The comments on posts sometime take things to different places. So here’s some thoughts on a couple of them.
I’m going to wait for part two of the Paul Rhoads story before writing about it. Honestly, the first part didn’t surprise me. If you expected a hatchet job on Rhoads, well, then you just haven’t been paying attention to the treatment given him by the local media for the past 8 years.
A little bit of interest in what Pitt players are doing in the NFL is always interesting. More interesting, what is thought of Pitt players heading to the NFL. The 49ers have a scout who blogs, and was in Pennsylvania.
I drove over to Pitt and caught their afternoon practice. This was also my second visit at Pitt, and I was mostly interested in seeing more of their left tackle Jeff Otah. I watched additional film on Friday and also talked to some coaches, and Otah is developing into one of the top left tackles in college football this year and he’ll come off the board relatively early this April.
I hung around Pittsburgh for their game on Saturday against Syracuse. It was a competitive game that Pitt pulled out, and Otah played exactly as I thought he would and as he should.
Another player who stood out in the game for Pitt was defensive end Joe Clermond. He was very productive in the game, got a couple of quarterback sacks and pressures and he showed quickness, speed and was very instinctive in finding the football.
About what you would expect on Pitt’s team for NFL draftable players for the 2008 Draft.
Rising: Pitt. Believe it or not, the Panthers have won two of their last three. They are off
this week before finishing at Rutgers, vs. USF and at West Virginia. But one more win, and Pitt is bowl eligible. Not bad for a program playing so many promising young players. Fear the ‘Stache.
Sporting News – Tom Dienhart
I actually think Pitt has a shot in winning 2 of the last 3. Im not basing it off of last games performance, but rather rutgers and usf. I think both those teams are very beatable. What do you guys think Pitts bowl chances are if we win those two games and finish 6-6??
Q: In light of the Steelers 75th aniversity team, I was thinking how good the All-Time Pitt team would be. Who would you consider the top 22 plus kickers?
ZEISE: Ok, it is a bye week so let’s have some fun with this — and I’d be interested in readers feedback on this team. I’d say the criteria would be their body of work at Pitt – so that’s the reason a guy like Curtis Martin, who is a likely NFL hall of famer but really only had one great season at Pitt, is not on the list. So here goes nothing …
OFFENSE
• Quarterback: Dan Marino
• Running Backs: Tony Dorsett, Marshall Goldberg
• Wide Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Bryant
• Offensive Lineman: Mark May, Jimbo Covert, Bill Fralic, Rueben Brown, Mark Stepnoski
• Tight End: Mike Ditka
• Kicker: Josh Cummings
DEFENSE
• Defensive Lineman: Hugh Green, Rickey Jackson, Bill Maas, Randy Holloway
• Linebackers: Joe Schmidt, Jerry Olsavsky, Tony Woods
• Defensive Backs: Darrelle Revis, Tim Lewis, Tom Flynn, Ramon Walker
• Punter: Andy Lee
When Session’s name got called in the draft last year (before Blades’s name, if I remember), I had to wonder what some of the pro scouts were seeing. No offense to Session, but I have to think some scouts fell in love with the big hits he showcased during his first couple of years. I don’t think Session ever really progressed through his Pitt career…I actually think he regressed a bit in terms of his fundamentals.
As Stewart Mandel said in his new book, you have to wonder how much college football these pro scouts really watch.
I never made my point in my post above. My point was…if Session could get drafted after getting turned into a human turnstile in the WVU, Louisville and USF games last year, anyone can get drafted.
Also.
Fire Rhoades now please.
You might be correct in that Session was ‘built’ for the NFL, but I don’t believe you can pin his not being that good of a college player directly on the coaches. If you’re going to approach it that way, then give credit where it’s due for someone like Otah and Romeus turning out so well for the Panthers. No coaches were beating down their doors to get them to play for their teams, and both player’s development can be attributed directly to the coaching staff.
Finally – having three defensive players drafted in one year does not “speak volumes” about poor player development – it’s actually quite the opposite. It might show a lack of how to best utilize those same players in a effective defensive scheme though.
