Reed had the post on Tino Sunseri pointing out the good games he’s had. The debate rages. I think I have pointed out in the past (or at least in some liveblogs) that many of us are so frustrated with Sunseri, that every mistake is magnified. It becomes a glaring problem that outweighs anything else he does. I know I have that issue. Most of last year, it was harder to acknowledge when Sunseri did things right. But the minute he made a mistake, I saw it and saw red.
The thing that Reed’s piece made me wonder, though, was how many games has Sunseri actually cost Pitt? I’m not talking simply he didn’t play well. I mean, that the lion’s share of the blame should fall on Sunseri for the outcome. For example, losing to Miami 31-3 in 2010 and Rutgers 34-10 in 2011, Sunseri was hideously bad. At the same time, you can’t say, if an average QB was out there things would have been significantly different. The O-line in both games was completely overwhelmed. And the defense didn’t hold well.
In the two years Sunseri has started, Pitt has been 14-12. Worse, in games decided by 7 points or less against 1-A teams, Pitt went 2-7 (3-7 if you include the 6-point win over 1-AA Maine last year). That’s a lot of close losses, and again, does not reflect well on Sunseri.
Let’s first note the close wins. There was last year’s 21-14 win over Louisville on the road. One, I think most will credit Sunseri with playing well (enough). The other was in 2010: beating USF 17-10. A game that no one desreved to win. It was won mainly on the ground, and Sunseri at least played well in the second half — not really throwing much in the game — not to cost Pitt.
Now the losses.
2010
Utah, 27-24. Yes and no. It was Sunseri’s first start. It was on the road. The whole team — on both sides of the ball — was shaky in the first half. He did get better in the second half, helping to lead the comeback. Wannstedt chose to play for overtime late (conservative, defensible, and utterly predictable). Then Tino threw the boneheaded interception on Pitt’s first play of the OT. Defense gave up 405 yards. Running game was under 100 (even when you take out the Sunseri sacks). I would call this one a push. Both pro and con probably have a case. I lean towards not putting this loss on him. Too many other other issues in this game to blame that loss on Sunseri.
Notre Dame, 23-17: This was on Sunseri. Three times in the first half, Pitt was inside the 20, and came away with 3 points. Forget the missed FG and the botched hold that cost the other FG. Forget the questionable decisionmaking by Wannstedt late in the game. Not being able to do anything in the redzone. That’s just plain bad work by the QB.
UConn, 30-28: Not on Sunseri. Yes, he threw 2 interceptions, but this loss fell on the defense and special teams. Jordan Todman and UConn’s O-line pushed Pitt around all game. A QB with only 2 TD passes all season burned Pitt twice on TD tosses. Then there was the special teams, that allowed a 95-yard TD return and fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the 7 to allow another score.
2011
Iowa, 31-27: In a way a lot like the NC State game Pitt lost in 2009 with Bill Stull. Pitt came out doing everything right. The offense was flowing. The QB was hot. Then the defense died in the second half, and that arguably should be where the blame falls… But the lingering image is of the QB mistakes at the end of the game when it was still within reach. Plus, Reed made quite a compelling case for the blame going on Sunseri. Verdict: bad Sunseri, bad.
Notre Dame, 15-12: One worn down defense in the second half. One quarterback who wilted in the waning moments with the game in his hands. Add a coach who made some big mistakes in using timeouts early and chasing points. Push.
Cinci, 26-23: Oh, yay. Another come from ahead loss. We can credit Sunseri for helping to build the 23-13 lead after a TD pass to start the third quarter, that Pitt held until a field goal by Cinci with four minutes left in the third quarter. And once again Sunseri unraveled as the game got tight. Cinci quickly added a TD after a Sunseri fumble on the next series. An Sunseri interception on a deflected pass on the very next series paved the road for the go-ahead FG to start the 4th quarter. Pitt did nothing the rest of the game, until a final drive stalled to force a 50-yard FG attempt to tie and send the game to OT. Yeah, this one was on Sunseri.
WVU, 21-20: The trend of Sunseri not being able to handle tight situations late reached its apex in this game. Pitt came out for this game with intensity on both sides of the ball. Pitt had a 20-7 lead in the third quarter. Sunseri collapsed as the Hoopies began to score.
