Any discussion about the state of Pitt’s running game is almost forced to acknowledge the existence of Rushel Shell. His departure in the spring subtly changed the tenor of things. I’m not talking the preview magazine style of “who will run the football?” and citing the spot as a position of weakness.
It went from Pitt having a workhorse back with other backs behind him just being the change-0f-pace; to much more of a tandem or rotation of backs with Isaac Bennett leading the way but not relying on one player. But even after Shell departed there was and still is a strange confidence in Pitt fans that Pitt will get offense on the ground.
Part of it is an earned confidence. Over the last fifteen plus years it seems Pitt always has at worst a serviceable running game. Whether it was the individual talent of LeSean McCoy, the undersized but surprisingly effective Dion Lewis or LaRod Stephens-Howling. Even with Walt Harris and a pass-heavyt offense there were bursts with Brandon Miree and Kevan Barlow. Even Ray Kirkley could grind out some yards.
Then it is the system in place and the coach. Paul Chryst’s history as an offensive coordinator at Wisconsin is heavy on emphasizing a run, and adapting to the situation. Whether a workhorse, tandem or committee. So maybe Pitt won’t have a single player go for 1000 yards or more, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see two or three players total 1200-1500 yards.
From the spring practices to the present training camp, that confidence has been maintained even as the names have already changed. In the spring it was Isaac Bennett, Malcolm Crockett and Desmond Brown. Perhaps fullback Mark Giubilato getting some work. Now Bennett is still the lead guy (probably) but it’s James Conner, Crockett and perhaps Rachid Ibrahim. Gibilato is getting pushed by Jaymar Parrish.
Bennett started very strong in camp. Clearly establishing that he should be the starting tailback. Working hard at every opportunity.
“You keep the same goal in mind: Just to help the team get better every day,” he said.
Those Pitt fans wondering how the running game will survive without the team’s top two ball carriers from a year ago might have forgotten about Bennett.
Two years ago as a freshman, he started two games and averaged 4.1 yards per carry, carrying 42 times for 189 yards over a three-game stretch late in the season that made Pitt bowl-eligible. Last year — in only 29 attempts — he gained 4.9 yards per try.
The problem being that Bennett got banged up barely a week into camp and has been sidelined since. Coach Chryst has continued to say it is a minor injury — and no explanation of the injury beyond that. That he will be ready for the start of the season. Yet Bennett continues to be on the sideline with a brace — of varying size depending on the day — on his knee.
Making the most of early chances and impressing the coaches, Conner came into camp strong. .
“Coaches told me, ‘You need to be ready because you are going to be getting the ball this year,’ ” he said after practice. When asked if he expects to be redshirted, he said, “No, I don’t believe so.”
Conner is a physically imposing running back (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) who played defensive end at a Pitt camp last summer before his senior year at Erie McDowell High School. But after Conner was named all-state at both positions by Pennsylvania Football News (end as a junior, running back as a senior), Pitt coaches decided to use him on offense.
Pitt needed help at running back even before Bennett’s injury, with only sophomore Malcolm Crockett (12 career carries), senior and former walk-on Desmond Brown and 185-pound freshman Rachid Ibrahim providing depth.
Connor had to be an attractive option for the Pitt coaches at running back at the start of camp, because he was a big physical back that would be an excellent change of pace from Bennett or Crockett. Or even Ibrahim. Bennett and Crockett are about the same size and weight — 5-10 or -11 and 205 pounds — while Connor is 6-2, 230 pounds. Ibrahim is nearly as tall as Connor, but is only around 185 pounds.
I really don’t see any way Ibrahim gets on the field this year that doesn’t include a Pitt’s own version of AIHRBG striking everyone down (an APHRBG).
Crockett seems to have been passed by Conner. Part of it certainly is that from spring practices to August, Crockett has struggled to hold on to the ball. Desmond Brown was a nice story in the spring coupled with his brother being Steelers WR Antonio Brown. Earning a scholarship and providing a needed body for some depth. But the reality has pushed him out of the picture.
Most of it, though, has to do with how well Connor has played whether with the first team or second team. He’s now got more than a little confidence to go with a chip on the shoulder.
“I plan on being the first running back on the field (for the opener Sept. 2 against Florida State),” Conner said.
Coach Paul Chryst is not ready to announce a starter, but Bennett hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee Aug. 10, the fifth day of training camp. Bennett, a junior who started two games as a freshman in 2011, ascended to the job when Ray Graham exhausted his eligibility last season and Rushel Shell left the team this spring.
Meanwhile, Conner has been one of the surprises of camp. At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, he has displayed power and speed while trying to alter an upright running style that coaches detest.
