I would love to simply call it the “Battle for Beef” but there are some other potential permutations that could send the winner of tomorrow’s Syracuse-Pitt game somewhere other than the Beef O’Brady Bowl in St. Petersburg. Either way, the winner of this game at least gets to a bowl. Salvage a little pride from the season of disappointment.
Let me get this out of the way. Screw the talk of deserving or not deserving a bowl bid. Screw the debate over whether 15 extra practices really mean anything or not. Screw the issue of whether fans will travel to the game and how it looks. Those are all meaningless discussions.
There’s an overabundance of bowls, yet we can’t get enough of them on TV. The ratings for the crappiest, poorly attended bowl games are still solid enough that ESPN and others line-up to help prop them up. Will I watch the Motor City Bowl, the Potato Bowl (or whatever it is in Idaho), the Las Vegas Bowl and nearly every other minor bowl? You bet. So, why wouldn’t I want to have one of these superfluous bowls to include my school?
The coaches stress the extra practices as a way of getting a head start on the future — even as the seniors who won’t be there — are still there. The value is probably more for the coaches to know they are staying on top of the kids.
But even that is getting ahead of things.
Start simple. Do you want Pitt to win tomorrow? Do you want to see Pitt beat Syracuse for a 7th straight year. For the 10th time in the past 11 meetings?
Assuming you, do then Pitt is going bowling. Deserving is not the issue. Even the Big East was competent enough to line-up enough bowl tie-ins that a mediocre team in the conference is going to a bowl. That is a factor in why we wanted to move conferences. Not to be in a conference with less bowl tie-ins, but one that has more and are better even at the lower end.
Will it change the tenor of the whole season? Remove the disappointment and frustration of this season? Ease the sting of 4 losses by a total of 11 points — all with blown 4th quarter leads? No. At best going to and winning the bowl will give a small boost to the hopes for 2012. I’ll take it.
Now on to the game stuff.
Hey, it looks like Ryan Nassib is angling to be the Alex Van Pelt of Syracuse record books.
At some point in the game Nassib (2,460 yards) will likely surpass McNabb (2,488) and Graves (2,547) as SU’s career leader for passing yards in a season. He is one touchdown pass away from the school record shared by McNabb and McPherson (22). He already owns the record for attempts (383) and completions (236) in a season, is No. 2 in passing yards per game (223.6) and No. 5 in completion percentage (.616). He has thrown three times as many TD passes (21) as interceptions (7).
And he’s only a junior.
On the injuries, the only possible definitely out for Syracuse is their fullback — almost exclusively used for blocking — Adam Harris. He is out with a concussion. Starting DE Mikhail Marinovich is questionable with back problems. Others who were banged up in the Cinci loss are likely to play.
Pitt, continues to subtract from their offensive depth. Running back Zach Brown is unlikely to play because of the bruised sternum he suffered last week in the Brawl. Ronald Jones — WR, wildcat QB and punt returner — is out with a concussion. Devin Street is questionable at best. So, if you are keeping track, the WRs who have had enough issues this season are even thinner and possibly empty.
“There are different route concepts [in the spread offense], and it is getting guys to understand running each route at full speed and finishing routes,” Norvell said. “Sometimes guys will run a route, but they won’t run it as fast or finish it like we need to continue to open windows and to be able to do that at a pace of 80 plays per game.
“And that’s probably the biggest transition for those guys to get their focus and in their minds to be able to go out there and execute play in and play out.”
Norvell expects the receivers to be improved next year. While young and still learning, they have shown flashes of understanding what the coaches are expecting.
But there have been times when they have had trouble getting on the line, aren’t running precise routes or aren’t creating separation from the defensive back. That’s part of the reason for the high number of sacks the Panthers have given up this season.
“This has been a growing experience for our guys. But if you look at it, we don’t have a senior in our group,” Norvell said. “Some guys have progressed quicker than others, obviously, and throughout the season we’ve had some really good performances, but we need consistency.