Final tally: 4 on Sunseri (ND 2010, Iowa, Cinci and WVU), 1 not his fault (UConn), 2 pushes (Utah and ND 2011).
I think I could make a case that 2010’s disappointing season was not so much on Sunseri. Only the ND game truly stands out as a game that Pitt should have won, but for Sunseri. 2011, however, really bore his stain.
This is the most damning thing about Sunseri as the QB. The biggest reason fans don’t want to see him out there. It’s not his arm strength. It is not his “leadership” qualities. It is not his accuracy, or decisionmaking. It is how he performs late in the games when it matters. Whether it is holding a lead or making the comeback. He simply does not handle it. No one believes he can at this point.
All the same, the book has been written on the Sunseri QB era. Anything short of an amazing turnaround and this kid is going to be booed every time he makes a mistake.
That’s the point, Chas. YOU CAN’T FORGET ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST AS MUCH PART OF THIS GAME AS THE BAD THINGS THAT TINO DOES.
THIS IS THE ISSUE … LAST YEAR AT TIMES TINO STUNK .. BUT SO DID THE OL, THE WRs AND THE COACHING .. EVERY BIT AS BAD IF NOT MORE THAN THE QB.
BTW, the game above was the ND game in 2010 .. you forgot to mention Shanahan trpping over the 2 yard line which changed a sure TD into an endzone interception.
Yet, you chalked up the loss to Tino (despite the fact that the the Pitt D made the Iowa QB looked like a Heisman QB) … just more anti-Tino bias from Chas Rich, and you don’t even see it.
Again, I have never said Tino was a good QB … but he has taken WAY too much blame on this site because I guess it is just too easy to lay it all on the QB
In reference to my anti-Tino bias.
link to pittblather.com
I don’t think I have ever denied — especially after last season — that I don’t have much faith in Sunseri . I have been and still am of the opinion that Sunseri i Pitt’s best option at QB until someone else can step up to earn the nod. So if in your view I am anti-Tino, fine. I am not, however, ABT.
You can say that you cannot divorce the team from an individual’s performance, but I disagree. I was not arguing that if one of the other QB’s on the roster had been in there instead of Sunseri, Pitt would have won (not by a longshot).
I was trying to put into better perspective which games (I feel) Sunseri bears much of the responsibility.
Lets go back and see who was actually recruiting Tino out of HS…uh NOBODY…he wouldnt even start at Cal U. He is a homer and if his dad was not Sal Sunseri he wouldnt even have been invited to walk on…He imo stole a scholarship and should not even be in the mix to play…If I were Chryst I would coach the hell outta Voytik and get him ready asap!
A minute or so to go, Pitt on it’s own 25-35???? Drops back to pass, I believe it was Devin Street streaking down the left sideline with no one around him, no pressure on the qb, and the ball is ballooned instead of fired, and I might add, ballooned 5 yards short and picked off.
It should have easily been a touchdown.
Now, whether our defense would have held them for 50 seconds is debatable, but for as bad as our defense let us down, the game was there for the taking by just about any BCS conference quarterback.
Or, are you saying, don’t we have better things to do than make comments on a blog??
Especially one, where the quarterback hasn’t been so hot for two years, and the new coach seems to think he may be our starter for a third year.
Actually, I’d be totally shocked if there wasn’t anyone talking about Sunseri.
I guess we could talk about the new Giant Eagle Market District cheese boo-fay!!! LOL
Love the imported provolone!!!!
I think Chas and Reed have had quite a few articles on all positions, qb is a hot button topic.
Again, point taken.
His first start… the game on the line… and Tino is heard yelling to the coaching staff as he comes to the sidelines… “Put the game on my back!”
My personal all-time favorite Tino moment.
Go ahead, Chas, and cringe ahead of time.
Yes folks, just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, I give you (drum roll please) ta-da!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONFERENCE EXPANSION RUMORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those of you that hate it, I suggest you turn away!!!!!!!!
Apparently ESPN is putting pressure on Notre Dame and Rutgers to join the ACC. Yes, Rutgers, not UCONN.
