. Given the minimum six months recovery, it would appear that Graham will now return for his senior season. How quickly he can return to anywhere near his old style is unknown, but it is hard to bet against it.
It can be fun to speculate on the idea of a Pitt backfield of Graham and Rushel Shell — who was just named Sports Illustrated High School Player of the Week. But, that is a year away and the immediate concern is finishing out this season.
The primary duties now fall to Zach Brown. As much bad luck as Pitt has had with injuries this season, Brown has been a bit of good luck for Pitt. He was a good running back buried in the depth chart at Wisconsin. Luckily he is also a very good student (2-time Academic All-Big Ten player), who had already completed his undergraduate degree with one year of eligibility remaining.
Pitt had a desperate need at the position, so he came here expecting to back-up Graham. Get some action as the change of pace back, and simply have one more opportunity.
Brown said that his relationship with Ray Graham has made this opportunity bittersweet but it has been eased by the fact that Graham has been his biggest supporter and has encouraged him and the team every day since he got hurt.
“I think a big thing for us is we want to go out there and play for him because that can happen to anybody,” Brown said “But for a great player like him, we just want to go out there and show that nothing is going to be lost. We are just going to go out and play and just win.”
Brown has excelled at catching the ball out of the backfield and making yards after the catch. I expect that to be unchanged, if not more of those type of plays. Afterall, we have to expect Cinci will attempt to bring more of a pass rush to disrupt Sunseri.
He already has 16 catches for the Panthers this season. Brown went into the year with 20 career receptions.
“I would say it’s something I always had in me, but we have worked on that in practice,” Brown said. “It’s just another way we can help the offense.”
Todd Graham said what really has been special about Brown coming in is the way he has become a leader, even though he has only been on campus for a relatively short period of time.
“Most times you get a guy transfer for one year like that, it’s very difficult for them to be embraced by the team and develop relationships,” Graham said. “He has been great at teaching our young freshmen. He and Ray are very close. He’s a special kid.”
The other question, though, is which of the freshmen running backs will see action. Corey Davis has gotten some action, but Coach Todd Graham has stated that either Malcolm Crockett or Isaac Bennett will have their redshirt status removed as well.
Chris Peak has a review of the three freshmen with their primary styles. Here’s the quickie summary:
If Davis is the speed back and Bennett is the power back, Crockett is a mix of the two.
Given the present state of the Pitt line, limited practice access for the media, and everything else. I would say with complete certainty that I have no idea whether it will be Crockett or Bennett. To help with quick identification on the field: Bennett is #9, Crockett is #7 (as is Brandon Lindsey) and Davis is #2 (but so is K’wuan Williams so pay attention).
It appears that Graham and Brown are not only quality backs, they are quality teammates.
Heck, I say if Graham is back and healthy next year, go with the Wildcat using Graham, Shell, Jones, Crockett, Davis and Bennett in any combination
I’m not sure why I’m so optimistic about this game. With all the wounded troops that we have, I should be a pessimist but for some reason I’m feeling that Pitt decides to open up a can of whoopass tomorrow.
I don’t know if they are going to allow Ray Graham to prowl the sidelines on a pair of crutches tomorrow night but I’m sure that he is going to be giving a lot of players motivational words in the locker room before the game. He’s demonstrated that he is just that kind of leader this season
The maturity factor is giving me comfort regarding Zach Brown getting the nod for the starting running back position too. He came to Pitt because it afforded him the best opportunity to contribute in his last year of eligibility, well now is his time to do the heavy lifting. I’m thinking that he’ll be up to the task.
As I commented last week, before Shell shows up to overshadow the other RB corps next year, one of these true freshman also now have a chance to show what they can bring to the table. Adversity provides for opportunity, I hope that literally one of these freshman RBs takes the ball and runs with it against Cincy.
I’m pretty sure that we won’t have to worry either that there will be two #7s or #9s on the field at the same time again like in a previous game, since “the other guys” with those numbers are on opposite sides of the ball.
Here’s hoping that Zach has a great coming out party as a starter against the Bearcats. Tear them up Zach! Go Badgers!! OOPS,,, I mean Go Panthers!! Hail to Pitt!!
Big game for Pitt!!!
Pick a win off and could set up a half decent ending for the team. Not saying we’d win the last 3, but, would def. have some momentum…
Pull a Rutgers and Utah, and, well.
I have a pretty good feeling myself, hoping the line gives Tino some time, if he gets it, he could put a nice game together. Zach might be a nice suprise, he looks to me, to be like a back that the more carries he gets, he could wear some people out.
We’ll see, hope I’m on here Sunday doin’ some praisin’!!!!
HTP!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re not going to go thru that nonsense again.
Didn’t TG learn anything from the penalty with the two Number 5’s against Rutgers?
What is it with these single digit numbers?
Not that it really matters that much with Shell coming in next year and hopefully RG will be back, so those guys won’t be seeing much PT. But what if they get changed to another position ala Dorin Dickerson. We’ll be saying, just as we did with Dorin, wow, if we just had him one more year.
And two Number 7’s as well. WTF
@ EMel – Davis is not really a traditional RB. He is used in the slot as a speed guy and only occassionally gets carries on sweeps, reverses, etc. I don’t think we will see Davis lineup in the backfield and run up the middle much. That is why either Bennett or Crocket is likely to play and burn their redshirt.
Who’s in charge here, the warden or the inmates?
(might be a bad analogy)
Should be required knowledge for every Pitt student along with the alma mater. Sing them proudly Saturday.
‘The Fighting Dentists’ had no such problems.
Smokytown?
How about:
Down in UPMCTown, in Pennsylvania,
In Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
etc., etc.
I have given that some thought.
It is becuse they have forced PITT to leave and i did not want us to go.
When they brought in TCU if they also had added Houston and Temple and Memphis we would still be there.
I know it was abought football but what a BB league that would have been eveyone that was all ready there plus thoes two we would have been the king of kings in BB.
and the football would have been ok Memphis would have got better but the BB schools screwed us and forced us to leave that is why i am pissed at the big east.
“Brown is an interesting guy – did very well for Wisconsin in getting 874 yards on 174 carries for a very good 5.0 average in his first two years, with eight TDs.
At PITT he’s been relegated to spelling Ray Graham out of the backfield and has seen his YPC average drop to 3.1 and has four TDs – he’s been good at the goal line.
He reversed one thing since his Wisconsin days though – there he didn’t catch the ball out of the backfield much – 12 times in his first two years, but here at PITT he’s gotten 12 receptions in a part time role. Nine for 84 yards last week.
So, with a full 10 days of 1st string practices and knowing he’ll be carrying the RB load – does he come through for us this week?
I think he’ll do so with 80+ yards on the ground, 50+ yards receiving and two TDs.
In Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
We’ve a University we’re all proud of,
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
She stands a mighty fortress ‘neath her colors bright,
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
When forth she goes to battle ‘gainst a stubborn foe
This song will upward go:
Hail to Pitt, hail to Pitt every loyal son!
Hail to Pitt, hail to Pitt ’til the victory is won!
The gold and blue shall wave forever
On high through fair and stormy weather;
We’ll sing her praises far and wide
Until the end of time!
Hooperay, hooperay for dear old U-N-I;
We’ll give a grand old alleghenee, genac, genac, genac
We’ll wave and cheer for many a year
And sing our songs out loud and clear
For our university.