You SOBs better appreciate The Blather – you just got 6,000+ words in three days!

Let’s talk about something other than the 3rd leading passer, who was only 7 yards behind Marino, in PITT history.

I guess since Whitehead isn’t sharing a number with any other player, that means he’ll be playing both ways. ……right?

Hopefully he’ll be allowed to play on offense this year.

I would really look forward to seeing Whitehead on the field with Tyler Boyd at the same time. It would be impossible to double both of them.

Then next year we might have Oprah’s son coming in to play WR, along with Flowers, Henderson, Tipton, Fflowers, etc, and with Pitt’s graduating we could then possibly move Whitehead over to CB.

But really, let’s team him up with Boyd this year at WR. That could be really really dynamic with a bull like Connor in the backfield and say Ibrahim, in the slot.

Mailman, good observation .. they may well have had that in mind.

here are back-to-back tweets from Gokish with some relevance:

Winfree never failed a drug test at Maryland, so people should probably stop speculating.

Chris Dokish retweeted

Jeremy Tepper ?@jtepp01 23h
Any concerns about Brown transfer Rafael Maia not being able to enroll are no more, as Maia arrived at Pitt a week ago and is eligible.

Well, I don’t doubt that’s true but since that is privileged information and can’t, by privacy laws and every single school’s policies, be released or even given out privately… then people are going to speculate. Although that hadn’t actually crossed my mind.

I just don’t think it is a good precedent to make.

I see both the PG and Trib have articles about renewing the Backyard Brawl with WVCC. We don’t need them, they may come and fill Heinz Field but going to Morgantown sucks. Not only that but they benefit more from it than we do, screw them. Get a good quality opponent that has a stadium that you can go to a game without having things thrown at you or making sure you are in a group of at least 20 so the drunken hillbilly’s don’t gang up on you and try a start a fight with you. I would sooner even see a USF or UCF game place to go away when its warm and let them come to our frozen north for a game. As the team improves we will fill the seats, that’s what it will take. I have been to two away ACC games since we joined and the home fans treat you decent and not try and knock your teeth out so you look like them!

@Reed

wbb did not take the bait on your snarky comment. I got a good laugh. So, thanks.

H2P

I strongly agree with Reed that we shouldn’t be taking other programs problem children. That being said, Edsell is the coach at MD. He can be kind of a dick.

OK, our list of below avg qbs is now digested(obviously, Tino wasn’t very good, but as you can see, we’ve had worse), and now the end to this terribly dead season is in sight…

Very much looking forward to some camp news, or at least recruiting tidbits…

Reed, thx for the info above

@ Reed.. I truly appreciated coach Chryst cleaning up the program and bringing in quality players /Student athletes at least on the offense of side of the ball.I was proud to see pit set high standards for behavior and academics and hope that continues. I get tired of seeing thugs and malcontents who have no business gracing a college football field. Coach Duzz if you are reading ..Mr. Juwann Winfree had his shot a failed miserably.. Keep our standards high.. Give the quality men who chose to be a Pitt Panther first.. Those guys are my heroes and there are enough of them to complete amongst themselves without throwing a two time loser in the mix

SOB’s = Same ol Blatherers (?)

6000 words? If I hadn’t met you I would swear you were a woman!

Seriously, thank you for your superb journalism!

I will find out Winfree’s sins at UMD as I have a few good connections there. What I do know is that Randy Edsel is a prick as a coach, disliked by alums and players for his over the top disciplinary ways. Had he not won a few games last year he was as good as gone. As a form of discipline, intimidation always is the easiest means to an end but it never works long term.

If this kid has non drug related offenses, non rape, or theft and has just been suspended for missing meetings or that type of offense, I say sign him up.

Wirginis should have a serious chance to beat out Galambos at 245lbs. In any case great to have depth at the position. Hope the new 25 on Render is muscle. He can make a huge difference.

Looking at Reed’s list, we will have a lot of beef upfront to replace.

Disappointed that Rori Blair isn’t on the weight gain list, like to see him above 250. He can make a huge difference if he can apply the needed pressure. Can Price stay healthy this year, would also be a major plus.

