I am sure the players, coaches and announcers are completely focused on the upcoming opponent this Saturday. But I can’t say I am. There is no way to really describe FIU as a legitimate threat. They are a complete mess from the top of their athletic department down.
You can see the utter lack of concern for this week in the stories. They are almost bye week stories. Talking about individual players. The mindset of the team. A complete dearth of discussion of the actual opponent. And, well, I’m fine with that.
After the weekend, there was a bit of the “hey this Pitt team might be pretty good,” talk. In no small part because the punditry did list Pitt as a darkhorse for the Coastal division. (But then any team aside from Virginia was considered a possibility to win the Coastal in some scenario.) And the assumption continues that Pitt will keep rolling for this week and even with Iowa coming — Iowa lost their top offensive lineman this weekend (OT Brandon Scheff) for at least a week.
The big theme in the player story is Gabe Roberts getting his chance to start at Center. Roberts is a Wisconsin kid whose dad played high school football with Coach Paul Chryst. He was convinced to take a scholarship to Pitt rather than be a preferred walk-on at Wisconsin.
Roberts has that opportunity again, two years into a college career that has been full of twists and turns. It will be up to him to take advantage of this new twist.
“He had size and enough talent to recruit him, and I think he fits this group. Now he’s got an opportunity. He had an opportunity Friday night,” said Chryst. “He’s still young. He’s got to continue to grow. But we were glad when we signed him, we’re glad that we’ve got him right now and he’s got an opportunity to step up. He’s got to take advantage of that.”
Roberts was recruited because of his size. He was a top player at low-level high school competition. I love the head shot photo of him for this story. Aside from his huge size, get him out of the suit and he looks like he belongs at a Widespread Panic concert.
Chryst added that Roberts and redshirt freshman Alex Officer will get snaps at center with the first team this week, and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said Wednesday there is a “real possibility” the two could split time Saturday against Florida International.
Roberts doesn’t seem to mind a little competition.
“We both push each other, we both get to look at different looks and talk about what happened on a play if we missed it,” Roberts said. “It’s really good to have another center out there pushing you. If you’re just getting handed [the starting job], you’re sitting there lazy.”
Friday marked the first meaningful snaps of Roberts’ Pitt career, which had been defined by injuries more than anything on the field. He redshirted as a freshman, but a shoulder injury kept him off even the practice field.
Entering 2013, Roberts appeared to be the favorite to win the starting center job, but was narrowly beaten out by Rowell. Another shoulder injury cut his 2013 season short after three games, and Roberts said he wasn’t totally healed until the end of spring practices earlier this year.
“He missed a lot of time, but he came back and he’s been out there working,” offensive line coach Jim Hueber said. “He had to be ready to go and he went in and played.”
Given the opponent, and the expected blowout. It seems very likely that Roberts and Officer will share the duties at center for this week. Just to get things settled and set for the Iowa game.
James Conner still hasn’t played any DE. It will happen eventually, but it is nice to see that the DEs — both the starters and the guys behind them on the two-deep — playing well.
Palermo directs an inexperienced group, part of the reason he works every day with running back James Conner. So far, Conner has been confined to offense.
“We really haven’t needed him,” Palermo said. “I would still like to get him out there at some point.”
Meanwhile, starters Durham and Shakir Soto are backed up by freshman Rori Blair and redshirt freshman Luke Maclean. Durham and Blair have two of the team’s five sacks.
None of the top four ends played at Pitt before last season, but Durham said the second year in the system has been beneficial.
“We are very cohesive, just because we trust each other a little bit more and feel a little more comfortable with the scheme,” he said.
The future is unclear, but Palermo is hopeful.
“In my opinion,” he said, “we are way ahead of where it was a year ago, as far as understanding the game.”
Admit it. This could totally happen to Pitt’s helmets at some point.
Complete domination of FIU will send a clear message to the Hawkeye’s that this Pitt Panther team understands the process necessary to be a true contender. Respect the game, respect the opponent, prepare for battle, then go to work and take no prisoners!
Getting some of the two deep some playing time in this game should be the only rational excuse that the Panthers should give if they don’t man handle FIU.
I want to see Pitt grab these guys by the throat and own them. If the FIU football program is really in shambles and is as weak as everyone is reporting that they are, then this game should be like livestock going to the slaughterhouse.
My big question is can this Pitt squad pull that kind of domination of a lesser opponent off for yet a second game. Focus and proper execution will be required to accomplish that. We’ll see.
