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July 2, 2012

A Little More Chapman

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 8:42 am

Just a few more pieces on Tra’von Chapman and his verbal to Pitt.

I was a little surprised when I looked at Chapman’s background that he had only played one season at Kent Roosevelt, but the moving was football related. Just not for Chapman. His dad, Thad Jemison, became the WR coach at KSU last year. He was a former Ohio St. WR. Guess that means dad won’t be in the stands for many games.

Having a father involved in coaching football explains why Chapman responded so well to QB Coach Brooks Bollinger actually critiquing him during a camp.

“[Bollinger] really coached me up at the camp and I liked his criticism. He helped me with some pointers, and I liked that he wanted me to be at my best,” Chapman said. “But really, my comfort level with the entire staff and the fact that I know they want what is best for me academically and athletically made it feel like home for me, so I knew it was my best choice. The bottom line is I could trust those guys the most and that’s important to me.”

While Chapman as a QB is a bit raw as you would expect from a high school QB. He is well polished on the cliches needed for interviews. You can see that in the above quote where he hit the traditional buzz words. “Comfort level ” and “feel like home.”

 

When you commit early. It’s about removing pressure and concentrating on the senior year. Check.

“I am pumped right now,” Chapman said. “It is a big weight off my shoulders. The support from my family and coaches has been tremendous. Now I am able to focus on my team at Kent Roosevelt.”

Speak well of the school and location. Being important to you as a person.

“I felt more comfortable at Pitt,” Chapman said. “It feels like a home environment with the coaches. I love the city of Pittsburgh. I think it gives me the best chance to grow as a person and athlete.”

A chance to play as a freshman? Sure. Acknowledge hard work is needed and embrace competition.

“I think I have a good chance of playing as a freshman,” Chapman said. “Obviously there is competition everywhere. I think if I come in with the right attitude and work hard I will have a legit chance to play.”

Well done, Mr. Chapman. Your responses are very encouraging. Safe, non-controversial. Confident without being cocky.

Please resume being an 18-year old only without doing the dumb things 18-year olds do (or at least don’t get caught).





If I recall correctly, his Dad beat Pitt with a last minute bomb down the left sideline in the Fiesta Bowl in 1984/83.

Tomczyk was tge OSU QB.

Comment by SFPitt 07.02.12 @ 8:54 am

Great to have Chapman on board but unless Pitt’s other recruits are washouts there is no way he plays as a freshman. Voytik will be coming into his sophomore season, probably off a redshirt freshman grooming year and Savage will be licking his chops just itching to get on the field in the attempt to prove that he is Division I QB material for his last season of eligibility after sitting out this season. Chapman falls nicely into the mix come 2014 when he competes with Voytik for playing time, probably as a strong #2 QB on the depth chart coming out of his own RS freshman year. That would be a nice problem for Chapman to have to contend with, considering all of these recent years that Pitt fans have dealt with “Tino gives us the best chance to win” with little viable alternatives other than the #1 QB on the roster.

Now if Mr. Foster decides that he wants to be our 3rd Biletnikoff Award winner at Pitt sometime around then, then my fellow Pitt Panther Fanatics, we will be making a pretty big splash in the ACC as the new kid on the block IMO. Can you imagine the offensive powerhouse Pitt would be with Shell in the backfield and Foster at wide receiver with SOMEBODY under center that can actually throw the ball with some velocity and aim over 30 yards down field? Let’s hope that PC can reel this Foster kid in. That should help silence the PC recruiting critics for awhile, yuh?

Comment by Dr. Tom 07.02.12 @ 9:36 am

Could it be true?! We are actually setting our team up for competition, yes competition, at the QB spot?! This is Pitt, right?

HTP!

Comment by Pitt it IS 07.02.12 @ 10:12 am

Offensive line . . . that is where Chryst’s tenure will be deemed a success or failure. There is a lot of size, but not a ton of talent on the team and with the commitments. If Chryst actually coaches ’em up into a position of strength, the RBs alone we already have and will have ought to make Pitt a serious offensive threat. But if all of these projects fail to pan out, whoever is under center for the Panthers could be on the expressway to Sack City.

Defensively, the team will be aided by a strong running game, which will give the D time to rest and fewer possessions to defend on. But that is all contingent on an effective running game, which is contingent on a good O-line.

I can assure you that Chryst knows this just as well–actually, far better!–than I do. There has to be an urgent need to coach up or recruit better linemen. I’m glad Chapman is in the fold, and I am glad Pitt is getting some other nice offensive weapons–Ordnoff and Clement come to mind–but what is going to make or break the Chryst regime is the offensive line, and there are still a ton of question marks there. What would a starting 5 for 2013 look like?

Bisnowaty, Ricketts, Rotheram, Schlieper, Rowell?

Like I said, some of those guys are serious hogs and have elite size. If Chryst and Co. can install the skill set, Pitt’s offense will hit the ACC as a force to be reckoned with. But I worry that the skills won’t be there and that the very athletic ACC defenses will send an immobile Savage or inexperienced Voytik/Chapman to the ground.

Comment by TartanPanther 07.02.12 @ 10:52 am

Videos on Chapman looked promising concerning his arm strength but like Myers videos they showed his receivers had easily beaten the one and one coverage.

Based on the above information Chapman may need time to be coached at the college level because of his relative lack of experience. In college he will not be able to rely solely his athleticism.