I love that WBB is now officially on staff. Can we get Pat the Dark Knight as a QB Grad Assistant and Upitt as the new head baseball coach too?!

While you are right that any information is privileged, Andre Powell was a coach at Maryland until this upcoming season so probably has an idea on what is going on. Although I do not like the idea of a hooligan on the team after the SI article, you can see based on the transfer rate at Maryland that Randy Edsall has a dark side.

Hooligan’s are long gone. I think the last hooligan might have been gone by the mid to late 60’s.

Today they are thugs.

Expecting a big year from Ejuan Price.

Kid is quick enough to get around any Tackle.

If he can stay healthy, he can be what this team needs on the outside…….a playmaker.

Reed – the non-issues with players on Chryst’s club just highlight the risk averse culture he created. In life, to be successful you have to take risks – they can be calculated – but you have to take them. Name a successful person and you’ll see risks taken.

This is a football team, not an honors society. You have to take chances on kids and hope they grow. Does that mean you go full Wannstedt and build a team of malcontents? No – but you have to give kids a chance to prove themselves. Let them grow into adults.

Pitt offered this kid previously … in fact, the first to offer. MSU offered him. He was a 4* WR – hell yeah you take him. Edsel is a d-bag anyways. Not sure I trust his judgment. What is “athletic code” anyways?

Adding him is a no brainer, especially if the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Man, you just got me more mad at Chryst’s mediocrity. Thanks! Lol.

Concerning the players who gained significant weight – the example that pops into my head is Soto. He put on a bunch of weight before last season and all it seemed to do was slow him down.

Except for DTs, lean, mean, and quick is the preference on defense, IMHO.

Go Pitt.

Except when the O-Tackle weighs 325, and you can’t always go around him. Was Soto any good in the first place? You are right about speed though, if it is just fat not so good. You have to be strong and quick to be a D-End.

Soto was the best we had, which wasn’t saying much.

He has little to no speed. And at DE, since you’re undersized anyway going up against a much larger Tackle, you got to have speed, as in getting off the ball quick, looping around the tackle, or faking the loop and cutting inside of him.

Usually most college teams don’t have 2 excellent Tackles. So you flip a guy like Ejuan over to the side where the weaker of the 2 Tackles plays.

Exploit weaknesses….name of the game.

Use to be a place on Centre Ave, named that ! ha

Yeah emil the name of the game talkin and drinkin

Agree with TT.

America is about giving ppl 2nd chances. Or at least it use to be.

If the kid didn’t do something terribly wrong, you give him a 2nd chance.

Choir boys team in Power 5 conference will get you 6-6 at best.

We’re not Stanford or the Domers.

You guys are talking about picking up a Maryland problem child, Winfree, and yet the thought of allowing Shell back in the program was worst than the plague.

I’m shaking my head on this one. Edsall is a easier coach than Chryst in what he puts up with.

How does this make Windfree good for us?

OPG – Shell was a known problem child and prima donna. No one knows what Winfree has done (violated athletic code????) and Edsal is a known tool and complete d-bag of a head coach.

So, the reason why Winfree is good for us is because of the unknown.

… And I’m not sure where you get the idea Edsall was easier to play for than Chryst. Edsall is known as one of the biggest disciplinarians in college football with his strict adherence to rules.

The difference between Shell and Windfree. you don’t take a girl back who cheated on you. You do start dating a girl, who has cheated on another guy. Especially if she’s 4 star quality.

@ Emel – I agree with your comments earlier about Whitehead at WR along side T.Boyd this year. That is a dynamic duo that even PatMan cannot ignore. I’ve been on record in past threads with that thought as well.

As for the DE’s, I have been a big fan of Price since he switch from tOSU to PITT during the recruiting process. Sad to see all the injuries – he has the talent and potential to have a big year – and it is a position we need him to perform at a higher level. I do think Blair and our new JUCO DE Allen Edwards will shine in the Duzz/Conklin D this year and make positive impacts – we need one more DE to arise from the troops.

