Here’s the situation. No one is happy with Tino Sunseri as Pitt’s starting QB. The thought of a third year of brain locks. Of holding the ball too long. Of staring down receivers. Of not setting feet. Of not being able to make accurate throws of more than 10-15 yards down field. Well, no one wants that. Not the fans. Not the coaches. To quote a race of hyper-intelligent, pan-dimensional beings, “The prospect of doing it all over again… quite frankly gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies, you know what I mean?”
Unfortunately, at the present the options on the roster are limited. That means Pitt needs another QB for 2012 who can play right away.
First up, Deon Anthony.
There are no rankings of Anthony from Scout.com or Rivals.com. He’s about 6-1 and 205 pounds.
At present Anthony is at Hinds Community College (HCC) in Mississippi. The good news is that Mississippi is fairly competitive at the JUCO level. Recently fired Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt regularly oversigned players and stashed them in Mississippi community colleges to see about getting them academically eligible.
Anthony was not one of those players. The best he had was some interest from LSU about him playing DB. No actual offer, just interest. Coach Todd Graham recruited him at Tulsa. So, there is some familiarity with Anthony by the coaches.
He ended up at Grambling to be a WR, but had academic issues. That led him to HCC. Now, he is looking to be somewhere in 1-A and prove himself.
Anthony said Pitt coaches are showing considerable interest.
“They were saying they need a quarterback who can move in the pocket and run the read-option,” he said. “They don’t have the quarterback with the athleticism they need to run the offense.
“(Dodge) said they have a starter, but if I work hard, there will be competition.”
Anthony wants to enroll at a four-year school for the winter 2012 semester. He said he will decide from among Pitt, Kentucky and Troy when the junior college transfer signing period begins Dec. 21. He has verbally committed to Troy.
Anthony threw for 2,202 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for 461 yards and nine scores this past season. He was named NJCAA player of the week after completing 14 of 18 passes for 415 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-32 victory against Pearl River (Miss.) Community College on Oct. 22.
HCC helped produce Iowa QB Brad Banks, which means that is the comparison baseline from the HCC coaches.
“He’s bigger than Brad and little taller and heavier and faster,” said Hinds offensive coordinator Kelly Murphy, adding that Anthony can run the 40-yard dash in the 4.4- to 4.5-second range.
Murphy said Anthony has operated in an offense similar to Pitt’s read-option, no-huddle in high school and at Hinds. “A lot of what Auburn did with Cam Newton,” Murphy said.
Familiarity with the offensive style and showing an ability to handle it at the JUCO level are definite pluses. Another plus is his hunger to be at the 1-A level. In his verbal to Troy, he didn’t declare he would be the starter. Plus, he indicated flexibility.
Anthony, who will enroll in January for spring practice as a junior, is aware that current starter Corey Robinson will also be a junior in 2012, but said he would get a fair shot to compete for the job.
“They want me to come in and push him, but if I don’t win the job, they said they can use me at receiver or in some quarterback packages,” Anthony said. “I feel like there will still be a place for me on the offense.”
Here’s 8 minute-plus highlight reel. Suggest muting to not have to be subjected to Drake.
Uninformed verdict: A strong possibility.
Familiarity with him by the coaches is a plus. He shows some humility by not presuming to be the starter. Or even staying at QB. The willingness to assume what seems to be an increasingly crowded option as a wildcat player, is promising. He’s obviously hungry to prove himself at this level. Academics are a big concern.
Pitt appears to be his best offer, though, Kentucky might provide less competition for the starting job.
I would assume that Graham and his coaching staff know what they need. After all their jobs and the success of the program will ultimately depend on they’re getting the right pieces in place.
QB JC NR Deon Anthony
(Hinds)
Raymond, MS 6-1/205 Med Yes 12/16/2011 Pittsburgh
It is much better in the mute mode.
This kid is real small town, so Pittsburgh would be like NYC to him. Don’t think he’s cocky enough to unseat Sir Tino.
He got a raw deal at ND this season. He won the starting job in camp and came in for one half of football against USF. He made a couple bad throws and was pulled by Kelly. He never got another shot.
He is big, has a strong arm, can run and is smart. He would ABSOLUTELY be an upgrade over Tino.
Kelly runs an offense that is similar to Graham’s. I think Crist could pick it up.
