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February 27, 2009

Coach Wannstedt did a Q&A with Brian Bennett at ESPN.com. Most of the conversation centered around the offense.

Let’s talk about your quarterback situation. Is Bill Stull still your starter, or will there be an open competition this spring?

DW: Billy is going to be our starter. We went 9-3 in the regular season with Bill Stull. It was the best record that Pitt’s had since Dan Marino was here. So people have a tendency to lose sight of that a little bit, too, because of the bowl game. Now, did Billy play at a level that we need him to play at to win a championship? No. Can he get better? Yes. He understands that.

Pat Bostick is looking for an opportunity, Tino Sunseri is looking for an opportunity and we have Greg Cross on our team, he’s looking for an opportunity. So I think that with a new quarterback coach coming in, a new offensive coordinator, it’s going to create a real natural sense of urgency on offense in addition to the quarterback position, which I think will be healthy.

All three quarterbacks will get equal opportunities in practice and scrimmage situations and we’ll see how it unfolds. I think we know these kids well enough that we can expect someone to surface and we can hang our hat on someone and say, “OK, this is the way we’re going into the fall.”

So Stull is the starter, but the other three quarterbacks will get equal opportunities — to be the back-up? Whee.

I can’t say I’m really surprised by this. Coach Wannstedt is not going to open up the QB competition. Like a starter doesn’t lose his job to injury, a position doesn’t re-open just because the OC is new.

Wannstedt seems very high on Dan Mason, even suggesting he could make the two-deep as a freshman. Not too surprising, I suppose given the depth issues at linebacker.

He also talks a little about LeSean McCoy going pro. According to Mel Kiper (Insider subs), he sees McCoy falling to the start of the second round (but the 3d back taken).

No one in this group comes remotely close to the talent and depth we had at this spot last year. I expect only two running backs, Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells and Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno, to go off the board in the first round. They probably won’t be selected until the mid-to-late portion of that round.

Pitt’s LeSean McCoy has first-round ability but more than likely won’t come off the board until the second round. That’s the same scenario I see for Connecticut’s Donald Brown, who could end up being one of the more productive rookie running backs in the NFL because of his all-around skills and tremendous character.

He puts Conredge Collins at the top of the fullback list.

Although this position basically has been phased out in the NFL, I like several prospects, beginning with Pitt’s versatile Conredge Collins and LSU’s experienced and highly skilled lead blocker Quinn Johnson.

Over on defense, he sees Scott McKillop going sometime in day two.





The scariest thing about that article was this quote: “Joe Thomas is back at right tackle”

Other than that, I feel mildly confident that the team will play well. 8 or 9 wins should almost be guaranteed, and if the line plays OK and whoever is QB can be reasonably accurate more wins is a definite possibility.

Comment by KeyboardKev 02.27.09 @ 7:41 am

Bill Stull better have one hell of an off season, otherwise we are doomed. Wanny, it wasnt just the bowl game that worries Pitt fans, Stull got progressively worse as the year went on. Other than QB, I really like our team.

Comment by Rex 02.27.09 @ 8:20 am

I would like to amend Rex’s comment about Stull’s progression …. he was getting better each game in the 1st half of the year (of course, the 1st 2 games set a low standard) and then he showed real flashes vs USF and Navy before having his best outing by far vs Rutgers when he suffered the concussion. After that, he never came near what he showed in mid-year, and indeed, showed no progression in the last 5 games.

Comment by w bill 02.27.09 @ 8:30 am

I think this is Wannstedt’s way of putting us in our place after the Cignetti hiring. Don’t get too excited guys, same old Pitt. Maybe Stull can get himself suspended or be academically ineligible?

Comment by Hollywood 02.27.09 @ 8:38 am

Seeing how debilitating the effects of concussions have been on basketball players of late (OU’s Griffin and Duke’s Smith), you have have to wonder how much Stull’s concussion against Rutgers affected his performance down the stretch. I don’t think he’s ever going to set the world on fire, but he was certainly much more effective before that injury.

Comment by Dave in Orlando 02.27.09 @ 9:07 am

Im sure the concussion had some effect but the bowl game was well after and it was a horrific sight to watch. You can also blame Cav for one of the least creative and imaginative game plan I’ve ever witnessed. Oh well, back to focusing on march madness.

Comment by Rex 02.27.09 @ 9:34 am

Can only hope the fact that there’s a new OC in there brings some open-mindedness to the competition.

I don’t buy the concussion factor with Stull at all. Sure, he played OK against L-ville before the injury, but I was posting on this site early in the season about how overmatched he was at the position and how he was going to hold back an otherwise decent team the rest of the season. You could see it from the start of the season; he just isn’t a D1 QB.

When you’re under-sized, have no mobility, and can’t throw deep balls……..well, a concussion is just another in a long list of things to overcome.

Comment by hugh green 02.27.09 @ 9:47 am

Stull is no Dan Marino, for sure…but open competition at the QB spot is not what this team needs.

Stull was serviceable at QB until the concussion which had a huge impact on his confidence. Unless there is a legitimate chance for Sunseri to be the starter then I think open competition does much. Bostick would probably be next in line and he is completely inept. Typically, in spring ball, everyone gets lots of reps and the coaches should have plenty of opportunities to evaluate talent. I think declaring Stull the start and making it his job to lose is the correct move here. B

One thing Cav demonstrated was his inability to develop quarterbacks. Hopefully this is something Cignetti can do a better job of. Like it or not, Stull is going to be our QB this year. Hopefully the off season gives him a chance to regain some confidence that he displayed earlier in the season and develop and mature as a QB and leader.

