Congrats to the Pitt BB team for their receipt of an invitation to the “Big Dance”. Not an easy road with OSU in their path but stranger things have happened… to other teams. Pitt seems to stumble when the biggest lights shine but as Arnie Schwarzenegger once said “Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.”  Good Luck on Friday guys!

Today is the first day of the 2016 football season for all intents and purposes. Spring Practice is when we whet our fan appetites for the Panthers’ new year. Every year we have new personnel in the staff and administration; we will greet new players on the roster and will say goodbye to others – some who were big parts of the team and other young men who never made much impact on the team at all.

This is the beauty of college football to me and why I think it is head and shoulders above the NFL.  Every year we have a new cast of characters and different sets of pluses and minuses to deal with from today until the last second of the anticipated bowl game.  We know we will grow and come together better as a team this season than we did last year. How could we not? We look at the new players and are just sure they are better than the old ‘new’ players we have had every year previously.

It is this way all the time with Pitt – the ‘We’ll get ’em next year’ syndrome is alive and well on the Southside now and was in Oakland for decades.  The difference going into this season is that we went out and got ’em pretty well last year under our new head coach Pat Narduzzi and finished with an 8-5 record.  That is the most wins we have had since 2009 and didn’t it felt good… and man, didn’t we get excited after beating Syracuse in late October to stand at 6-1?

Then four weeks later we were at 8-3 and going into the last two games of the year against Miami, who we had defeated soundly the year before, and then faced Navy, who many felt was a lesser program than we had at the time.  The gods did not smile however and we flopped our way out of 2015 on a two game losing streak that saw us play perhaps the worse football we had seen all season.

But hey, we’ll get ’em next year, eh?

Now that his rookie blessings have worn off and the (somewhat) free pass Narduzzi had,  as all new HC’s do have, inheriting another guy’s players and the state of the program that departing guy left behind is expended, we are expecting better results.  Now, those ‘better results’ have to mean wins or we are just blowing rationalization smoke at each other.  We have read all the time on The Blather that we may have a better team in 2016 yet not win as many games as we did last season… which begs us to ask the question “What is the benchmark of a good or a better team?”

Well, quibbling and rationalizations aside it is wins and losses. That is the bottom line in sports. Other measures personally make me happy or sad as a Pitt fan – I’m big on academics and personal responsibility on the staff and players’ part. I care about that as much, or sometimes more, then as how many wins we have on the field of play.

But other fans differ in their opinions and think that nothing else matters other than walking off the field as victors after 60 minutes of play. That is their prerogative and at this point in time let’s hope those two worlds collide and we get the season everyone can be happy about… on and off the field.

I think we are poised to make that become the norm for Pitt football.  It seems we had either had winning seasons with off the field problems or average or losing seasons with no adverse publicity. We can do both – many programs do – and I think we have the personnel in place, administrators, coaches and players, to make that happen.  Narduzzi’s suspension of two players, one a star and the other an up and coming player, in one of his first personnel decisions as the Pitt HC was a good harbinger for me.

It meant that he was going to represent the University in his professional actions and not just be a football coach who cared only for results in the win column. He struck a good balance right out of the gate and his decisionmaking in all aspects of the football program paid off well.

Again, I don’t give a hoot about what happens with the NFL teams I like, but I care with heart and soul what goes on with the Panthers… just as a dedicated fan should.

Well, now that formal practices are upon us the Panther’s weren’t lazy during the run-up to spring drills either.  Here they are getting ready for the Skip Roping National Championships (Our ropes are bigger than your ropes, want to see?):

Here are some timely media bits:

Jerry DiPaola or the Trib-Review has a piece on Pitt’s 2015 defense and just how good, or poor, it was overall.  Let’s just say that there is a reason Narduzzi looks at defensive recruits before anyone else.

Conklin has listed four specific areas the staff wants to address in the next 5 ¹?₂ months:

Scoring defense. Pitt was 10th in the ACC last season, allowing an average of 26.1 points per game.  Stopping the run, or as Conklin points out, “becoming more physical, becoming tough at the point of attack, playing with more of an attitude.”

Creating takeaways. “I thought we did a really, really poor job of that,” he said. After causing 16 turnovers, Pitt was 96th in the nation, 11th in the ACC.  Third-down defense. Allowing 72 of 180 conversions (40 percent), Pitt was next-to-last in the conference.

Conklin must tackle that list while linebackers Bam Bradley, Quintin Wirginis and Anthony McKee are limited this spring (shoulders).

The biggest disappointment on defense last season was the abrupt end to out good start at creating turnovers.  The main reason we fans we jacked up about Conklin’s hire was his great track record of his defenses stealing the ball from the opponent so many times. At his job as DC of Florida International University.edu Conklin’s 2014 defense was 8th nationally in turnover difference.

