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September 14, 2012

What Price, Change?

Filed under: Football,Players — Chas @ 1:56 pm

Anyone watch the Rutgers-USF game last night? The chance to watch the USF version of Sunseri in B.J. Daniels? It gave me the chance to feel like others from outside the Pitt fanbase when they watch Sunseri. The befuddlement that he is the starter. The moments where you think you see why he starts, then the sheer boneheadedness of the decisionmaking. The demoralization of the offense. USF, I feel your pain.

On that note, add Bob Smizik to the list wondering aloud if Sunseri might be done after the VT game (added bonus, misspelling Voytik’s name).

Not much to it. It’s one of Smizik’s “…” columns so he devotes very little thought to it. It’s the same chatter we’ve had on this site, and on message boards and the radio. Essentially anywhere there are Pitt fans. That if Chryst wants to make a change for the future — not to mention to try and spark the team — waiting until Gardner-Webb would make more sense. Not throwing out a true freshman in his first start against a top-25 team with a Bud Foster defense.

Hey, news of a Voytik start might goose attendance for the Garndner-Webb game which couldn’t hurt. There would have to be tens of fans who other wise wouldn’t have gone to the game that might do so if the news was that Voytik would start.

For that to happen, though, this game on Saturday would have to go as expected.

That raises the hypothetical question/fan dilemma. Would you take the win over VT with Sunseri playing like he did against USF last year — thus likely to remain the starter for the foreseeable future. Or would you accept the expected performance — and loss — if it meant Voytik or even Anderson got the nod next week. And for the rest of the season Sunseri was 2d string?





I think Sunseri will be the starter against Gardner.
However, I would hope Voytik and/or Anderson get some playtime for some series against VT (not mopped up duty).
And then grow the reps at the GW game…
and go from there.

Comment by Joe D 09.14.12 @ 2:14 pm

Doppelganger Sunseri plays for the Bears, not USF.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 09.14.12 @ 2:18 pm

The reign of Terror…I mean Tino…shall soon pass. Until that day, I will be on my meds.

Comment by TX Panther 09.14.12 @ 2:19 pm

The win. Always.

Comment by longsufferingpittfan 09.14.12 @ 2:24 pm

My response is what it always was: I hope Tino plays well and proves to be effective in crunch time when we really need plays to be made. But after such consistency in not getting the job done despite occasional glimpses of potential, I can no longer hope against hope…its hurting my head too much. I guess he’s starting so let him play the entire first half, unless he’s frighteningly bad, and then assess his play. If its okay, there’s the dilemma; if its subpar, I think its the right time to make a change to Anderson for the second half.

If Anderson is healthy and still considered the second stringer, he should get the call — thus preserving Voytik’s redshirt. If no, burn it and start the Voytik assessment. Even if its a blowout, playing against a team like VTech is good on the job training and will make either Anderson or Voytik ready to deal with the pressure from the rest of the schedule. If the kids are competitors, they’ll want that chance — plus, if VTech is way ahead, no need to try to win the game anyway…just keep to your basic offense and let the new QB run it in preparation for the following game. I see no downside other than maybe getting one of them planted in the ground a few times if VTech’s D-line is really bringing it…and even that is good experience.

Comment by Matt N. 09.14.12 @ 2:29 pm

No question. I’d take a win against VT.

Comment by A 09.14.12 @ 2:30 pm

win??? HAHAHAHAHA

That’s a good one Chas.

If there is any other starter at any time I will buy tickets & show up. I stopped my ten year run of season tickets because I can’t watch Tino. I just can’t do it.

Comment by Tony in Harrisburg 09.14.12 @ 2:31 pm

I say a win but a win doesn’t mean Tino must play well. Maybe the defense puts together a solid effort and Graham/Shell/Bennett keep VTech off the field. I’m not sold on VTech’s offense. If you read the hokie blogs, Logan seems to be erratic at times. My hope is he plays a lot like Daniels and Cutler played last night.

Comment by why me 09.14.12 @ 2:34 pm

What’s scaring me is this question: “Are the backups so much worse than the starter that it’s out of the question to play them even when the game is all but over?”

Comment by steve1 09.14.12 @ 2:54 pm

I watched some of the game and was more impressed with how aggressive both teams were s compared to Pitt. Are the Panthers sissies or just tentative?

Daniels also caught my eye because he is so bad and somehow seems to get good publicity. No one ever accused Tino of having the kind of talent Daniels was rumored to have.

