PASSING NOTES ON....CINCINNATI

It’s time to put the debacle of Youngstown State behind us and focus on Cincinnati.  There is some good news coming out Pitt this week.  The suspended 6 are back at practice and on pace to return.  Tyrone Ezell is obviously the most important player, but getting an injured TJ Clemmings is just as important.  I believe K’Wuan Williams and Todd Thomas are the only players that may not play Thursday in the Big East opener (God, it feels great to say that for the very last time).

The game will be played in Cincinnati at 8PM on ESPN (the real one this time).  Cincinnati is a little bit of a mystery, as the Bearcats were off last week and have a host of new players.  On offense, they must replace a good chunk of their offense.  Isaiah Pead is gone, as is QB Zach Collaros (Pead was the Big East offensive player of the year last year) and the starter under center will be Munchie Legaux.  Not only is Legaux an automatic member of the all-name teams around the country, but his upside is better than Collaros.  The question is how will his accuracy and decision making be when it comes down to game time.  The RB position will be manned by a trio of Bearcats in George Winn, Jameel Poteat (a former Pitt commit), and great punt returner, Ralph David Abernathy IV (I feel like he visited the royal palace with the Griswolds in European Vacation).  The offense returns 5 starters, so they do have a good amount of questions. 

On defense, the front seven is the Cincinnati strength, but they did lose the Big East defensive player of the year, Derek Wolfe.  His slack will be picked up by DE/LB Walter Stewart.  The blitzing attacks will test the Pitt offensive line, so hopefully Ryan Turnley and the boys are building some nice chemistry and hopefully Ray Graham gained some confidence last week.

Make no mistake the short week hurts Pitt.  I am not looking for miracles.  Cincinnati has been picked no lower than 4^th in the pre-season polls for the Big East and some consider them a sleeper in the Big East.  Playing at Nippert Stadium also provides Cincinnati with an edge.  I do think Pitt is a little sharper and gives us a little bit of an improvement over their opener (it can’t get much worse), but I don’t think it will be enough.  Final: Cincinnati – 24 Pitt – 17.  I hope I am wrong.