Pitt Panthers
Preview 2007
By
Richard Cirminiello
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2007 Pitt Offense Preview |
2007 Pitt Defense Preview
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2007 Pitt Depth Chart
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2006 CFN Pitt Preview
In 2005,
Pittsburgh started slow and ended fast. In 2006, it opened 6-1
before skidding to five consecutive losses, missing the postseason
for the second time in Dave Wannstedt’s two years at his alma
mater. This comes from a program that feels it has the facilities
and the recent recruiting classes to be mentioned in the same
sentence as Big East heavyweights. Instead, the Panthers have yet
to prove anything while their fans wait for a payoff. It might be
just around the corner as Pitt could be the Big East’s, and
nation’s, biggest wild-card.
Head coach: Dave Wannstedt
3rd year: 13-10
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 26, Def. 20, ST 2
Lettermen Lost: 21 |
Ten
Best Pitt Players
1. DE Joe Clermond, Sr.
2. WR Derek Kinder, Sr.
3. RB L. Stephens-Howling, Jr.
4. OT Mike McGlynn, Sr.
5. DT Gus Mustakas, Jr.
6. WR Oderick Turner, Soph.
7. OT Jeff Otah, Sr.
8. NT Rashaad Duncan, Jr.
9. PK Conor Lee, Jr.
10. CB Kennard Cox, Sr. |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 9-3 |
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Sept. 1 |
Eastern Michigan |
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Sept. 8 |
Grambling |
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Sept. 13 |
at Michigan State
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Sept. 22 |
Connecticut |
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Sept. 29 |
at Virginia |
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Oct.
10 |
Navy |
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Oct.
20 |
Cincinnati |
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Oct.
27 |
at
Louisville |
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Nov.
3 |
Syracuse |
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Nov.
17 |
at
Rutgers |
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Nov.
24 |
South Florida |
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Dec.
1 |
at
West Virginia |
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2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 8-4
2006 Record: 6-6
Preview
2006 predicted wins
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| 9/2 |
Virginia
W 38-13 |
| 9/8 |
at Cincinnati
W 33-15 |
| 9/16 |
Michigan State L 38-23 |
| 9/23 |
The Citadel
W 51-6 |
| 9/30 |
Toledo
W 45-3 |
| 10/7 |
at Syracuse
W 21-11 |
| 10/13 |
at UCF
W 52-7 |
| 10/21 |
Rutgers
L 20-10 |
| 11/4 |
at South Florida L 22-12 |
| 11/11 |
at Conn. L 46-45 2OT |
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11/16 |
West Virginia
L 45-27 |
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11/25 |
Louisville L 48-24 |
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Although it’s only
his third year, the upcoming season is critical for Wannstedt, who’s in
serious danger of squandering what’s left of the goodwill that existed
when he was lured back home. Not only does he have to show tangible
signs of progress, but he’ll have to do so without his long-time
starting quarterback, Tyler Palko, and his two best defensive players,
linebacker H.B. Blades and corner Darrelle Revis, from a unit that
allowed 139 points over its last three games.
Wannstedt sees progress, particularly along the lines, but that might
just be coach-speak from a man reeling from a wildly disappointing
couple of seasons. The perfect remedy for the Panthers would be for the
team to manufacture seven wins and a bowl invite, but that’ll require a
number of first-time starters on both sides of the ball to grow up real
fast. On the plus side, those young players have tremendous upside as
Wannstedt has upgrade the talent level in a hurry (at least according to
the recruiting types). More realistically, Pitt will have a decent year
setting the table for 2008 when all the new stars from the past two
Februarys have some experience on their résumés.
Even so, with everyone else focusing on West Virginia, Louisville,
Rutgers, and even South Florida, Pitt has the potential to sneak past
everyone and suddenly become the player everyone’s expected it to
become.
What to watch for on offense: All eyes will be on the quarterback
battle to replace Palko, who started all 35 games the last three years
and was the undeniable soul of the unit. Last year’s backup, Bill
Stull, is the front-runner, but he’ll have to hold off incoming freshman
Pat Bostick and redshirt freshman Kevan Smith. Wannstedt’s desire to
establish a power running game will be enhanced by having a new starting
quarterback and a talented line that features behemoth tackle Jeff Otah,
third-year starting guard C.J. Davis and Joe Thomas, a rising star at
guard. When the Panthers do pass, they’ll lean heavily on the big-play
receiving duo of Derek Kinder and Oderick Turner.
What to watch for on defense: If the defense is going to improve
following last year’s second-half meltdown, it’ll have to become far
more physical. The Panthers lack girth along the defensive line and
were routinely pushed around against the league’s better teams.
Considering speed was the problem the year before, the mix wasn’t
exactly a winner. Losing Blades, Revis and Clint Session puts a ton of
pressure on the holdovers to produce and could force Pitt to blitz more
than it would like. There’s hope in junior tackles Rashaad Duncan and
Gus Mustakas, who lack ideal size, yet are playmakers with hot motors.
The team will be far better if … the back seven on defense isn’t
a glaring liability. The offense should gel during the first half of
the year and the defensive line shows potential, but if the new
linebackers can’t fill the lanes and the new corners can’t cover, the
Panthers will again spring huge leaks against balanced offenses. That’s
particularly vital since …
The Schedule: … big start is a must with a tough finishing kick
to deal with. Forgive the team for taking it easy over the first two
weeks against Eastern Michigan and Grambling with road tests at Michigan
State and Virginia coming before the end of September. There's no margin
for error in Big East play against Connecticut, Cincinnati, Syracuse and
South Florida, all home games, with road dates at Louisville, Rutgers
and West Virginia over the second half of the year.
Best Offensive Player: Senior WR Derek Kinder. After Greg Lee bolted early for
the NFL, Kinder answered the help wanted ad at wide receiver leading the
Panthers with 57 catches for 847 yards and six touchdown catches. He
spent the entire year dispelling the myth he was just a possession
receiver, making the tough catch over the middle, averaging nearly 15
yards a grab and serving as a valuable downfield blocker.
Best Defensive Player: Senior DE Joe Clermond. Its defense
gutted by graduation and early departures, the Panthers will be looking
to last season’s best pass-rusher to step up and become the leader of
the unit. A rededicated Clermond emerged from nowhere in 2006, piling
up a Big East-best 16½ tackles for loss and 5½ sacks, laying growing
into the star to rotate the defense around.
Key player to a successful season: Senior CB Kennard Cox. With
Revis off to the NFL, Cox all of a sudden becomes the number one corner
for a pass defense that was the strength of the defense. Aaron Berry, a
former top recruit, will likely step in for Revis and will get picked on
early on, but Cox has to be the one who comes up with the big plays.
The season will be a
success if
... Pitt wins at least eight games. Positive steps have to be taken in
the Wannstedt era, and it starts with a winning season and a bowl game.
2008 is when the program’s supposed to hit its stride with all the
recruiting classes starting to kick in, but for now, just getting an
extra game for the first time since going to the BCS in under Walt
Harris would be nice. Next year the Panthers can worry about winning the
Big East title.
Key game:
Oct. 27 at Louisville.
The schedule works out well enough to dream about a 7-0 start, even
though 6-1 is more likely before things start to get nasty. Considering
the Panthers have lost to the Cardinals 90 to 44 over the last two
seasons, this would be a huge statement game with a chance to show just
how much things have changed.
2006 Fun Stats:
- First quarter scoring: Pitt 114 – Opponents 40
- Fumbles: Opponents 24 (lost 15) – Pitt 12 (lost 9)
- Rushing yards per game: Opponents 181.2 – Pitt 123