Two weeks ago I wrote about how the way the coaches handle LeSean McCoy would be of high importance. It was speculated that he might get the “start” this week, but the two-deep in the game notes still has him listed below LaRod Stephens-Howling. LSH has some type of rib bruise and that perhaps could have lead to McCoy listed as the starter. No matter who is on the field first, they are each going to get the number of carries they deserve, but Shady being able to say he’s the star could really boost his ego — for better or worse.

Pitt isn’t the only school who has a recently vacated AD position. Michigan State filled their’s yesterday with senior associate athletics director Mark Hollis. He replaces Ron Mason who retired in late June.

More people want to see the Pitt offense attack the opposing DB’s with deep passes.

ShadyForHeisman: Paul – If need be on Saturday against MSU and Kevan Smith needs to complete a deep pass – can he do it? Or they are going to pretty much try to throw everything underneath and run the ball to keep things simple?

Paul Zeise: He did complete a long one to Oderick Turner on Saturday so yes.

He hit Turner nicely, but I think more than one or two attempts per game would be in line. Smith has the arm — we’ve seen that — but do the coaches believe in him enough to let him work the defense?

New Spartans head coach is Mark Dantonio from Cinci and you knew that. He reiterated that point in his press conference this week. He’s familiar with what Wannstedt is trying to do and with most of the players. There is one very important guy he hasn’t seen — LeSean McCoy.

Q. What type of different look does Pitt’s freshman running back give them compared to their starting tailback?

COACH DANTONIO: I think McCoy is a little bit bigger guy. Howling is a little bit of a scat back, more in that form. Both of them catch the ball pretty well, and there’s been times where they’ve used both of them in the game at the same time, even this early, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of that. But just a little bit different tempo, a little bit bigger. McCoy reminds me a lot of Ashton Leggett, the way Ashton runs for us. He’s a good back, he’s got some speed, and he’s confident.

One guy who can play a huge part in the day our running backs have is TE John Pelusi, but his status for the game seems up in the air. Zeise says in his Q&A that Pelusi is expected play but when I asked one of his family members if he is, their answer was one of those “Ehh…” with a shoulder shrug. Pelusi is our best blocking tight end and can be a huge help against MSU’s huge d-line.

Last post before I hit the road for East Lansing at about 2:00 this afternoon. Hopefully we come home with a win — it’s a long ride home after a loss.

Briefly running through the stories.

The hostile road crowd angle for a new QB is explored, and dismissed by the players. Standard stuff.

The day before, Kevan Smith got a story on learning from his first college start.

Here’s what the Michigan State game, increasingly feels like it will come down to:

Q: Would all of Pitt’s problems — inexperienced quarterbacks, thin linebacking corps, inability to focus for four quarters, poor kick coverage — go away or at least be reduced in significance if we could just block someone?

ZEISE: Not all of them, but that would sure help. I think that’s the most interesting aspect of this week’s game — watching to see how this offensive and defensive line stack up against big, physical lines with speed. Pitt has to be able to block someone this week or it is going to be a long, long game.

To that end, not one but two stories on the Michigan State running backs getting off to a great start. Yes, Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick are good backs. The issue, though, is that they are running behind a veteran and very good O-line. Worth repeating: 4 of the 5 starters from last year’s Spartan O-line are back.

Unrelated but this bit annoyed me a bit.

The Pitt-Connecticut game, which will be played at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 at Heinz Field, will be televised on ESPNU. Let’s call it a parting gift from former Pitt athletic director Jeff Long, who left Tuesday to become head of the athletic department at the University of Arkansas.

Long explained late last month that there were three reasons behind Pitt’s decision to make it a 7 p.m. kickoff:

“One, it is partly based on Jewish holiday and we scheduled it in the evening to try be sensitive to Yom Kippur. Secondly, night games are better attended, so we wanted our fans to enjoy it. Third, there’s a possibility for ESPNU to broadcast this game.”

[Emphasis added.]

Considering that for the last 8 years (at least) a Pitt home game has landed on one of the High Holy Days, they need to keep working on that sensitivity. Or at least try and be on the road for once.