Regarding Winfree – his highlights remind me (just a little) of our current star receiver who will probably head to the NFL after this season and miss the Pedo State game at Heinz Field in ’16. So, if our leaders at PITT can reconcile the infractions he is accused of, set the ground rules to live by (clearly) ahead of time, I’m all for giving this young man another chance – but that is it – he must adhere to the rules and be a good teammate (and help us beat Pedo State).

SUGGESTION: let Oprah’s son room with Jay Stocker, who is quoted as saying his FB goals at PITT are to beat Pedo State and win a National Championship.

The NFL is calling Mr. Winfree and you need to be ready to answer the call – Let PITT help you get there. We have a proven track record.

And for the complaints about the weight gain, weren’t we all complaining about Chryst hiring a guy who wasn’t even certified yet and his only accomplishments were playing at Wisconsin and bouncing around the NFL? I for one am happy for the size gain as it’s not like these guys were zipping around like an Oregon Duck and sacking quarterbacks left and right. If you look at film from the FSU game or Duke game, we were not able to collapse the pocket let alone sniff the quarterback. I’m not worried about speed when the guys will be playing in the center. I want to see a push which will be key in our game at GT with that triple option.

@dcpinpgh
One of the most succinct analogies ever put on this board. you don’t have to marry the girl you just date her.

Shane Roy, the sleeper in the DE troops that could make an impact this season playing a support role at DE. Still looking forward to seeing what Allen Edwards brings to the table though. He and Price could make a defensive weakness into a strength if both live up to my expectations.

Dr Tom – I like Roy also but I think we are going to be seeing a lot of transfers, as has already started, and those transfers are going to get PT sooner rather than later. So Edwards may keep Roy on the bench for some time.

Tossing – Re: Winfree – I think the most important thing with this new staff is that they establish a standard of conduct and when that standard isn’t met they deal with it quickly, independently and consistently. Therefore I can live with Winfree getting a slot here at PITT although I’d hate for it to become a habit. As long as Narduzzi keeps the kid in line with all his teammates and with the rules set forth then good luck.

Second chances are interesting – I do think the kid had two chances already but I’ll admit I don’t know anything about how Edsall disciplines his own players. Could be he just wanted the kid gone which happens as we saw here at PITT over the last three years.

We don’t have to be an honors society and I can tell you we aren’t. However, there is nothing wrong with doing due diligence in recruiting and making sure that if two kids are close in talent you do your homework and take the one who will contribute off the field and not detract from it.

dcpinpgh, LOL

I just hope that Oprah doesn’t pull a P Diddy on our S&C coach

Can’t really say about Winfree. The only thing I will comment on is that if we get him then his issues are most likely minor as I cannot imagine a new HC taking a chance on a kid with his talet level. If he was a 5 star QB then it is a different story, but a receiver who is merely very good- why risk it?

Again, I think it depends on what the infractions were, and whether he has matured.

My son, like many freshmen, spent a year drinking, playing video games, and distracted by girls, flunked out. After a year of Community College, and threats by his old man, we went back to see the dean who read him the riot act before letting him back in. He is now a Pitt Alum and a successful engineer.

Kids need a second chance when it is earned and deserved.

Interesting article about Scarpinato in today’s PG, wonder how much PT (playing time, not physical therapy) he will get. Anyway, you can’t have too much depth on the lines. Welcome aboard.

No one ever said Shell didn’t deserve a chance at another university. He did and all kids do except the Florida State QB. Some infractions aren’t forgivable. Shell burned the bridges at Pitt, then buried the ashes and stomped on them.

The Maryland kid obvious used up his chances with their program as well.

At some point, the coach has to look at the big picture and do what is best for the team. The coach can’t let a star player have so many chances that the team loses respect for that coach.

I am sure Narduzzi will do the right thing here. As everyone has said, their needs to be a policy in place and it has to be communicated and enforced.

As to Windfree most have covered this quite well, Dokish can ask people but because of privacy we’ll never know. As Ted pointed out coach Powell should have good insights into what went on at MD. My original thought was set an example but there are exceptions to rules. If taken on it has to be a no-tolerance policy with him; one strike and your out.

