At long last the ACC released its full basketball schedule. All the conference games (PDF).
This also means individual ACC teams could put out their full schedules. Including Pitt. Obviously we knew bits and pieces. Some have been announced. Others assumed.
Time to see the full picture.
The practice reports Justin filed have already given us a lot of insight into Pitt’s offensive line. The left side with Adam Bisnowaty and Cory King is stronger in run support. The line actually has some depth this year. I don’t want to say I feel good about the O-line, but I feel a lot better about than I have for the first time since 2009.
The depth helps. It means guys like Cory King and Matt Rotheram are able to play at their guard positions. Where they fit best and are much more comfortable.
After they moved from tackle to guard — where their wide bodies are better suited — the expectations also are bigger.
“If you ask Cory,” Hueber said, “he is happy he doesn’t have to worry about those wide rushes (from the defensive ends).”
When told about the move at the end of last season, King admitted, “It was kind of relief.”
Rotheram played both positions as a redshirt freshman in 2011 before suffering a season-ending ankle fracture at midseason. He played tackle last season because Pitt had a manpower shortage, but he understands guard is where he belongs.
“At tackle, sometimes you are on an island, and it’s not as good to be a big-body guy out there,” he said. “I did what I had to do to get on the field and put our team in the best position to win.”
Both guards are of the size and bulk that Coach Chryst wants on the offensive line.
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.
Devin Street continues to do nothing to diminsh that expectation that the passing game will be a lot better:
“That’s their moneymaker,” he said. Street said he has been getting ample time to build an on-field relationship with Savage.
“If I have to (stop a route short), he knows I’m doing that. It’s about getting in sync with each other. Tommy’s doing a great job. It’s totally different from last year.”
Safe to say the only people more openly happier than Devin Street that Tom Savage is the QB this year is Tom Savage’s family.
Coming into camp, the question was who was the number two wide receiver. No one wanted to say right away that Tyler Boyd would be that guy as a freshman. Everyone wanted to make sure he earned it.
The fact that Tra’von Chapman’s status has been up in the air all month hasn’t been a big surprise. It isn’t an easy decision. It also isn’t a big surprise that a decision has to be made some time this week. With classes starting on Monday, all sides need resolution.
The only surprise is that the fate of Chapman is not in Head Coach Paul Chryst’s hands this time. It is in the hands of Chancellor Mark Nordenberg.
“I am waiting on the call sometime (Tuesday or Wednesday) to see what the outcome is going to be,” he said.
Coach Paul Chryst said Tuesday afternoon no determination has been reached in Chapman’s case.
Chapman has been suspended from the team and unable to attend classes since he was arrested in April for assaulting a former girlfriend in Kent, Ohio. He pleaded guilty and served a three-day jail term last month.
“The plan is to have me back,” Chapman said. “I want to come back. Coach Chryst and everyone else want me back. Mr. (Steve) Pederson (athletic director) is presenting the case to the chancellor and the chancellor is going to decide.”
Chapman, a four-star freshman quarterback, graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in December and enrolled in Pitt a month later.
For those that think this is a slam dunk either way, I have my doubts. And it has little to do with his recruiting rank.
As training camp has progressed, we read the stories. Digest some of the previews and analysis. Not all of it is simply the happiness of talking, reading and thinking about football.
With Coach Paul Chryst, a lot of time has been spent on the offense. With good reason. That’s the area with the real questions. The real problems that had to be addressed. The QB. Offensive line. Running backs. Wide receiver depth.
Contrast that with the defense where the only real questions were with the linebackers and simply who would be behind the starters on defense.
The defense needs some attention. Not simply because of the questions with new Defensive Coordinator Matt House. While that is certainly something I have made my concerns known, is not the issue today.
PITT is having it’s annual Kickoff luncheon with the usual coach speak talks by the staff. It is in the Westin Convention Center at 11:30 on Friday the 23rd. So if you need a kick start to the afternoon nap you always take, go and listen to Chryst speak.
I’m driving up for Thursday’s practice and staying over for the luncheon. Any other Blatherites attending? At the very least we can drink and argue about an on-campus stadium, Sunseri’s 2012 production and Trey Anderson’s arm.
I’ll be the tall guy with long brown hair and the DW style mustachio. Feel free to buy me many beers.
Reed
Mike Andra and John Mack got some coverage in the Pitt News for their concepts of an on-campus football stadium.
Of course, Pitt’s urban campus presents a number of space constraints. In order to make room for the large new complex, a number of properties in Panther Hollow between Joncaire and Boundary streets and Yarrow Way would need to be purchased. In addition, Mack said the Frick Fine Arts Building would need to be moved onto Schenley Plaza, and Mazeroski Field would be demolished, though he said the new stadium would also include a Pittsburgh Pirates museum.
The next area of concern for Mack and Andra is parking and transportation.
Mack said the plan includes the building of a multi-level parking garage that could hold between 1,200 and 1,500 vehicles. He also said that the Allegheny Valley Railroad could expand its commuter service operations and extend into Panther Hollow using the pre-existing railway.
In a project of this magnitude, cost is always a factor, and Mack and Andra readily admit this. They project that, in total, the project would cost $700 million, with all funding coming from alumni benefactors. They also projected that the new stadium would lead to about $47 million in revenue during its first year.
I can’t say I buy into the whole thing, but they now have the Pitt administration acknowledging their existence.
There was an article on another graduate assistant. He isn’t listed in the media guide so I didn’t notice the addition of Taylor Mehlhaff as a Special Teams Graduate Assistant.
Mehlhaff was a very, very good kicker for Wisconsin. Briefly got some time in the NFL before the Saints cut him before their Superbowl run.
