Sorry to pop this over Reed’s new piece, but this is big, bad news.
Pat Narduzzi’s 12:30 pres conference dropped a bombshell.
Jame’s Conner’s “minor” knee injury that held him out of the rest of the YSU game as a precaution, turned out to be anything but.
It is an MCL injury to his right knee that will have him out for the rest of the year.
Horrible break for the kid. Not good for Pitt, but minor by comparison.
Odds are that first half against Youngstown State was the last we will get to see of James Conner on the field wearing Pitt. Next time he plays, it will almost certainly be in the NFL.
Here’s hoping for a full and successful recovery.
sad news today, my prayers go out to my boy @JamesConner_ …be strong, come back better than before!
Don’t need a “body” to fill in as the Fourth Back. Need a PLAY-MAKER… especially for Third Downs as was being focused on with Conner.
His name is Jordan Whitehead.
The NFL has plenty of game tape. It will come down to his measurable at the combine and pro-day. Don’t count on him coming back as that would be terrible advice. I hope he goes pro and makes a ton of cash and adds to Pitt’s list of the elite of the elite. Think Curtis Martin not Ray Graham.
Now the team has someone to rally around. 10-2. Keep the expectations high. If you want an elite program you have to expect an elite program. No time for a pity party (pun intended).
Peterman isn’t a tall, gangly slow white guy like some think, he’s built very sturdily but is only 6’2″ (same as Conner) 225 and can really move when he takes off. He opened some eyes in practice with that skill. Plus he doesn’t take off too early as CV does sometimes – he got better at that as the season progressed – Nate will go through his progressions and decide then.
That isn’t to say the staff would call a bunch of running plays for him but if they did as a surprise play it is justified.
Anyway, that will also be part of the evaluation process that the O staff will look at with the two kids.
They simply cannot afford another injury to that position. With the lack of experience, they are going to need Ollie, James, and Hall to all contribute significantly. It cannot be overstated not just the production you have to replace that Conner gave you, but the workload he gave you also. The kid was a beast.
I can’t say it enough, either Voytik or Petrrman needs to step up and be the man. Absolutely need more production from the QB and the passing game. Teams will be game planning to shut Boyd down more than ever. Whoever the QB is can no longer just count on 150 yds and couple TD’s anymore that Conner gave you most games…
Then the worst-case scenario got worse when an evaluation by doctors on Sunday revealed that Conner had suffered an MCL tear that likely meant his junior campaign was over.
A torn MCL doesn’t necessarily need season-ending surgery. Conner has other options, but for Narduzzi, there’s really no choice to be made.
“There are different ways to deal with it,” Narduzzi said. “When you look at it, for his sake and for his health, the doctors make that call and ultimately James makes that call; it’s certainly not a coach making that call.
“As a coach and a father, for his best interests and his future, he needs to get it repaired now. He can brace it up for five or six weeks and then come out of that and see how it works and maybe we lose him for half a season. But I don’t think that’s right for him for a player and his future.”
The offensive line played pretty bad and our offensive game plan was questionable, we put ourselves in obvious passing situations and YSU took advantage
Also Peterman didn’t set the world on fire at Tennessee, Reed you really seem to be pushing Petermann, Nate? Didn’t know you were on a first name basis.
Let’s not throw out CV until he gets a complete game with T.Boyd next week.
I want to win as much, if not more than the rest of you. Neither QB impressed the masses against YSU. Let’s keep the competition going until as HCPN says, one of the QB takes the #1 spot.
HTP!
Maybe they should have kept him. Nobody should be willing to hand over a job based on plays made against D2 competition.
I would say that is pretty crazy, maybe idiotic.
In the end, praying for good news re: James and Mitchell…really bad news for EITHER one would be crushing news for Pitt.
So many posts here sad about this being SOP…I feel more sadly for JC…could not happen to more of the right kind of football player to make this Pitt alumn very proud.
Why insist on sticking with a QB when we had a losing season. Hey, if the staff sticks with Voytik I have absolutely no problem. However, Pitt’s history with “sticking with one QB” at the expense of really trying to find the best fit has paid back zero returns.
Sunseri anyone? He sure would have benefited by a real competition to push him… so will Voytik. But the minute you close that off you lose that pressure to keep the job.
It is pretty damn evident that Narduzzi and Chaney didn’t feel that Voytik had the job locked up or they wouldn’t be talking to the media about continuing to evaluate the two QBs.
There is no agenda here. I see Voytik’s problems and see our W/L record and think that if we can better it we should explore every way to do so. Not just at QB but across the board.
