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August 6, 2012

Another year of training camp. Five head coaches and two interim coaches later it is the ninth year of I am posting about it. Hard to believe.

Here’s a good run down of what the situation is at each unit. And by “good run down,” I mean absolutely terrifying with regards to depth.

Let’s start with our annual area of fear and concern. The O-line.

Unfamiliar blocking schemes doomed Pitt last year, but many of its linemen were trained and recruited for a style similar to Chryst’s. That could lead to improvement, but the return to health of senior left guard Chris Jacobson (knee), a leader in the locker room, will be equally important.

Senior center Ryan Turnley played last season with plantar fasciitis in his foot and sets a good example. Left tackle is a mess after the season-long suspension of Juantez Hollins, but redshirt junior Cory King may get the first shot at settling things down.

Massive redshirt sophomore Matt Rotheram — he’s 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds — will play right tackle, and redshirt junior Ryan Schlieper will start camp at right guard.

Lack of depth on the line may be Pitt’s biggest problem.

“May be Pitt’s biggest problem?” Didn’t even know that was debatable.

I know that there seems to be a lot of irrational confidence in Chryst and Rudolph to make the Pitt O-line better. I’d probably feel more that way if Bob Bostad was actually the offensive coordinator rather than with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bostad is simply one of the best offensive line coaches out there. Chryst and Rudolph may know what and how he taught, but that doesn’t mean it translates (See, also: every Bill Belichick assistant not named Saban).

Since Chryst didn’t release a 2-deep, roughed out depth chart following spring practice I’m relying on Phil Steele’s projections. Cory King was possbily going to start at left guard. Now he may have to slide over a spot. Do they flip Matt Rotheram from right tackle to left? The left side of the line terrifies me. Here’s hoping Zenel Demhasaj can step up big time at the Left Tackle spot. I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of shuffling to shore up that spot.

Best guess is that we are going to see the fullback play a lot as an extra blocker to help the left side in particular.

The D-line has depth issues of its own. It also has big questions about who will be stepping up aside from Aaron Donald. Does Shayne Hale suddenly find himslef? T.J. Clemmings? Does K.K. Smith have himself in better conditioning to be the starting nose tackle? Tyrone Ezell and Bryan Murphy might make some noise. And hey, does Jack Lippert have a set position this year?

Aside from the whole depth issue I like the linebackers more than some. Similar feelings for running back and receiving corps.

Everyone seems to feel good about the defensive backs. That’s going to be one of the few areas of depth and strength.

As for the QB spot, well that’s an entirely different post.

Lots of questions. Starting today, we will probably have even more before we reach some answers.





I’m thinking that our defense is going to surprise a lot of people this season. You can trash TG if you want to, but he did bring in some SPEED! We’ve got a lot of unproved talent waiting on the sideline to make an impact on defense this year, (ie, Pitts both fast and talented). Mix in the injury report from last year that will see the field again this year, ie., Todd Thomas and Dan Mason, who will prove to be a leader for this year’s defense, even when he is NOT on the field, and we have a great mix of players to make this defense potent.

Now on offense, it’s all about Tino, of course. However my post from the previous thread which I reposted below has me scratching my head on what the offensive line is going to look like this year.

I don’t know what Juantez Hollins did to get on PC’s $hitlist but I do know that suspending him from game participation for the entire season took some major brass balls. This should of, could of, been a key OL cog in this team’s offense but no more. I’m thinking that Chyrst has already shown his hand regarding discipline and has made it loud and clear that there will be a price to pay if your actions are beyond the acceptable limits of team guidelines, no matter WHO you are or how important you would have been in helping the team win games. Sure sends a message to the rest of the team.

I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite us, since we are so thin at offensive tackle, regarding guys with experience. If the injury bug gets the OL like it did last year we could be playing true freshman by season’s end.

I’m ready for some football. HTP

Comment by Dr. Tom 08.06.12 @ 11:17 am

Probably a good thing our schedule includes 2 FCS schools…we will need time to build our depth.

Funny, but in the pros, they play more games and half the roster but depth is not often an issue.

Translation is “we have bodies, but only God knows if they can play”.

I am boycotting the Deceased (Post) Gazette and all loyal Pitt fans should. If PSU is a hometiown team then move your paper to State College.

Comment by sfpitt 08.06.12 @ 11:28 am

True Fact: I actually liked Todd Graham’s defense. I thought it was far more creative than Wannstedt’s ever was and was working out pretty well by season’s end (bowl game notwithstanding).

It was way better than the “high octane” offense.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's My Dad 08.06.12 @ 3:25 pm

Dr. Tom – I’m convinced that it was a failed drug test which is an automatic suspension if it’s an NCAA test and has always been a year suspension if it is a PITT-administered test.

Comment by Reed 08.06.12 @ 4:56 pm

[…] have not hidden my concern that Bostad taking the O-line coaching position for Tampa Bay in the NFL rather than being […]


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