A relative thought to this is may be it is too soon to right off Myers who only started one year in H.S. Despite playing at the highest level in Ohio he played on a champsionship team. His receivers also easily easily beat their defenders and his size and arm strength made the game to simple. Now he is facing the reality of playing against players whose abilites are completely different-the game is so much faster.

Perhaps Chryst can teach him to work hard on the mental part of his game and harnness his obvious physical attributes.

It would be great for Pitt if Myers did turn the corner by 2013 or late 2012. If in 2013 Savage has an oppotunity to play something could develop because I think he has a true desire to excel. His willingness risk transfers to programs that offer him the best chance to play in a system for one year that will showcase his skills that he can play at the next level.

Consider the post Tino years as the glass half full at the QB poistion.

Comment by drw 07.02.12 @ 11:04 am

Tartan – we have talent at the OL positions. Two guys are really good in Turnley and Jacobson. Corey King really impressed the staff in the spring. Matt Rotheram is coming off an injury but he would have started last season.

The problem is that last year was so screwed up for the OL none of the young kids really got a chance to show what they can do.

That will change this season. I truly believe we are going to be pleasantly surprised with how this staff gets the OL to respond this season.

Comment by Reed 07.02.12 @ 11:05 am

TP I don’t worry at all with the skill set of the O lineman on the roster and the ones PC has gotten commitments from. I have become to trust PC more than any coach since TD and Marino and company.

Why do I trust PC? It is simple, PC’s mindset is it is all about the players performing. While their performing includes academics and such, it is refreshing to have a coach who will not play favorites and gives a spot to a player who is the best prepared for said position. The icing on the cake is everybody both players and coaches must strive to be the best they can be so the team can be the best it can be. Of course the cherry on top is he will make in game adjustments and actually devise game plans against the team they will be playing.

I aint worrying about nothing because after the 7 years have had enough of it. I am rallying around PC and Staff because they have done so much better with less talent. He has a clean sheet as far as I’m concerned. My wish is that the Pitt faithful will see the need to support him, the coaches and players. It is time for us fans to roll up our sleeves so to speak and get behind our new coach. Why, because he deserves it. He aint Wanny, Walt or any of the myriad of coaches Pitt has had since the Majors/Sherrill days.

You guys game or do you want to roll in the mud of misery? Misery breeds contempt and I for one don’t want it…

Comment by Kenny 07.02.12 @ 11:35 am

Meant to say….after the last 7 years…

Comment by Kenny 07.02.12 @ 11:39 am

Reed, I agree this year the O-line has talent, but aren’t Turnley and Jacobson seniors this year? I wasn’t clear enough, but I was thinking ahead to 2013 and beyond. It just seems to me that there are more projects than proven commodities in the O-line. Ricketts was highly recruited but has not impressed, and Bisnowaty is supposedly a stud, Schlieper and Rotheram played well, so I guess I am being a bit too pessimistic. The point I was trying to make is Chyrst is going to really have to coach up the O-line, regardless of the talent level, and I think that is where the ultimate success of his tenure will be determined.

Kenny – I’m definitely not rolling in the mud of misery! I do think Pitt is in a rebuilding mode, but I also think they are only just a year or two away from being really good!

Comment by TartanPanther 07.02.12 @ 2:22 pm

We will see wont we a game has not been played yet he may be great he may be a putz we will see
but i think he will be good but to say so with out a game being played i will wait and see
and as even you say the new OL men need to be coached up none of them are studs. so we will see after TG i am not going to rave abought how great a coach is till he plays some games. the proof is in the puding as they say.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.02.12 @ 3:04 pm

No problemo TP. I gets me a little passionate about my Pitt Panthers. If you have read some of my posts here in respect to Wanny, you would have seen me posting like a sow in the stye LOL. I just want to stay positive towards PC. Staff and Players for the next two years. I like the way you think concerning being good….H2P and to all of you who support them!

Comment by Kenny 07.02.12 @ 3:11 pm

I hear you Frankcan and agree. I guess my personality tends to see the positive side of things until proven wrong. And as you said the proof is in the pudding and we will see how the pudding is going to taste soon enough. You Da Man Franckan!!!

Comment by Kenny 07.02.12 @ 3:15 pm

Just about all the talk and most of the recruiting has been about offense. Chryst has experience in building offenses. I hope we will be better prepared on defense as well.

Comment by Houston Panther 07.02.12 @ 3:47 pm

Chapman’s arm strength is more impressive than Voytik’s.

His commments above are even more impressive.

Sounds smart and mature.

Comment by PittofDreams 07.02.12 @ 4:11 pm

The good thing is Dave Huxtable knows what he is doing and most likely will not be micromanaged by PC. I tend to think we will be prepared.

Comment by Kenny 07.02.12 @ 4:14 pm

kenny i used to see the glass as half full
but after TG and dave it is hard to do that.
but you are probley right he will be great.
i sure hope so but we will see in sept.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.02.12 @ 7:08 pm

Frankcan I have the personality of Fox Mulder “I want to believe”. But you are right it all starts in sept.

Comment by Kenny 07.02.12 @ 7:50 pm

Just win baby, win!

Comment by Dr. Tom 07.02.12 @ 9:12 pm

Amen Dr. Tom. Just win Baby.

Comment by Justinian 07.04.12 @ 5:44 pm

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