Narduzzi said he wanted the players to ‘determine the starters by their play on the field’ and he’s talked about that at length. Why would we Pitt` fans not want him to do the same at QB?
If Chad (my new BFF because I used his first name I guess) outplays Peterman then good. But he sure didn’t on Saturday.
And it isn’tas if CV has the new offensive down pat based on experience… if anything that would be NP based on his working with Chaney at UT.
Last thing – I’m not the only guy talking about Peterman. I got into many conversations about him during camp and in the press box on Saturday. believe me, a lot of people also think there should be an equal chance for both guys.
IMO play both kids as much as possible to win the game then pick the one to take us into ACC play.
Newsflash!!!! Temple’s Coach is a Stud and coaches with Energy and Passion………..yes Emel the Exact Opposite of Potato Skins.
Tyler Boyd. Boyd returns as the Panthers’ top receiver after serving his one-game suspension against Youngstown State. Dontez Ford remains as the starter opposite him. Zach Challingsworth drops to third, behind Boyd and Elijah Zeise on that side.
– Artie Rowell returns to the starting lineup at center, with Alex Bookser and Brian O’Neill listed as co-starters at right tackle. Both guys played the position on Saturday, so we’ll probably see another rotation there this week.
– Rori Blair returns, as well, as the starting defensive end along with Ejuan Price, bumping Shakir Soto to second string.
– Darryl Render is listed again after not playing against Youngstown State. He’s a three-way “OR” starter with K.K. Mosley-Smith and Mark Scarpinato at defensive tackle. Really, the actual starter doesn’t matter too much, as all of those guys will rotate through.
– Mike Caprara and Bam Bradley still co-starters at the “Money” linebacker spot, despite Caprara playing much more on Saturday.
– Reggie Mitchell is listed, which means he should be good to go after missing most of the second half against Youngstown State.
– Despite returning to the depth chart, Boyd isn’t listed as a returner for Pitt, with Avonte Maddox still holding down that spot. Maddox looked pretty good at that spot on Saturday (obviously, with the one kickoff return for a touchdown) so I get that Pitt wouldn’t want to mess with what’s working there
It’s nearly all up to the offensive line now. If it gets and stays healthy then there’s a good chance the RBs will develop and one of these two QBs will get comfortable in the pocket. If not, then Conner isn’t there to beat defenses up for them, get them back on their heels, and make everyone’s job easier.
BTW, HCPN contradicted depth chart by stating that Boyd will be returning kicks.
No other changes — Galambos still 1st team
Ollison looked fabulous in his debut. The most yards in school history at RB, and Pitt has had some great backs. He isn’t going to run for 200 yds a game, but between the three of them they have to match the production Conner gave you. Otherwise teams are going to be able to focus on Boyd that much more.
I totally agree and have posted it a few times, Voytik and Peterman need to both play against Akron. Hopefully by the Iowa game, if not definitely the ACC opener in Blacksburg, one of them emerge as a productive QB. The passing game absolutely has to be better. No way can they run as much as they did last year without Conner…
Not sure I would replace Maddox but good news is Mitchell and Artie are apparently OK
We need to support the team (quote from Seinfeld’s Putty).
Better days are ahead. We need to focus on flattening the Zips.
HTP!
Boy am I aging fast.
9/3/2015 – JUCO PG Jonathan Milligan (6-2, 165, 2*) | Position Rank: 32 has enrolled in school and been added to the official team roster.
9/3/2015 – 2016 PF Tony Bradley (6-10, 230, 4*) | Overall Rank: 36 | Position Rank: 8 committed to North Carolina. – Per Link
8/31/2015 – 2015 SG Damon Wilson (6-5, 200, 4*) | Overall Rank: 79 | Position Rank: 23 has enrolled in school and been added to the official team roster.
8/31/2015 – 2012 SG Sterling Smith (6-4, 185, 2*) has enrolled in school and been added to the official team roster.
8/31/2015 – 2011 PF Rafael Maia (6-9, 245, 2*) has enrolled in school and been added to the official team roster.
8/31/2015 – JUCO C Rozelle Nix (6-11, 300, 2*) has enrolled in school and been added to the official team roster.
8/31/2015 – 2011 PF Alonzo Nelson-Ododa (6-9, 235, 2.7*) | Position Rank: 66 has enrolled in school and been added to the official team roster.
—-Well Reed, now you did it. If Nate P. is only 6-2, then no way he can see over the OL… Woe is me.
