That Pitt rallied enough to finish 6-6 and gets to play in a minor bowl is a bit of a positive. At the same time, it can’t be said that this was a good season. It wasn’t a debacle — though, it sure came close — but it was a definite step back. How much of a step back is really one that won’t be settled until next year.
When Pitt was sitting at 4-6, it was looking with a high degree of certainty that Pitt would finish the year having taken a big step backwards. With an easier schedule, Pitt was performing worse and it showed in the wins and losses.
The season felt over before Thanksgiving. Pitt would probably beat Syracuse, but going down to Miami seemed like a waste at that point. Pitt football was remaining in the doldrums.
A bit from USA Today writer Dan Wolken from his weekly Misery Index on Pitt at that point probably summed up the fears/feelings growing in a lot of fans.
This has been a ridiculous season in every way possible at Pitt, a program that is perpetually less successful than it seems on the surface. … Meanwhile, Paul Chryst’s third season looks like his worst yet, even though the Panthers avoided Florida State, Louisville, Clemson and Notre Dame in the ACC’s schedule rotation. Pitt has lost six of its last seven games, most of them in crushing fashion. Saturday was no different, as Pitt led for 46 minutes, 7 seconds against North Carolina only to lose 40-35 on a touchdown with 50 seconds remaining. Pitt isn’t exactly the type of program where you should just cycle through a new coach every three years, but something is definitely not working. Chryst is 17-19 as a head coach, and it’s not like the ACC has been a beast. This is going to be a head-scratching and frustrating offseason for Pitt fans, as they’ll once again be asked to remain patient and let Chryst continue recruiting to his smashmouth style of play while knowing deep down the mediocrity is likely to continue.
Depressing, but at that point it really summed up (and still does for a portion) the feelings for many.
Then there were the local stories were about how the pressure was growing on Chryst for 2015.
At the Trib, Pitt beat writer Jerry DiPaola (who really likes Chryst the coach), was first to write the story — with a somewhat positive spin by noting plenty of coaches who followed up a disappointing/mediocre third year with a breakthrough fourth year.
That concession aside, [ESPN color analyst Rod] Gilmore suggests expectations rise in the fourth year.
“The pressure is on, and it should be,” he said.
Pitt’s recent past is a sorry but familiar one, with three coaches hired since Dave Wannstedt was fired near the end of his sixth season. The coaches who showed up for the games — Todd Graham and Chryst — have led Pitt to a 23-26 record since 2011.
Chryst (17-19) inherited a mess and spent two years cleaning it up, leaving only 19 juniors and seniors on the current roster. Gilmore said that’s not unusual at many places.
“First and foremost, you find there are holes in the classes,” he said.
…
Several coaches over the past three decades have discovered Chryst’s reality, including the man who hired him twice — former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez.Alvarez’s third team was 5-6 in 1992 — a team that included young offensive lineman Joe Rudolph, now Pitt’s offensive coordinator. A year later, the Badgers were 10-1-1 and went to the Rose Bowl.
The past two Pitt coaches to last at least three years — Walt Harris and Wannstedt — won only five games in their third season. After that, Harris always was at least two games over .500; Wannstedt went from 5-7 to 9-4 to 10-3.
“Having four years to get your people is critical,” Gilmore said.
The theme seems to have been rebuilding. Even after three years.
Yet the Panthers are still 1-6 since mid-September.
Lack of depth at wide receiver has been an issue offensively, but inexperience along the defensive front and throughout the defensive secondary have been glaring problems recently. Even in Year 3 under Chryst, the Pitt program remains a work in progress.
The head coaching turnover from 2010 through 2012 caused a drastic dip in recruiting, mainly in terms of numbers. The combined wake of Wannstedt’s firing, Mike Haywood’s arrest and Todd Graham’s sudden departure left two consecutive recruiting classes nearly barren.
As a result, the bulk of the current Pitt roster is made up of players brought on board by Chryst and his staff. Comprised of a stunning 53 freshmen and 28 sophomores, the Panthers are one of the youngest programs in the country. The 81 underclassmen are the highest total of any team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Yes, I too will disagree fiercely on the “lack of depth at wide receiver,” comment. That is more from early in the season when QB Chad Voytik was struggling with his reads. The biggest thing, though, is there is Tyler Boyd on a whole other level and then the rest of the WRs. Plenty of depth at WR, just a matter of sorting out the order.
