I hate to say it, but I think they wasted nearly half the season with Lowell Robinson.
Citing his team’s depth at wide receiver, coach Dave Wannstedt is moving Lowell Robinson to the defensive backfield after a two-month experiment at wideout. Robinson was a JUCO All-American safety at Erie (N.Y.) Community College last year and intercepted a conference-high seven passes. The 6-foot, 195-pounder, who moved to wide receiver during training camp and played mainly on special teams, will remain the Panthers’ kickoff returner and will play on coverage teams.
Robinson has looked very good at returning kicks, but moving him to WR was questionable from the start. As a JUCO, he doesn’t have a lot of time at Pitt. He now has to try and climb the depth chart at safety for the rest of the season. No question he is valuable on the special teams, but I don’t give him good odds of getting on the two-deep depth chart by seasons end barring injuries. That just gives him next season.
I also think this is clearly an indicator that they are very nervous about how much they are going to use Jason Pinkston on the O-line.
Wannstedt said junior guard/center Chris Vangas and sophomore tackle Chase Clowser would be the first substitutes off the bench on the offensive line. Jason Pinkston, who moved from defense to the offensive line two weeks ago, also could see some time.
“It doesn’t take long before the lack of depth is obvious,” Wannstedt said.
All week, we’ve read how Pinkston will see a lot of time and be a key reserve. Now it seems that they are hedging.
Talking about the line and how Palko hasn’t been sacked as much, Zeise responded in his Q&A.
Q: It seems like Palko is getting sacked less, not because of great line play, but because of the West Coast system of quick passes and dumping off the ball. What are your thoughts?
Zeise: There is definitely some truth to that, but that’s how the system is supposed to work. They also have used more max protection schemes and Tyler is a lot better versed in the safety valves that each play provides and he’s making quicker decisions. That’s all a part of any team that doesn’t give up many sacks. Do you really think the Dolphins had the greatest lines on the planet all those years they were protecting Dan Marino, or do you think his lightning quick release of the ball had something to do with him hardly ever getting sacked. So yes, part of it is the system but I do think the offensive line is playing much, much better in pass protection as well. Of course, Syracuse leads the nation in sacks I guess this theory will be put to the test tomorrow.
Palko is also making the reads quicker. While on Zeise’s chat on Thursday, he spent more time mocking those who have wanted to make sure Bill Stull saw some action at QB. Either he got too many e-mails about the issue or he has something against the whole idea of giving the back-up some work for the future. He does his usual stumping for Conredge Collins to get more carries. To be fair, though, the Pitt coaches said Collins was going to get more work and instead saw less. Heck, they are saying it again this week.
Pitt running backs coach David Walker said the Panthers hope to balance their running game with 6-foot, 235-pound fullback Conredge Collins, who is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and has scored on his past two touches.
“We’ve got to come up with other ways we can get him the ball,” Walker said. “He’s in the mix with some of the one-back stuff we do. I would hope we’re going to start to see his carries increase, because he’s proven he can be very effective with the ball.”
Whether it happens or not is another issue.
