Dion Lewis, Jon Baldwin and Henry Hynoski are leaving Pitt for the NFL draft.
Each have good reasons for leaving now. No one should begrudge them for going.
Hynoski has the most to lose by staying at Pitt with a change in offensive philosophy. A fullback, he likely faced a very diminished role. As a junior his transfer prospects would have been limited and likely done nothing to help his draft stock. As it stands, most fullbacks don’t go until late in the draft. If he transferred to a 1-AA school to play right away, it would be even harder to get any notice. On the plus side, he will earn his degree by April.
Baldwin would gain nothing by staying another year. He probably had his draft stock dinged a little between the problems with his relationship with QB Tino Sunseri, stuck mainly running decoy deep routes, and worse by not being the most aggressive receiver.
Still he has the physical tools that make him look like a #1 receiver. He won’t be the first WR taken in the draft, but he will be the first Pitt player taken in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Dion Lewis leaving makes sense to me. First, he is a smallish back, and all running backs have a limited tread-life. Few running backs last more than a few years, so the sooner you get out there the better.
Second, Lewis is an incredibly loyal player. He was extremely grateful to Pitt and especially Coaches Wannstedt and Hafley for believing in him when no one else offered. He flat-out refused to entertain other offers when other teams finally noticed him. Wannstedt being forced out and Hafley departing (along with RB Coach David Walker) made it easier to make the choice.
“After significant discussion and contemplation with my family and coaches, it is with great excitement and anticipation that I announce today that I am declaring myself eligible for this spring’s NFL Draft. I want to thank the University of Pittsburgh, particularly Coach Wannstedt and his staff, for the opportunities afforded me during the last two years. I look forward to the challenges facing me as an NFL rookie, and I believe my time here at the University of Pittsburgh under Coach Wannstedt’s tutelage has prepared me extremely well for the demands awaiting me at the next level.”
His statement, when compared to those of Hyno and Baldwin, seemed most pointedly thanking Wannstedt individually.
Finally, I don’t think Lewis would have benefited in more of a spread offense, the way Ray Graham is likely to. Graham is better catching the ball and has been faster getting to the outside this past year. Graham is a bit more versatile and fits better in a more wide-open offense.
I would now like to take the time to say whatever some of the posters on here are saying: “As long as Graham gets us 2 or 3 B.E. titles in the next 4-5 years then bolts for a better program are complete dreamers. WVU will be upgraded, TCU is already above everyone else in the B.E.and then you will have the occasional Uconn and someone else steal the spotlight. Graham has no ties here, will get the occasional good recruit, and I guarantee he will win no more then 8-9 games the next 4 years. How is that an improvement and a step forward from Wannstead????
I say it will take at least another 5-6 years to see Pitt to start any kind of prominent role. After Graham leaves with about a 32-16 record, throw in a 2-2 record in the “Whoever heard of the next crap bowl” game in his roughly 4 years of coaching here, and you will see why Petersen or the Administration can’t cut it. Take it to the bank….and please don’t post all some of us do is complain……I am old enough to slightly remember the national championship in 1976 and the (3) 11-1 seasons in a row after that. I am not saying I want a national championship every year. I am saying I want a team on the field that wins at least 10 regular season games every 2 or so years, an ocassional 11 win season, and possibly in the next 10 years a shot at playing for a national championship in a league that will still be mediocre so it isn’t a pipe dream.
(I obviously wanted Tom Bradley even though I despise PSU) I think he could have at least evened the playing field for us a bit.
Any news on coordinators?
Any holdovers from previous staff?
Hyno probably should go. He’s done a pretty good job and I think he’ll have a decent NFL career.
As for Baldwin, good riddance. A phenomenal athlete with the potential to be a dominant wide receiver who was too lazy and selfish to be the player he should have been. I understand the issues with play calling and quarterbacking, but that doesn’t excuse his half-assed play for the majority of the season. If he adjusts his cry baby attitude he can have a long, successful NFL career, otherwise he’ll be another WR NFL bust.
Lewis is ready to go and most likely will go in 3rd or 4th round.
As for Baldwin I agree completely with TJ. He reminds a lot of Plaxico Burress in regard to his efforts on the field. Won’t run block and doesn’t know how or won’t fight for a ball. Once people see ALL the tape on him he will drop out of the first and maybe the second round. He needs a lot of work and a change in attitude. Hopefully he can figure it all out.
there was a qb decision made with no regard to merit as evidenced by wanny’s choice to not bench sunseri all year despite loss after loss and missed deep pass after short armed screen
the kid saw his role as part of the team completely diminished because of sunseri’s choice as qb… and was forced to be a decoy 95% of the time
if you were recruited as a 5 star wr and were never thrown the ball because the qb was so unbelievably bad for the d1 level i think youd be upset too… wanny clearly never took baldwin’s situation too seriously and was more than happy to use him as a decoy all year for tino and the pro set running game
Nice to see Dion appreciates the opportunity Wanny gave him when other schools looked right past him. However, Dion paid Wanny back ten-fold in his performance on the field. He’s a great kid and I hope he surprises the NFL, like other underrated Pitt backs have done before him.
Hyno’s move also makes sense given the impending change in philosophy and I think he’ll eventually work himsself into an NFL lineup through hard work and a willingness to do what it takes, a la Lousaka who’s had a nice NFL career as a blocker.