As to weight gain the game and player size has indeed changed which I find sad. Otherwise I would point out the famous story about Ricky Jackson at 200 putting 10 pounds of weight in his pockets. I still like Rori Blair, as long as he has added muscle and stregth.

dcinpgh – outstanding, only gotta live with the 4 star cheater for a couple years.

Reed – this post is 136 words.

@ Reed, I agree with you that the talent on defensive side of the ball is going to improve under Narduzzi, but the current situation is not going to be enhanced by future recruits/transfers. Right now is Shane Roy’s opportunity to impress this new staff and earn his spot on the two deep before those reinforcements become available.

Considering Price’s injury history and Soto’s inability to show growth at DE, the stage is set for some newcomers debute at that position. Next year I think Hendrix will come in as a beast to start at one end but the other three spots in the DE two deep will be determined by who proves that they are worthy to play that position this season.

The lack of depth more than any other factor spells opportunity for Roy this season. The other consideration is with the type of attacking D that Conklin wants to institute, to be really effective requires fresh troops on both ends to be able to motor balls out on every snap. Without a rotation of the two deep at the DE spots, guys will be too gassed to bring the corner rush all the time.

So a minimum of four guys are required and five serviceable players would be better in case somebody comes up gimpy. My five in order of depth that I see contributing are 1- Blair, 2- Price 3- Edwards, 4- Soto & 5- Roy.

If Roy fails to see the field this season he just might disappear into the roster come future seasons. Now or never should therefore be his motivational mantra for 2015.

rkb – … and how long did it take you to research those 136 words and gather facts and links whenever possible, write your initial draft, proofread them, fix errors, transfer them from a Word draft to WordPress, proof read them again because WordPress screws some things up, make sure all the links work and open in a different window, proofread a last time before publishing it, and then correct any formatting errors that WordPress made when making the post visible to the reader’s eyes? 🙂

Joking around of course but that’s what we guys on here do no matter how big or small the post is. So for your 136 words to become an article that you would want your real name attached to for hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world to see (not exaggerating here either) would probably take you between 15-30 minutes minimum to do correctly.

Actually, some comments on here are an article in themselves – Tossing’s piece the other day was a great read and that info he wanted to impart to the other readers is actually seen and read by a lot of people… so now he’s as famous as Chas.

Of course this is why I love writing on here because it keeps me out of the bars at 6:00 in the morning.

And one last reason I’m carrying a torch for Shane Roy is because, just like Maclean my bromance subject from last year that went bust, he wrestled in HS. That means that he possesses another sports skill set that I think pays dividends when applied to acquired football rushing skills of defensive line players at the next level.

@Reed

Are you hearing anything about how much money Duzz and Barnes are bringing in the door from the deep pocket donors and others? I am wondering if their efforts to raise money for the practice facilties (Duzz) and Pitt athletics in general (Barnes) are bearing any fruit?

H2P

1- Blair, 2- Price 3- Edwards, 4- Soto & 5- Roy

….Narduzzi has straight-up stated that Rori Blair has NFL – Quality but he needs to step-up his eating and training to build his body — that already shows that Narduzzi sees the “inherited / Defensive “Step-Son” Blair as one of “His Guys” he thinks can play in his system. And I think Pat Narduzzi was being 100% literal when he told the Media he was Ticked-Off because he literally was eating twice as much as Rori Blair in their post-practice meals — for all the constant focus on pushing themselves in the weight room and in training — to be a High Level Football Player at a Position anywhere on the Line you must love to Pump-Nourishment into your body.

Anything Narduzzi has said about any other D-Ends has been pure “Lip-Service” and politeness (anti-Todd Graham — okay we may obviously know a kid can’t play and doesn’t have ‘talent’, but no need Rub-it-in to vent your frustrations).

Maclean honestly may have been shell-shocked out of D-1 football when he played in a real game. In his nationally-televised moments against Iowa it almost looked like his football career might have ended right there and then, it was to that level. What made it worse was that it looked like he was really trying, but watching him get totally Stonewalled the moment either OT or any O-lineman laid their hands on him (lol and no not just by #5 NFL pick Brandon Scherff either). He seemed like a ‘Big-Body’ —- but capability-wise he just was not a Division one Football Player.

