.....we will need to see who is ready to make that progression up another notch & establish themselves as our next leaders, playmakers(both O & D), the blue collar team first plug & play reserves, etc.
The fact that Chris Clark & Dewayne Hendrix missed last year thru injuries set back what many of us thought would have already established them as being key components & leaders capable of lending maturity & leadership. Can either or both of these 2 step up in game 1 against Youngstown St & establish that they are exactly who we had hoped they would be thus giving the team a major shot in the arm going into the St Penn & Okie St. games.
I am not as worried about guys like Jackson or Motley & Briggs being in the starting line-up early on as both have quality game & pressure experience. Both of those guys have made progress in each year at Pitt & I expect that to continue this year. Plus the front 7 will have more speed & athletic ability to hopefully raise the level of pressure on opposing offenses. All these kids will have another year under theirs belts of knowing what it is that Coach Duzz demands of them to make this D work.
I am never 1 to expect true frosh to excel on day 1 or that first year but I do see Paris Ford as having an impact on this years D & Special teams. I think the kid is that kind of special if put on the big stage early. In any case he makes his teammates better because of what his speed brings to the table.
I am not nearly as concerned about our O-Line especially w/ getting Officer healthy & having JJ-S back after knee surgery & a missed season. Dintino has been around the block & knows what will be expected. I trust he will step up & do the job, Bookser needs to get his head on straight & hopefully what occurred will be a serious wake-up call for the kid. When Alex has been on the field he seems to have his head on straight so hopefully he can focus more on what's important because he's a baller w/ a potential pro future.
I read where someone suggested losing Tre Tipton was not a major blow because he was a possession receiver but in my opinion that is exactly what this team needs to compliment both Jester & Quad. Browne or DeNucci or whoever QB's will need to find his go to possession receiver the most to build up some confidence, completions, timing before feeling free enough to take those downfield high risk big play opportunities to our playmakers. Not saying Weah or Quad cannot be effective doing this but I just had a feeling Tre was about to really be the receiver when the 3rd & 6 play needed to be made. Tre showed the ability to go low for a grab or do whatever was needed to make the play.. I was just very confident Tre was coming into his own. I do believe we have the talent & numbers at receiver to feel the void but I do feel sorry for Tre & wish him a complete recovery to get back next year.
Coach Duzz made a great point yesterday when he said that replacing Canada was not about matching the 41 pt's a game because it is not gonna happen. It's about getting W's & winning games point blank. What this team needs to do is find it's own identity, allow players to be their own people & not try living up to a James Conner, Nate Peterman, DoJo, Orndoff, Juan Price, etc...,
etc....
IMO the LB corps is where this team finds the biggest transformation, advancement, progress from last few years Pitt defense's. W/ this I will include the 2 DE's as I believe we will see some very imaginative player collections out on the field at multiple positions at any given down & distance. For the first time since Coach Duzz has been here he's going to put his athletes on defense in position to make plays & challenge opposing offense's. I really think Coach Duzz is going to bait teams into trying to attack us as if it's last year.....IMO I believe the defensive staff is hoping that teams come at us based on last years film especially St Penn & Okie St.....
After the first 3 games given the comp we will have played this team will have a good idea who they are & what they are trying to become.
H2 PITT !!!
H2 PITT !!!
The fact that Chris Clark & Dewayne Hendrix missed last year thru injuries set back what many of us thought would have already established them as being key components & leaders capable of lending maturity & leadership. Can either or both of these 2 step up in game 1 against Youngstown St & establish that they are exactly who we had hoped they would be thus giving the team a major shot in the arm going into the St Penn & Okie St. games.
I am not as worried about guys like Jackson or Motley & Briggs being in the starting line-up early on as both have quality game & pressure experience. Both of those guys have made progress in each year at Pitt & I expect that to continue this year. Plus the front 7 will have more speed & athletic ability to hopefully raise the level of pressure on opposing offenses. All these kids will have another year under theirs belts of knowing what it is that Coach Duzz demands of them to make this D work.
I am never 1 to expect true frosh to excel on day 1 or that first year but I do see Paris Ford as having an impact on this years D & Special teams. I think the kid is that kind of special if put on the big stage early. In any case he makes his teammates better because of what his speed brings to the table.
I am not nearly as concerned about our O-Line especially w/ getting Officer healthy & having JJ-S back after knee surgery & a missed season. Dintino has been around the block & knows what will be expected. I trust he will step up & do the job, Bookser needs to get his head on straight & hopefully what occurred will be a serious wake-up call for the kid. When Alex has been on the field he seems to have his head on straight so hopefully he can focus more on what's important because he's a baller w/ a potential pro future.
I read where someone suggested losing Tre Tipton was not a major blow because he was a possession receiver but in my opinion that is exactly what this team needs to compliment both Jester & Quad. Browne or DeNucci or whoever QB's will need to find his go to possession receiver the most to build up some confidence, completions, timing before feeling free enough to take those downfield high risk big play opportunities to our playmakers. Not saying Weah or Quad cannot be effective doing this but I just had a feeling Tre was about to really be the receiver when the 3rd & 6 play needed to be made. Tre showed the ability to go low for a grab or do whatever was needed to make the play.. I was just very confident Tre was coming into his own. I do believe we have the talent & numbers at receiver to feel the void but I do feel sorry for Tre & wish him a complete recovery to get back next year.
Coach Duzz made a great point yesterday when he said that replacing Canada was not about matching the 41 pt's a game because it is not gonna happen. It's about getting W's & winning games point blank. What this team needs to do is find it's own identity, allow players to be their own people & not try living up to a James Conner, Nate Peterman, DoJo, Orndoff, Juan Price, etc...,
etc....
IMO the LB corps is where this team finds the biggest transformation, advancement, progress from last few years Pitt defense's. W/ this I will include the 2 DE's as I believe we will see some very imaginative player collections out on the field at multiple positions at any given down & distance. For the first time since Coach Duzz has been here he's going to put his athletes on defense in position to make plays & challenge opposing offense's. I really think Coach Duzz is going to bait teams into trying to attack us as if it's last year.....IMO I believe the defensive staff is hoping that teams come at us based on last years film especially St Penn & Okie St.....
After the first 3 games given the comp we will have played this team will have a good idea who they are & what they are trying to become.
H2 PITT !!!
H2 PITT !!!