As noted last night, Shane Brooks really stood out in camp, that isn’t up for dispute judging by the articles about practice.
In other parts of practice and depth chart determination. Redshirt Freshman Doug Fulmer has the starting right DE spot won, and Sophomore Tommie Campbell will start at Weakside Linebacker. Both had another very good day on the field.
Surprisingly Left OT is still undecided between John Bachman and Jeff Otah.
Pitt’s radio broadcasts will be moving down the FM radio dial from 104.7 to 94.5 in November. The new station is a 50,000 Watt signal. There is no change to the Flagship AM side (970). During the transition the games will be simulcast on all 3 stations. Pitt basketball is included in this move. (These are all Clear Channel owned stations.)
An AP article that does a good summary of the question marks around this team.
• The offensive line returns four starters.
That would be good news for most schools, but the Panthers almost never mounted a reliable running game while being outrushed by an average of 69 yards per game last season. The lack of a solid running game put even more pressure on Palko to succeed, a problem that could return this season.
“Tyler’s not talking as much this year,” Wannstedt said. “By that, I mean he is more focused on his job. He has been very businesslike and that rubs off on all the players.”
• The defensive line badly needs upgrading.
This is where Wannstedt hopes some of the recruits can move in quickly. Pitt never did establish much of a pass rush last season, getting only 22 sacks. The rushing defense (185.2 yards per game allowed) was one of the worst in Division I-A, meaning opponents could stay on the ground and run the clock after getting ahead.
We just aren’t going to know a thing about these lines until the games start. It’s frustrating, because it really will decide what kind of season Pitt will have. And there is no way to know. Hope, believe, think — sure. Presume it has to be better than last year simply because it couldn’t be much worse — hard to disagree. How much better?
And on the issue of newcomers, the national perspective on the Big East presumes that of the new players in the conference to have the biggest impact, 3 of the 5 freshmen will be Pitt players (Insider subs.). Call this the conventional wisdom list.
2. WR/RB Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh
Dickerson not only will be counted on at wide receiver, but he also might see time at running back as Pittsburgh is searching for some help in the backfield to complement gunslinger Tyler Palko.Dickerson is big, physical and very smooth for a player of his size. A local Pittsburgh product, he is expected to add speed and a significant red zone threat to a receiving unit that only returns one starter in Derek Kinder.
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4. RB Kevin Collier, Pittsburgh
While Collier isn’t very big yet, his speed and quickness will be a significant upgrade to a below-average running game at Pittsburgh.He is a darter-type back with great explosiveness and vision, but he is also a surprisingly effective inside runner, and the Panthers need a physical presence up front. Also expect Collier to contribute in the passing game as he is a threat in space and can make multiple defenders miss in the open field.
5. WR Tamarcus Porter, Pittsburgh
Simply put, Tamarcus Porter is an excellent overall athlete who we actually projected to play safety, but it seems Porter is making a statement at wide receiver early. He and Dickerson could give Pittsburgh a dynamic young tandem out wide.Porter is explosive and at his best in space. He can make people miss and has excellent instincts and playmaking skills. He lacks ideal vertical speed, and if he had it, he would have been a national recruit.
Louisville DE Deantwan “Peanut” Whitehead and Syracuse WR Andrey Baskin were 1 and 3.
As for predictions for the BE, at least one person thinks Pitt will get off to a fast start.
4. Pittsburgh will go bowling. The Panthers were within one victory of playing in the postseason in Dave Wannstedt’s first season coaching his alma mater in 2005. With quarterback Tyler Palko bouncing back from an up-and-down junior season, and linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Darrelle Revis leading an improved defense, the Panthers will get off to a hot 5-1 start and finish 7-5. Rutgers and Connecticut will play in the postseason, too.
5. The Big East will flex its growing muscles against the ACC, the conference that raided three of its best teams. Connecticut will beat Wake Forest on Sept. 16. Pittsburgh will wallop Virginia in its Sept. 2 opener (ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET) with players from the Panthers’ 1976 national championship team watching. Rutgers will upset North Carolina on the road the same weekend, and West Virginia will beat Maryland on national television on Sept. 14 (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET).
I would be thrilled if Pitt got off to that kind of start. If Pitt starts out that way, then 8-4 or 9-3 would be more likely. I know conventional wisdom has Pitt losing the final 2 bames to L-ville and WVU. Fine, pretending to accept that, I have trouble accepting that Pitt would go 2-2 versus UCF, Rutgers, USF and UConn. With Pitt being as young as they are, it is more reasonable to expect the team to get better further into the season as things shake out more and the players become more comfortable with the system and their roles.