Soto should never have been offered a scholarship to Pitt by Chryst. He just doesn’t have even close to the Athleticism or explosiveness to play on the Outside. Soto’s only hope is to hurry-up (Now, Urgency! lol) and put on 30 pounds to try and be a Chas Alecxih, hard-nosed, high-motor type inside presence.

Maybe if Shakir Soto got up to 300 he could contribute at Defensive Tackle / Nose Guard, but that’s what he possibly has to offer this team and that’s it.

Pitt’s discipline needs to be consistent with the mores of the ACC. I think you’re over the top on student discipline, Reed. Football players have never been saints and Pitt is not a monastery.

WarrenPanther:

Pitt needs the Mounties to fill seats at Heinz.

Blair is an interesting case study. Think of his medical condition before imploring him to eat. My sense is that he is very particular about what he puts into his body. Perhaps there is a back story nutritionally that is being played out that we don’t know about. I would be nervous for sure if I were him, especially in dietary terms.

I am pulling for him as a USC alum. People with heart conditions typically don’t eat a bunch of high fat, cholesterol foods. Just sayin that there might be a back story, but I have nothing to confirm or deny that. Also hope that OL Ford has a great year and works on his mean streak and finishing skills. He looks to have nice feet!

Concerning Winfree, someone said Nard dog was recruiting him heavy for MSU. If that’s true our coach knows all about this kid and if he wants him now then I say coach probably knows best.
Besides, sure like a kid on the team called Win Free instead of SOP Lose Free!!!

Terrible tie up last night on the Parkway West. It was bumper to bumper tractors and Quads going up Green Tree hill, it was WVU night at PNC Park.

“Hey, we can play who’s going to be ‘asked to get on with his life’s work’ eight months before it even matters. Oh Joy! I’ll start the game with … Chad Voytik.”

Commander….I missed that lil’ “instigation” there….

But you’re speaking y language!! Since he’s so intelligent (a true Scholar along with being a tip-top Gentleman, I’m sure!! Haha) he’ll definitely wrap-up a degree by this Spring!

I mean, (Ring Announcer Voice): Nathan, “How’d the Vols Let This Stud Go??!!” Peterman…..Adam, “Big-Money” , “Baby-Ben” Bertke…Ben, “Slice ‘N Dice” DiNicci…..and newest to the party, “Marcus Mariotta Whooooooo” Thomas, Macccccccvittttiiiiiie!!!

Voytik’s gotta think he’s playing in Panama right now, with all the Heat on him!!!

He better put up those W’s and Leads a couple tough comebacks against this Waugh tougher ACC schedule, or Pat Narduzzi is gonna shut the blinds, tell his secretary to “give him a minute”, shut the door and have “The Talk” with Voytik this upcoming Post-Season!!

Back-Up QB’s Forever!!! Hahaha

Reed, I know that accessibility has been a problem with Narddog at the helm, but if you, Chas, or Justin get invited to camp I would love to hear how the players are feeling about the S&C coaching change. To me, that’s been the most important one as he has spent more time with the players due to NCAA rules than any other coach on the staff. With such a drastic change, I have to think they are buying into what he is selling.

[…] has been touching on the ones in the past week or so — Wirginis, Ford, Voytik and […]

Voytik will rise to the competition presented, it will be good for both him and the team. I actually hope that he gets displaced as the starter at some point this season because that would mean that somebody has stepped up their game in a major way.

What a pleasure to be able to discuss an actual QB competition going into camp this season.

Slow down on the Soto comments. This kid was not fortunate enough to get a redshirt year to develop. He was thrown into the fire. I think he will end up a better than average DL.

Lots of young guys behind him. Ten RS SO and below I believe.

My money is on the former all everythng wrestler Connor Dintino.

Reed – ouch

Start of big 4 games series Pirates with St Louis tonight – roads will be jammed – watch on MLB network better

^^^ rkb – just joshing around. We wouldn’t write on here if we didn’t want to… although I go overboard on the in-depth stuff sometimes.

Tony77 – opinions are opinions. I don’t think anyone has to ‘go overboard’ only that the PITT administration and football program principles have set standards and keep the kids held to those… across the board and consistently.

