Pitt Football Report Card

Now that I've had a few days to cool off and stick a few pins in my Matt Cavanaugh Voo Doo doll, I thought I'd try to take a more rational and logical look back at the 2008 Pitt season, and figured that, since it is a college team and all, what better way to do so than through the use of a report card.

Let me say that I tried to view this season from the perspective I would have at the beginning of the season if you had told me all of these things would happen, as that seemed the only fair way of doing it, so don't slaughter me if you think I'm too generous with a few of my grades (read: Quarterback) or too harsh with other grades because of expectations that changed throughout the season.

I also tried to weight each game roughly the same, with same added importance for the important Big East games and the bowl game, which is why Bill Stull didn't get an F-minus. I mean, after all, how fired up at the beginning of the season would most Pitt fans have been if you had told them their beloved Panther football team would go 9-4 and reach the Sun Bowl? I know I would have taken that in a heart beat.

Quarterback
Yeah we all know just how miserably Bill Stull played this season, and it's pretty safe to say that he didn't even meet the low standards that were set for him by most Pitt fans before this year even started. Stull didn't appear to make much progress during the season, and I'm not sure I can really buy the whole "he's by far the best QB on the roster" line much longer. He was a definite disappointment, with really only a couple good games on the books, and he was a constant worry for Pitt fans. I also wanted to add, though, that I don't think he is being put at all in a position to succeed by Offensive Coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, so I took that into consideration.
Final Grade: C-

Running Back
LeSean McCoy came into the season with mile-high expectations, and for the most part he met or exceeded them. He developed an impeccable nose for the goal line that few in the country can match and that was definitely needed considering the trouble the pasing game had with throwing a fade pattern. He had some early issues in the season against inferior MAC opponents, and also surprisingly struggled against Louisville. These types of things made me believe he probably could use a little more time and work before he is ready to be an everyday NFLer, but this is just some minor nitpicking. The guy is simply spectacular. Senior LaRod Stephens-Howling probably wasn't used as much as he should've been this season, yet again, and a late season injury helped derail his year, too.
Final Grade: A-

Fullback
Not a ton to go on, as Wanny and Cavanaugh mostly used senior Conredge Collins as a blocker only. I've long thought Connie could be a solid short-yardage option, especially given how often teams would gear in on Shady. It's hard to really grade him on the limited work as a ballcarrier, but it's hard to argue with most of the results he produced as a blocker.
Final Grade: B

Wide Receiver
Not surprisingly, senior Derek Kinder clearly lost a step or four after tearing his ACL last season, and was nowhere near the impact player he was in 2006, which is a real shame. He played better as the season went along, but he was no longer a top receiving threat. I was disappointed by the seasons turned in by T.J. Porter and Oderick Turner. Turner's playing time was severly cut down by the arrival of Jonathan Baldwin, which says a lot about the coaching staff's feelings about Turner. He has a ton of talent, but there are some serious work ethic questions here. Porter had something of a breakout season a year ago, leading the team in receptions, but dropped to just 25 receptions this season, and while he did produce some big plays, he was mostly an afterthought in Pitt's bizarre passing schemes. Jonathan Baldwin of course burst onto the scene, but he really fell off hard the last few games of the season. In the final 4 games, he caught just 3 passes for 44 yards, and I think he has a long way to go and a lot of work to do before he becomes a dominant receiver, though certainly I was encouraged by what I saw this year. Lastly, I was surprised early in the season to see Cedric McGee getting the playing time he did (23 catches this season!) but I thought he was a good possession, role type player, and also noticed him as a sound run blocker on the edge.
Final Grade: B-

Tight End
I will go to my grave pleading for Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson to get more attention in the passing game, especially given Dickerson's athleticism against overmatched linebackers and Byham's perfect fit as a security blanket for our struggling QB, but I can't grade them on how well the offense SHOULD use them. So I'll work with what I've got. Byham did nothing to damage his rep as a good, sure-handed possession guy, and I thought Dickerson showed excellent flashes of ability and was more than capable in adjusting to yet another new position.
Final Grade: B+

