Brian Bennett at ESPN.com’s Big East blog has a good little discussion topic on the most indispensable player on each team.
In the last two days, we’ve seen a couple of players — Demetrius Jones from Cincinnati and Leslie Stirrups from South Florida — get their official exodus from their respective programs.
Neither is an essential player, but it got me to thinking about which individuals that each Big East team could least afford to lose, via an injury or suspension, this spring. While hoping this doesn’t serve as some sort of voodoo jinx, here is the list I came up with. Some of them are obvious choices, while others may surprise you a bit.
Here’s who he has for Pitt:
Pittsburgh: Dom DeCicco, SS. Like UConn, this one was a tough call. I thought about Jonathan Baldwin, because his playmaking ability is irreplaceable. But Pitt has other receivers. Jason Pinkston at left tackle is another candidate. I settled on DeCicco because the Panthers are thin at safety, and losing a veteran player back there would cause them to have to mix and match.
I actually agree with Bennett about Baldwin. Losing him would be bad, but there is enough depth to make it a less painful. The same probably applies to Dion Lewis.
I have to disagree though about DeCicco. Taglianetti will be back for the fall. While DeCicco has experience and probably gets a little more grief than he deserves for his play, there will also be Kolby Gray (for whom I am admittedly very optimistic for no clear reason) and Jason Hendricks.
Jason Pinkston — or really any of the starters on the O-line — would be a big loss. In terms of reduced depth and the questions of the drop-off from the starters to the guys behind them. While Pitt has the ability to move players to various spots on the line, it would be stressful. That said, I have been conditioned over the years to overreact to all things related to the O-line.
If I’m going to make a pick, it would be Middle Linebacker Dan Mason. The MLB spot is a huge spot in Coach Wannstedt’s defense. Mason is a special player, and losing him at that spot would change the whole defense. Especially if he makes the expected growth in handling passing offenses.
I think that DeCicco should be considered to replace Fields as the hybrid LB/DB. He has the size and smarts … thus, with Jolley and Taglianetti atsafety, they can use Dom in this capacity vs the spread.
But it does qualify as an afterthought methinks.
Dion is the centerpiece of the offense. It all revolves around him.
It wasn’t an afterthought that he received the National Freshman of the Year award.
C’mon fellas.
Secondly I’d pick Caragein. This kid is our next AA player IMO.
Mason may well be good in time but I wonder just which player we will see with him – his performance was really up, down and then up again. He’ll make one flashy sack or INT and then miss on a few plays. I think that was the result of being a true FR though.
On offense I’d say Shanahan. Sorry, but personally I think he’ll be the more effective WR in the long run this season as far as production goes in the ways that matter – down field blocking, tough catches and third down conversions. Baldwin will make more highlight plays and maybe score more TDs but I think Shanahan will be missed most overall if he went down. Either player would be a big loss IMO.
I saw a lot of good arguments about the most indispensable player, and arguably the two most talented players on the team, Romeus & Sheard, were not mentioned. Of course, as Chas mentioned, we seem not to be thin at DE … but have little, if any experience,in backup OL or MLB.
1) Reshuffle the line – people playing out of position; or,
2) Use the 2nd string center – and it sounds like nobody’s thrilled with our 1st stringer at this point.
I have high hopes for Sunseri. I suppose most people are thinking that Bostick wouldnt be much of a drop off and thats why no one has suggested him. But I really look for Sunseri to have a great year. I know its his first year starting, but think of the weapons that he has around him. Plus add in the brilliance of OC Cignetti and I think he is going to exceed a lot of peoples expectations.
Bostick on the other hand, seems like the type of QB that youd try to not lose with.
They might be conservative a little with Tino, too, because of inexperience. But if Pitt’s going to take that next step they need the QB to be more of an asset than simply a functional QB. Here is to hoping Tino is that guy.
Another part of the story talks about Gaskins and Turnley competing for OG. Gaskins is also taking some snaps at C, but Turnley appears to still be in the mix at OG despite a broken right hand.
Current QB depth chart: Tino, Pat, Janocko
and of course, 2 really promising incoming freshman, Gonzales & Meyer
I’d have to go with either OT, Pinkston or Nix. They provide the experience on the O-line and are critical to freeing the RBs and protecting the QB. I’m thinking we’ll again need to score a lot to win this year.