When you have 105 or so players on a roster and maybe, at best, two or three will play in the NFL then a the administration’s goal, off the field, has to be to get these kids ready to deal with what they will face later in life. Just exactly like you or I would do with our own sons.

That is what the concept that Loco Parentis is based on. The university acts as their parents while the kids are students at PITT. It is agreed upon between the players, his parents or guardian and PITT, in writing when they sign the LOI and the scholarship papers.

This is true with every university.

So with that I firmly believe that the university must make things perfectly clear, be it strict or not so strict standards. Whatever they are they have to be administered fairly and without exceptions so that if two players commit the same transgressions they get the same discipline.

So, I don’t say come down hard but I do say there are multiple reasons for discipline and one main one is to deter other players from going sideways from the rules.

damn i love all you guys. Reed I would’ve appreciated 5900 words as much as I do 6k! The Dark Knight – your right, we need you but Emel is right about QB1CV who we should all expect to improve NOW (Emel the Name of the Game was a classic – along with a great rib joint & the DQ that block of Centre Ave was fun for all ages 24×7!).

Dr. Tom, can you double up on your bro’mances? I believe our rising DT TJ should get some shine this year – which is important considering the 412crew should look up to this Allderdice product. I look for him to help us get the aforementioned “push” in the trenches we lacked last year! And I would think he could help in the recruiting arena 2 seeing as though some of these key targets are East End products!

Bottom line is that I’m pumped – scored season tickets after a 3 year hiatus – it was really a no brainer considering the pref treatment I got because of my hoops seats! I think it was interim AD RJ who said something to the effect of if we can cure polio we can win 10 football games! H2P Culture vs Cornfields – its not even close! Pitt is It!!!

Nice ESPN Conner article.

link to espn.go.com

Reed- my word count was a joke as well – referring to our 6K words rehashing old arguments and Dan 72 hilarious question about your gender identity. Everyone at work wanted to know why I was laughing so loud. I appreciate your articles, how much work goes in etc. Tossings post was indeed an article as are many other such as gc,e-mel, wbb etc – I cant even get it to link when I try. Do you Blatherites type on Word then copy into the comments here? I am beyond computer illiterate.
Just a thought (I have many, most bad) Reed can you set up an article which would serve as a petition for Pitt, EJ Borgetti, Nard Dog, to share our desire that as this site journalist in residence that we would like you to be admitted to fall camp for full viewing. I understand secrecy re putting in game plan but that is done the week before the game. I think most if not all of us, even not regular posters, would like to let them know our feelings.
ps Seriously, hope all your tests came out positive. Joking – if tests show PMS see Dan 72 or Caitlyn for advice. :). Will be at your 60th bd bash, reserving my driver as I always do when imbibing tissue restoring liquids.

As to yesterday’s rehash I did draw several conclusions from the rehashing. 1) ratings are overrated or unreliable 2) need well paid coaches, assistants, recruiting coordinators, camps etc to evaluate talent outside of service 3) once recruited need excellent coaches, generally those are paid well (Pitt since Bozik tried to do it on the cheap) to teach them 4) player must have desire as per comments on Wirginus (sp)5) some coaches we had played favorites but others pushed recruits by open competition which brings out the best, if not given the opportunity their attention and desire can flag and a 3 star become a 1 star. So for my impressions there were excellent thoughts I took from in between the lines.

REED – I misunderstood the 6K meant YOUR writing not our blabbing on old QB controversies. Dang. NOw I realize why your panties were in a knot. see Dan 72. lol

ptbreeze
my favorite phrase when I was at Pitt was “culture vs. agriculture.”

@Tony77019 they may come and fill the stadium but its a two way street for away games. I would sooner spend $1,000 on a flight and hotel to go to an away game with a team that has fans with some class like all the away ACC games I have gone to.

Dr. Tom,
Be careful what you wish for. Pitt could be in big time trouble if Voytek has to be replaced and you can’t assume the replacement will fix what ails Pitt in the win column.
On the other hand if Voytek remains the starter all season then it would be a safe bet Pitt is racking up many wins !