I hear he is pretty bitter about the way Kelly treated him this year and is open to a transfer. He is on track to get his degree. Why not Pitt? Pitt’s defense should be good again next year. There’s some good talent at the skill spots. Why not jump at a chance to stick it to Kelly in South Bend next season?
And it looks like there are rumors about him going to Kansas with Charlie Weis. Pitt would still be a better option for him.
In terms of his release, it has been widely reported that Notre Dame already granted him a release. Does the school also need to approve of the specific school to which he plans to transfer? If so, it would seem to run counter to the reports of Notre Dame granting a release (I haven’t seen any reference to the release being conditional).
I think Crist will have several options, and I doubt that learning and running Pitt’s offense will be at the top of his list.
Here’s my take on how they all might grade out. Yes, this is purely speculative.
Tino
Running – **
Passing – **
Experience – ****
System Knowledge – **
Intangibles (leadership, character, off field intelligence) – ** maybe ***
Voytik
Running – ***
Passing – ****
Experience – *
System Knowledge – ****
Intangibles – *****
Gonzo
Running – ****
Passing – **
Experience – **
System Knowledge – **
Intangibles – **
Myers
Running – *
Passing – ****
Experience – *
System Knowledge – **
Intangibles – ***?
Trey
Running – ***
Passing – *
Exp – *
System Knowledge – ***
Intangibles – ***
Deon
Running – ****
Passing – ***
Exp – **
System Knowledge – ***
Intangibles – *
PROBLEMS at Grambling with academics//SCARY!!
Ryan mossakowski a jc who started out at kentucky but is a pure pocket passer he wont fit but would be better than tino.
Ryan Katz oregon state
Deon Anthony jc
and the kid from ND but he wont fit the system eather. not mutch to pick from but will keep looking.
That is fine with me to be honest.
Hail to Pitt!
he just sat out a year.
he played in big east two years ago but went to AZ and sat out last year but now would be transfering from AZ . We could get a qb and stick it to the big east at same time what do you say chas or reed he wants to come back east also.
I’ve gotta believe it’s the competition.
However with better line play and the stable of running backs we have, one more year of the system, we could score more points. Sunseri wasn’t bad in the first half of games. Maybe we just play wildcat in the second half.
How about some wildcat with Graham and Shell or Bennett. How bout the wishbone with Jones Graham and Shell. How about the I with Shell at fullback and Graham at halfback.
Even with Sunseri, I think we will see great improvement in Graham’s second year.
The defense should be the best we have seen in a long time. We really don’t lose that much and we have transfers, possible return of Murphy and Mason and a freshman or two. We should be very strong.
We can hope for a better QB, and I hope for a surprise like Pat White, but I think we will be pretty good, as long as the O-line does not collapse from injury like this year.
Remember when all we were worried about was the Center. Funny how that became a non issue. What a bonus if Lumpy gets a sixth year.
As limited as Sunseri’s abilities are, better O-line play and fewer dropped passes and the ability to get open will improve the performance of any Q-B, even Tino.
Let’s hope coach Graham finishes recruiting some future stars, and in a few years gets us in the top ten. I am hoping our D and running game get us to the top 25 next year. With or without Tino.
He actually has physical ability. We’ve all seen it. But as noted many times before, the mental ability is lacking. When any pressure is on, he folds. Add the bad interactions with his teammates, and it’s why he’s unreliable and villfied.
2 years into a $10 million contract and he gets the axe. And on top of that KU still has to pay him the other $6 Mil. No Thanks, anybody but Tino.
Comment by gc 12.09.11 @ 11:39 pm
Your rational here is very suspect. First you declare Sunseri’s abilities very limited. Then you suggest better O-line play and receiver play will help.
Well, let me help you out a little fellow Panther alum. First of all, we had a pretty good O-line last year. Jason Pinkston is now starting in the NFL, Nix will be in the NFL, Lumpy was there last year as well. Plus Sunseri had a 1rst Round NFL draft pick, one Jonathan Baldwin who made him look better last year, hauling in all kind of misdirected passes. Did any of that make Sunseri a better QB last year? NO,,,,AGAIN NO !
As far as receivers getting open, that is all BS, in timing routes, the QB has to get the ball out,…again(you might have heard this a few times this year)…in 1,2, out. Sunseri and apparently you, don’t seem to grasp this concept.
Receivers are not going to be open for 4 & 5 seconds, they are open for a split second. And a good QB, in this system, that split second is ALL THEY NEED. Hope you and others on this site can grasp this concept. Sunseri is NEVER going to be a good QB. Got that !