Also, Big Ten trying to entice ND and Rutgers and possibly poach ACC for G Tech and Maryland.
link to atlanticcoastconvos.com
Good article for rumor mills, also good on stating that ACC is very UN-poachable!!
Usually nothing, but where there is smoke????
Also, a lot of the rumors that were dismissed have come true.
So, take it with a grain of salt.
The only thing I believe about the whole thing not being done is…..Jim Delaney comissioner of the Big 10 is not going to sit at twelve.
It’s a power thing. I know, I know, if you feel you have 12 good schools, then why ruin it???
Doesn’t matter to ego-maniacs. If his 12 teams were ranked number 1-12 in the football rankings, he wouldn’t care. He does not like sitting there with only 12 teams. He wants 14 and I’m sure he wants to be first to 16.
Another article suggests, that if the ACC would get Notre Dame/ Rutgers-UCONN, the Big Ten has spoken about getting the 4 that were the talk of the Pac 12 last year. Okie, Okie St. T-Tech and Texas.
I think we’re safe for a year or two, but the dominoes are not done, and in my mind, won’t be until we have 4 or possibly 5 16 team conferences.
Sorry Chas, I had too!! I’ve been holding it in for weeks!! LMAO!!!
I apologize for my sarcasm above, but I really do love imported provolone!!! ha ha
Utah-2010 was a PUSH? Are you kidding?? Didn’t you see his intercepted throw in OT? It was so far behind the intended receiver (Pitt’s, I think, but I’m not sure…) that the Utes CB had to reach back for it!
UConn in 2010: yes the special teams were awful. But Tino the Magnificent throws two picks — one of them at the worst possible time, late in the game — and it’s not on him??
I didn’t see any mention of WVU 2010. In that stink bomb, we had the “Tino Trifecta”: a lost fumble, a bonehead sack, and a pick six … all in the FIRST QUARTER! After which the team completely mailed it in, you could see it in their body language. The ‘eers couldda put in their cheerleaders that day and Pitt wouldn’t have rallied. But I guess Teflon Tino doesn’t get blame for that either.
The King Has No Clothes with this guy, and I’m mystified as to why. If guys like you and Zeise really aired the truth about how awful Gameday Tino is, maybe someone would finally do something.
Instead everybody covers for him, and the incompetence continues.
ABT! ABT! Chant it with me, ABT!
H2P
The answer to this is easy . . . . ABT.
If Voytik’s not ready yet, then share time with Anderson and Myers and see if lightning strikes and one of them develop to at least be a viable back-up to Voytik when he takes over in his second year.
They were ALL against horrid teams. He’s a marginal player who will play sometimes decent against horrid teams with horrid defenses. As soon as he steps up to average teams, that have some modicum of defense, he wilts. And he gives you absolutely NO chance against quality teams.
Unless somehow like WVU did, they play down to Pitt’s horrid level in those games.
2010 Rutgers(4-8) Defense gave up AVG, 375y/g
allowed an AVG of 18 1rst downs/g
2010 Syracuse(8-5) DF gave up AVG, 302y/g 17 1d/g
2011 Syracuse(5-7) DF gave up AVG,386y/g 21 1d/g
2011 L’ville (7-6) DF gave up AVG,328y/g 18 1d/g
(note: this game was interesting because the Spread was dead, TG decided to take the ball out of Tino’s hands by running the ball for 200 yds, and even further limited the playbook)
2011 UCONN (5-7) DF gave up AVG, 367y/g 18 1d/g
Finally:
2011 64.2% Completion 10 TD’s 11 Interceptions
201.2 ypg
2010 64.5% Completion 16 TD’s 9 Interceptions
196.7 ypg (this team had 4 NFL players on Offense, Dion, Baldwin, Hynoski, Pinkston)
Conclusion, Completion %’s mean next to nothing, especially in a Spread Offense. What is much more important is Yards per Game and of course TOUCHDOWN PASSES. Less than 200 ypg in a Spread Offense or any offense these days is pathetic, moreso in the Spread.
The fact that he has a high completion percentage while having a low Yards per Game average suggests most of the passes completed have been the short dink passes to RB’s like Ray Graham or Dion Lewis or Hynoski and in the Spread the very short dink line of scrimmage passes to WR’s.