I don’t think its fair to write him off just yet, especially since our other options are not great.

Comment by TJ 02.27.09 @ 10:40 am

How can he not be written off after he was dreadful in his FOURTH year in the program? How can a concussion be blamed for playing an absolutely embarassing and pitiful game 2+ months later? And how can someone be motivated to perform when they are handed a job after showing minimal signs of competence in that job in the previous year?

Comment by Hollywood 02.27.09 @ 12:22 pm

Its really not that irrational to conclude that the concussion did have an impact on his confidence in the pocket for the rest of the season.

If you want to write him off then you might as well shut up and not post or read the blog all 2009 season because he is going to be the starter because he will be the best we have.

Comment by TJ 02.27.09 @ 12:42 pm

Stull clearly showed a dropoff after the RU game. I invite you all to check out this link from Statsheet.com which has a graph showing several lines slowing rising from the start of the season to 10-25-08 (RU game) and then steadily dropping thereafter. link to statsheet.com

I don’t read DW’s comments above to mean Stull will start on opening day. More like it’s his job to lose. In general this coaching staff has made changes at the QB position when someone does not firmly take the job. If Stull starts and shows no improvement, I think that a change will be made. I hate to admit it, but when it comes to the QB position, I favor experience over potential every time…as a starting point. If Stull struggles early, then bench him. If that happens, I’m betting the second choice will almost certainly be Bostick.

Comment by HbgFrank 02.27.09 @ 12:43 pm

FWIW, Will Clarke, the still unsigned verbal commit at defensive end, just led Alderdice (Curtis Martin) to ciy bb championship (but lost.) According to Trib, the 6’6 center averaged 18 rebounds per game.

As far as Stull goes, (concussion or not) he is not strong-armed, doesn’t have a quick release, and is not mobile with a less than dominant O-line in front of him. I hate to criticize a college player who I’m sure does his best, but I believe he is simply mismatched.

Comment by w bill 02.27.09 @ 12:52 pm

Agree. Stull’s mobility and arm-strength leave a lot to be desired. I firmly believe that we do not have a better option. Blame Wanny or Cav for that. Blame them for their inability to develop him.

As HbgFrank said, I take it that its his job to lose, and that is the right move for now.

One thing that I am really hoping for Cignetti to use more of is a three-step package. Clearly Stull’s strength is not throwing the ball downfield on play-action. We need the play action to go with the running attack, but I’d like to see more three step drops with quick hit passes on slants, hitches, and slide patterns coming from the wr’s, slots and backfield. These are types of patterns that Stull can have a lot of success with and still fit with the pro-style offense.

Comment by TJ 02.27.09 @ 1:19 pm

We all know it kills DW to bench someone with experience over someone that does not. So I fully expect Stull to be the starter barring an injury. If you dont have a great arm you should at least be able to run.

Comment by Rex 02.27.09 @ 1:56 pm

Not sure how anybody can “develop” an overmatched athlete. No matter what coaching he gets, how is a kid with Stull’s lack of physical tools going to succeed at this level?

I’ve heard all the stuff before about how we’re supposed to orient the offense around quick hit passes in order to mask the fact that Stull can’t throw downfield. News flash: the short passes aren’t always easy for him because he often has trouble seeing over the line. That lack of size is also a contributing factor in his questionable pocket presence; he simply can’t feel what’s coming because he can’t see it and he’s not mobile enough to escape and make a play anyway.

Part of the fun of posting about this stuff is venting — it’s cathartic. Why do I have the sinking feeling that the days of “Stull-venting” are not over in this town?

Comment by hugh green 02.27.09 @ 3:02 pm

Stull also has a hard time completing passes when he doesn’t have to see over the line.

Comment by Joey D 02.27.09 @ 4:04 pm

Seeing over the line? His height has nothing to do with his shortcomings. He is 6’3″.

It’s not going to mask the fact that he can’t throw downfield. Throwing the deep ball isn’t something he excels at and I’m willing to concede that it never will be.

For all of the criticism thrown Stull’s direction (and yes, much of it is well deserved) I think Cavanaugh could have done a better job of putting him in situations where he has a fighting chance to succeed.
We know he is immobile and we know he can’t throw the deep ball all that well, but a quick game package was notable absent in Cav’s offenses.

I’m not saying this is going to cure the problems of the offense, but I’d at least like the offense to try some of this stuff. A few of the only completions we made in the Sun Bowl were late in the game on the two balls over the middle to Dickerson. I don’t think we saw enough of that or enough quick slants, outs etc. all season long.

I’m just hoping Cignetti will look to do more of that because we did have some success with it.

Comment by TJ 02.27.09 @ 5:21 pm

Stull is much more of a game manager than a playmaker which is sufficient for many of the games, however, it can mean the difference between another bowl and a BCS berth.

I’ve posted this thought before and will repeat … it is possible that Shady’s departure will force them to use their other talent more, and become more diverse. Obviously, both Byham and Dickerson were underused; Wright scored on an 80yd end-around the 1st time he touched the ball from scrimmage (alhtough it was called back by an unnecessary hold), and I expect Cross and Baldwin to be used much more.

Comment by w bill 02.27.09 @ 6:17 pm

Stull is 6’3″ the same way Travon Woodall is 5’11” and Levance is 5’10”.

I’ll go by what my eyes tell me rather than what the SID puts in the program — he looks small out there and has no physical presence at all.

And I’m not necessarily opposed to small quarterbacks. (Sunseri’s small, too.) Some guys can overcome that, usually with mobility or with some sixth sense pocket presence — stuff we already know Stull doesn’t have.

Comment by hugh green 02.28.09 @ 10:34 am

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