I also could not help but notice that RU has switched places with Pitt…that Pitt expects to lose, is the running joke and can’t get out of its own way even thought it sits in the middle of fertile recruiting territory.\
That used to be Rutgers….
Now Pitt has that tag.
Shame on Pederson. Again, look at the goals Pederson put out after returning to Pitt.
All miserable results.
Until he is gone, the rest is just details to fill out the Greek tradegy that Pitt football has become.

Comment by sfpitt 09.14.12 @ 3:01 pm

Steve1 — what I’ve tried to get my head around for three years now — how is it possible the other QBs are so bad they can’t even compete with Tino for playing time, and still have earned a D1 scholarship?! How could Myers have been so AWFUL that all the Blather and PG ‘experts’ deemed him not remotely close to challenging Tino, yet Ohio football writers/coaches voted him starter on their highest level all-star team? Or Anderson won the Texas state championship, top level, but somehow can’t stand in the same room as Tino? Boggles the mind doesn’t it?

Comment by Matt N. 09.14.12 @ 3:02 pm

I will take the loss to be rid of tino

Comment by FRANKCAN 09.14.12 @ 3:04 pm

I want the W for sure! However, if we loose and Tino’s poor play is a contributing factor I say get Anderson or Voytik significant meaningful reps against Va. Tech and GW and then make a decision based on that evaluation. The thing to keep in mind here is that although we have been HORRIBLE so far this year and have shown very little promise, we are still only 0-1 in a very weak Big East. The non-conference games are for improvement and evaluations. I don’t expect us to be a factor in the Big East race but it’s too early for the coaches to give up on that right now. If the game is decided and Sunseri is playing poorly, insert QB2. The make sure QB2 gets a even chance against GW.

Comment by JAM 05 Pitt 09.14.12 @ 3:05 pm

Any more news on myers i knew he threw for 450 yd
and 5 TD in first game at new school any thing from his second game?

Comment by FRANKCAN 09.14.12 @ 3:09 pm

I’d definitely take the win, a little redemption from the first 2 weeks.

Im sorry, but we will not see either Anderson or Voytik as a starter this year. End. of. story.

Another thing, we likely wont see them even if we’re getting blown out..Chryst wants to get Tino the most reps as possible in this system.

Lets face it, we’re only 0-1 in Conf with 3 weeks until the next conf game…Tino isnt going anywhere so please stop.

Until we lose another Conf game, this league is still wide open.

Comment by H.LandPitt 09.14.12 @ 3:22 pm

A win is a win, and as a fan would have to root for that. Also, it would take much more than tino playing well to win. The defense would need to show up. Replacing the qb just moves the blame from the O-line and the entire defense. A win suggests something of those 3 went a lot better.

Comment by pendlum 09.14.12 @ 3:22 pm

Yeah, compare Daniels to Sunseri if you want to, but at least when Daniels scampers out of the pocket he can run, and I don’t mean RUN as into the first defensive lineman that he can find either.

Now, without a doubt I’ll take the win over VA TECH, plus I WANT Tino to be the hero of the game too.

Here’s how it would play out perfectly. In the last drive of the game with under two minutes to play, Pitt is behind by 4 points. Tino puts the team on his back and in a third and long with the final ticks of the game clock Tino throws a desperation pass OVER 30 YARDS perfectly into the arms of my man Shanahan in the corner of the endzone for the win. However just as the pass is away, Tino gets clocked by a rushing linebacker getting his bell rung good enough that for precautions he has to sit out for the Gardner-Webb game the following week. Voytik has to start the following week, he has a good game and Tino never sees the field again, while still supplying Pitt with a veteran back up if ever needed.

Hell, If I’m going to dream about a win over VA TECH I might as well dream BIG!

Comment by Dr. Tom 09.14.12 @ 3:24 pm

Rivals is reporting that…
Pitt will be hosting several DOZEN recruits at VT game…
That can’t be good.

Comment by Joe D 09.14.12 @ 3:26 pm

Dr. Tom, I like your dream.

it seemed plausible until you said Tino put the team on his back…

Comment by H.LandPitt 09.14.12 @ 3:28 pm

Just win, baby!

(Please, someone get the recruits out of Heinz Field before the boos start)

Comment by Chuck Morris 09.14.12 @ 3:33 pm

I’ll take the win every time and in a heartbeat. If Pitt beats VT, then I think they put themselves back in a position to maybe make a bowl game. A loss and Pitt must win 6 of the final 9. I’m not sure there is a hard-and-fast rule for how to handle young QBs. If there is a lot of talent surrounding them, I can definitely see an argument for starting them, but in this particular case, I think Pitt could risk harming Voytik’s future development by playing him now on a bad, bad team. In short, I don’t think this year is a good learning environment for Voytik. I know some people might say “sink or swim” but there is a difference between tossing a guy in the kiddie pool with some flotation devices or tying some lead weights around his feet and throwing him in a shark tank. With Voytik and Pitt, I think its the latter option.