This QB is not a D1 QB, more like IUP or Duquesne.
What also puzzles me is why the head coach got all the blame in 2010 but the QB got all of it in 2011.
And absolutely incredible, 61 Times
Which is probably a good thing since he probably would have thrown twice or thrice the interceptions had he thrown those dying quails off balance.
I almost wish it was 2013 already, so we don’t have to live thru the final season of the Terrible Tino era.
Oy vey !
overthrown, underthrown (mostly), missthrown, missdirected, misfired, scattered armed, underarmed, misjudged, wrongreceivered, wrongplayed, and finally wrongquarterbacked.
haha 🙂
Veritas et Virtus
Did Chryst actually name Tino the starter, or did he just say he is the front runner???
That was all that was going through my head as I read. That and how discouraging this blog has become as a Pitt football fan lol.
And Pitt scored about almost twice as many points in the 4th quarter in 2010 than in 2011.
Same QB
Comment by Dan 04.18.12 @ 4:28 pm
Hey Dan-o, God I hope not. Let’s save that agony for late August. I still want to have a small sliver of hope the rest of the spring & summer that something will happen to rescue PITT football from the curse of the Sunseris.
How are u buddy, Dan-o, never made it down to the Carolina’s yet eh ?
Comment by Taxing Matters 04.18.12 @ 3:52 pm
Apparently very much so, that and the apparent even more important unwritten rule that sons of coaches and legacies are not to be competed against nor recruited against. Some things never change.
🙁
What they actually allowed for was for UConn to hang around in the game despite playing horribly. Pitt should have had a much larger lead.
As unclutch as Tino is, he actually did throw a TD with about 5 minutes left to pull within 2 points. The following series was the infamous 4th down attempt UConn made that sealed the game.
good work DAN.
I said it months ago Pitt is better served by playing a QB that will be around when ACC plays starts next season than to play a returning QB with very limited skills.
I’m not much Mel, but I am honest. Told ya drinks are on me. No, haven’t been down yet. Usually do 3 or 4 times a year. My sister has been getting on me.
Never made it down for Christmas, and the spring trip got cancelled, because my sister and her husband came up to their sons in Germantown Md., and I went there and we had Easter.
So, nope haven’t been down yet. I look forward to meeting you in person and having some drinks. When I do I’m coming, after my sister, you’ll be the next to know!!
Hope all is well with you guys, and everyone else on here.
You are correct that Myers had no chance last year in Graham’s offense and really no chance with Sunseri & Bostick in 2010. But this year with Chryst is different.
I think the way it will shake out in August is that Sunseri will start and get the 1st team reps going into the season and Myers will be his backup and get the rest or the reps. Once the season starts really only the top two QBs get playbook work.
It is too bad that we have Cincy and VA Tech early on as I’d like to see a sort of platoon system so that Myers got some actual full series under his belt both so that Chryst could see how he does against actual competition but also to push Sunseri.
One of the problems over the last two years is that Sunseri was never really challenged to fight off competitors. DW was never going to sit him down no matter what and Anderson was the only other QB who Graham would try in last season.
We saw how Anderson did. So Sunseri was never in real danger of losing his starting job.
I know people are hanging their hats on Voytik but I’m skeptical that a 1st year HC is going to run a true FR out there as a starting QB. If that decision goes bad it would go real bad all around. It would be great if Voytik comes in and plays so well that he starts but I’m not holding my breath.
Another development was that Myers and Anderson have been splitting the 2nd string snaps and did so Saturday also. I’m not sure how long that will last though.
May Voytek be the 3rd coming.
On a completely unrelated topic: I’ve just seen (on Yahoo) what was purported to be Nike’s proposed new uniforms for Pitt football for 2012, and (sitting down?) … drum roll please, ITS THE OLD SCRIPT! Woo-Hoo! As well as the old colors (royal blue & yellow, not dark blue and gold).
I hadn’t seen or heard a peep about this. Is this legit?
I will say, either Chas, Reed or a poster, had a link I saw sometime this week, for Pitt gear, and if you can find it, they had a good bit of stuff with the real colors, and the Pitt script.