Rhodes must go! Maybe there was a time when Pitt did not have enough talent to be agressive in all aspects of our defense, but we have it now…I’m just afraid that he will stifle our talent by insisting that his bend-don’t-break scheme will work. Here is one example, I don’t know how many times I have watched defensive players read the right play and instead of going directly to the ball, they wait five yards down field in the Greco-Roman wrestling position (you know the one…knees bent, arms extended) only to get plowed into by the ball carrier and moved another two yards down the field. I’ve seen Cox, Mckillop and the safties do this over an over. They are obviously being taught to play like this. By contrast, watch just about any other BE team and watch how they pursue directly to the ball carrier. We need a DC who is willing to turn our talent loose and let them go do it. Mistakes will happen…So what, they are happening now in the boring system we use…And while I am ranting, Dorin Dickerson should be the starting MLB for this team next year. This is very talented kid took a shot on Pitt and Pitt should give him his shot. With his speed he can make up for a lot of mistakes. I remember watching Arrington when he was at PSU, and he made a lot of mistakes, but his speed made up for many of them. He also made a ton of “Wow” plays. We need a MLB who can play the whole field. Mckillop is a good, solid player, but he lacks the explosiveness that postion demands.
Rhodes must go! Maybe there was a time when Pitt did not have enough talent to be agressive in all aspects of our defense, but we have it now…I’m just afraid that he will stifle our talent by insisting that his bend-don’t-break scheme will work. Here is one example, I don’t know how many times I have watched defensive players read the right play and instead of going directly to the ball, they wait five yards down field in the Greco-Roman wrestling position (you know the one…knees bent, arms extended) only to get plowed into by the ball carrier and moved another two yards down the field. I’ve seen Cox, Mckillop and the safties do this over an over. They are obviously being taught to play like this. By contrast, watch just about any other BE team and watch how they pursue directly to the ball carrier. We need a DC who is willing to turn our talent loose and let them go do it. Mistakes will happen…So what, they are happening now in the boring system we use…And while I am ranting, Dorin Dickerson should be the starting MLB for this team next year. This is very talented kid took a shot on Pitt and Pitt should give him his shot. With his speed he can make up for a lot of mistakes. I remember watching Arrington when he was at PSU, and he made a lot of mistakes, but his speed made up for many of them. He also made a ton of “Wow” plays. We need a MLB who can play the whole field. Mckillop is a good, solid player, but he lacks the explosiveness that his postion demands.
The only thing i’ve learned is that sportswriters are more interested in misleading facts to prove their points, than looking at the play on the field. How soon we forget the early season blowouts and then parade around a few average (at best) performances in a couple of overrated teams, and one really crappy one. I still haven’t seen anything that resembles a “good” defense.
The administration and Wanny both are in love with him!
We are doomed, doomed I say!
Unless he considers rushing 4 instead of 3 “blitzing” – in which case yes, you’ve lost a lot more games “blitzing.” Why do i feel like he’d rather rush 3 and drop 4 into shitty pass coverage than the other way around? As poor as the LBers are in coverage, we should rush 7 everytime. Its not like they cover anyone when they aren’t blitzing. Gee, i recall a crossing route or TEN that they fuct up in the last few games…must be because they blitzed “4”…
While I agree w/ you to an extent, at least Session does look good without the pads on. Which of the current crop even does that? If Cox or Brady runs a sub 4.40 in the 40, I’ll take a dump on the Boulevard of the Allies.
BTW, anyone that actively roots for Pitt to lose so that a coach will get fired is an idiot and not really a Pitt fan. Do any of you really not want to see Pitt run the table and go to a bowl just so Rhodes will be fired? I saw a lot of the same thing with Walt – “fans” who would rather Pitt not go 11 and 1, just so Walt would be fired. Look where that got us.
Conversely, if we lose all 3 games 17-14, i will welcome him back next year. Its all about how many points they allow. That’s the bottom line.
I also agree that DW’s MO has been to not make changes, so I’ll bet 50/50 that Rhodes will be here next season.