“We need to consistently make plays at the top level, that is the challenge, continue to push those guys to be more consistent.”
For the record, I don’t buy the whole difficulty of finding and recruiting WRs who know or can play in Pitt’s spread-style offense because it isn’t as common in the Northeast. It’s increased in usage, not to mention in high school top athletes are usually playing at least some QB because it puts the ball in their hand to make plays.
And yes, it makes sense that Sunseri will still start at QB. Not emotionally. Not happy about it. Nobody seems happy about it. But rationally, and realistically he will start. Resigned to that reality.
By some numbers, Pitt is slightly better than Syracuse.
SU will enter the game ranked sixth in the eight-team conference in scoring offense (24.5 points per game) and fifth in total offense (348.5 yards per game), behind a Pitt team (25.1 and 364.8) that is trying to learn a frenetic college system with pro-style bodies. The Orange defense, meanwhile, has unfolded as feared, allowing more yards (391.3) and points (28.1 per game) than any Big East member.
Throw in several special-teams breakdowns at critical times over the last month and it is easy to see why a team that once stood at 5-2 is fighting for its postseason life. Pitt is in the same boat.
Frustrating as it has been to watch Pitt go 2-2 in the past four games, it beats the 0-4 streak of the Cuse.
Senior offensive lineman Lucas Nix is still not all the way back, but is playing.
Meanwhile, his left knee throbs after he returned to the lineup Friday night for the first time in nearly two months while recovering from a kneecap dislocation and a stretched knee ligament.
He said when he woke up the next morning, the knee felt “horrible.”
“It felt like my knee was dead,” said Nix, who hasn’t missed a practice snap this week. “There was a lot of soreness in there and a lot of pain. I’m still not 100 percent. That’s something I talked to the trainers about. I am just going to have to put up with it.”
I really wish the Pitt athletic department had actually disclosed the type of injury afterwards, rather than vaguely referring to it as a knee issue. A dislocated kneecap and ligament issues explains so much, beyond just being cautious.
Over on the defensive line, Brandon Lindsey got all the preseason hype, Aaron Donald has been the emerging star, Chas Alexcih has gotten sacks and had some great quotes. Myles Caragein, though, was the senior defensive captain and has been steady and strong all season. Nice to see him get a little love in this AP article.
That’s where leading with words comes in. Caragein knows Pitt’s history and tradition better than most. He knows what it means to the city, and he makes sure his teammates know, too.
“That’s something I try to . point out every now and then — what Pitt is and how important it is,” he said.
He still leads by example, starting all 11 games this year and recording 33 tackles. A math major, he is a three-time Big East All-Academic team selection. He also mentors younger defensive linemen like sophomore Aaron Donald. That’s rare to see, Graham said.
“He tries to help develop them and make guys around him better,” he said. “He doesn’t care who gets the credit.”
Like Chas Alexcih (from earlier in the week) he also bought into Todd Graham after the initial meeting.
The seniors will be honored. There are 18 leaving the team. Some who rarely saw the field. Some who didn’t pan out.
Mainly, though, his emotions mirror those of his coach, who often speaks of personal relationships with his players as if they are victories on the field.
“Getting to play with some of my best friends,” Alecxih said. “That’s going to be the best things (to remember).”
Graham has dedicated this week to the seniors, with some younger players carrying seniors off the field at the end of Thursday’s practice, the final full session of the regular season.
Amid the struggles of this transition season, Graham said the seniors nonetheless set the foundation for future teams.
“I told them we are going to be successful,” he said, “and the success we are going to see, they are responsible for it.”
And finally, condolences to Defensive Coordinator, Keith Patterson and his family on the passing of his father.
——
off topic but important note — The Fan is reporting that Woodall will be out for a month
link to jsdavi02.expressions.syr.edu
I’ve been trying to stress for weeks that while Tino has issues and is not a for for this offense, there is plenty of blame to go around. The following article seems to support this:
In Fact, Zeise wrote an article the day before that where he graded all of the positions and graded the QB the same as the O-Line (C-) and the receivers the worst grade of any position (D).
