2014-2015 Pitt Super Panthers Football Thread

[Dickie Dunn]

Great article by Dejean.

Spent some time thinking about it last night and I feel like Voytik is getting way too much benefit of the doubt. Yea, it's his first year as a starter, but it's his third year in the program and third year with "QB guru" Paul Chryst. His mechanics suck and he has zero arm strength. Those two issues are as much a problem as the growing pains of becoming a starter.

I also feel like Chryst isn't putting him in the best position to succeed. He's not a pro-style QB and never will be, so quit shoving his square peg into the offenses round hole. Adjust the offense to your personnel. Have him run more. Role him out on boot legs. Get Voytik out of the pocket because it's obvious he doesn't want to be there.

[Stoosh]

Iowa and now Akron (effing AKRON) have set the blueprint to stop this Pitt team. Stack eight to take away Conner and double-team Boyd. Force Voytik to use his other options.

The frustrating thing is that Pitt does have other weapons, particular players who could have an impact on those intermediate routes. If they can find consistent success on intermediate routes, it will push the defense off the line of scrimmage, opening up things for the running game and plays to Ibrahim out of the backfield.

Holtz and Orndoff are very good TEs; their numbers don't reflect at all how good they both are at catching the ball. I found it interesting that Jennings, Dontez Ford, Challingsworth, Weah and Wuestner all played, so Chryst has at least started to try to find some other answers there.

Dickie Dunn makes good points re: Voytik and the way he's being used. It's kind of strange because when he had Sunseri, Chryst made it a point to tailor the passing game to his strengths. Same with Savage to a point, though that often got sabotaged because pass protection was so poor most of the time.

Last point is the defense. The way the defense got beaten up and down the field was inexplicable. I can understand it with Iowa - they had an older offensive line and Scherff is going to be a top-ten NFL draft pick. But this was just...I don't know. The scary thing is that the front seven is where Pitt has most of its experience; it's not like Mosley-Smith, Durham, Thomas and Gonzalez are 19-year old kids just getting pushed around by older, bigger players.

I don't know how much of it is coaching, but none of these results inspire much confidence in House or quell talk that he's in way over his head.

[ulf]

What was up with Jennings making an appearance? Burning the redshirt?

[slappybrown]

The question is, how long will slappy go with the "he needs time" routine, because we don't have that kind of time.

I just...I don't even. Fartnoise.

This wasnt directed at your post. It was directed at pitt generally doing things like losing to akron.

[slappybrown]

Voytik is 5 starts into his career and was a top 10-15 QB overall in his class nationwide. Hes made throws 5 starts into his career that reflect that hype. He also seems to mechanically break down to a hilarious degree (jumping while throwing, back foot blind launches, etc) and his radar lock on Boyd is obvious to anyone who has watched a quarter of pitt football this year.

Given his pedigree, and chrysts rep as a qb whisperer, I think time (and patience on the part of the fanbase) is justified. I think ive been harder on Chryst than most in this thread (primarily re recruiting) but hes had success with undersized athletes at the position (YES I AM SAYING VOYTIK IS THE NEXT RUSSELL WILSON).

Re the defense please God can House.

[cheesesteakwithegg]

That Akron game made me sick. So sick that I didn't even enjoy my Chipolte burrito for dinner that evening.

I was always high on Voytik because of his pedigree and the fact that he had PC coaching him. But some of things he has shown these past 2 games have been extremely worried, and while most can be fixed (throwing off back foot, bad mechanics, only using your first read), I am generally concerned about his arm strength.

The team showed zero emotion in this game (taking on the persona of their head coach?). No reason that Akron should push you around on both sides of the ball. Speaking of, we all like to point at PC as a QB guru, but other than 1 year of Russel Wilson, what QB has Chryst produced?

This team really needs to bad mofo's on D. People that strike fear in the opponents. No one is afraid of Todd Thomas, Anthony Gonzales, etc. This all starts with getting a coordinator in here that kids want to play for. Matt House isnt that guy. He was a poor hire because Pederson won't give PC the right budget to go out and get a real coaching staff.

I've been sour after plenty of Pitt losses, but this one seems like rock bottom to me. This staff has lost to Youngstown State, Navy, and Akron. How much more time to they deserve? I understand losing to Iowa, but this was absurd.

I was fine with firing Wanny when it happened because he couldn't get them to the next level. But at this point, I'd take his 9 win seasons and top 20 recruiting classes over what we have going on now.

[Dickie Dunn]

Pat Bostick was as highly ranked as Voytik. I'm not saying he's going to flame out, but I do have legitimate, growing concerns about his ability to be a starting quarterback in division 1 football.

[slappybrown]

Pat Bostick was as highly ranked as Voytik. I'm not saying he's going to flame out, but I do have legitimate, growing concerns about his ability to be a starting quarterback in division 1 football.

This is fair. Certainly, the more games he plays, the less and less relevant how he was perceived going into college is.