Offensive Tackle
I wanted to break down each the O-Line a little more closely than as a whole unit, hence the grades for the 3 different types of positions. I thought tackles Jason Pinkston and Joe Thomas performed far above expectations, especially given Thomas' pre-season job security issues and Pinkston's inexperience. They had issues at times, sure, but thought both showed serious promise.
Final Grade: B+

Offensive Guard
Until CJ Davis was force to switch positions at midseason, I thought this was among the best units on the entire team. Davis was an All Big East player, and John Malecki was excellent in his first year switching over from the D-Line. Dom Williams was OK as the replacement, but that injury seriously hurt this unit's effectiveness, and unfortunately, their letter grade.
Final Grade: B

Center
Robb Houser was a nice addition as a transfer player, and did a good job until breaking his leg and ending his season. CJ Davis was the real surprise, as he was excellent in my mind after making a tough switch over from guard.
Final Grade: A-

Defensive End
Two youngsters, Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus, both turned in excellent seasons, and I personally think they are both headed for very bright careers. Sheard was surprisingly the more disruptive of the two for most of the season, and Romeus' freakish athleticism and speed off the edge made for one dynamic duo. Their backups, Tony Tucker, Tyler Tkach, and Justin Hargrove all were sound if not spectacular, but with those two starters, not much was needed from them either.
Final Grade: A-

Defensive Tackle
Combining the play of the ends with this unit gave the Panthers one of the strongest D-Lines in the country. The play of starters Mick Williams and Rashaad Duncan was visible in just about every game, and Gus Mustakas has to be one of the best backup DT's in college football. This unit is filled with serious difference makers.
Final Grade: A

Outside Linebackers
This was one of the toughest grades for me to give. On the one hand, there's no denying that the play of the OLB's was a weakness in several early season games, but on the other hand you also have to factor in that both starters were lost for the season very early on and there was almost no depth behind them. Greg Williams has excellent athleticism and could turn into a big time difference-maker with some more experience. I thought Austin Ransom did an admirable job considering how little experience he had before the season at the position, but was noticeably out of position at times, and was clearly raw. I was disappointed in the complete lack of progress made by Pitt's other young linebackers besides Williams. Guys like Brandon Lindsay, Tristan Roberts, and Nate Nix all had a golden opportunity to get more playing time, and while I wasn't surprised Ransom was the first replacement to get an opportunity, I was surprised he held onto the job and wasn't overtaken by any of these three.
Final Grade: C+

Middle Linebacker
I mean what more can be said about Scott McKillop? I thought for sure losing HB Blades was going to kill this defense last season, and McKillop more than proved me wrong. If anything, he's better than Blades was during their respective senior years.
Final Grade: A

Cornerbacks
Probably the biggest position of weakness, besides the QB, on the roster. Aaron Berry was supposed to develop into an NFL prospect this year and one of several youngsters (Jovanni Chappel, Ricky Gary, Irvan Brown, and Buddy Jackson) was supposed to step into the other starting spot and the rest would create depth. Instead, Berry flopped and was a weakness more often than not and Chappel may have emerged as the starter, but he left a lot to be desired and lost significant playing time to the other guys as the season wore on.
Final Grade: D

Safety
Eric Thatcher continued his solid if unspectacular work as the strong safety. Thatcher is a solid hitter and a bit of a feared threat in the defensive backfield. He did a nice job in coverage and was solid when brought up against the run. He still is mostly the same player he was a year ago. I was disappointed early on by the play of Dom DeCicco, who clearly was playing when he definitely shouldn't have been in some early games. However, he really grew into the free safety position as the season went along, and gets my vote as the most improved player in-season. With his excellent size and speed and developing skills as a ball hawk, DeCicco now looks to have a bright future.
Final Grade: B

Kickers
I grouped Conor Lee, Dave Brytus, and Luke Briggs into one group because it seemed silly to give them their own grades. Lee was nothing short of spectacular as a field goal kicker, and I was surprised by his range in the Sun Bowl. Dave Brytus was nothing special as a punter, but rarely made game-altering shanks, which I suppose counts for something. As for Briggs, well I never quite saw the reason for him being the kickoff specialist. He really isn't that good of a kickoff man, and I found it hard to believe that Lee could boot field goals from 50 yards or so yet was unable to nail a kickoff inside the 10, which is about the best Briggs usually did.
Final Grade: B+

