Mostly side stuff. The teams are practicing, but there isn’t much to report about it. Pitt is working on stopping Utah’s offense. Their practices have done well to stop the shovel pass, but that isn’t making Pitt feel good.

He figures that if the Utes have thrived on that play all season, the Panthers’ reserves who are imitating the Utes’ Paris Warren and others are not doing a very convincing job.

“Going against the scout team offense, we’ve been stopping that play left and right,” Crochunis said Monday. The Utes “must have the timing down so well for that – the speed and tempo; it’s so fast. It’s hard for us to prepare for, because for the scout team offense, it’s a very difficult scheme to run. It takes a couple of weeks to learn.”

Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads described the Ute offense as “extremely unique,” although Pittsburgh faced spread-offense teams such as Temple, West Virginia and South Florida.

“They really make you work to stay disciplined,” Rhoads said. “Obviously, nobody’s been effective at [stopping] it all year. . . . You’ve got to have everybody in the right location and they can’t vary from that task.”

Rhoads’ defenses are known for basic, sound schemes without much risk. Like Utah’s defense under Kyle Whittingham over the years, the Panthers give up a lot of yards (388.9 per game) but not a lot of points (23.0).

Comments, Lee? Actually, the more I read about the Utah offense, the less I want to know. It makes my palms sweat at the thought of Pitt’s defense facing it.

And while their offense has been categorized in many ways — as a hybrid of a spread and wishbone, a cross between a spread and a pro-set, a spread with too many wrinkles to call it a mix — one word probably describes it best:

Unstoppable.
…
It was developed by coach Urban Meyer when he took over at Bowling Green in 2001. He took pieces of different offenses — the running game from option teams and the passing game from some wide-open teams such as Purdue — and combined them. He brought it to Utah in 2003.

The offense includes many wide-open formations, but it is not a pass-happy system.

In fact, the Utes were ranked higher in Division I-A running the ball than throwing it. And most of the pass routes are short, with receivers gaining a lot of yards after the catch.

Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said it is a combination of three offenses that Pitt has faced this year — Temple, South Florida and West Virginia. It combines the quarterback running plays and options of the Mountaineers and Owls with the passing plays and five-wide formations of the Bulls.

If there two words that strikes fear into my heart regarding Pitt football, it is simply “spread offense.”

Sticking with defense and Paul Rhoads for a little longer. A column wonders whether the Utah game will be the deciding issue in whether Rhoads comes back as Pitt’s defensive coordinator under new head coach Dave Wannstedt next year.

Meanwhile the Duquesne head football coach is eyeing a place on the Pitt coaching staff. Well, at the very least the media keeps bandying his name about and asking him. Tells you all you need to know about the head job for the Dukes. Hey, at least he could pocket the moving expenses.

Speaking of pocketing the money, a bunch of the Pitt players decided to drive down to Tempe in rental cars. Each player gets $1400 dollars to use in any way they want for getting to the bowl game. They can keep whatever is left. I like the idea of a roadie, but you have to imagine the coaches were sweating it. 30+ hours driving. Hey, when you have more time than money…

Tyrone Gilliard is loving life in Tempe. Seems he could get used to being waited on constantly.

Perhaps Urban Meyer is looking to piss off the media, or just circle the wagons with his players early in the week. He did his best to keep the players from expected media interviews after practices yesterday. Well, he does have a lot of issues with the turnover of coaches including many who have already left or are assuming new duties in this game.

Utes offensive coordinator Mike Sanford was recently named the head coach at UNLV and he left Utah immediately after he was hired. He also took with him linebackers coach Kurt Barber and tight ends coach Keith Uperesa. Cornerbacks coach Chuck Heater, who is going with Meyer, already has left to start his position at Florida.

That means the staff was short-handed by four coaches.

To make up for the losses, Meyer promoted quarterbacks coach Dan Mullen to offensive coordinator and two graduate assistants, Lance Hunsaker and Garry Fisher, will take on the roles of full-time assistants. And volunteer assistant Jay Hill has been hired as a defensive assistant.

Here’s a longer piece on Dan Mullen. He’ll be leaving Utah for Florida after the Fiesta Bowl with Meyer, along with offensive line coach John Hevesy and receivers coach Billy Gonzales. Mullen will not be up in the booth, but stay down on the field. At least for Pitt, while the coaching staff may be sweating, they haven’t left.

Add in another Ute who is dealing with rumors of turning pro after the game. Wide Receiver Steve Savoy is giving it a serious thought.

A fairly interesting piece comparing the two QBs — Tyler Palko and Alex Smith.

In four days, Palko and Smith will ask a national television audience to strap on the seat belts. It could be an incredible ride. Both are capable of putting up monster numbers and neither takes kindly to losing.

“A Heisman finalist and a Heisman candidate for next year,” said Pitt linebacker H.B. Blades. “That’s what we got in this game. You’re talking about two really good quarterbacks. I’ll take Tyler, but I’m sure Utah will take (Smith). Both can play the game.”

And everyone expects big numbers on both sides.

To think, Pitt could have faced Texas in Tempe.