Please take time to remember all who lost their lives and those still affected by the attack on our country 13 years ago. God Bless America!! Hail to Pitt!!!
Another consequence of a big Pitt game would be piling on the statistics necessary to have Pitt being taken seriously nationally. FIU has been prone to taking sacks, 8 so far against two FCS opponents, so Pitt’s DL should be salivating at this opportunity.
Interestingly, Neither FIU QB has thrown an interception yet this season, meanwhile, Pitt’s D is on pace for a THIRTY INT season,,, WHAT??
I’m feeling that maybe that “no int” statistic for FIU might be ripe for change this week.
Dr Tom, I’m not sure at all if any statement can be made with a win against a team that lost to Bethune Cookman would make. Pitt has to take care of itself, be prepared for each game, and above all, continue to improve each game.
Ludwig Picarro CAS ’79 was killed September 11, 2001, in the World Trade Center attacks in New York City. A New Castle native, Picarro, 44, moved to Basking Ridge, New Jersey, several years ago, and was working for Zerok American Insurance Co. as senior vice president for diversified products. His wife, Susan, and two sons, Andrew and Matthew, survive him.
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I knew him back in the mid 70s when he played for New Castle (he used to play tennis with my sister who played at both Pitt and CMU) and was actually recruited to play FB at Pitt, but never saw any PT. He graduated from Pitt in 79 and was very successful in business.
I trust that our coaches take every foe seriously.
Pittsburgh at Florida International: James Conner might crack 1,000 rushing yards by October, and FIU finished 100th nationally in rushing defense a season ago … Pitt 42, FIU 7
H2P!!!
Any chance Chryst gets extended this year?
It only takes one guy, taking one play off, to result in a big play for our opponent. The “statement” that can be made by the Panthers on Saturday will be more a one of further burying the “same old Pitt” mantra than anything else.
Us Pitt fans are a weird bunch, wbb, apparently with sort memories.
Two weeks ago, there are those among us, worried that we’d play down to our competition and $hit the bed with a struggling performance against our FCS opponent in our opener. Now,nall of a sudden, we’re so complacent after two victories, to totally discount our opponent on Saturday before the Panthers ever take to the field!
That my friend, epitomizes that issue of “mailing” the game in. Good teams win games like this, no doubt, but teams that aspire to greatest DOMINATE games like these, while utilizing there backups to gain experience in the process.
This game will be telling in that regard. Focus and execution of a well prepared game plan will provide invaluable experience for our squad on Saturday. This contest is not to be discounted, even if the opponent is shown to be inferior on paper, you still have to play the game.
Since that is the case, why not strive to play it flawlessly?
Hail to Pitt!
The way to do this is by giving him the ball to start… but quickly going to PLAY ACTION.
FIU presents a CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY for Voytik to work on his deeper passing game. Far more important to work that in instead of seeing how many yards Conner can get. We already have seen what “PANTHER BEAST MODE” can do and how the Offense operates around that.
It is VITAL for Conner to be RESTED AND INJURY FREE going into IOWA and what follows. We saw last year where he is susceptible to getting “nicked up” because of his running style and how that can really slow him down and diminish his effectiveness.
In addition to allowing Voytik work on his passing game… think it might also serve well to see what CHRIS JAMES is bringing.
Give the Freshman the Ball.
If he’s at all capable of taking it the distance, Saturday is the day to find out on FIU Community Field’s Artificial Surface.
TWO GAMES…. TWO SACKS! And that’s from just playing primarily in 3rd Down Situations.
Defensive Coordinator Matt House on the impact Blair is making.
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“Rori’s done a great job,” House said… “He’s done a nice job and he’s given us something off the edge.” – Sam Werner Post Gazette
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The other name I thought we might also hear making a difference is Zach Challingsworth.
He would seem to have all the tools necessary to be REALLY EFFECTIVE in Crossing Passing Routes.
But so far… nothing. Maybe do in part to Ronald Jones who has been EFFECTIVE.
It was obvious from his HS Highlights that Blair is an athlete with “Sudden-ness”… as I believe Mike Mayock of the NFL Network likes to put it.
Battling back after stroke also tells you this Kid is a FEARLESS COMPETITOR.
Wuestner is one of the fastest WRs we have and can catch the ball – he did very well in camp.
Exactly! Get Connor his 150 yds, then rest him.
As to Devon Cook – he’s behind Blair and MacLean on the depth chart, which says something about their talent as Devon Cook ain’t bad either.