Special Teams
Not a position, but I needed to address the work done by Wanny's special teamers this season. Guys like Andrew Taglianetti, Greg Romeus, and others were huge in their incredible ability to block punts and kicks, the types of things that can make a big difference in college football. The coverage units were also pretty solid, and while the return game was never anything amazing, they were mostly solid once Aaron Berry was stripped of his punt return duties.
Final Grade: B+

2008 Pittsburgh Athlete of the Year

With a New Year now upon us, I thought I'd take a look back at the past year in Pittsburgh sports with a few different angles, the first of which is the 2008 Pittsburgh Athlete of the Year. I used only games that took place in 2008, so that meant having to cut in half the seasons of the Penguins and Pitt basketball. We're gonna count this puppy down, 10 to 1, with a few honorable mentions at the end. I measured it on a sort of MVP basis, factoring a hybrid of the team's success and the player's performance and importance to that team's success. So here we go:

10 Scott McKillop
I was torn between McKillop and James Farrior for the final spot in my top ten, but decided he earned it after earning Big East Defensive Player of the Year Honors, All-American status, a Day 1 draft spot, and being the defensive leader for the most successful Pitt team of the last quarter century. Despite a loss in the Sun Bowl to Oregon State, McKillop's defense was nothing short of spectacular for the final day of 2008. That cemented this spot for the hard-nosed tackling machine.

9 DeJuan Blair
The best basketball player from the 4-1-2 area code in ages had a freshman season to remember, and has stormed back to start his sophomore season with even bigger and better results. He was a huge key to the Big East championship season last season for Pitt, and his work on Roy Hibbert in the title game was wildly impressive. If Pitt could just make it past the second or third round of the NCAAs Blair would become a Pitt legend. Let's hope 2009 sees a jump up these standings for Blair.

8 Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury was essential to the Penguins' run of success during last year's Stanley Cup final run, and I would argue he was actually the MVP during that stretch. Unfortunately for him, he has been injured for two long stretches, missing just about 3 months of hockey during the 08 calendar. Otherwise he would have been a serious contender for that top spot.

7 LeSean McCoy
The debate over whether LeSean McCoy will stay at Pitt for what figures to be a sensational 2009 Big East season or become a First Round pick in April will rage on until after the deadline for that passes. As a Pitt fan, you have to hope he comes back, but at the same time, it could be tough for him to pass up the guaranteed millions, and surely no Panther fan would blame him for going pro if that's his decision.

6 Sam Young
Sam I Am put together a record-setting scoring pace in the 2007/08 season for the Pitt basketball team, and has continued on that tear to start this season. Young has seamlessly shifted to the small forward position and is poised to make a serious run at a future in the NBA. Young was the star in leading Pitt to the Big East Tournament Championship and remains the most important player for third ranked Panthers. This is a big season for Pitt and for Young, as both need to show they are of high enough caliber to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, and anything less than an Elite Eight or Final Four bid will be considered something of a disappointment. For his part, Young is showing more ability as a leader than ever before, and is certainly much more outspoken on and off the court.5 Troy Polamalu
For the first time in ages, Troy Polamalu spent an entire season healthy, and the difference in him was shocking. He was an absolute force of nature for the Steelers, and I believe he will eventually single-handedly re-define the safety position as we know it. He demonstrated ball hawk skills that only Ed Reed possesses, and is a terror for any QB to see shifting around across the line of scrimmage.