“I have to run low to the ground to keep my balance and break the defenders,” he said.
Conner said he reported to camp weighing 250 pounds, but he changed his diet and lost between 10 and 15.
“I read something on the Internet — I shouldn’t be paying attention to that — but it said I can’t hit the long home run. So, I want to be able to break a 60-yard run and go the distance, instead of getting tripped up.
“Watching film from the first couple days of practice, I was, ‘Man, I look slow out there.’ Now I feel good.”
As for the chip on his shoulder…
Conner was an all-state selection last season at Class AAAA Erie McDowell, where he ran for 1,680 yards and 21 touchdowns. Yet, his only college offers — other than Pitt — came from four Mid-American Conference schools and Youngstown State.
That only served to fuel his desire to succeed.
“I don’t let anyone else tell me how good I can be,” he said. “I come out every day and try to outwork everybody on the field.”
Conner said he is accustomed to being the underdog. He has four older brothers, including one in the Air Force and another who is a cage fighter.
“Them beating me up all day, I have to have confidence,” he said.
To be fair, his low offer sheet had more to do with his grades. He was working hard to make them up the summer before his senior year, and he committed to Pitt in August which killed other interest. If you go back and read the his comments, his verbal to Pitt seems almost grudgingly given at that point. Annoyed that he didn’t have better offers/respect at that point. Still, if those kind of slights help him, by all means go for it.
– Bennett is back in full gear today, sans brace, but not practiciing. Would assume he’ll play vs FSU.
– I see Chas has done what many of us have been doing .. using both Conner and Connor. Believe the correct spelling is Conner.
– so Conner went from DE to RB while Durham went from FB to DE. This is hardly unprecedented. Does anyone remember Tim Manoa of North Allegheny who played at PSU? He started as a soph at DE, but was the starting FB on the ’86 National Championship game.
– Conner, like Manoa, has to be one tough kid a heck of an athlete, especially making all-state at 2 different positions.
I feel we will see greatly improved OL play this season. However I don’t want to rely on a true Freshman who only has one full year under his belt at the running back position in HS, even though I’m high on Conner for the future.
Manoa played fullback (not tailback) – and Manoa was faster than Conner
.
Here’s why:
link to sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Only Pitt ones…..
In fact does Pedo state still play football up there in Creepy Valley ???
Mark May also was a stud early I believe as was Russ Grimm. As the early 80’s teams had Pitt’s best O-Line since the Jock Sutherland era.
Of course the 1976 NC team had one hell of an offensive line as well. And Tony only needed a small crease and he was gone for a TD.
We’ll have to see how Biz and DJ and the new Grimm develop, but in 2 years they could become a very very good O-line. Adding Bookser would be nice as well.
Haven’t seen our recruiting guru, Frankcan lately.
Hope he’s alright !
Ibrahim seems to have good potential. he is apparently shifty and has legitimate home run speed but my guess is they will try to maintain his redshirt unless there is an injury
Jason Pinkston is the starting LG of the Browns
Lucas Nix is the starting LG for the Raiders.
CJ Davis is in the 2 deep for the Broncos.
Mike McGlynn is the starting RG for the Colts.
Ryan Turnley is on the Bills roster.
Amazing that a NFL starting LG (Lucas Nix) wouldn’t have been drafted. Some sort of bias against Pitt players ???
Getting excited for the season to begin fellas! Let’s keep it positive!
that is home run speed
Bennett displayed he has the speed –
on the track (electronically timed)
and on the football field
They have moved on to human growth hormone and other chemicals, but don’t kid yourself if there is a way to get an edge some guys will… look at Lance Armstrong.
The thing is if everyone does it, it makes it hard to compete without it. These chemicals help in the healing process and with faster recovery from injury, with so much money on the line…big contracts… temptation…
Schell made a major mistake.
To me that’s not a level playing field, it’s an elevated one.
Glad my car wasn’t one of them.
But whatever it takes in my opinion.
We’ll take the 15 yards, haha . 🙂
Pitt had some excellent asst. coaches back in that era. And I think Joe Avezzano was O-line coach during our latest NC year in ’76. After that it was Joe Moore I think. Might have been someone in between for a year or so.
in the future – possibly Johnson at left tackle and Bisnowaty could move to right tackle
looking ahead
Grimm – who will be Pitt freshman next season – is one big lineman (tackle on HS team) that could be moved inside (might not have footwork for tackle)
Still, I have never been confortable knowing Bennett was going to be the No. 1 back. A good athkete for the position who runs pretty hard with decent speed. But the shortcoming in his game has always been an inability to cut with speed which keeps him from the big play back he might otherwise be.