FIU had 19 fumble recoveries along with 14 INTs (33 total TOs) for a +24 TO difference. But look what Pitt did in hitting a brick wall at mid-season. In the first six games we created 11 TOs and generated 31 points off them… after that we had  only five more TOs for a total of 16 all season. That is poor and our turnover margin was a wash at 0.00.

Sam Werner at the Post-Gazette has two pieces this a.m. with his “Five Questions for Spring…”. Pretty basic stuff.  He also kicks in with his “Red Shirt Diaries” where he reviews the ‘very loose’ two deep.  These notes caught my eye…

– The “Star” linebacker spot is anyone’s guess. I put Anthony McKee there, mostly because he has more experience as a linebacker. Jalen Williams could very well be challenging for the starting job right away. I also would be surprised if Mike Caprara, who is a sort of jack-of-all-trades linebacker, got some looks there as well.

– The secondary is pretty set at three spots, and anyone’s guess at the fourth. It looks like Phillipie Motley will get the first crack at the cornerback position vacated by Lafayette Pitts. Any position battle here during spring will likely be rendered moot by August, though, as incoming freshman Damar Hamlin probably seems like the favorite to claim this job.

I really like Mike Caprara no matter where he plays.  The knock on him is that he’s too small but I haven’t seen one instance where he didn’t handle whatever was thrown at him.  He’s one of those kids who just makes plays.

It might not be a big reach to think true FR Damar Hamlin (he of the Big Hits) can waltz in and take a DB starting spot – we just saw that happen with Jordan Whitehead – but let’s remember that isn’t the norm, no matter how highly rated a recruit is.  However if rsSO Phillipie Motley, who did play in 12 games and had four tackles, is indeed his only competition there then I do expect to see Hamlin out on the field early and often.

I’d like to see JR Quintin Wirginis in that MLB spot as a starter.  He is a high-motor player who is jackrabbit quick with a good first step.  It will still be Galambos but I just don’t think he has progressed much over the last three years.   I don’t think we’ll see any true FR LBs moving into the two deep – maybe the class of 2015’s Brightwell or McKee but who knows.  We’ll watch who is getting the majority of snaps at those three positions.

A few days ago Jared Shanker of ESPN wrote “State of the Program: Pittsburgh Panthers”.  Here is an optimistic thought from that piece.

Trajectory: It’s clear to see Narduzzi is moving Pitt in the right direction. The Panthers entered the regular season’s final weekend with three losses to teams that lost a combined two games. The loss in the bowl game came at the hands of Navy’s Keenan Reynolds, major college football’s career leader in total touchdowns. In a Coastal Division that is very fluid, Pitt is in position to win a division crown in the near future. If Narduzzi sticks around for a few years, there is a good chance he’ll take the Panthers to a conference championship game.

He is Sunday’s press release from Pitt’s SID:

PANTHERS WELCOME BACK 18 STARTERS IN 2016

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi welcomes back 18 starters from last season’s team. The Panthers return eight starters on offense, eight on defense and two starting specialists. Pitt returns 52 lettermen overall.

EIGHT WINS IN 2015

Pitt completed the 2015 regular season with an 8-4 mark after going 6-6 each of the prior four years (2011-14). The Panthers previously finished a regular season above the .500 mark in 2010 when they went 7-5. That 2010 team defeated Kentucky, 27-10, in the BBVA Compass Bowl to finish 8-5 overall—Pitt’s last eight-win season prior to the 2015 campaign.

 CONFERENCE RECORD MILESTONE 

The Panthers finished with a 6-2 ACC record and in second place in the Coastal Division. Pitt’s six conference wins are its most ever. The Panthers finished 5-2 in the Big East five separate times (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2010).

 ON THE ROAD

Pitt finished its 2015 regular-season road schedule with an impressive 5-1 record, its best away mark in seven years. (The 2008 Panthers also went 5-1 on the road en route to a 9-4 overall mark.) Pitt’s lone road loss in 2015 was to Iowa, 27-24, on a 57-yard field goal as time expired. The Panthers went 4-0 in away games in ACC play, their first undefeated conference road record ever.

 TOUGH COMPETITION

Pitt’s five losses in 2015 came against teams that went a combined 52-15 (.800): Iowa (12-2), North Carolina (11-3), Navy (11-2), Notre Dame (10-3) and Miami (8-5). Four of those teams finished the year ranked in the final Top 25 polls. Iowa finished No. 9/10, Notre Dame was No. 11/12, North Carolina ranked No. 15 and Navy was ranked No. 18.

 WINNING THE CLOSE ONES

Contrary to prior seasons, Pitt displayed an ability to win the close ones in 2015. The Panthers went 5-3 in games decided by single digits last year. In contrast, Pitt was 1-5 in single-digit contests in 2014.

