WOW! This is the first time I've got to sit at home and clamor and yell football with you cats.
I've been to so many damn AAU circuits from Akron (LBJ skills) to Cleveland (King City Classic) to South Carolina (Peach Jam) and soo many more I couldn't bare to speak of because I'd run out of room and patience.
But now that I'm back home, and have been attending the past (and first) three days of Pittsburgh Panthers training camp, I guess it's time to break down the conference I know best for this season.
We'll start with the most polished terd, the Pittsburgh Panthers. Because let's face it, all you are doing is dusting off the best dingleberry with this, the worst of the BCS conferences.
I'm going to profile ONE TEAM A DAY, as these will get very long with quotes, misc info, stats, blah, blah, blah. Gotta go all out to gain the best advantage/perspective of what to expect and be prepared for this season.
(Order of how I VOTED in the 2009 preseason Big East poll)
1. Pittsburgh
2008 results
RECORD: 9-4
BOWL GAME: Brute Sun Bowl L 3-0 vs. Oregon State
Total points/points against: 352/279
BEST WIN: West Virginia 19-14 @ Heinz Field
Turning point in season good/bad: The pinnacle awful moment came in the August 30th opener at Heinz Field in a 27-17 loss to Bowling Green. The Panthers boasted a 14-0 lead within one minute in the second quarter, but would be melted down to a three point advantage, 17-14, by the half. Curious playcalling, including running down the clock to four seconds to settle for a field goal would prove most lethal in the mental department of Pitt, who basically told Bowling Green: "we're scared of your defense." Pitt would cease to score another point, tallying up less than 120 yards in the second half, including crucial mistakes from quarterback Billy Stull and the Panthers defense, who gave up over 200 yards in the two quarters.
KEY DEPARTURES: FB Conrdge Collins, G C.J. Davis, DT Rashaad Duncan, WR Derek Kinder, K Conor Lee, RB LeSean McCoy, LB Scott McKillop, LB Austin Ransom, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, S Eric Thatcher, T.J. Porter (suspended-permanent), DE Tommie Duhart (suspended-permanent)
KEY RETURNEES: QB Billy Stull, CB Dom DeCicco, DE Greg Romeus, WR Jonathan Baldwin, CB Aaron Berry, CB Jovani Chappel, C Robb Houser, G John Malecki, OT Jason Pinkston, WR T.J. Porter, DE Jabaal Sheard, OT Joe Thomas, WR Oderick Turner, LB Greg Williams, DT Mick Williams
2008 Pitt Panthers Team Stats:
- Rushing Offense: 139.08 (65th in nation, 6th in conference)
- Passing Offense: 203.38 (68, 5)
- Total Offense: 342.46 (77, 7)
- Scoring Offense: 27.08 (50, 3)
- Rushing Defense: 124.15 (29, 4)
- Pass Defense: 193.00 (38, 4)
- Total Defense: 317.15 (27, 3)
- Scoring Defense: 21.46 (35, 6)
- Turnover Margin: -.23 (73, 4)
- Sacks: 2.46 (30, 2)
- Sacks Allowed: 2.46 (101, 8)
(excerpt's from my column)
The Panthers 2008 campaign was something out of a Rodney Dangerfield act. They really did get no respect. But did they even deserve it?
Despite the fact that the entire Pitt fan base scored just as many points in a pitiful Sun Bowl performance as the Panthers' offense did, a lot was accomplished by the blue and gold last fall.
Head coach Dave Wannstedt, now entering his fifth year at Pitt, did earn his first bowl berth, a 3-0 shutout loss to Oregon State in El Paso, TX. The Panthers did finish with nine wins, including an always important win over rival West Virginia. It was a step-by-step showcase, and according to the building blocks, this year could be another leap forward.
Any leap ahead, of course, will have to come with some serious effort, as the Panthers lost two of their most important pieces, one on each side of the ball: tailback Shady McCoy and linebacker Scott McKillop.
The Shady-less offense will operate, most likely, through the hands of returning starter and senior quarterback Bill Stull, as junior Pat Bostick seems to have gained no ground toward earning the starting nod. Last season, Stull was mediocre at best, throwing for just over 2,300 yards and a sketchy touchdown/interception ratio of 9/10. In his last game, the Sun Bowl shutout against Oregon State, Stull went a dismal 7 of 24 for 52 yards and one interception.
The bright side for Stull is a solid and talented receiving core, which includes Cedric McGee, Oderick Turner, Aundre Wright and one of the more dangerous deep threats in the Big East, Jonathan Baldwin. In his freshman campaign last season, Baldwin led the group with 404 receiving yards and a touchdown.
With McCoy in the backfield for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Panthers will be turning to youth this season. The current favorite for No. 1 tailback spot is Dion Lewis. A freshman, Lewis-who averaged over 12 yards per carry at Blair Academy (NJ)-will square off against redshirt freshman Chris Burns and redshirt sophomore Shariff Harris in camp. Harris has the most experience/carries in the Pitt backfield from a year ago. He had just 13 carries.
The new backs and Stull will have the luxury of four returning starters on the offensive line, headlined by tackle Jason Pinkston.
(CON'T)