4 Ben Roethlisberger
Yeah the numbers aren't really there like they were a year ago, but there's no denying Ben Roethlisberger's incredible importance to the Steelers. The guy just flat out wins ball games, and that continues to be a trend even while naysayers the nationwide question just how good he is. His fourth quarter comebacks have become near certainties in the postseason. He was disappointing in the lone postseason game of the calendar year, all the way back last January 5th, but he'll be getting another shot in 10 days at Heinz Field, and his reputation as a budding big-game superstar will be on the line as always. The offensive talent and the offensive playcalling that are provided to assist Roethlisberger deserve no part of a 12-4 season and a division title, but Big Ben has lifted this unit to where they are now, even if the defense is really the most important and most feared part of this team.

3 Sidney Crosby
Sid was nothing short of magical in last season's playoff push. He and Geno combined to be a force of nature that no team could match. He has been quite good this season as well, but like teammate Fleury, Sid's candidacy is knocked down a bit due to injury. He has also clearly been the second best player on his own team this season, so its hard to place him a whole lot higher than this. I will be interested to see how Sid plays in the coming months down the stretch run for a Pens team that is having a bit of an identity crisis these days. Another magical playoff stretch would also do a lot to enhance his legacy, so stay tuned folks.

2 James Harrison
It was a tough call to put Harrison at the number 2 spot here, but with little postseason success it's hard to make him number 1. Still, Harrison put up a new sack record for one of the most legendary defensive franchises in NFL History. He's one of the top 2 or 3 favorites for the Defensive Player of the Year award, has back-to-back team MVP awards, and is a lock for another All-Pro selection. Few guys are also as dominant as Harrison can be when he is on a hot streak. He is a little on the streaky side, though, and there are those who will argue that he isn't even the biggest difference maker on his own unit, and that Troy Polamalu is really that guy. Still, Harrison's pass-rushing and athleticism and eye-popping stats make him a very hard figure to ignore.
1 Evgeni Malkin
There's little question that, for the most part, Evgeni Malkin has been better then Sidney Crosby for the 2008 calendar year. The points comparison, partially due to Sid's injury, isn't even close, but even when both are healthy, Geno has easily outscored Sid and everyone else this season. Malkin was huge for much of last season's Stanley Cup run as well, but some illness issues left him hindered and ineffective for parts of the Philly series and most of the Stanley Cup. It's also been a little concerning to see his goal-scoring drop off a little this season. But a year ago the debate over best hockey player in the world would have come down to Sid and Ovechkin and hardly anyone would have thought to even include Geno in that discussion. Now though, it's difficult to imagine anyone but him being the logical choice for that mantle. Much like Sid, it's going to be a very interesting few months for Geno as the Pens gear up for the playoffs and try to get out of the slump they find themselves mired in. If Geno stays healthy and consistent, he figures to put up 120+ points and nab his first Art Ross trophy and maybe even a Hart Trophy to accompany it. Let's hope he adds a ridiculously oversized Cup to that awards list.


Honorable Mention:
Petr Sykora- Petr Gunn has consistently been the third best scorer on the Penguins for the last calendar year, and gets bonus points for one of the most memorable moments in Penguins history with the winner in the 3OT thriller against Detroit.
Ronald Ramon- One of my all-time favorite Pitt b-ball players probably shouldn't make this list, but I just couldn't help myself. And he earned points for the winning shot in the best basketball game I've ever attended.
Hines Ward- One of the all-time great Steelers added to his legacy with a suprising 2008 campaign with over 1000 yards and 80 receptions, as well as picking up his 800th career reception.
Nate McLouth- I wanted to at least put a Pirate on the honorable mention list, and he is really the only acceptable option.
James Farrior- The Steelers' defensive captain started the season with a nice contract extension and had a great 2008 season to reward the Steelers for their loyalty, making it back to the Pro Bowl.

Some Local Footballers Get National Attention

What an exciting day for useless fantasy teams! And no, I don't mean fantasy as in the sense you are all thinking of right now. I'm referring to the fantasy teams that the media types and the sports leagues put together at the end (or sometimes middle) of seasons to celebrate the best. In this case, I'm of course referring to the college football All-American squads and the NFL's Pro Bowl squads.

