The Southside is quickly becoming the site of PITT’s walking wounded as the injuries mount up.  Minors ones thank goodness, but still enough to keep players off the field and the depth charts in flux, especially at the inside LB position where walk-ons are rounding out the two deep.

15 players out at last count and Graham said that’s the most he’s ever had. While he says that’s OK because it gives the staff a chance to see the ‘depth’, I think it’s putting lipstick on a pig.  Hey coach, it would also be nice to see if those guys could play too, wouldn’t it? Let’s tell it like it is.

The team focused on Situation Play today; red zone offense, inside opponents 10 yards line, etc… One drill was called the “Sudden Change”; when the defense forces a TO inside the opponents 30 yard line and the offense wants a quick strike TD.

They worked on special team play today with kickoff return coverage. Harper was booming today with a 52 yarder; Graham likes him and it shows. They will practice kickoff returns on Thursday.

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I’ve been running around all day. The wife is now sick. The kids are on spring break. Somewhere in there I still have to work and do everything else. Sorry not to be on this sooner. Judging by some of the e-mails, there is a bit of concern over Gibbs’ decision.

I have no problem with it.

“We’re not sure,” Temple Gibbs said today from New Jersey regarding his son’s draft plans. “From what I know, he was thinking about it. But he wouldn’t hire an agent, without a doubt.”

Gibbs, a first-team all-Big East selection who led the Panthers in scoring each of the past two seasons, has until April 24 to officially declare for early entry into the draft.

Provided he doesn’t hire an agent, Gibbs would have until May 8 to withdraw his name without losing NCAA eligibility.

“It would be to see what it was like,” Temple Gibbs said.

I hardly see this as a panic moment. If you are a junior at a high major program, with aspirations of a pro career there should be a no-brainer. Go through the process. Get the feedback. Find out what your chances are at present. Assuming you come back, you have a better understanding of what you need to improve.

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I just want to do a quick recap of what Chas asked me to do during the spring practices.  I’m filling in for him while he takes a bit of a breather from writing so much about the PITT basketball season.  That’s over with now, and while there is still a lot to discuss about that, Chas will be back with some football articles soon – as he already has been.  I’ll follow through until the Spring Game and then periodically afterward.

One gentle reminder.  This is a sports blog.  As such it doesn’t follow the journalistic rules that the more established media sources do such as newspapers and magazines… at least that is how I envision it and how it was explained to me years ago when I accused Chas of “speculating” on an issue.  Of course, he quickly commented back that “this is what this venue is for”.

So, there is some factual stuff on here, mostly from linked sources if I can and I’ll try to cite those, but there is a whole lot of speculation and author’s opinions. I’ll try to point that out when I do so also. As to research – it’s all about scanning the internet and gleaning info from other sources.  Just wanted to make that clear.

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