Again, puting all the blame on the QB is too simple of an analysis.
I bet if the Steelers went 8 and 8 and ended up in the Wild Card, the whole city and fan base would still support them even though it wouldn’t be a great season.
you need to get more of a life, my friend.
Pitt isn’t a really good team let down by bad QB play, but we are a mediocre team that could have closed out some games with better QB play, IMO. That last series of the WVU game was brutal to watch, and while part of that blame is on the WRs not getting open, watching Tino hold the ball for an eternity and take a sack is at least partially his fault. I can’t remember where I read it, but Tino hasn’t made a pass over 30 yards (ball in the air for 30+ yards, not throw+yards after catch) all year. But the same thing here holds — is that all on Tino or at least partially on the WRs not getting open downfield? I don’t know the answer offhand, but it’s not exclusively one or the other.
I guess, to me, the frustrating thing is that we are in a painfully weak conference that was beyond wide open this year and we couldn’t close. Part of that failure is on Tino, part on Graham, part on the WRs, part on injuries, part on mystical forces from the galactic overlord Zenu, etc. And while it is a simple analysis, we do need better QB play next year along with a bunch of other improvements if Pitt really wants to be a good team.
Or, I should say, I will have most of them on, some of them, I may be watching with one eye while I do other projects around the house.
Some of us are college football junkies, and will find a way to fit it in.
I will agree WBB, not exaggerating, I probably have not seen more than 3 or 4 plays of Boise State at home. Hurts my eyes (for real, not trying to be funny), the glare, reflections, don’t know. Can’t watch it.
I actually enjoy watching Boise St. too, and am always happy when they are on the tube, and away!!
Good example last night. S. Fla. played in a pro stadium, but, they had a beautifully down “Bull” logo in the center of the field.
Didn’t skimp and make it generic. Was gold, with green and white outlines. Looked fantastic.
End zones had “Bulls” in Same thing, big green letters, gold and white accents.
Made a hell of a difference. Still a pro stadium, but had much more of a college field because of the field.
Little things…little things added up, add up to big things.
Steve P: When we go to the ACC, pay a company, or have a volunteer student group stay to clean the field paint off if we have too.
Get a real Pitt logo in the center, and have the “Panthers” in both end zones. Big and Blue, with gold and white outlines and accents!!!!
Same with the ACC logos that will be going at the 20’s.
You put banners up, have things outside to make it more of a game day feel……make the field look good, and like it’s Pitt’s and you’d be suprised what such a small thing will to, to add to a Pitt game day excitement.
Don’t skimp Steve, don’t have the logo looking like the neighborhood kids did it in chalk and don’t paint blue over the black “Pittsburgh” in the end zone.
Yes, this can be done, will not effect the Steelers. The field paint can be applied, and taken off, and re-applied for the Steeler game on Sunday.
It may cost a little, may need to get the students involved.
First thing people see on tv is the field, don’t make their first impression, “hmmmm, something’s not right here”.
I realize our main thing is to be 10-2 or 11-1, I get that, we all want winning.
Our discussion was about the lack of college atmosphere at Heinz.
I almost had an ephiphany. As much as I would like an on campus stadium, the more I thought about it, we are at Heinz, state of the art palace, what really bothers me??
It dawned on me, one of the least appealing things, especially if you’re a college football junkie, is the field itself.
The “Pitt” at mid-field is atrocious!! The blue over the black Pittsburgh.
You know, just those couple things, would make a world of difference, if we are going to be at Heinz.
The thing that really got me thinking, if you watched any ACC game this year, or last for that matter, but, you know then, that all of their fields have these beautiful ACC logos at the 20’s.
I mean, really nice looking logo’s, and each school has them in their school colors. Really stands out. (It’s also the nicest out of the Big 4-5 conferences too. Unbiased. They just have a nice, simple, clean look to them.)
Really says who you’re “with”.