Understand some of the Baldwin bashing, but I think his attitude was more frustration than anything. He made his living over the middle with Stull at QB and we all know the trouble Tino had with those reads and throws, especially early on. IMHO, it took the coaching staff way too long to adjust to that, and Pitt might have pulled out a game or two (Utah and ND) had they done so sooner. The biggest thing Baldwin will need to improve is getting off the line. Otherwise, he’ll be relegated to spot duty against zone defenses. But he will not be an NFL “bust” because he has the tools and he’s not afraid to go over the middle.
Best of luck to all three, and thanks for all you contributed to Pitt football.
The attacks on Baldwin seem to be an effort by some to cover for the shortcomings (no pun intended) of Tino. Clearly Baldwin’s numerous circus catches of poorly thrown passes more than made up for the supposed ‘plays off’ he took.
Pitt could have won at least 2 more games(Utah & Uconn) and possibly 3 (ND) with a more competent QB who could hit a wide open receiver who was headed for the end zone for a game changing TD.
Wanny pinned his hopes on his friend’s kid and he lost his job because of it.
I am so happy that the career loser is gone. See you later Dave. People from “around here” know a loser when they see one.
The fact that Baldwin even came to Pitt was one of the few bright spots in the Wanny era. For the life of me, I will never understand why he didn’t follow his boy TP to OSU and play for 100K plus and a BCS every year. He actually manned up, stayed close to home, and trusted the coaches to develop him and put him in a position to show his skills for the NFL. And yes, they ALL want to win, but most want to play on Sundays…get over it. The moment Tino trotted onto the field in Utah, his season was over and he knew it. After the mind numbing losses over the year, and seeing his role become more of a decoy…I’m shocked he even suited up and gave any effort.
Wanny FAILED this kid.
You watch what happens when he gets his shirt off and runs drills in Indy….McShay and Kiper will be having a wet dream and they will write off his 2010 stats in one line to this tune…
“Baldwin has freakish size/athleticism that have all of the makings of a big-time NFL receiver. Speed, agility, hands, and decent route running that will improve with good coaching. DOn’t mind his 2010 stats– horrible coach and even worse QB.”
What??????
And Dion was considering the NFL before the season even started. Don’t you recall all the conversation about whether he was eligible or not during the Spring? I do think he could have had a good year under Graham, because you still need a good inside runner to make the spread fully effective, as evidenced by Dyer’s performance in the BCS NC last night. However, as Chas stated, Dion’s taken a lot of hits in the past two seasons, so it’s wise he makes his move before he’s too beat up to make an NFL team let alone contribute 3 or more years of service.
Wanny is no longer the coach and he should have plenty of chances to shine in the new system.
Additionally I don’t see how its bad to point out some of Baldwin’s short comings but ok to Bash Tino for his.
I wish him well in the NFL, but I think teams will see some red flags on him when they watch his game film.
It will be interested to see where Lewis is drafted. NFL teams are much more accepting of small running backs after the success of backs like Maurice Jones-Drew and LeSean McCoy.
Wanny.. Thank You.. You had our alma mater back in the football spotlight.. Thank You.. You represented the University well and developed these teenager boys into young men.. Now it is an honor to watch the NFL and see so many players for our University..
To the fans… keep up your pitt passion and express yourself, positve or negative. Remember, these are young man just like us who will make many mistakes in their lives…
Hail To Pitt
Drgags- I am not Nostradomus, but looking at things from a view of what went right and what went wrong over the last 4-5 weeks. We lost a lot of recruits, our image to some degree…I hope Graham can restore it, but I’m very cynical that a coach of his caliber will get recruits from anywhere southwest nor a PA,NJ, or eastern part of the country. I hope I’m wrong, but you do the math….
And that my friends is why Pitt had very few big passing plays this year(other than the circus catches made by Baldwin). And why the running game was not as successful as well. Miami’s coaches clearly said they were not afraid of Pitt’s vertical passing game as they noted the inaccuracy of it’s QB and why they stacked the box to stop the run. And they got away with it.
As far as what announcers say, well you take that with a grain of salt, since it all works hand in hand. After all we had Congemi suggesting numerous times that Tino is an athletic qb during the bowl game.
Knowing very little about how the recruiting process works, do we know if all of those recruits who changed their minds after the Wanny debacle have committed elsewhere? Is there any reason to think that those who haven’t might rethink the decision in light of the Graham hire?
We had a 2010 PITT team with four (4!) preseason All-Americans and which will end up with probably six or seven (7!) kids getting drafted into the NFL in Baldwin, Lewis, Sheard, Romeus, Decicco, Hynoski and Pinkston… and we couldn’t beat anyone but pansies on our schedule this season or get into a BCS game ever.
If that isn’t an indictment of our dearly departed coaching staff I don’t know what is.
If that isn’t an indictment
That is not an indictment to the coach.. actually it should be a reward since 3/4 of the people you mentioned were 2 or 3 stars…
The ACC, which is just as bad as the Big East put almost as many players in the pros as the SEC and their team stinks..
If you dont have a QB, offensively lines, linebacker or corner you arent going to have a dream season. On top of that playing starting the season on the road with the aforemention holes makes it hard.
HAIL TO PITT
Graham will attempt to salvage Pitt’s once-promising recruiting class. About two-thirds of the 18-man class recruited by Wannstedt has defected and, with only a couple of weeks remaining in this recruiting cycle, most of the top players already have committed.
Losing a recruiting class can be a setback because each of the next five Pitt teams will feel the effects not having a full class.