By the numbers, there is no question Pitt is playing a lot of youth. That excuse is solid in the first half of the season. It becomes a little less so as the season continues and the kids have had a lot more learning experiences.
Coming into the season, even in the biggest waves of optimism for 2014, the undercurrent was that this was going to be the year before the year where Pitt really took a big step forward. This year was going to be the foundation for 2015. And at least offensively, that is exactly what has happened.
The offense struggled early as Chad Voytik came along slower than expected/hoped. It didn’t help to lose center Artie Rowell in the second game, and seeing Chryst struggle to decide between Gabe Roberts and Alex Officer — along with their growing pains. But the second half of the season has seen the offense blossom.
More than simply James Conner and Tyler Boyd. The O-line has been consistent and true road pavers. Voytik has definitely found a comfort level in the offense, continues to improve and shows greater confidence in both his reads and making throws.
That’s the good news. The bad news is the defense hardly inspires the same faith. Which creates the controversy and questions that are not going away. That, however, is a topic for a post coming later.
What it comes down to is this. 2015 has to be a breakthrough year for Pitt and Paul Chryst. He’s put himself in that position with this season.With the record. With his hiring choices. With his in-game coaching. He hasn’t built up enough goodwill to keep this up. At the same time, he hasn’t been truly bad enough to be dead certain he can’t do the job.
Right now he’s a .500 coach in every sense of the word. The excuses are just about finished.
Pitt is not a destination job as it currently sits and all this wishful thinking ain’t going to make it one. WE HAVE AN IDIOT FOR AN AD people. Who comes here? Keep tossing out Pellini, Bradley, Austin and Narduzzi and Herman (who I thought would go to houston two days ago). Those are pipe dreams. They won’t come here because of Pederson.
You keep Rudolph for stability and to also keep the same style of offense. If we are forced to change offenses again, it will be another 3-4 year build due to player skill set changes. Personally, I think he too would pass because of Pederson.
There might be an outside shot at the Memphis coach, but again, you have to get passed Pederson. Wake up Gallagher. Get your next play in place!
Ohhh, did Chryst accept a position yet? Best bet is to extend him, sorry guys. You have given no realistic candidates that would accept working under Steve Pederson. No disrespect intended.
Chryst has put together a solid offensive foundation. If he can do the same with the defense, we might have something.
So let’s blow it up and start all over again.
Goodbye Mr. Whitehead and company.
If SP’s that big an issue, why would Rudolph consider staying and not follow Chryst to Wisc?
SP has his issues but the two coaches he didn’t get along with (Wanny and Graham) also had ego problems. I’m more concerned with SP’s administrative abilities than him getting along with a coach.
Chryst put in 3 good years at Pitt. He did his job and righted the ship. I don’t think he can take Pitt to the next level though. If he goes … see ya and good luck and thanks!
Bring in some young energized talent that can take this team to the next level and ramp up recruiting … and don’t worry whether the hire is a lifer (it won’t be). Hope for 4-5 good years and then go get the next guy.
Solves a lot of potential problems all in one fell swoop.
1) Saves the current recruiting class
2) Don’t have to retool the offense again
3) Also acts as AD, so we can be long last, rid of Cornhole.
4) We have a guy in place who won’t leave Pitt, high & dry.
5) local hs coaches will love to see Pitt correct one of their big wrongs.
Conner and Boyd would make any offense good.
I’m not worried if he leaves.
On another note, what ever happened to FRANKCAN? I hope he’s alright.
Good coaches can win with other coach’s players. Last year’s team had several NFL players on it, plus the best freshman WR in the nation and the best defensive player in America on it.
FRANKCAN and Spirit of SEction22 both disappeared to parts unknown.
As we all will eventually.
I’m not worried if he leaves.
Comment by Wardapalooza 12.10.14 @ 9:25 pm
And Pitt is such a magical football place that they would never even think about transferring out if we hired a shit coach with a shit system and their phones were ringing off the hook?
And none of our young offensive lineman would even think about following Rudolph and Hueber to Madison?
I didn’t necessarily say Rudolph would stay. He might.
@Tossing – I agree that a young coach would come, but we seem to be deficient at naming that person. Everyone is throwing out established coaches. With that, we would also hear the complaints of going cheap and inexperienced yadda yadda. Stability is critical in any operation. Unfortunately we have stability in a position that has been wrecking the program since he got here, both times.