And I thought, when we go, what are our ACC logo’s going to look like?? Like the old janitor at our high schools, with the old chalk walker???
Or will Steve just say, “too much trouble, don’t even bother with them”.
Yes, small, minor compared to the game and winning some games.
Game day experience they are always talking about at the Pitt Athletic Dept., I think it would really “college” it up a bit, if it looked like it was our field.
Hey, minor, just bs’ing. Have a good weekend all!!
Granted if we had Lsu’s D, Tino wouldn’t have to do much.
The team by no means was perfect, but what would have been the one area most people would have loved to replaced this year ? I would say QB, then possibly Linebackers, then Receivers.
I know that the last 2 games I saw live (ND and Utah), I certainly didn’t see too much separation between our receivers and their DBs
I don’t doubt that the WRs had trouble seperating at times, but then its incumbent on the QB to tuck it and run or throw it away if it ain’t happenin’.
And that was the one and only BBVA Compass Bowl from beautiful Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.
Mixed feeling about tomorrow, would like to see PITT continue it’s dominance over Cuse, but if we win and got a bowl and win, I can hear those like wbb continue with this nonsense, that Sunseri wasn’t the chief culprit of this inept offense.
It all starts with the QB. If the QB does NOT make the right reads, the right throws and the right decisions, he makes all others around him look that much worse. Plain & Simple.
1) He has a strong arm (meaning he can actually play and not be pulled because of the wind)
2) He can throw downfield(over 15 yards) accurately.
3) Meaning he can stretch the field vertically (i know you all love coach speak)
4) He is elusive (meaning he doesn’t run into sacks)
5) He can pull it back on the read option and actually run for 40 yards and a TD, not run 8-10 yards and then fall down.
6) He can throw a down and out on the money.
7) He can actually lead a receiver with a pass in the direction of the goal line (this a novel concept)
8) He has escapability (might not be a word..but it should) haha
I say bring him in AND a 5th year senior. TG needs to do EVERYTHING in his power to ensure Suneri transfers or whatever. (I don’t see the arrogant jerk sitting on the bench)
Bring in 3-4 new guys, what the hell…see who gets the job done…if Maine can get a QB who’s 3x as good as Tino, surely someone else is out there who’d like a crack at the Pitt job.
Fortunately the Panthers progressed on the defensive of the ball. So with another year under the new system, there should be a similar improvement with next years offence. Maybe in some of the close games, they will be able to make the crucial first down when we need one. Let’s hope so.
all year long you have said it is not tinos fult
every one elae even TG has bad things to say abought him.
but you try to take the blame off him as mutch as you can how come.
My wife went to Eastern Washington State University, Cheny, Wash.
They play on RED turf. They also won the championship in their division beating Villanova along the way.
I bought “RED INFERNO” championship shirts for the entire family. By the way, their old nick name was the SAVAGES. Unfortunately not politically correct any longer.Their new name- Eagles.
It was good to see someone in my family win a football championship.
I’ve been to games where they just whited out the Bucs flag at the 50 and put a Bulls logo in the center of it.
Worse yet, I’ve been to games where they just left the Bucs flag there!
When it comes to sharing a stadium with a pro team, USF has nothing on Pitt. When you’re in Heinz Field there are plenty of things to let you know that it’s also Pitt’s stadium. There’s very little of that in Ray Jay, plus there’s a gaudy pirate ship in the end zone to boot.
Especially for the receiving corps. Graham needs quick-twitch guys like Saddler and Jones to execute what he wants out of the passing game. This offense is based on short to intermediate passes and with that has to have WRs who can get to a mark as quickly as possible.
Sunseri panicked and held the ball too long on a lot of occasions but the majority of the time, in this “one, two, go!” passing game his receivers just weren’t where they were supposed to be.
Sunseri isn’t the type of QB who can make things happen after the play breaks down as they did way too often. Instead he gets shaken and takes his eyes from downfield to the defense coming at him and takes the sacks.