Bottom line is Pitt is in full rebuilding mode, and this might just have to be a lost year. Sucks for the seniors who have put in so much, but hopefully they all come away in good health with a degree from one of the finest public academic institutions in the land and one day they can come back and be honored on the field for seeing Pitt through its dark times or something.

So yeah, a win, a win, any win, any way, we need a win.

Comment by TartanPanther 09.14.12 @ 3:37 pm

I say let the freshman start after VT. If there is any damage done redshirt him next year unless Savage gets hurt. A full year to reflect on some game experience has to be a good thing.

Comment by Dacs 09.14.12 @ 3:44 pm

@ H.LandPitt, I mentioned that I was dreaming didn’t I?

Comment by Dr. Tom 09.14.12 @ 3:56 pm

Already draining my bottle of J&B (can not longer afford Chivas with the amount Pittsburgh Sports is costing me) watching Hurdle replace McDonald with Mr. Nobody trying to get out number 3 bases loaded in Chicago.Suprise…it didn’t work.

I say we switch…let Clint Hurdle coach Pitt tomorrow and Chryst go to Chitown and finish the series. It cannot get any worse.

My point is “utter futility” in Pitt sports brought on by Steve Pederson. It’s become addictive in other sports in the Burgh. I would kill for a win tomorrow and will post a picture of my best bud Tino if he pulls it out….but lets face it. We have zero OOOOOOOOO chance.

This is a bad Pitt team, coached as best possible by a lot of new people thrown “to the lions” on Stevie P’s watch.

Will hang until halftime tomorrow. Tee time at 2PM.

Since Reed is killing all of my posts…hope you folks will post for me.

Comment by Dan 72 09.14.12 @ 4:19 pm

Why are you guys so worried about damaging Voytik’s psyche? He has nothing to lose — what kind of expectations would a reasonable person put on a true freshman QB playing for the first time on an 0-3 team — if Pitt loses — that has played horribly? If it goes badly, everyone will say, ‘of course!’ If anything at all goes well, everyone will say, ‘there’s hope for the future!’ or ‘great job in a terrible situation, kid!’ If anyone has pressure on them — given what’s transpired with this team the past 5-10-20-25 years — it isn’t the freshmen, that’s for certain.

If we could slide him into a comfortable situation on a high performing team, we wouldn’t be considering it in the first place, would we?

Comment by Matt N. 09.14.12 @ 4:22 pm

Dan don’t be a defeatist. Pitt has at least a 20% chance in bringing home a win tomorrow. See, don’t you feel more optimistic already?

Couldn’t agree more with you Matt N. The Gardner-Webb game would be a perfect coming out party for Voytik. Last time I checked he is a football player, I think that his delicate psyche will fare just fine.

You want to discuss a damaged psyche????? All you have to do is look in the mirror and thank terrible Tino for the gloom and doom that permeates my current attitude towards Pitt football fortunes.

After this game, “Tino Time” has ended, now “Chad is the Fad”. Please, I can’t take this for the entire season, I need at least a glimmer of hope.

Comment by Dr. Tom 09.14.12 @ 4:45 pm

Chas, you’ve just described the nightmare scenario for all of us neurotic Pitt fans…and yaknow…the way our fortunes have been of late it will probably come true…it’ll be kinda neat for all of the State Stores and bars in town though…

Hail To Pitt!

Comment by Leaseman 09.14.12 @ 4:49 pm

Continue to redshirt Voyit! Sadly Tino gives us the
chance to win.

Comment by JR 09.14.12 @ 4:49 pm

For just once, I want the players to leave it all out on the field and I want the coaches to pull out all the stops and do whatever it takes to win…then if they lose the only reason will be that VA Tech was the better team…then on these pages we can be applauding the effort instead of bitching about their lack of effort or discipline or awareness or decision making, etc…

…it would be kinda neat!

Comment by Leaseman 09.14.12 @ 5:05 pm

Cardiac Hill calls for tino to sit down find the bench
they say it is time to start voytik
i am with them best idea i have hard all week.

Comment by FRANKCAN 09.14.12 @ 5:06 pm

cant blame tino…if the coaches keep playing him

Comment by Snala The Panther 09.14.12 @ 5:39 pm

I read an interview of Congemi…
He thinks the biggest issue Pitt has is the defense team speed…
it’s all about the speed baby….