Even though there are roughly 2.4 million different All-American teams out there right now, the one that matters the most (at least in my book) is the AP's team. And that one was released today, and low and behold on the second team was Pitt's own Scott McKillop. And while I think an argument could be made for McKillop to be on the first team, I will take this and think it is probably about as good as can be expected for a player on the second-best Big East team. As for any Pitt snubs, I don't really see any huge beefs, and certainly didn't expect to have anyone else on the list. Of course Shady is as good as any back in the country on talent, but his yards didn't nearly match up with the others, even if his brilliance and his visits to the end zone did. I'd put Conor Lee up against anyone in the country for his expertise in the dreadful Heinz Field conditions, but that's a very subjective position. I also love the work CJ Davis did, but knew he wasn't going to get anywhere near an All-American spot.

And as for the professional fellas, our beloved Steelers, the team that many consider to be the best team in football and has indisputably the best defense in the league, landed just 3 players on the Pro Bowl squad. James Harrison and Troy Polamalu were no-doubt-about-it leadpipe locks, and the elder statesman of the team, James Farrior was a pleasant surprise as a reserve to the previous two's starting spots. But that's it folks. 3 players.

Now, I'm not about to get all riled up over the most useless All-Star game in sports, but I thought this team earned a little more than that. I thought after we all saw just how badly the Steelers need Aaron Smith last season his constant underrated status would vanish. But I guess not, as he was nowhere to be seen. And LaMarr Woodley has morphed into one tough outside 'backer in his first season as a starter, and I think he surpasses James Harrison as the most feared player on this D next season, but he was left off the ballot despite excellent numbers because of a shockingly great season for linebackers. Ike Taylor, because he inherited his hands from Dick Stuart, always gets a knock from scouts and doesn't have gaudy stats, but he has been a superb corner this season and I think deserved a spot. And I thought Ryan Clark was a very underrated guy. Now if these guys had performed in this way on teams that were currently 7-7, then they probably wouldn't deserve it, but when you are part of the best defense in the league that has torn through the toughest schedule in recent football history, you should earn these kinds of things.

Of course, that was before I looked up the roster to see who I thought these guys should replace, and was appalled to see that there are only 3 corners and 6 total defensive backs on the roster, only 5 linebackers, and just 6 defensive linemen. That's only 17 defenders. How is that enough? I mean they do run a 4-3-4 D, so why not have a backup spot at every position instead of like a half a backup at every position. 22 defenders so everyone can play about half the game. Whatever, that's the NFL for you, I guess this all just makes a bit too much sense.

Still, you know that in typical Pro Bowl fashion, probably 6 or 7 of those 17 defenders will end up begging out due to "injuries" like hangnails, splinters, tummy aches, and still-hungover-from-the-Super-Bowl. So, I'll be that 2 of the aforementioned Stiller defenders get the call, and the bet here is Aaron Smith and Ike Taylor.

Right about now you're probably wondering, "well what about the offense? Doesn't anyone there deserve consideration?" To which I respond: Well... if one or two of the wideouts beg out and then Randy Moss, Dwayne Bowe, and Derrick Mason all have their plane crash on the way over to Hawaii, maybe Hines Ward gets a spot, but other than that... No.

I mean I'd put Large Benjamin up against anyone and everyone as a total package QB and a winner, but the stats just aren't there this year, and that's what the Pro Bowl is all about in this day and age.

Pitt-UConn Game Preview: Panthers Have a Lot to Play for

When Dave Wannstedt leads the troops onto the field in Storrs shortly, the Panthers will be playing for the right to be considered one of the best Pitt teams of the last 20 years and the breakthrough squad of the suddenly promising Wannstache era. Think about it: A win over tha always pesky Huskies and the Panthers not only have just their 2nd 9-win season in 25 years, but they also are set up for a shot at 10 wins in a solid bowl game (assuming the Sun Bowl is their destination). Others on the team will also have some things to play for as well: LeSean McCoy will be playing for a shot at the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. It Pitt wins and Shady goes off for a big day, expect him to take the award away from UConn's Donald Brown. If the Panthers lose or McCoy is sluggish, Brown figures to be the winner. Scott McKillop likely has the Big East Defensive Player of the Year Award well in hand, but he could cement the award with yet another double digit tackle performance. And there are a few others on the roster that are playing for All Big East status and are borderline as of now. And of course, all the seniors are playing for this one. To go out on top. Of course, it doesn't get much sweeter than a Senior Day win over the hated Mountaineers, but after 3 years of frustration and underachieving, you know these guys want to say they put up 10 wins on the board and get a trip to a highly reputable bowl like the Sun. I mean, Charlotte (the next bowl down the list) is nice and all, and Birmingham... well I mean I guess it would be warmer there than here, but El Paso and a shot at 10 wins against an excellent Oregon State team is what they want.