[cheesesteakwithegg]

The thing that is concerning is that there is no immediate help behind Voytik if he flames out. Anderson isn't the answer. Bertke and the kid coming in January (Alex Hornibrook) are still a few years away. Getting rid of Chapman and losing Freebeck at the last minute obviously hurts. Add that into the fact that there aren't lines of people wanting to play QB for Pitt, you have this giant mess.

[slappybrown]

Seriously, every time I read about a Chryst recruit I am teh sad. I pulled up Hornibrook, and his offer list is Pitt, Rutgers, and a bunch of non-Power 5 and I-AA teams. Bertke is the same.

I know everyone says that Chryst can coach em up, but man, missing on blue chip after blue chip is not the way to build a program long term.

[Dickie Dunn]

Seriously, every time I read about a Chryst recruit I am teh sad. I pulled up Hornibrook, and his offer list is Pitt, Rutgers, and a bunch of non-Power 5 and I-AA teams. Bertke is the same.

I know everyone says that Chryst can coach em up, but man, missing on blue chip after blue chip is not the way to build a program long term.

The "coaching em up" is also a growing concern of mine. I don't think a QB in his third year with a program, regardless of it being his first season as a starter, should have the basic mechanical issues Voytik has. The secondary is the most veteran position on the team and I don't think any of them have displayed any kind of improvement in their time with the program. Todd Thomas has managed to become less impactful. I do my best to be painfully optimistic and very "benefit of the doubt" when it comes to sports, especially college athletics, but my concern for Pitt football has grown immensely over the past two weeks.

[KennyTheKangaroo]

Who has two thumbs and wont be watching the Virginia game? This guy.

[slappybrown]

Who has two thumbs and wont be watching the Virginia game? This guy.

Fire Chryst we've lost kenny

[cheesesteakwithegg]

The Virginia game had KtK road trip written all over it. The wheels are officially falling off.

[slappybrown]

what even is this

http://pitt.247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/Targets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dickie Dunn]

what even is this

http://pitt.247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/Targets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You mean, why is Whitehead leaning toward Pitt? Rumor is he believes he can come to Pitt and start immediately (he can).

[slappybrown]

what even is this

http://pitt.247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/Targets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You mean, why is Whitehead leaning toward Pitt? Rumor is he believes he can come to Pitt and start immediately (he can).

I don't think he is. Last I'd heard was tOSU with UPS and UWV making late charges. That would go a long way to making this a better looking class, after the raft of MAC-level guys they have committed.

[cheesesteakwithegg]

Id be beyond shocked if Whitehead came to Pitt. Sure he could start here right away, but he could probably do the same at WVU along side his buddy Henry. Throw Ohio State in the mix as well as Franklin and his whole shtick, I'd say less than 5% chance he comes here.

[newarenanow]

Whitehead ain't coming to Pitt. He'll go to WVU.

[Dickie Dunn]

what even is this

http://pitt.247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/Targets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You mean, why is Whitehead leaning toward Pitt? Rumor is he believes he can come to Pitt and start immediately (he can).

I don't think he is. Last I'd heard was tOSU with UPS and UWV making late charges. That would go a long way to making this a better looking class, after the raft of MAC-level guys they have committed.

I saw tOSU last night as well. Then I saw some sites that "heard" rumors this morning that he's now leaning toward Pitt for the immediate playing time. I don't think there's anyway in hell he comes to Pitt. I love Pitt and at this point I wouldn't go to Pitt. No idea why he'd go to WVU either.

In August I spent 10 days in Gainesville and I don't see how Florida (and prominent SEC schools in general) don't get every top recruit in the land. Traffic on University Blvd was at a stand still on a Friday night because sororities were pledging. That scene alone should be enough to get 99% of recruits.

[cheesesteakwithegg]

Seems to be a lot of steam picking up on the Whitehead to Pitt thing. There are a few posters on pantherlair who claim to be "in the know" that say Whitehead is coming here. Now quite often people who claim to be "in the know" are not, but it's worth noting this late. On top of that, the WPIAL Insider guy is saying Pitt as well. And as much as everyone hates that guy, he is rarely wrong about this stuff (for whatever reason, WPIAL kids tell him things).

I still will be shocked if he comes here, but it would be a great shot in the arm for the program.

[columbia]

That all seems like a setup to trick Pitt fans.

[Dickie Dunn]

New rumor: Whitehead to Pitt and will enroll early.

[slappybrown]

Seems to be a lot of steam picking up on the Whitehead to Pitt thing. There are a few posters on pantherlair who claim to be "in the know" that say Whitehead is coming here. Now quite often people who claim to be "in the know" are not, but it's worth noting this late. On top of that, the WPIAL Insider guy is saying Pitt as well. And as much as everyone hates that guy, he is rarely wrong about this stuff (for whatever reason, WPIAL kids tell him things).

I still will be shocked if he comes here, but it would be a great shot in the arm for the program.

Is WPIAL Insider guy Mike White? Or are you talking about someone else?

[slappybrown]

New rumor: Whitehead to Pitt and will enroll early.

Where are you seeing this