This is like a dog chasing his own tail out there between the receivers not being able to execute quickly, the makeshift OL trying to hold blocks longer than they should then Sunseri holding the ball too long. It goes around and around.
The fact that we didn’t have a running game that put the fear of God into the defense with Ray Graham in the second half of the season didn’t help either.
That’s why I’ll give Graham a pass on the offense this season. He really does need his own personnel in there much more so than on the defensive side of the ball.
He’s recruited for that last year in Jones, Bennett, Patton, Jackson, Brinson – all those kids can run like hell. And he is doing more so this recruiting season with the Davis twins, Corey Jones, Shell… Hus emphasis is on speed, speed, speed and we’ll see that out on the field in spades in 2012.
Imagine rotating Street, Jones, Saddler, Corey Jones, and the Davis kids, along with the others above, in and out of the receiver positions all game. Fresh legs and tons of speed will play hell with the defense. His offense isn’t going to be like what we saw in the past where two or three receivers play the whole game – there will be multiple personnel sets and playcalling tailored for his personnel.
Thow in Hubie Graham, Gonzalez, and Carozzoni (who has speed also) at that 3-back position and our passing game will be fine next year.
A more healthy and experienced OL will give the QB more time next season also. So, as we all know the pivotal point will be the QB position.
But, whoever that is will benefit by the existing players having a year of experience learning this offense, as we have seen with Devin Street in the latter part of this season, and by the new recruits that have been targeted by Graham specifically for this offense.
Hysterical. Can’t explain it, but I found that movie hysterical!!!
I’m sure it would cost some money. Probably have to pay a company to put a nice Pitt logo in the middle and panthers in the end zone…
then have to pay them each game to get the field paint back off, and put the black and gold Pittsburgh back in the end zone for the steelers.
I don’t debate that it would be a little bit of a chore.
Personally, IMHO, paying millions and millions for coaches, recruiting etc. etc in the athletic dept budget, I think a little bit of money to make the field “right” on gameday would go along way.
I must admit that even though I am a season ticket holder, after last week’s Backyard Brawl I decided I wouldn’t spend the 5 hours to drag my ass up to Heinz Field from Washington DC for this last game. I just don’t have the stamina to put up with one more gut wrenching fourth quarter “give it away” loss by the Panthers while I watch Tino and company vomit on the field after everybody is done singing “Sweet Caroline”.
However, I’m still going to be in front of the TV at noon Saturday, beer in hand, watching the game, yelling at the frickin screen for Tino to “THROW THE GOD DAMN BALL!!”. Such are the trials and tribulations of a lifelong Pitt football fanatic.
This game actually sets up pretty well for Tino Sunseri. The Cuse doesn’t rush the QB very well and their secondary can’t keep opposing receivers from having a good game against them. So you would think that “the GOOD Tino” might make another guest appearance during our last home game on Senior Day.
BTW, it was a LOL moment for me when I clicked on Dalek’s link for Tino’s replacement. I was glad to learn susequently that it was a just bag of garbage because I assumed it was a huge bag of the stuff I pick up when I take my dog for a walk, but either would be an improvement over the QB play that we’ve seen during this season from Tino. I’m in agreement with Emel, this team had lots of issues this year but the 800lb gorilla in the elevator was far and away the play of the QB this season. With the right guy in that position and the Panthers would have been going to a BCS bowl game IMO. That’s how weak the BE was this year and we couldn’t even remain relevant in this year’s weak ass BE conference.
My only question is, can the garbage bag graduate early and matriculate at Pitt in time for spring practice?
It would be nice to at least be able to yell the victory chant of “we’re at 500, we’re at 500” after beating Syracuse and then have the satisfaction of playing in a mediocre bowl game to boot, yea! But at this point in the season it is what it is and that’s what we have to play for. So of course I’m not throwing Tino under the bus just yet, and as always I’m hoping that he has a good game, because when he does, we win.
As always Hail to Pitt, Beat the Orange to a pulp!
link to scoutcombines.scout.com