There were a few Posters that agreed with Chryst that Pitt did not need a Special team coach. Guess they now know Chryst was wring and so were they now!
Article Link & Video:
Pitt special teams coach Andre Powell regularly hears noises coming from his office, but he's not worried about intruders or infestation.
It is only punter Ryan Winslow watching video.
If you are curious why a punter needs to study like a quarterback, you should know Winslow has thrown the biggest pass of the season — the 12-yard completion to linebacker Matt Galambos off a fake punt at Syracuse. Without it, Pitt may not be in first place in the ACC Coastal Division and looking to improve its standing Thursday night against North Carolina.
Plus Powell will say video study is essential because, “There is a lot more to it than just kicking the ball.”
“He watches his steps and drops ... leg swings, where he is dropping the ball, where he is striking the ball. He works hard at his craft,” Powell said.
Coaches regularly insist special teams are as important as the offensive and defensive units, but no one usually pays attention until something goes wrong. (Anti-Chryst Motto!)
At Pitt, Winslow, kicker Chris Blewitt and long snappers David Murphy (punts) and Pat Quirin (placements) have been involved in some of the most important plays of the season.
Typically, Pitt plays games decided by no more than seven points — the past five in a row — and that has allowed Blewitt to beat Georgia Tech and Syracuse with late field goals. Meanwhile, Winslow placed eight of his past 14 punts inside the 15-yard line before his pass completion.
So when they walk around campus calling themselves SWA (Specialists With Attitude), they do have some street cred.
Winslow said it started this summer after the entire team watched the movie “Straight Outta Compton,” featuring the rap group NWA. “It just kind of stuck,” he said.
Winslow, a redshirt sophomore, has been kicking and punting since he was a pre-teen, learning the skill from his father, George, who was Wisconsin's first scholarship punter and later played for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints. Father and son were named to the 35-year All-City team by the Philadelphia Daily News.
At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Winslow played quarterback and wide receiver at La Salle College High School in Maple Glen, where he also was a two-year starting center on the basketball team. Even though Winslow earned all-state honors, Pitt was the only school to offer a scholarship. Penn State, currently struggling with an inconsistent punting game in the wake of NCAA sanctions, offered only preferred walk-on status.
“For a young guy, he's really talented,” Powell said.
Asked about the fake punt, Powell said he was not nervous about Winslow executing it, even with the game on the line.
“When we draw up a fake, I have to feel like we have a really good chance, otherwise I'll tell coach (Pat Narduzzi) no.”
Powell said Pitt and Virginia Tech are the only ACC schools using a pro-style punt formation.
“I've been around a long time,” he said. “I know what guys can do and what they haven't seen. People don't defend pro-style punts as often. There are some things that get forgotten.”
Notes: Powell said cornerback Avonte Maddox will continue to return punts to take some workload off Tyler Boyd, who had 22 touches in the Syracuse game. ... Also the running backs coach, Powell said James Conner, out with a knee injury, remains a big part of his position meetings. “If he magically got cleared medically today, he could play tomorrow,” Powell said. ... Free safety Terrish Webb (ankle) and wide receiver Tre Tipton (leg) are listed as probable on the Pitt injury report. Free safety Reggie Mitchell (foot) and wide receiver Chris Wuestner (abdomen) are out.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9319856-74/pitt-winslow-powell
Article Link & Video:
Pitt special teams coach Andre Powell regularly hears noises coming from his office, but he's not worried about intruders or infestation.
It is only punter Ryan Winslow watching video.
If you are curious why a punter needs to study like a quarterback, you should know Winslow has thrown the biggest pass of the season — the 12-yard completion to linebacker Matt Galambos off a fake punt at Syracuse. Without it, Pitt may not be in first place in the ACC Coastal Division and looking to improve its standing Thursday night against North Carolina.
Plus Powell will say video study is essential because, “There is a lot more to it than just kicking the ball.”
“He watches his steps and drops ... leg swings, where he is dropping the ball, where he is striking the ball. He works hard at his craft,” Powell said.
Coaches regularly insist special teams are as important as the offensive and defensive units, but no one usually pays attention until something goes wrong. (Anti-Chryst Motto!)
At Pitt, Winslow, kicker Chris Blewitt and long snappers David Murphy (punts) and Pat Quirin (placements) have been involved in some of the most important plays of the season.
Typically, Pitt plays games decided by no more than seven points — the past five in a row — and that has allowed Blewitt to beat Georgia Tech and Syracuse with late field goals. Meanwhile, Winslow placed eight of his past 14 punts inside the 15-yard line before his pass completion.
So when they walk around campus calling themselves SWA (Specialists With Attitude), they do have some street cred.
Winslow said it started this summer after the entire team watched the movie “Straight Outta Compton,” featuring the rap group NWA. “It just kind of stuck,” he said.
Winslow, a redshirt sophomore, has been kicking and punting since he was a pre-teen, learning the skill from his father, George, who was Wisconsin's first scholarship punter and later played for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints. Father and son were named to the 35-year All-City team by the Philadelphia Daily News.
At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Winslow played quarterback and wide receiver at La Salle College High School in Maple Glen, where he also was a two-year starting center on the basketball team. Even though Winslow earned all-state honors, Pitt was the only school to offer a scholarship. Penn State, currently struggling with an inconsistent punting game in the wake of NCAA sanctions, offered only preferred walk-on status.
“For a young guy, he's really talented,” Powell said.
Asked about the fake punt, Powell said he was not nervous about Winslow executing it, even with the game on the line.
“When we draw up a fake, I have to feel like we have a really good chance, otherwise I'll tell coach (Pat Narduzzi) no.”
Powell said Pitt and Virginia Tech are the only ACC schools using a pro-style punt formation.
“I've been around a long time,” he said. “I know what guys can do and what they haven't seen. People don't defend pro-style punts as often. There are some things that get forgotten.”
Notes: Powell said cornerback Avonte Maddox will continue to return punts to take some workload off Tyler Boyd, who had 22 touches in the Syracuse game. ... Also the running backs coach, Powell said James Conner, out with a knee injury, remains a big part of his position meetings. “If he magically got cleared medically today, he could play tomorrow,” Powell said. ... Free safety Terrish Webb (ankle) and wide receiver Tre Tipton (leg) are listed as probable on the Pitt injury report. Free safety Reggie Mitchell (foot) and wide receiver Chris Wuestner (abdomen) are out.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9319856-74/pitt-winslow-powell