As for Conner, prior to camp to camp when it was still undecided whether he was going to play Defense or Offense… I said something to the effect that Conner is going to go a long way to making the loss of Rushel Shell seem like a distant memory.
However, despite the many accolades being heaped upon Conner for his performance in camp… and deservingly so… I still see him making his impact as a short-yardage power runner… a better one than Shell who seemed to having a growing disdain for hitting holes hard as the season wore on last year.
A final point about the running game… With Crockett being at best average and Ibrahim pretty much an unknown commodity… still see Tyler Boyd being the speed factor when it comes to the Pitt running game… more and more as the season goes on.
Go figure.
And are you saying you want to see Boyd inserted at RB? Or used as a WR running reverses, etc…
If Johnson is good enough to go pro early, why redshirt him, get him on the field as much as possible to be ready for next year.
He is much more valuable as a Tackle, if he can do the job and everything says he can.
Bennett’s injury has given Conner more touches and now we have #1 and #1A.
Unless there is 100% private financing, it won’t happen for many, many years.
We need the Mon Valley Expressway much more than a stadium, and it is never going to happen.
I agree with you on Johnson. If the coaches think he’s not going to be here all 4 years, there is no use in redshirting him.
Now we see Chris Blewitt walking around with a soft boot on his kicking foot(right) no less. WTF? That’s the bad news. Chryst says he’s not concerned, “he’ll be fine”. Why don’t I believe him? Yeah, he’ll be fine about the middle of December after the stress fracture in his kicking foot heals completely. I may be “stressing” over nothing but, although nobody realizes it yet, this is a key player for us this season that has to contribute to his full potential to keep Pitt competitive this season in the ACC. Blewitt can dependablely put points on the board anywhere from within the 35 yard line, that is a weapon we can ill afford to lose.
He may see playing time this season but it won’t be because the coaching staff wants to utilize him before he turns pro after his Junior year. It will all be about injuries, so I sincerely hope that Dorian sits comfortably on the bench this season since that means our O line has remained healthy. We should be so lucky, for a change.
This year, see him getting the ball as part of special packages… kind of end or flanker around.
In the future as he gets bigger and stronger, believe it is possible he might be transitioned to running out of the I.
Said it before… Boyd looks like a wideout but runs like a runningback. Nearly 6,000 yards in HS tell you he’s also durable.
Of course, if Pitt were to land the “next Tony Dorsett” it could become moot.
Why not play him? Because Clemmings is better… at this point a lot better.
I wasn’t suggesting Johnson start, just that he plays this year, because he has to start next year and there is no substitute for game experience.
You are right, those like me who find the thought of plopping a football stadium in a cramped Oakland as impracticable or unfeasible must be just simple minded basketball fans and blind Jamie Dixon devotees.
How silly of me to buy 5 season football tickets every year, drop four figure donations to the athletic department, go to away football games every year, and spend the better part of my 40+ years on this earth enduring one gut wrenching defeat after another, and voluntarily kicking myself in the groin pretending to be a fan of Pitt football.
And I didn’t even GO to Pitt! Thanks for clearing that up for me. I now see the error of my ways. From now on Jamie Dixon sucks, basketball is a second class sport, and I will gladly fork over my $500 to support a study on how to make this Stadium happen.
IMO, the most feasible location closest to the campus would be the golf course area.
That is going to impact Oakland that much ?
Also the games are on Saturday, when there are no classes.
Don’t understand that issue at all. You can park in one of many areas in and around Oakland and take a bus or taxi (taxi cost for 4 or more ppl is minimal) into Oakland. Plenty of parking in South Side and you’ll already have a spot over there for post-game activities.
Heck you can even park in downtown and take public transportation back into Oakland. Just put on your thinking cap.
Parking is not a valid argument for arguing against a campus stadium.
So you think people would park in town and take the bus? Students leave after Sweet Caroline so they can get the bus back to Oakland.
I used to park in Schenley Park and walk to Pitt Stadium, when I was in my twenties. Now people tailgate, where will they do that? Half the people at the games are over 50 and/or overweight, how far will they walk?
We now have a city planning department, traffic planning, required # of parking spots etc. It is not as simple as you think. Taxi’s in Pittsburgh, LOL.
The only frosh that was better than upperclassmen from the getgo was Fralic and I believe he played guard, not tackle. It was said that he could have gone straight to the pros, he was so big and strong. They coined the term pancake for him. A new stat for putting your opponent on his backside.
I hope we get to count a few pancakes this year.