BLUE & GOLD RALLY CAPS

Pitt rallied past Syracuse for a 23-20 victory in the Carrier Dome (Oct. 24) after entering the fourth quarter trailing, 17-13. Chris Blewitt provided the winning points when he kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired. The Syracuse victory marked the first time since 2009 that Pitt rallied to win when facing a fourth-quarter deficit. The Panthers previously had not overcome a deficit in the final period since Dec. 26, 2009, when they defeated North Carolina, 19-17, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

 700 CLUB

Pitt’s 26-19 win over Virginia (Oct. 10) marked the 700th victory in program history. The Panthers are one of 23 Bowl Subdivision programs to achieve the 700-win milestone. Only five ACC schools belong to the “700 Club”—Virginia Tech (718), Georgia Tech (714), Syracuse (712), Pitt (704) and Clemson (703)—according to NCAA.org.

 127 YEARS AND COUNTING

The 2016 campaign marks the 127th football season in Pitt history. The Panthers, who played their inaugural season in 1890, have a 704-515-42 all-time record (.575). The program’s rich legacy includes 90 first team All-Americans, 24 College Football Hall of Famers, eight Pro Football Hall of Famers and nine national championships.

FRESH FACES

Four true freshmen played for Pitt last season: running back Darrin Hall, wide receiver Quadree Henderson, wide receiver Tre Tipton and strong safety Jordan Whitehead. Of that select group, Whitehead and Hall earned starting assignments.

Whitehead, in fact, was a consensus Freshman All-American after leading the Panthers with 109 tackles. He was also named the 2015 ACC Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year. Whitehead played in all 13 games, starting the final 12 at strong safety.

Hall played in 10 games with one start (at Iowa). He finished as  the Panthers’ third leading rusher on the year with 257 yards on 64 carries (4.0 avg.) and two touchdowns.

SEASON-ENDING INJURIES

Pitt lost three prominent players (either returning starter or significant contributor) to season-ending injuries in 2015: junior running back and 2014 ACC Player of the Year James Conner (knee), junior running back Rachid Ibrahim (Achilles tendon) and sophomore offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith(knee). Conner was injured in the Youngstown State opener, while Ibrahim and Jones-Smith sustained preseason injuries.

PITT LIMITS PENALTIES

Pitt did an excellent job limiting penalties last season, incurring just 65 for 530 yards. The Panthers ranked among the nation’s best in fewest penalties (24th), fewest penalties per game (5.00 avg., 19th), fewest penalty yards (20th) and fewest penalty yards per game (40.77 avg., 18th).  Among ACC teams, Pitt ranked second in fewest penalty yards, fewest penalty yards per game and fewest penalties per game. The Panthers were fourth in the league in fewest total penalties.

BALL SECURITY

The Panthers were exceptional at protecting the football in 2015. Pitt ranked 25th nationally and fourth in the ACC in fewest turnovers with 16. Pitt quarterbacks threw only nine interceptions, the second fewest in the ACC and the 25th fewest in the country.

 PITT FINE ON FOURTH DOWN

Pitt converted 84.6% on fourth down last season (11 of 13), which topped the ACC and ranked second nationally. The Panthers converted 11 consecutive fourth downs to end the season, dating back to their Sept. 19 game at Iowa.

 OLLISON ACHIEVES 1,000 YARDS

Qadree Ollison, the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, entered the 2015 season as Pitt’s third-string tailback. Four months later, the redshirt freshman finished as the Panthers’ leading rusher with 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns on 212 carries (5.3 avg.). He is only the fifth freshman in Pitt history to achieve a 1,000-yard rushing season.

Ollison was thrust into a major role following season-ending injuries to James Conner, the 2014 ACC Player of the Year, and Rachid Ibrahim. Ollison averaged 86.2 rushing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the ACC.

 RARE FRESHMAN 200-YARD GAME

Qadree Ollison is one of just four freshmen at Pitt to rush for 200 yards in a game, joining such luminaries as Tony Dorsett, Curvin Richards and James Conner. Ollison’s 207-yard effort against Youngstown State—in his college debut—ranks fifth (tied) for the most rushing yards by a Pitt freshman. Incredibly, Ollison achieved his 207-yard game on just 16 carries (12.9 avg.), all after halftime.

PETERMAN PROFICIENT AGAINST ACC FOES

The performance of quarterback Nate Peterman was key in Pitt earning a 6-2 ACC record and runner-up finish in the Coastal Division. Against league foes, Peterman threw 15 touchdowns and just one interception. His 15 TD passes in ACC games ranked second only to Clemson’s Deshaun Watson’s 19.

 CONNER LIMITED TO ONLY ONE GAME IN 2015

Pitt All-America running back James Conner appeared in only one game last season—the opener against Youngstown State—due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Conner sustained the injury in the second quarter against YSU.