Hoodies, sweatshirts, tee-shirts. Sorry, can’t remember where it was.
I saw this last year. I think it’s a fan some good software. More power to him, he’s showing that Pitt Script could come back and be modernized. Kudo’s to him for pushing the effort, but I believe that is what it is.
Actually, if they ever did come back (which they won’t, Steve not swallowing his pride on this one), they should just go back to the uniforms we had. Script was awesome, colors unique, and they looked like college football uniforms.
Don’t hold your breath while Steve is A.D….
ABT
1) Mark Myers played 1 year in HS. Did play in the Big 33 game for Ohio since Pitt had signed him. Very limited Game experience in HS was the reason he had ratings all over the place.
2) Anthony Gonzalez led Bethlehem HS to Pa State championship, was known as running QB. Also played in Big 33 game. Was asked to change positions.
3) Trey Anderson, was brought in by Todd Dodge at last minute after realizing that Sunseri couldn’t run a spread offense, couldn’t hit anything over a 20 yard pass, after watching his tapes and last year’s spring game. The kid walked on and immediately became the #2 QB. (which again shows how wanting the talent was that was on the roster)
4) Kolby Gray , was a QB in Texas HS, probably was better than Tino so they switched him to Safety.
One way to eliminate the competition, move him to a different position. (Seen it done several times in own sports career)
As you can see not much was recruited to compete against Sunseri. Now the question is, was this done on purpose and did all the chips just fall in place for Sir Tino to be a 3 year starter on a Mid-Level D1 team. whereas his talent only suggests a D2 or D3 school.
**was this done on purpose OR did all the chips just fall in place for Sir Tino **
I guess that is you. Your name used to be in all caps and your sentences are like everyone else’s now
So that was a curve ball. lol I thought someone had hijacked ur name. 🙂
We are the other hand bleed Blue & Gold and we monitor the situation and watch the games far more intently than these paid hacks who write their anti-Pitt garbage with much zeal !
Hail to PITT !
Veritas et Virtus !
they want to tell you to that tino is our best
chance to win and he has only had 5 good games out of 26.
To get ready for the ACC WE SHOULD PLAY MYERS OR ANDERSON OR the freshmen there is no upside to playing tino.
Veritas et Virtus
and good night may you and yours walk in the light
He doesn’t win games or lose games on his own. He either plays well against poor teams or messes the bed against the good teams. The point is, it doesn’t matter. If a bunch of fans can figure out that it is better to throw the ball out of bounds prior to your feet going out of bounds to save a six yard loss (sack), than the players can too. The team gives Tino a “no confidence vote” every time he plays in a game. This is where Coach Chryst needs to watch the tape of the last two years and not go by what he sees in practice. The tape doesn’t lie.
I would rather have a “growth” year using other quarterbacks, then waste a year frustrating the masses of players who are anti-tino. If Coach Chryst doesn’t understand the players sentiment on that, we are in for a long year of excuses. We should not get to game five and hear that Tino is showing signs of improvement and he needs to be more consistent. Hogwash ladies.
I think Coach Chryst sees through the mirage and will do what’s best for his team in the long run, not the short run. Todd Graham was short run and we all saw enough of that. Let’s build a program from the ground up. It should be fun. Tino lacks respect from the players, period. I can’t force the palyers to respect the qb and neither can Coach Chryst. Tino is the only one that can change that and as of last weekend, he still throws his receivers under the bus when it comes time to dish out the blame.
And since I am ranting, those that say Myers numbers were better because he was going up against the 2’s, Hogwash! He was going up against the two’s with two’s. That balances out so quit trying to be Tino apologists. I for one don’t care who the qb is this year. I do know it shouldn’t be Tino for the reasons here so stated and it may not be Myers if he doesn’t get the players respect for his lack of effort.
Find me a qb that works hard, plays smart and takes the blame for his faults and those of his players, and we have a winner, a leader, a qb. Dagnabbit, the guy touches the ball on every snap so the rest of the “TEAM” should respect him and have confidence in him to bring it home most of the time….not all!
Who said this blog isn’t journalism?