“He was a guy that I admired and respected a lot when he was playing, just the mental toughness that he had,” Chryst said of Mehlhaff. “It’s great having him around. He’s a sharp guy, he brings good energy.”
“When [Chryst] found out I was looking to go somewhere, I think he was pretty excited to get me here,” Mehlhaff said. “I had a couple opportunities to go to some other places, and I felt good about this. With the group of guys that I know here, it’s more of a family-type feel. It’s a close-knit group.”
Now Mehlhaff is on the Pitt staff as a special teams graduate assistant. He is assisting in a variety of special teams areas, but his focus is on working directly with the kickers and punters. That’s particularly helpful for Pitt, since the Panthers will have two scholarship specialists on the roster this season in kicker Chris Blewitt and punter Ryan Winslow.
It’s a perfect role for Mehlhaff and one Pitt can benefit from.
“In a lot of places, that’s a neglected position, and Taylor has really, really good knowledge of the kicking part,” Chryst said.
The one thing missing from the story is that Mehlhaff’s brief time in New Orleans paid off in other ways. He is engaged to a former Saints Cheerleader (and 2012 Miss Louisiana, 4th runner-up).
I wanted to try to stay on top of links. Last thing I wanted was to keep tabs open for weeks or months and then find myself trying to shoehorn ancient pieces into a present day post. Naturally this post was in the draft section for nearly 2 weeks before I returned to it and re-worked it to shove out today.
The first day of practice revealed that Pitt has named the outside practice facility fields “Beano Cook Fields.” Something that was lauded by sports media all over twitter that day, because everyone in the media loved Beano Cook. Also this little tidbit:
When Beano died last year, he left sizable donations to Kiski Prep School and to Pittsburgh, his alma maters. Earlier this year, Kiski named its athletic fields after Beano. This week, Pitt named its practice fields for him. He would be embarrassed and thrilled.
Any time there is a preview of the ACC, Pitt lands somewhere in the 5th or 6th spot of the Coastal Division. Football Study Hall is no exception.
Pitt is not far enough behind the usual suspects in the Coastal to be dismissed as a darkhorse, but it’s done nothing in recent memory to recommend it as a serious contender, either.
Seems about right. Everytime I think about this team and the outlook I see a 6-6 record +/- 2 on the wins and losses.
As I wandered around the field this morning, the first thing I noticed was Isaac Bennett was still in a knee brace. It’s a long one that immobilizes his right leg, but he was in full pads. Jerry DiPaola pointed out that he was doing push ups, showing he can put weight on the knee. I’m not a doctor but if he’s able to put the pressure of a push up on it and walk around, I’d assume he’ll be ready to go on Labor Day. The really good news is it’s looking more and more like he won’t be expected to carry the load alone. (more…)
I can’t get a full post up since I have to hit the road at 3:30 (20 minutes from typing this sentence) but I wanted to go over a few quick observations from practice and I’ll throw up a more in depth one tonight.
Lots of stories about the defense abound. Very little about the man in charge, Matt House, but that’s my problem.
Time to run through what’s there.
At the defensive end position it looks like Ohio State transfer David Durham is putting himself solidly in the starting spot. He started out at OSU as a DE, but moved to fullback. Now at Pitt, he’s back at DE.
Durham said he expects the defensive line to increase its presence in opponents’ backfields this year. But he also said that, especially against Boone and other mobile ACC quarterbacks, he may have to pull back that aggression a bit.
“We have to know when we can turn it loose,” he said. “We do face a lot of mobile quarterbacks in this league, and that’s a challenge. It’s a challenge when you play spread teams because you have to be able to, not rein things in, but be smart.”
Through a week of training camp, Durham said the little details — footwork, play calls and fundamentals — have been his focus so far. He credits new defensive ends coach John Palermo as having a big impact on his game the past six months.
Ultimately, Durham is ready to finally get his chance on the field Sept. 2 in Pitt’s opener against Florida State.
“I’m hungry, man, I’m hungry,” he said. “I just come out every day and try to be the best player I can be for this team.
Sitting out a year as a transfer can do that to you. With a name like Durham, it’s just a coincidence that he is a North Carolina native.
After the age of 13, I can’t say I’ve cared too much for autographed items. I have a few things tucked away that I have been given or came into. Waiting in line for an autograph, however, let alone the idea of paying money for it. No. It’s just never been a thing for me. To this day the whole concept of the market for signed memorabilia and pictures of players, is a bit odd. Autograph shows blow my mind. I guess like comic books and baseball cards, it is some part of our childhood that some people just do not let go. Just when you get older and have your own money you can spend it on those things.
With that, the whole Johnny Manziel autograph scandal-story (and the issue of his eligibility) has spooked colleges as the season approaches.
Louisville has forbidden players from signing autographs, replacing its annual event with an open practice. Texas A&M will not allow players to sign anything but specially designed autograph cards.
…
At West Virginia, officials took no chances last Sunday when players and coaches signed autographs for two hours. The school provided autograph sheets, posters and NCAA compliance handouts outlining regulations prohibiting the sale of items bearing the name of the athletes.
That presumes, though, that the WVU fan is capable of reading.
Okay, the news came out of Todd Thomas officially returning to Pitt football. Justin and I were both out and not able to do a real post at the time. Now, with 24 hours to digest, it’s time to review.
Starting by looking back since there is controversy over the whole thing. It started with Thomas being “demoted” to second unit on the first day of practice. An admitted motivational tactic taken by Coach Paul Chryst. Clearly unhappy with it, Thomas nonetheless said all the right things about needing it and using it.
Then came the news that he left the team abruptly.
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