Comment by Joe D 09.14.12 @ 5:57 pm

I’d take the win no doubt for obvious reasons but especially for the sake of our future , namely the prospects and recruits who will be there. The last thing I’d want to do as a recruit is play in a stadium with booing fans when I have the option to play in much fuller and friendlier environments . Not sure if we can win or if tino will be his usual inconsistent self but regardless, the worst thing we can do is boo if things aren’t going well. As for playing Chad , I agree with Chas , if voytik is truly as advertised, a few tough Games will not “ruin ” his development or psyche, his high school team was awful and he was still rated consensus top 15 Qb from the ratings systems. Hail to Pitt

Comment by Duke 09.14.12 @ 6:53 pm

Play Tino against Va Tech, take the beat down,then blow the whole thing up. Play Voytik against GW and any other underclassmen that might do better, offense and defense. The demon must be exorcised. I’ll be in sec. 219 praying!

Comment by Moe Greene 09.14.12 @ 6:54 pm

Steelers announce a plan to add 3000 seats to Heinz Field. That should really be good news for all those folks on the Pitt football season ticket waiting list.

Oh, wait. The waiting list is for hoops. Nevermind.

Comment by dinosaur 71 09.14.12 @ 7:24 pm

Mark Myers has only played one game. 2nd game Saturday. 30 for 43. 457yds. 5 tds. I know its d3 but could Tino put up those same numbers. Sorry but I don’t think Myers was a complete waste like some at Pitt made him out. Oh well. To late now.

Comment by why me 09.14.12 @ 7:31 pm

I taped the game because I was on a cruise. After the first quarter it was over. Something needs to be done or this team is going to lose 10 games. There is talent there. I do not have the answer.

Maybe some big changes are needed. Tino is not a college level quarterback and Pitt needs to start playing one very soon.

Comment by Frank 09.14.12 @ 7:40 pm

I meant demon as in the black cloud that hangs over Pitt football

Comment by Moe Greene 09.14.12 @ 8:02 pm

BJDaniels looked like Tino because Rutgers used run blitzes nearly 80% of the game. That aggressiveness couldn’t be handled by the oline or usf qb. That led to turnovers. That is exactly how tino looks, except he looks that way every game. As previously mentioned, there are only about 10-12 qb’s drafted each year because they just can’t handle pressure. I cannot figure out why we don’t throw the house at the opposing qb and cutoff the short crossing pattern. If you can’t get to a qb and contain him when you rush seven against five, than you all are right, the defense stinks. But we just don’t know, not yet!

Would I take the win and have him play the rest of the year? Absolutely. The team needs a win and you have a real good shot of being 2-2, if you can get to 1-2. Regardless of how the season ends, this would be a recruiting win and it would show the promise of success in the future. Conversely, IF (yes, big if intended)Voytik comes in and Pitt wins, the visitors will commit on the spot, especially the offensive ones.

Comment by dhuffdaddy 09.14.12 @ 9:20 pm

Gardner-Webb is the only game I can make it back east for. Even so, I’d take the W always. Hope to see some of you there.

Comment by CNorwoodAZ 09.14.12 @ 10:51 pm

I stopped watching Pitt games last year because of Tino. If someone else starts at QB, I will watch again. Even if it’s our kicker. I can’t watch Tino. He may be a nice guy for all I know, but he should not be playing QB for PItt. I can’t believe three different coaches have tried him. I lost respect for Chryst the day Tino got the job because he obviously doesn’t watch game tape. Tino plays scared and is afraid to throw the ball – he doesn’t move around in the pocket like a typical QB. He moves around back there like I would – I’m old and would suck at QB.

Comment by dish 09.14.12 @ 11:46 pm

Sunseri never ran a 40 yard dash faster than 5 flat. Most coaches would not give a QB a uniform who runs like a 300 lb. lineman.

Comment by move_on 09.15.12 @ 3:15 am

Preposterous question. A highly unlikely win would just extend the reign of terror that is Tino. Even if it did happen, you know disappointment is just around the corner. Let’s get it over with, blow out loss and bench Tino for good. Build for the future. I’m tired of his ineptitude.

Comment by Pittastic 09.15.12 @ 7:49 am

A rumor is circulating regarding a weird online purchase that was supposedly traced back to the Pitt Athletic Dept. Apparently, it originated from the Pitt football equipment department in preparation for this week’s VA TECH game.

Reports indicate that an order to an online adult novelty store catalog site was placed under a fictitious name and address but somehow the delivery ended up in the Pitt football locker room. The order request was for an anal plug!

Now you got to give them full credit for their ingenuity in exploring all possible solutions to this problem.

But, I still expect Tino to $hit himself under the unrelenting defensive pressure that VA TECH is going to lay on him in this game. I hope that I’m wrong though.

Comment by Dr. Tom 09.15.12 @ 8:47 am

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