I’m driving up to the camp’s first scrimmage on Saturday morning and here are the issues I’ll be paying close attention to while I’m there:
How consistent are Running Backs Qadree Ollison and James? Because we probably won’t play both freshmen, which one will be redshirted? More importantly, where in hell is the “U” in Ollison’s first name?
How many reps does Conner get at Defensive End? Chris Peak is reporting that Conner has been getting snaps on defense in the two minute drills.
How will Voytik respond with full time pressure from the defense? (I hope the scrimmage is full contact to get him ready for reality.) How much protection is he getting?
How is Isaac Bennett coming along from his injury? In the last practice I attended he was getting his share of reps. Also, how many snaps does Ibrahim get? I think Bennett’s becoming an afterthought in our fan’s minds but he’ll most probably be in the top three RBs.
Who will be our top three RBs going into the opening game against the Delaware Blue Hens? Will one kid separate from the others?
How well is Offensive Line doing in their run blocking? The young RBs are breaking some big rushing plays in practice so it has been pretty good so far. Do they have the speed as some of our past RBs?
How are all the DE’s competing and who will be rotating in there on the two-deep, who gets dizzy and who doesn’t?
How are Caprara & Bradley positioning themselves for that MLB spot behind Galambos? Are they tough enough for that position?
Are the DBs playing more aggressively now? Are they giving up big plays if they miss an INT or breaking up a pass?
How is our new punter Ryan Winslow doing with his directional punts and hang time? Along with that, who are the personnel on our punt coverage team and how effective are they?
Those are the main issues for me. Let me know in the comments section if there is anything you’d specifically like me to address and I’ll try to remember to do it.
I’m interested to see how Mitchell and Ryan Lewis are worked into the secondary.
Regarding your RB questions, can’t imagine Conner won’t be the bell cow this year, unless one of those frosh is really a budding superstar, ala Shady, Dion, or Ray.
Thanks,
pittman4ever
2. There ain’t no way, no how, under any conditions that they should make the QB’s live. What in tarnation do you think happens to this team if Voytik should go down with a season ending injury? I’ll give you a hint – it starts with about 4 & ends with about 8.
3. The RB situation is interesting, but I doubt we’ll get anything definitive in this 1st scrimmage.
4. I would really like to know how all the LB’s shake out behind the top 3. Obviously, Bradley is the #4, but where do Grisby, Caprara, Porchia & Poker fit in?
I would also like to know who is on the kick coverage teams. I understand that Coles & Grigsby have been the gunners.
Just remember …. we haven’t gotten to the 1st scrimmage yet, so things can change in the next two weeks.
The O-Line is very interesting. Hueber tried to stop controversy, Chryst did just the opposite. Lighting a fire. Good to see who responds. Will probably need more than 5 guys to get through the season, so great to hear we have depth.
Running back also very interesting. Conner, Bennett, James, Ibrahim, and now Ollison in the mix. I don’t think that is too many. Guys will get dinged during the year. Not sure why people think we need to redshirt one of the two running backs, there is still Briggs and more to come next year.
Will Bennett’s shoulder hold up? Conner missed games last year and got hurt in spring practice, Ibrahim is not an every down back and the other two are freshman. I see them all getting carries. Best case scenario, the freshmen tear it up so Conner can play even more downs at D-End.
The mix of offensive plays will also be very interesting. We all think Boyd must get more touches. Other receivers will be open because the focus will be on Boyd. We have great tight ends and backs that can catch and run. Voytik can also run when there is an opening. Plus we have 4 or 5 running backs. What is the game plan?
TWO WEEKS!!!!
Going to visit my nephew, his wife and kids. Taking me out to dinner tmrw nite, brunch on Sunday, and for a bit of irony for myself……..
first Pirate game attending in several years,
will be in an away ball park!!! LOL
That’s really his wife talking, because she doesn’t do stress and late!!! LOL
Which is ok with me!
Intra squad scrimmages are always a double edged sword. Both the offense and defense need to show growth during camp, but I’m much more concerned about the DL, both interior and the ends than I am about any position on the offense.
If the defensive troops have their way in this scrimmage, that will convey to me that we have some of these young untested players stepping up their game to fill some large vacated holes on the DL.
Early development of the DL will be important in order to deal with the veteran OL that they will be facing in just three weeks against Boston College. And the BC game will be an early litmus test to how good this young team is going to be in the early season as well as providing this young team with some valid confidence early if they can come home with a win.
Pitt can get by up to the Iowa game with a slowly developing offense but there are so many more questions that need to be answered with this defense.
Coach House and Co. Has much to prove, so Reed keep a close eye on the war in the trenches. I want to hear how guys like Justin Moody, K K Smith, Daryl Render, Devin Cook and my predicted breakout defensive lineman for 2014, Luke MacLean look when they get their snaps tomorrow. Those guys hold the key for Pitt’s success in the early part of our season.
Not sure if we’ll be able to tell that until we get them into team competition.
H2P
A concern I have is can our tackle opposite Clemmings – i.e., Biz or Jones-Smith – handle a speed rush? Course this is supposing that Pitt has someone who can challenge them as a speed rusher. Grigsby maybe? Blair maybe?
And does Blair look for real as a candidate at DE?
Look forward to your observations.
Go Pitt.
Therefore, a lot of positions remain open for discussion, if only to determine who the back up will be, so the coaches have to get looks at a lot of these guys, in true live action full speed contact scrimmages, to see what they can bring to the table.
We all remember a certain Pitt QB that was a solid “practice” player but once stressed under pressure in “game on the line” situations wilted like a delicate flower under the heat of battle. We DON’T need that happening with any of the two deep on this current squad, do we?
