Again, Whitehead needs to play WR

[Sean Miller Fan]

He's having a good year at Safety but we have other serviceable players. We need another weapon on offense. The D will be good enough without him.

Better 3rd WR, Challingsworth or Whitehead? Whitehead is a big-time athlete and is being wasted at Safety. The offense is in dire straits and needs a boost.

Does Narduzzi expect to start Ford and Challingsworth next year? Can you imagine? We need more WR's and the off-season will be too late to switch him. Get him to the O, put him in the slot and he'll make plays.

 

[bwh05]

It won't matter if the Play calling doesn't get better

 

[thebadby2]

He's having a good year at Safety but we have other serviceable players. We need another weapon on offense. The D will be good enough without him.

Better 3rd WR, Challingsworth or Whitehead? Whitehead is a big-time athlete and is being wasted at Safety. The offense is in dire straits and needs a boost.

Does Narduzzi expect to start Ford and Challingsworth next year? Can you imagine? We need more WR's and the off-season will be too late to switch him. Get him to the O, put him in the slot and he'll make plays.

We do not have other capable players at safety. Have you seen what happens when Amara is in? Also Whitehead is one of our best run defenders. He's a future all-American in the secondary.

I do agree that we need someone that can make plays other than Boyd, but I fear this offense wouldn't give them many opportunities to do so. Boyd has been relegated to a possession receiver like Cris Carter-all short and intermediate routes. To the extent he has explosive vertical ability, we're not seeing any of it.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

We do not have other capable players at safety. Have you seen what happens when Amara is in?

Webb and Mitchell?

 

[rpost3]

Are you nuts...he makes like half the tackles out there.

 

[California Panther]

Webb and Mitchell?

Mitchell? How many plays has he even participated in this season?

 

[thebadby2]

Webb and Mitchell?

Hurt and just getting back on the field. Regarldess, Whitehead has been our best and most consistent DB all year.

 

[pitt2010]

Half the time I feel like he is the only defender making tackles.

 

[cruzer]

We clearly need another playmaker on offense. Boyd is really the only guy who consistently makes plays and even he has his limitations. Whitehead might help, but something that isn't being discussed has to do with Peterman. As well as he has played this year, one issue he has is that he really locks onto his target receiver (typically Boyd) and doesn't come off him even when he's covered. One third down play Boyd was triple covered and Peterman tried to force it in. It was a miracle the ball wasn't intercepted. As bad as our 2nd and 3rd receivers may be I find it virtually impossible to believe that they are never open, particularly with Boyd drawing so much attention. Peterman isn't even looking their way. If you doubt this, look at some replays and watch Petermans head. It never moves. He's locked on one guy. This is something that will hopefully come with more game experience, but you can't throw the ball where you aren't even looking.

Cruzer

 

[pittpitt]

Whitehead is way too good on D to move him. He's our best Safety by a mile, and Amara is basically a more aware yet less athletic LPitts -- Whitehead should play every defensive snap from now until when he leaves for the NFL.

That being said, our D is always on the field less plays and time than our O, so I think he should be playing some O as well, probably 10-12 snaps/game. Conner was played some 2-way as a RB and a DE in a bowl game as a true freshman; that's far more insane than our safety getting a few targets a game and maybe block a few times as a WR. He's a playmaker - get him on the field more.

 

[thebadby2]

We clearly need another playmaker on offense. Boyd is really the only guy who consistently makes plays and even he has his limitations. Whitehead might help, but something that isn't being discussed has to do with Peterman. As well as he has played this year, one issue he has is that he really locks onto his target receiver (typically Boyd) and doesn't come off him even when he's covered. One third down play Boyd was triple covered and Peterman tried to force it in. It was a miracle the ball wasn't intercepted. As bad as our 2nd and 3rd receivers may be I find it virtually impossible to believe that they are never open, particularly with Boyd drawing so much attention. Peterman isn't even looking their way. If you doubt this, look at some replays and watch Petermans head. It never moves. He's locked on one guy. This is something that will hopefully come with more game experience, but you can't throw the ball where you aren't even looking.

Cruzer

You're right. Peterman has some other flaws too. He was getting some pressure for a change tonight and he did not handle it well. Ran himself Ito some sacks, panicked when he had time, didn't move his feet well in the pocket. On top of that, even when he set his feet, his accuracy was not great. His arm is not particularly strong: He also missed a couple of shots down the field that he either is not allowed to take or doesn't see. He threw a couple of balls directly to defenders that they fortunately muffed. The play calling doesn't help him, as he was put in obvious passing situations all night.

He has been serviceable all season, nothing more, and really, that's about all anyone has a right to expect of him,coming into the program a a band aid as he did.

 

[yc_ballcat]

Yeah at the very least mix him in as an occasional threat on offense. He's too dynamic of a talent. In the open field, he's potentially more dangerous than Boyd.

 

[Pghfan]

SMF, with our absolute lack of explosive talent on offense, I don't think it's a bad idea.. Maybe too late this year but spring ball, I say give it a shot. Maybe we get a healthy Mitchell, that Stocker dude recruit and some more depth at safety.. Right now, our WRs next year are Ford, Challingsworth, and Zeise. Do you know how pathetic that is?

 

[paulbl99]

He's having a good year at Safety but we have other serviceable players. We need another weapon on offense. The D will be good enough without him.

Better 3rd WR, Challingsworth or Whitehead? Whitehead is a big-time athlete and is being wasted at Safety. The offense is in dire straits and needs a boost.

Does Narduzzi expect to start Ford and Challingsworth next year? Can you imagine? We need more WR's and the off-season will be too late to switch him. Get him to the O, put him in the slot and he'll make plays.

