(When I say lighter I mean from the last FB article)

Here is Chris Peak’s latest podcast from the Trib-Review that he recorded last night and posted today.  There is always something interesting in these podcasts and I find myself constantly rewinding to make sure I get exactly what he’s saying.

Here he (tries to) list his Top five players on the Pitt roster going into the fall camp.  He mentions how some players work out right away; SO S Jordan Whitehead for example, and some others take a year or two to develop.

Surprisingly he mentions 3* recruit WR Aaron Matthews as someone who was overlooked by fan’s expectations of who will make an early impact this season as a true FR… then says Matthews may not play this year (??).  That reference is in context to  WR Juwann Winfree bagging out at the last moment. Remember the Winfree of the  suspension at Maryland, then over to CC, then pledged to Pitt, then off to Colorado?

Here’s a past article to jog your memory on that Matthews/Winfree subject.

But Peak feels that true FR WRs Flowers and Ffrench (sounds like good ’cause and effect’ on a date, eh?) are more likely to see playing time this season than any other FR WRs. He also mentions (now) SO WRs Quadree Henderson and Tre Tipton getting some PT early on last season and, in Henderson’s case at least, doing pretty well through the year.  Even though Henderson contributed mostly on Special Teams he showed the speed and talent which could push him up the depth chart at WR.

Anyway, Peak’s  Top Five 2016 Players list is interesting, especially given the fact that he doesn’t really do it.  he does talks at length about the players who could be on it, but never finalizes his list.

I’m glad he starts off by talking about Whitehead’s strength in run support.  Without it we would have been in a world of hurt.  I also agree about Nate Peterman.  Had he been more consistent over the whole season I could see him up there but that didn’t happen and leaves a big question mark for 2016 in my mind.

I’ll disagree with Chris one one Peterman point though – I think Peterman’s play in the two back-to-back wins against Duke (31-13)  in NC (3 TDs) and then against Louisville (4 TDs) at Heinz (45-34) was pretty damn good – and maybe even bordering on ‘spectacular’.

In those games he was 35 of 57 for 412 yards (61.4%) with 7 TDs and zero INTs for a combined QB rating of 163. That is excellent play. In each game his TDs were the margin of victory and those two wins gave us the bump from the dreaded six wins to the welcomed eight… and best of all gave us a 6-0 ACC record at the time.

He didn’t do it singly handed as Ollison was hot in those games also, but it did give us a glimpse of what could possibly happen with our passing game in 2016 if we keep our fingers crossed and Peterman out of the hospital.

Here is my Top Five for next season.  Along with my choices here is the final starting lineup from 2015 so you too can pick yours and put it in the comments section for us to discuss.

For me the following are the key players.  I am leaving Conner off on purpose due to circumstances and I’m projecting some stuff that isn’t based on a couple nominee’s 2015 play:

SO S Jordan Whitehead, Peak says it all.  This kid is just going to get better and thank God he didn’t go to prep school or this would be his last year with us.

rsSR WR Dontez Ford;  I believe that, save Conner returning to his 2014 form, Ford will be our next star on offense.  His production in the shadow of Tyler Boyd was pretty amazing.  He had the best ypc average for any Pitt receiver who had more than 25 catches since Greg Lee’s 19.6 in 2005.

  Ford had 26 catches for 505 yards with an excellent 19.4 ypc.  he isn’t the fastest or the biggest but he gets the job done every time the ball is thrown his way.  i can’t remember one drop by Ford in his career either.

rsSR LT Adam Bisnowaty;  Good, strong and consistent.  He anchors the OL and contrary to some pundits beliefs I think the OL will struggle at first.  Bisnowaty’s steady play and seniority will help with that.

rsSO DE Dewayne Hendrix; I don’t care that he hasn’t taken a snap in a Pitt uniform in anger yet. I think Hendrix will be the complement to Ford’s stardom but on defense.This player is 6’4″ and at least 270 (probably a bit heavier with more muscle weight) and fast as hell. The coaches rave about him and I think with good cause.  He reminds me of DE Jabaal Sheard.

SR DT Tyrique Jarrett;  He’s poised to be the key on the DL  and will be a good run stopper. He’s 6’3″ and 335 and quicker than most think.  Now that Render is gone he’ll get starting playing time and make the most of it.

Honorable Mention: SR TE Scott Orndoff; He plays much like a big WR and splits out sometimes.  He’s faster than a normal TE and when Canada goes to multiple receiver formations he’ll be a main target for Peterman.  Orndoff had 18.8 ypc with a team second-best five TDs.  Now that Boyd is gone Orndoff will get more touches and will produce.

The PITT News has a nice bit of info today.  The kudos and recognition keep rolling in for Dan Marino, and in this case, some other PGH greats. The city has taken a nice step in the right direction in putting up this sign:

“Andy Warhol’s renowned pop art might be housed in a museum across the river, but he got his start in Oakland.

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, about 40 people joined Mayor Bill Peduto at the intersection of Dawson and Swinburne Streets in South Oakland as he recognized Warhol and two other Pittsburgh greats by re-dedicating a sign in their honor.

Members of the community dedicated a sign to NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino and Warhol about 25 years ago, but the updated sign now includes former heavyweight champion and retired professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino. All three Pittsburghers grew up in the South Oakland neighborhood.

“If you think about it, there are probably few places on Earth where within a few blocks three people rose from three fields to become internationally known,” Peduto said.”

Isn’t it interesting that Warhol is teamed with the two people from Pittsburgh that he most probably have wanted to sleep with?

Actually if you look at the picture’s background closely this sign isn’t a new concept, at least for Danny. Here are some action clips from each of our three South Oakland men…

Danny Marino is well known for his arm but look at this;

Because I love you guys, even T-Bear if he’s reading this, I got off my lazy ass and will give you this to watch over lunch. Can’t ever get enough of watching Dan Marino throw the football however ‘past and not present‘ the subject is.

Here is perhaps most interesting of all and the least talked about by Pitt people.  Sports fans probably disregard ‘stars’ like Andy Warhol because of the genre’ in which he shone but in truth he had more of an societal impact, and will be remembered and revered the longest, of the three subjects.

Take a five minute break and watch this if you will. Disregard the snotty comment by the narrator that Warhol “…escaped (Pittsburgh) and went to New York.”  However, in his case that way probably true – being gay in Pittsburgh when he was growing up couldn’t have been easy.

Anyway, I heard him in other interviews talking about his hometown and he’s always been nothing but gracious, even praising the citizens. So – watching this can’t hurt and we could learn a thing or two about a fellow ‘Burgh Brother.

I don’t necessarily like all of Warhol’s art like I obviously do Dan Marino’s play. Sammartino I don’t really care about as that sort of wrestling isn’t a sport in my eyes – but it is fun to watch sometimes and I’m proud he’s from my hometown.  But it is correct to include Warhol with the other two and I’m glad the city did it.