You are staking a lot on guys with severe injuries, or academic problems, coming back and playing at the level they were when they went down. That’s asking a lot and is assuming that they come back at all.
I am very skeptical that Dan Mason ever takes a snap for PITT again. I just don’t see it and even if he does Graham owes nothing to him as far as playing time. He may very well have been recruited over and played over by Todd Thomas, LaQuentin Smith, Ejuan Price and Nicholas Grigsby. All of whom got playing time, some rather substantial, as freshmen this season. Throw in the stud Dakota Conwell who may just work his way into the lineup as a true freshman and Mason faces a ton of good competition. Even if 100% healthy, which I doubt he’ll be, I don’t see Mason playing as a starter after missing two full years of football.
Jacobson is no lock to get that NCAA waiver either. He may well fit the criteria needed for it and I hope he does but it isn’t a given, and after two major surgeries on the same knee he may not be the player he was prior.
Same goes with Ray Graham. That particular knee injury to a RB who relies on quick cuts and lateral moves to gain yardage is pretty serious and could really impact his future play. In addition we have to consider the distinct possibility that he follows what is fast becoming a tradition at PITT of underclassmen leaving as soon as legally possible. Good offensive players just don’t stick around PITT one minute longer than they have to.
Bryan Murphy may be the best of all the guys who are sitting out, save Ray Graham of course. His skills on defense are huge and he tore up the camps last year. DW and Bennett were slobbering over getting this kid on the field full time. Had he been eligible he certainly would have started at OLB this season and I think he would have been a star. Academics are an interesting thing as getting eligible again resides solely in the player’s head and attitude. The news is that he is still attending classes at PITT and working out in the football complex everyday so that is a good sign, but we have to wonder if he’s going to follow his Don Bosco buddy, Brandon Sacco, and move on.
You are right that the transfers may help – Cullen Christen and EJ banks in particular may get PT next year. But I’m looking at what we know we will be able to field next year and that looks good too. You mention Shell in your post – let’s not forget Issac Bennett who I think will blossom into a very good RB for us and the staff’s favorite, Malcolm Crockett, who they preserved a redshirt for this season.
Emel, I get your hatred for Sunseri, however, Statistically he did have a better year in 2010.
To say that anyone isn’t better with better players is just silly. Drives were stopped by dropped passes, bad routes, strong rushes, procedure calls as well as Sunseri’s bloopers and blunders.
Sal Sunseri would not have been All-American without the stud line in front of him and Tommy Flynn behind him.
While I agree wholeheartedly that Sunseri will never be a good QB and hope we find a better one, we may not.
By the way timing routes or not,receivers still have to get off the line, seperate and catch the ball. Don’t let your hatred cloud your objectivity.
As bad as Tino was, one big catch of a catchable ball by Street or Shanahan and we win a WVU. Better clock management by the coach at Iowa and we win. Another timely interception like the one against Syracuse and who knows.
Football is a team sport. I hope we do find a better QB for next year. I still think we will be better next year even if we don’t.
Like his stride, but he windups too much…a D1 dback will make up ground, but it is no worse that Tino tapping the ball before he throws.
sign him.
If you look at the stats that Reed posted, Sunseri was marginally better in 2010 than in 2011. Again as Reed pointed out, he had the two big games in 2010 against the dregs of Syracuse & Rutgers. He only had the one big game against horrid Uconn in 2011. Again he’s not horrendous against horrendous competition which in itself speaks volumes.
Oh and btw I don’t hate the kid, I extremely dislike the process which was used to just giftwrap the starting position for him.
As far as getting off the line, there were errant passes to WR’s doing crossing routes parallel to the line of scrimmage that were merely 5 yard tosses that couldn’t even be thrown accurately.
The inaccurate passes far outweighed the drops.
It’s been more than proven that he is not a legit D1 QB and to put the Pitt fan base thru another season of that is asking way too much and is not called for when there ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
We are all passionate Pitt fans and use this blog to vent our feelings whether positive or negative and in the end each is only an opinion not a staement of fact.
First order of business is get a quality QB coach who has legitimate college experience. Dodge has 19 years as a high school coach in TX. and two and half yeas as head coach at N.Texas State where he was fired in the middle of the third season after a 6-37 win record.