Anyway, let's get to the details:
Panther Offense
After Billy Stull's late season regression, it's become very apparent that this offense is only going to succeed against good teams if Shady can be effective running the ball. I think by this point we know what we will see out of Cavanaugh as far as a game plan, as well. He will try to stretch the field a few times with Baldwin he'll throw some bubble screens and underneath routes hoping to catch a blown coverage assignment, and he'll give us a healthy dose of Shady while ignoring the vastly underrated LaRod Stephens-Howling, a talented player who could be a very effective weapon if the Panthers would use him more. But at this point, Cavanaugh clearly has no desire to change, so that's our game plan, regardless of who we are playing. So it all falls on the talented McCoy to carry the load and lead our squad to victory, and on Stull, who needs to at least have an OK game in order to reassure some very anxious Panther fans.

Huskies Defense
Because the Huskies O is so focused on ball control and long, churning drives, the Husky D is typically asked to prevent similar results from the opposition, and to help them convincingly win the time of possession battle. They have failed in that regard more than once, though, and despite having one of the top backs in the country, they have been outrushed multiple times. The Huskies D will be hurt by the loss of Greg Lloyd (yes, it's THAT Greg Lloyd's son) and his spot at middle linebacker is apparently being filled by a walk-on as another middle linebacker is also out, which is pretty much a death sentence when playing against a future first-round pick running back. While their linebacker corps is a little weak for this one, they have a highly disruptive defensive end in Cody Brown, who has 10 sacks and will be playing his last home game. They also have a solid secondary led by corners Robert McClain and Jasper Howard that could give Bill Stull some fits, especially given his recent performance.

Huskies Offense
If you think the Panthers rely heavily on LeSean McCoy to run their offense, then you are in for a bit of a shock when you see this UConn offense. They run the ball over 40 times a game on average and Brown gets the bulk of those carries, his future in the NFL be damned. They had a QB carousel this season that was essentially the opposite of the Cincinnati squad. That team won because they kept plugging in QB's who could win, no matter the circumstances. This UConn team has managed to string together 7 wins in spite of a dreadful series of QB's who've thrown 3 times as many picks as touchdowns. So long as they keep DJ Hernandez from taking any snaps, I think Pitt fans can breathe easy when the Huskies keep the ball with the QB. The Huskies also know that they will have a few weeks, at least, to rest up, so if they get the chance and if he is effective I am sure the Huskies will have no qualms about pounding Brown well over 30 times.

Panthers Defense
Everything filters through Scott McKillop, and he doesn't usually disappoint. He will need to string together a good game to slow down Brown, and the same goes for the dynamic tackle duo of Mick Williams and Rashaad Duncan. Because of UConn's dreadful "passing" game, there's little to really be concerned about with our woefully inconsistent secondary, and I'd expect Elijah Fields to see some playing time up in the box because of his size and the lack of downfield play I expect to see. Greg Williams and Austin Ransom will be important factors as well today. Both have played better than we could have expected from them given the circumstances, but they still have their struggles, and I expect UConn to attack them early and often with their stud back. How they respond will go a long way toward determining this game.

The Bottom Line
The Huskies have lost 4 of their last 6 games, and while the seniors would obviously like to go out on a surprising home win, it would probably have little impact on their bowl game, so the Panthers have at least as much reason to fight for this one. However, the Panthers have had a lot of trouble playing UConn, and are 0-2 in Rentschler Field. Then again, Cincy had always struggled against Pitt, too... Panthers 31 Huskies 21