—So we lost our best offensive lineman in Jaryd Jones-Smith, and now our best running back in JC – two enormous hits the offense has taken…
—Now that he’s back, I prefer TB returning kicks – Avante Maddox needs to conserve his energy to play corner.
Go Pitt.
Should at least be entertaining !
H2P
PN pull the team together thru the
adversity and beat Akron.
To James Connor: hope for a speedy
recovery!! You us proud to associated
with Pitt FB.
Pitt marketing should have fans wear yellow to the Homecoming game in October vs VA – lol
I knew the seats were orange, I was referring to the proverbial yellow seat, you know the ones that are always empty.
OSU is putting a whopping on the Hokies.
We need a real field general who can open up the passing attack down field. Voytek was and is less than mediocre ( horrible). He cannot throw the long ball and has no touch pass whatsoever. He is Tino ll !
Pitt needs to move on AC (After Conner). Hail to Pitt!
JC is a RB. Boyd is a receiver. Whitehead is a defensive back.
GO VTECH!
H2P!
Ollison – inexperienced but great debut.
James – still getting his feet wet and alright banged up.
Hall – true freshman with 3 carries to his name.
Yikes. All of a sudden, that depth at RB is, poof, gone.
I don’t understand the criticism of PN for his comments on the injury before the MRI. Like Chas said, initial tests wouldn’t have shown the MRI and Conner is a tough guy who likely told him that he could return to the game. PN luckily played it safe and didn’t risk it. That turned out to be a blessing. After the MRI, PN said that he would shut him down and do what was best for Conner’s future. Not sure where the grip is there.
Your post at 7:50 is spot on. 1st quarter agsinst what should be an inferior Akron team will go a long way telling us how this team has absorbed, processed, and is ready to move forward with losing a key guy like Conner
“We’ll see how he practices,” Narduzzi said. “He’ll be out there, but will he practice? If he can’t practice, I don’t feel good playing guys who can’t practice, so we’ll see if he can practice by Wednesday, we’ll see where he is.”
T.Webb is the next man up if Mitchell can’t play this week.
Health TP!
There were a lot of big injuries this week in the ncaa. Two big ones occurred with future opponents. QB at VT out for 4-5 weeks and will miss the Pitt game. ND RB and brother of Pitt DE Folston, the other big loss. Now we have ours.
Akron will be our next test. Their defense shut down Oklahoma for most of the first half if I recall. Someone pointed out that Sagarin listed YSU 3 spots ahead of Akron, so the game should be close. They are struggling at QB. A disciplined defense is required if Chapman plays qb.
This game showed me that we have two problems and the major one is at qb. The best most consistent qb needs to play and I am hopeful we all agree. If CV puts up big numbers against Akron, it doesn’t mean he gets it now. It mean he had a good game. Same with NP. If he puts up great numbers in a one game stretch, it just doesn’t mean anything. For both it would be welcomed but to get too excited over a one game performance is just ridiculous. Focus on Akron and beat them! Most all of our guys were here the last time we played them, so we shouldn’t have much problem with focus.
Looks like anytime someone gets injured someone blames the turf.
A six year old article from Fieldturf magazine that wants the job at Heinz is hardly unbiased.
I’ll give you that the turf at Heinz sucks, but the reason it is there is because most think natural grass is actually safer, although there is plenty of room for debate. Find it funny that the guys that hate Heinz are the first to blame the field. Athletes get hurt, knees get damaged on all surfaces, including the hardwood at the Pete.
Tough break for Conner and Pitt, but like Artie Rowell said yesterday, we don’t have time to worry about it, there is a game on Saturday.
Glad Chryst recruited Ollison, James, Hall and brought back Poteat. Briggs looks decent on defense so he won’t be back.
Whitehead saved the game on defense on several occasions on Saturday. Need him much more on defense. Also where he should make a great living in a couple years.
Unfortunately it looks like the curse of Pitt is still alive. Maybe Ollison can kill it.
Seriously though. Perception is often reality. If you are recruiting against Pitt, we give plenty of ammo without an on campus stadium. Regardless of what we say, high school kids see the papers and the quotes about the Heinz Field turf.
Matters not if the quotes and rankings are accurate. It is the perception. Hey Mr. 5 star, why would you go to a place that has the worst field conditions as voted by(insert percentage here) NFL ballers, when you can come to this nice shiny on campus stadium that has great turf, a history of limited injuries and a fantastic game day experience. That Pitt logo on the 50 is horrific. Gallagher needs a strategic plan for getting a stadium on campus. 50,000 capacity is not hard to fit. Make it happen!
Let’s focus on the Zips – game day improvement is needed in a lot of areas.
HTP!