So don’t count Maclean out too soon just because of where he is penciled in right now. Things could change in a hurry and not necessarily just due to just a starting spot opening up due to injury during the season of the guy in front of him.
@ The TRUTH, I’ll assure you right now that Thomas, Gonzales and Galambos are NOT fast enough when you consider pure athletic ability, although Thomas is no turtle when it comes to the 40. The difference this season concerning how quick these guys will be to shut down plays will be all about playing fast mentally. The difference that one year of dealing with the same defensive system in real game situations will be huge in how fast these LBs will “appear” on the field.
Often times, the difference between a LB stuffing a play for no gain or a play going for a substantial gain can be a half step. When a guy doesn’t have to think about it, when the ball is snapped, gives a veteran LB that half step advantage required to make that play. I think we’re going to be quite happy with our veteran LB group this season, but these three guys mentioned have to stay healthy for that to transpire. Once we have to go into the two deep at LB that instinctive play is lost, all bets are off then, cause then we have the same issue that we saw last year with our LBs learning a new system, too slow and it showed.
Now that you have retired, you have time to get even smarter than you were before. Good comments.
How is the golf game?
H2P
My big concern is the DB depth and overall talent. We will definitely find out. Maddox helps but you hate to have to rely on true freshmen in key positions, but that’s life at Pitt and not at ‘bama or OSU.
Coaches NOT sold on either of them right now.
Today from the Post Gazette…
********
… coach Paul Chryst said Thursday there might be something more to the Panthers’ offensive line shuffling. Even though the starting five have remained essentially unchanged since the start of training camp, Chryst said there still could be changes before Pitt opens the season in a little more than two weeks.
“That one’s not done yet,” he said. “We’ve got to find out who the five best are.”
********
Out of all of the O-Linemen, Bisonwaty and Johnson were the ones with the MOST STARS coming out High School.
Another lesson in how STARS don’t always translate to STARDDOM.
Quintin Wirginis.
Excellent contributions the last several days, Reed!
That’s what happens, I guess, when you join a conference with FSU, Miami and UNC … only these schools will cover it up
Oh, wait, that was 25 years ago!! Swear it was a couple days ago!!
Matt N, I agree with you, Gonzo got better & quicker as the season progressed. I think this happened pretty much across the board for the entire defense as they became more familiar with the schemes House was putting in place. This was very apparent with Vinopal’s play as the season wound down. Pitt’s was kind of an exception to this trend however and by his own assessment he had a lackluster year.
The style of play that Coach Douglas is instituting should benefit Pitts this year, I think. Pitts tendency is to naturally play aggressively, so pressing receivers at the line and challenging them to beat him will appeal to his mindset IMO.
That will prove out one way or another soon enough. If we see Pitts consistantly getting beat over the top, we’ll know that that experiment fizzled with him. And if that is the case the Pitt defensive backfield is going to be in a heap of trouble now with Howard already gone for the season too. Pitts has to step up his game this season.
Our d line is a huge question mark and will dictate how effective the remaining 7 will perform.
7-5 another mediocre season for a mediocre program.
I hope I’m wrong!!
Also, my wife and I (both Pitt alums) own a large sports auction business out of Lancaster PA and we’ve been advertising on this page to support the Pitt Blather. We have some great items up on our on-line auction Sunday night, including Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett signed footballs and an amazing Babe Ruth autograph.
link to wheatlandauctionservices.hibid.com
Hail to Pitt!
I am interested in the high school recruits that will be in attendance. Maybe take a look for some 4 stars in attendance? Any potential flippers now that Holgy says he lies alot to recruits!
wbb – posted 7.5 by Vegas early in the week. Don’t fret. The bell curve is perfectly symmetrical between 3 wins and 11 wins. Out of the 75 schools given odds, there are approximately 20% at 7.5.
I am interested in overall team speed. I worry about Delaware because they run the spread. Safe travels!
And how often freshmen Blair, Roy, and Trahan can get into the backfield.
I think Ollison will be the 5th back and will play only if necessary. We don’t need five rBs as we won’t rotate that many in. Let’s not forget Bennett had 800 yds for a 4.7 ypc average. That is excellent considering he spilt time with another back in Conner.
Again, this staff will go with a back that is both productive and experienced before sitting him down for an unknown true freshman.
I think we fans are getting the Dorsett/McCoy/Lewis syndrome when it comes to James and Ollison. We want superstars right out of the gate instead of a guy who is a good, steady producer.
This season House knows his personnel and their strengths and weaknesses and the players know House and what he’s trying to achieve out there. Just that alone should help establish a stronger defensive foundation.
I’ll disagree with your take on Thomas’ and Gonzalez’s speed though. I think they are well fast enough for the college game, it is Galambos that might lack a bit there. However, my impression of him is that he’s a pretty cerebral player and that too can get the ‘half-step’ back as you describe.
Bottom line … both of them are great athletes who I very much look forward to watching this year. I also believe both have a chance of being drafted this year, although they are a bit underweight for the NFL.
I was very surprised to read of how restrictive the previous NCAA rules were for student athletes. They had less access to food than a normal student.
A very good read. Kudos to Pitt for being ahead of the curve in anticipating the rule change and being prepared.
– defense won scrimmage (surprisingly to me) especially running
– Conner 8 for 26; James 10 for 36
– Voytik 12/17 203 yds 1 TD 1 int
– Boyd did nor play (not due to injury I think)
I’m sure Reed will have many more specifics
Waiting for the definitive word from the Blather’s intrepid reporter – Reed.