Cavanugh may have been to conservative in his play calling or perhaps he realized he had to be with the QB’s he had but no won can dispute his credentials as all-american QB and an NFL quarterback and knowledge of what a QB must have to to play at the D1 level. Unfortunately he never had a QB while at Pitt that had the skills that could be refined to be a succesful D1 QB.
The same can be said for Cignetti. He had an considerable resume coaching quaterbacks at D1 level and the NFL. Like Cavanugh he suffered from the lack of a legitimate potential D1 QB. An example was his knowledge was the debacle of the Rutgers game. He knew Tino’s limitations and Graham’s inexperience or arrogance and brout 11 into the box and knew Tino could not beat them.
The point is the quest for a QB is not an isolated action. Without a compotent QB coach whoever comes or is currently on the roster is not going to require the quality instruction to improve his footwork, ball release, and mechanics to become an effective QB.
Both TG and TD seem more concerned about whether their QB cn run than whether he can pass. This type of football may be effective against teams with weak secondaries who can not tackle and are slow reacting to the ball. Teams that understand that in any sport defensewins ball games put many of their better atheletes at linebacker and the secondary limiting this type of offense to short passing gains, numerous sacks, and quick interceptions.
Secondly, he needed someone who fit the job description of being able to pass well and effectively take off and run with the football.
Third, and as a lesser criteria, gameday experience was valuable
The only QB on the roster in the spring and summer camps that met that criteria was Tino Sunseri.
Anderson was true freshman with some experience in this offense and that’s why he was QB2. He didn’t pan out.
Gonzalez’s passing skills just didn’t cut it at this level thus his move to H-Back.
Myers never grasped the offense well enough to be trusted with it, had no experience, can’t run as Graham wants a QB to in this offense and, even though you don’t believe this, his passing skills aren’t that much greater than Sunseri’s.
Jones was tapped to became strictly a special package Wildcat QB.
What we ended up with was a QB who has the physical and intellectual talents to run the offense for the most part – less the deep pass. Sunseri did grasp the offense well enough during the camps. The ‘dumbing down’ and slower pace of snaps was really much more for the make shift OL and the receivers than it was for the QB.
So I’m not sure Coach Dodge could have made any more of an impact then he already did this season. If anything would have helped it would have been for Dodge to work expressly with Mark Myers during the spring and through the season to help him to understand the offense better. But that would have taken his coaching away from the #1 and #2 QBs who were Sunseri and Anderson and who had to have his attention to execute on gameday.
As far as how well Cavanaugh and Cignetti coached our QBs I think you are off base. What exactly did Cav do for Tyler Palko except help DW use Palko as a game manager and stifle his excellent QB skills that were so productive the year before? And under Cavanaugh we got Bill Stull’s first year.
And Frank Cignetti? I doubt his coaching had that big of an impact on Stull. Bill Stull made the normal jump in production that almost every QB makes from his 1st to 2nd year of starting. The fact that McCoy wasn’t on the team and we actually passed the ball inside the opponent’s 30 yard line is what gave Stull those much better TD numbers. His skills didn’t get any better between 08 and 09.
And gee, how great was Cignetti’s impact on Sunseri last season? After all, he had been coaching Sunseri in 2009 also so in Sunseri’s second year with Cignetti we get the QB that Sunseri is today… without the leap in production between year 1 and 2.
But Coach Dodge did one thing well, he taught Tino Sunseri how to understand and run Graham’s offense. That is no mean feat given the big difference between DW’s offense and Todd Graham’s. Dodge just can’t coach not folding under pressure.
You are correct that a QB coach is only as good as the material he has to work with and IMO that’s why neither Dodge, Cignetti or Cavanaugh can be considered successful QB coaches while they were at PITT. The jury is still out on Dodge IMO until we see how well he does with Voytik’s first two years.
Dodge’s highly successful “Air-Raid offense” revolutionized the style of play of Texas high school football, according to many observers. Three of Dodge’s former quarterbacks at Southlake Carroll rank among the top 7 all-time in single season passing yardage in Texas: Chase Wasson, Chase Daniel, and Greg McElroy. Daniel was a star at Missouri and is now with the Saints. McElroy led Alabama to the national championship and is now with the Jets.
I’m not sure he even realizes that Dodge’s won-lost record has no bearing whatsoever on his ability to coach QBs. It isn’t like Dodge is involved in game day planning or playcalling in his position… his job is to teach young QBs this offensive system.
Something tells me that this ‘Tino is our starter’ stuff is merely lip service.
At least..I really, REALLY hope so.