Conner entered the 2015 season as one of college football’s most decorated players. He was selected the 2014 ACC Player of the Year after rushing for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns. Conner was named to seven postseason All-America squads as a sophomore, including first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He was the first Pitt running back to garner first-team All-America honors in 27 years, dating back to Craig “Ironhead” Heyward in 1987.

 PITT SACK ATTACK (Boy, this is nice to see, isn’t it!)

Pitt ranked 16th nationally and third in the ACC in quarterback sacks last season with an average of 2.85 per game. Pitt had 37 total sacks, 18 more than it had the year before Pat Narduzzi’s arrival. Fifteen different Pitt players were in on sacks in 2015. In terms of team tackles for loss, Pitt compiled 88 in 2015 compared to just 54 in 2014.

PITT QUARTERBACK SACKS: 2015 VS. 2014

Year        Games        Sacks       Sacks/Game      NCAA Rank

2015       13                37             2.85                     16th

2014       13               19             1.46                     102nd

 PITT TACKLES FOR LOSS: 2015 VS. 2014

Year        Games        TFL          TFL/Game         NCAA Rank

2015       13               88             6.8                       41st

2014       13               54             4.2                       120th

EJUAN PRICE: SACK MASTER

Defensive end Ejuan Price led the ACC and ranked eighth nationally with an average of 0.88 sacks per game last year. Price had 11.5 total sacks, the most by a Pitt player since 2000 when defensive end Bryan Knight also had 11.5.

Price had a game for the ages in the Panthers’ 45-34 victory over Louisville (Nov. 21). He dominated the Cardinals’ offensive front for five sacks, the most by a Bowl Subdivision player last season and one shy of the FBS record.

WHITEHEAD PACES PITT IN TACKLES

Strong safety Jordan Whitehead compiled a team-high 109 tackles last season, the most by a true freshman in school history. Only one other Pitt true frosh has reached 100 tackles, defensive lineman Marc Spindler, who had 106 stops in 1987.

Prior to Whitehead, the last time a true or redshirt freshman led Pitt in tackles was in 1999 when free safety Ramon Walker, a redshirt frosh, had 131 stops.

  TDS BY THE “D”

The Pitt defense scored three touchdowns last season to rank second in the ACC and 25th nationally in that category. The Panthers’ three defensive TDs were their most in a season since the 2008 team also had three.

PITT DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN 2015

11/7/15 vs. Notre Dame:Ejuan Price (32-yard fumble return)

11/21/15 vs. Louisville: Avonte Maddox (30-yard INT return)

12/28/15 vs. Navy (Military Bowl): Jordan Whitehead (22-yard fumble return)

BLEWITT EYES CAREER KICK SCORING MARK

Chris Blewitt ranks second among Pitt’s all-time kick scorers with 267 points. He needs just two points to surpass career leader Carson Long, who had 268 from 1973-76.

In terms of overall scoring, Blewitt ranks third. The Panthers’ career scoring leader is legendary tailback Tony Dorsett, who compiled 380 points from 1973-76.

Placekicker Chris Blewitt provided the winning margin with late field goals in two Pitt victories this season. At Syracuse (Oct. 24), he kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired for a 23-20 win. It was one of three field goals on the day for Blewitt. A week prior at Georgia Tech (Oct. 17), Blewitt kicked a school-record 56-yard field goal with 1:11 left to lift the Panthers to a 31-28 victory. His game-winning kick broke Pitt’s 21-year-old school record held by David Merrick, who had a 54-yarder against Texas in 1994.

The Panthers ranked among the country’s finest in blocked kicks last season. Pitt had five blocks, which led the ACC and ranked fourth nationally. The Panthers blocked two punts (second in the ACC and 11th nationally), two extra points and one field goal.

The five blocks in 2015 marked Pitt’s highest total in seven years. The 2008 Panthers led the nation and set a school record with 10 blocked kicks.

Five different players were responsible for Pitt’s blocks last season, and each of those players are returning in 2016.

PITT’S BLOCKED KICKS IN 2015

9/19/15 at Iowa: Ryan Lewis, Punt (returned 28 yards for a TD by Pat Amara)
10/10/15 vs. Virginia: Ejuan Price, PAT
10/17/15 at Georgia Tech: Shakir Soto, Field Goal
10/29/15 vs. North Carolina: Quintin Wirginis, Punt
12/28/15 vs. Navy (Military Bowl): Avonte Maddox, PAT

—PITT— 

We’ll keep an eye out for good media reports from spring drills, it looks like they will be closed again.  I suggest Pitt fans follow Chris Peak of Rivals.com closely if you have a chance. He’s by far the most detailed and level headed Pitt beat guy in the media – by far.  He’ll criticize along with the best of the media types. His main stuff is behind a paywall but it is the only sports-related subscription I have of any internet offering.