It is an interesting thing with Greg Cross. In a way he is an ink blot by which Dave Wannstedt gets judged.

A JUCO transfer brought in to provide more competition and depth at QB. Specifically, a dual threat QB with some major wheels. A player obviously and even acknowledged to be used in the “Wildcat” formation.

Instead, he spends the year doing very little. As Coach Wannstedt and his disdain for offensive “gimmick” plays appears to have overruled his own ideas from the offseason when Cross was recruited.

Given Cross’ obvious athleticism and the vital TD he did score against Iowa last year, he looms large in Pitt fans imagination (including my own) as to what he might have been able to do if used.

Excuses such as the game flow, and that he didn’t know the offense well-enough were offered. Most didn’t buy it, because when you bring in a JUCO, there is an expectation that they are to be plugged in. Not molded over time since they are already on a shortened clock for eligibility.

Crosswas moved to WR after it became obvious that he would never see the field as a QB. Of course, Pitt has depth and experience at the position, so naturally he is buried there.

Everyone wants to somehow see Cross get on the field.

Q: Do you think with the lack of depth and the lack of height at defensive back that maybe Greg Cross should be moved to that position?

ZEISE: I don’t think with two safeties who are 6-foot-3 or taller there is a lack of height at that position, which is where he’d be moved to and I’m not sure how Greg Cross became the Michael Jordan of Pitt’s team. Quarterbacks struggle? Cross is the answer!!! Bad receivers? Cross!!! Need help at tight end? Cross!!! Defensive backs stink? Cross!!! Look, he is a good athlete, it is ridiculous they couldn’t find a role for him in the offense as a change of pace quarterback in certain formations. I get it and agree with it. But as we’ve found out this training camp — being a good athlete and making a transition to new position and being ready to play at a Division I level are two completely different things.

The hindsight of looking back on this, says that Coach Wannstedt’s recruitment of Cross was a mistake based on a trend not fully embraced or understood by Wannstedt.

In the late-90s lots of businesses saw the internet taking off and decided they should have a website. They had no plan or idea how to use it, though. So they bought their domain and slapped a poor looking site that maybe reprinted a brochure and offered nothing but a phone number and address for people to contact for prices on products and services. Then let it languished and wondered what the fuss about it was.

Eventually, someone else in the business or someone else helped make the business owner understand ways to make it work for the company.

That seems to be the way Wannstedt is. He knew he was supposed to look at this, but he had no clue what to do with it. So even as he acknowledged the need and idea at times, it left most wondering if he actually would be able to reconcile it with his own conservative approach to offense. The guy who should have explained it and made it useful was Matt Cavanaugh — who also never grasped the concept.

Now Wannstedt appears to have an offensive coordinator in Cignetti that can make him understand the usefulness and how to use a dual threat QB beyond simply considering it a “gimmick.” (I must admit, however, a bit of concern that we may be overstating Cignetti’s abilities simply because he gets the college game so much more than Cavanaugh).

This is vital since Pitt has made another commitment to using a QB that moves and does not just drop back or hand-off. The verbal from Anthony Gonzalez, was big news last week. A dual-threat, 3- or 4-star QB recruit from Bethlehem, and the second-best QB recruit in Pennsylvania.

A kid loaded with potential (Insider subs) who turned down offers from schools like Mizzou and Oregon, that have previously demonstrated an ability to utilize dual threat QBs in their offensive system.

The thing that stands out about this kid is his competitiveness and football savvy. Some guys are just football players regardless of where you line them up and Gonzalez is one of them. As a passer he is going to have a lot of refining to do in terms of his throwing mechanics. He must tighten up his release and get rid of the ball in a compact manner that eliminates wasted motion. This will be a big part of his development, but as far as football players go, he is one of the better ones we have seen in this class because he just makes plays and gets things done despite being very raw. Excellent prospect that could end up being a very productive and exciting player at the next level in an offense that accentuates his strengths.

[Emphasis added.]

That is what will be watched over the next few years.