Here’s CBS Sports’ Spencer Tillman’s breakdown of the Sun Bowl (he picks Pitt).
One of Oregon State’s concern is to not have punts blocked. OSU Coach Mike Riley knew exactly who Andrew Taglienetti was.
Coach Wannstedt acknowledged Duncan’s comments about the Oregon State O-line. He didn’t try to change their meaning.
Wannstedt said: “As we always used to say, if you talk the talk, you better be able to walk the walk. But I wouldn’t read anything more into it other than he is a senior, this is last game and he wants to play good … and now he better be ready to play good.”
And then some.
Coach Wannstedt, refuses to say that there is any change of plans with the Rodgers boys out.
The University of Pittsburgh football team won’t make changes to its game plan, despite word that Oregon State star running back Jacquizz Rodgers and his brother, receiver James Rodgers, will not be playing Wednesday.
“I don’t think they’ll change their offense at all,” Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We’ve been down that road too many times, and that’s something that you don’t talk about because you really don’t know until you kick off, and you just have to be ready to adjust on the move”
With Duncan’s comments, all the attention has shifted to the OSU O-line. Pitt’s O-line, though, gets their own moment of attention.
“Coach Wise has brought a lot of technique to us that we didn’t necessarily use before, so it’s been great,” Williams, the left guard, said. “We’re just more mature this year. We’re learning more about football now. Things that might have been a problem in the past are not necessarily as challenging as they have been.
Wise said he’s happy with how the Panthers’ piecemeal offensive line has jelled.
“I would say it’s come together really well,” he said. “The big (change), obviously, was when Robb Houser went down, because he was just coming into his own at center. And he was just truly starting to play well when he got hurt at Rutgers.”
But Davis was quick to step in and give the line some continuity.
“The wonderful thing about C.J. is he just jumped in and just took over,” Wise said. “He’s a smart guy, a veteran guy, a very good athlete. So he just went in and took over. So that was a real godsend the way he did that.”
I found this amusing. One of the OSU beat writers has some fun imagining the coaches press conferences with other questions and honest answers.
Follow-up for Wannstedt: Dave, the Oregon State guys thought they had seen some ugly passes from their own guy, Lyle Moevao, but then they got a load of Bill Stull and they practically fell out of their chairs. Is that the best quarterback Pitt could come up with? What do you do on the deep routes, call FedEx?
Wannstedt: You sound like one of the message board crazies back home. Next question!
…
Question for coach Riley: Mike, if you couldn’t stop Jeremiah Johnson, how on earth will your “gap control” defense handle LeSean McCoy? The kid is liable to rush for 350 yards against your defense. … and what about that mismatch on special teams? Will you have (punter) Johnny Hekker just run out of bounds to avoid getting a kick blocked?
Riley: “All we need to know about Pitt is that they beat UConn. We know how good UConn is. … but yes, we’re thinking about having Johnny just down the ball.”
Follow-up for coach Riley: “Mike, that’s great, but what about McCoy? How do you stop him?”
Riley: “Well, you would hope that an old friend like coach Wannstedt would do the decent thing and not play LeSean McCoy. We can’t use Jacquizz Rodgers, so why should they be able to use McCoy? … but that’s all off the record.”
It also seems that LaRod Stephens-Howling will not be returning punts, but will be on the punt return unit.