No
But he needs to get offensive touches

He will likely be here just 3 yrs....
Ride him

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Why do we not utilize our great receiving TEs more often? I feel like we are very successful in going to them. We got away from it in the 2nd half.

 

[NTOP]

Whitehead is way too good on D to move him. He's our best Safety by a mile, and Amara is basically a more aware yet less athletic LPitts -- Whitehead should play every defensive snap from now until when he leaves for the NFL.

That being said, our D is always on the field less plays and time than our O, so I think he should be playing some O as well, probably 10-12 snaps/game. Conner was played some 2-way as a RB and a DE in a bowl game as a true freshman; that's far more insane than our safety getting a few targets a game and maybe block a few times as a WR. He's a playmaker - get him on the field more.

Conner played a handful of snaps vs. BGSU. Do we KNOW that Whitehead can play WR?? Or are we just grasping at straws?? You might be weakening TWO positions. I'm sure Duzz knows the answer....not sure if Chaney does.

 

[Cap pitt]

You're right. Peterman has some other flaws too. He was getting some pressure for a change tonight and he did not handle it well. Ran himself Ito some sacks, panicked when he had time, didn't move his feet well in the pocket. On top of that, even when he set his feet, his accuracy was not great. His arm is not particularly strong: He also missed a couple of shots down the field that he either is not allowed to take or doesn't see. He threw a couple of balls directly to defenders that they fortunately muffed. The play calling doesn't help him, as he was put in obvious passing situations all night.

He has been serviceable all season, nothing more, and really, that's about all anyone has a right to expect of him,coming into the program a a band aid as he did.

He apparently doesn't see the whole field, he is getting like Voytik last year, he only has eyes for Boyd, other receivers were open at times but he feels he has to force the ball into Boyd

 

[quip]

He's having a good year at Safety but we have other serviceable players. We need another weapon on offense. The D will be good enough without him.

Better 3rd WR, Challingsworth or Whitehead? Whitehead is a big-time athlete and is being wasted at Safety. The offense is in dire straits and needs a boost.

Does Narduzzi expect to start Ford and Challingsworth next year? Can you imagine? We need more WR's and the off-season will be too late to switch him. Get him to the O, put him in the slot and he'll make plays.

WASTED????? He leads the team in tackles!!!

 

[Pghfan]

Let's not rule out him moving to CB next year.. Pitts is gone and there is nothing waiting in the wings.. I'd say move him to CB and put in some packages for him on offense.. Not every down type stuff but maybe the 3rd WR on some passing downs.. It's asking a lot but you don't get this kind of talent often, at Pitt anyways..

 

[paulbl99]

Let's not rule out him moving to CB next year.. Pitts is gone and there is nothing waiting in the wings.. I'd say move him to CB and put in some packages for him on offense.. Not every down type stuff but maybe the 3rd WR on some passing downs.. It's asking a lot but you don't get this kind of talent often, at Pitt anyways..

I guess because Carlton Williamson was one of my all time fav players....and haven't seen the likes since I'm hoping he plays Safety and turns into something like that.

 

[Pittx9]

Let's not rule out him moving to CB next year.. Pitts is gone and there is nothing waiting in the wings.. I'd say move him to CB and put in some packages for him on offense.. Not every down type stuff but maybe the 3rd WR on some passing downs.. It's asking a lot but you don't get this kind of talent often, at Pitt anyways..

I'd move him to corner now, next season at the very latest. He absolutely has to be a starting cornerback, sooner the better. Also agree mixing him in at WR every now and then would be a wise move.

I despise Penn State but there's a few guys I just can not overlook their talents and really respected their games. One of the main guys being Justin King. Played two ways as a freshman, very impressive as the Big Ten was actually good then. I think Whitehead should be playing almost an exactly identical role as that right now.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

One day soon, someone will figure it out! He is as good as Boyd! Just can't figure it out why Chaney or coach Pat can't see it?

 

[Franb]

One day soon, someone will figure it out! He is as good as Boyd! Just can't figure it out why Chaney or coach Pat can't see it?

You mean the guys who see him in practice every day can't see his talent? If they are that bad at talent evaluation, how can they be good coaches? I do not understand the concept that we fans can see the obvious talent that the coaches are missing.

 

[deepelemblues]

Line up the TEs in the slot sometimes... actually put Tipton and Henderson on the field and tell them to use their speed, go deep, open up space behind them... the guys Pitt is lining up as the No. 3-5 receivers are creating mismatches for the opposing defense not for their own offense... Speed still kills doesn't it? So send Tipton and Henderson streaking downfield so the safeties have to watch them and that will create opportunities for mismatches with Boyd and the TEs... gotta do something to open up space in the passing game.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"Franb, post: 467612, member: 1038"]You mean the guys who see him in practice every day can't see his talent?
No, they can't figure out how to use him on Offense and that they need some talent to offset Boyd Double Coverages? I can understand they are developing him into a Great DB and that is expected. But they can design 4 to 8 plays that include him on Offense in every game?

If they are that bad at talent evaluation, how can they be good coaches?
Chryst & Staff couldn't figure out Chad Voytik could run on plays until the 5th game after losing 3 last year? It Happens! Kept postings it early last year, then after losing VT, they ran him, and won VT Game, and went on to 30+ Scores.

Chryst never figured out he needed a Special Team coach but Narduzzi did? These are Coaches not Rocket Scientists!

I do not understand the concept that we fans can see the obvious talent that the coaches are missing.
Well, that is your myopic vision problem. My information came from Central Valley, Aliquippa, and Hopewell Coaches that knew Whitehead in High School and know what he capable of doing. They said, he should be used on Offense a few times a game because he is that good!