UCONN RECAP AND A FEW NOTES

The UConn game is in the books and Pitt put on another confusing performance as they rolled up 529 yards to UConn’s 316 (62 of which came on a blown coverage play and another 70ish yards on a final drive with a minute left).  Hopefully Pitt’s Jekyll and Hyde routine will cease in the coming weeks, but Wednesday night’s victory did come with a very heavy price for the Panthers, which could cause problems with consistency in the offense.

Ray Graham will miss the remainder of the year with a nasty knee injury, while Pitt also was dealt a major blow losing promising freshman offensive lineman Matt Rotheram (ankle) and junior slot receiver Cam Saddler (sternum) for the rest of the year as well.  Obviouslythis is NOT good, as Graham is well, Graham. What more can you say about what he has done?  Rotheram was filling in so well on the line that he was slated to keep his spot once Lucas Nix returns from injury.  Cam Saddler had also picked up the pace, so yes, these injuries will be costly.  Fortunately the Panthers do have 10 days to prepare for Cincinnati’s visit to Heinz Field a week from Saturday.  It does NOT end there, as head coach, ToddGraham, once again proved he will not put up with off the field problems anddismissed promising sophomore linebacker Kevin Adams from the team forviolation of team policy.  So, that is four players lost this week; well 5 if you count back up receiver Salath Williams.

Enough with the shitty news, let’s move on to good news.  Tino Sunseri answered the bell and threw for 419 yards and rushed foranother 40, accounting for 3 touchdowns.  Zach Brown filled in for Ray Graham in a different kind of way.  He rushed for only 30 yards, but also pulled in 9 receptions for 84 yards.  Mike Shanahan and Devin Street also showed up huge with 9 catches and 3 TDs between them.  All in all, Tino Sunseri hit 8 different receivers in the ballgame. 

The Pitt defense registered 6 sacks and kept UConn from running their offense without much consistency throughout the evening.   Everyone should be pretty satisfied, but three issues showed up again with the defense.  A timeout was called on defense (though the next play was a sack).  Zero turnovers on a quarterback that was sacked 6 times on the night and has a tendency to turn the ball over.  Lastly, UConn’s running back, Lyle McCombs rushed for 124 yards and most of it came up the gut of the Pitt defense once again.   Hopefully the Panthers can find a fix for that issue.

I would mention the terrible crowd, BUT, I did say I would not blame them for showing up again until Pitt played with some consistency.  Hopefully the next game will provide the students and casual fans a few good reasons to show up a little better (7PM – Saturday evening game – shouldn’t be terribly cold – Steelers play in the evening the next night – Cincinnati is in first place in the Big East).

A few notes to pass along before wrapping this up:

1.       WVU was officially moved to the Big 12 today.  A very interesting aspect about this move is that WVU says they will be joining the Big 12 next year and the Big East is saying they will not.  Who will blink first?  That should be something Pitt and Syracuse fans watch carefully as if WVU goes for next year, expect Syracuse and Pitt to call the Big East’s bluff as well.

2.       Ohio high school lineman Adam Pankey is announcing his choice of college this evening.  It is between Pitt, WVU, NC State, and Illinois.   He is a big recruit and at a very big need area.

3.       You know it is funny with how much Pitt fans are bitching (and I am one of them) about the performance so far.  Yet, in the pre-season, many fans (including me) said Pitt would be in a world of trouble if they lost anyone on the offensive line, especially Nix or Chris Jacobson (good news on him next).  They not only lost both of them, but also Rotheram and center Ryan Turnley (foot injury) is playing on pure guts it turns out.

4.       PG’s Paul Zeise is reporting that Jacobson will receive a 6^th year next season from the NCAA.  The fact that so many young players on the offensive line are getting experience and if Jacobson does get the 6^th season, Pitt’s offensive line could be….dare I say it…a strength next year.