Great Preview For 2017 Pitt Panther's Offense & Defense, LINK!

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I enjoyed reading the Analysis of this coming year Pitt Panthers. Hope other Posters join in and discuss what they see and think too. I know there are some Doubters on Pitt due to OC Watson, New QB, and New TE needed after losing Consensus All Americans Big Biz & Big Dorian, and that is because I have my own Doubts just like I did last year waiting to see how OC Canada did with this Chaney-Less Team.......My Doubts were quickly Erased at the Penn State Game and it ended up being The Best Offense In Pitt History! Although Pitt is replacing 4 Important Positions, QB, 2 OL's & TE, I am getting the feeling Pitt Coach Pat & OC Watson will be just fine.

On Defense, I see a way better Defensive Line with Taleni, Carter, Hendrix, Watts, Camp, Edwards, Pugh and other Back-Ups and Charlie Partridge with be an Instant Coaching Impact. The DB's are bigger and faster with far more Back-Ups going in an out. I do have concern at Linebacker but not due to talent just Lack of Experience. The Defense will provide some advantages in sacks, Pressure and hopefully Interceptions and other Turovers. As the Offense Gel Together Early and this is what I see as the Big Surprise.

Special Teams will just get better even with breaking in a new Kicker. I expect them to be better than last year and that is saying something is it not?

Here is why I am more Up Beat in Coach Pat & Staff in their 3rd Year, than My Doubts Early Last Year......What Many Fans May Be Forgetting Is PSU, OKST, UNC, VT, MIAMI & GT Have To Adjust To The Changes Watson and Partridge Will Bring To Pitt On Offense And Defense. Pitt Coach Pat & Staff Already Knows What To Expect From Them But Pitt Coaching Changes & Pitt Players 3rd Year Are Ready.......Like I Said, Big Surprise!
Excerpts:
Bottom line- While the experience level is very low with this group, the talent level is pretty high. There would be some questions in a starting line of Hendrix, Edwards, Taleni, and Watts, as an example, but potentially it can also be a very good starting line, especially if Hendrix and Watts live up to their potential. Carter is also capable of providing instant impact, maybe even as a starter. Then there are possible surprises like Weaver, Gilbert, Pugh, Camp, and even Edwards. As of the time of this writing, the Panthers don't have a defensive line coach, so it will be interesting to see who is named, and if he can ultimately unlock the potential of this group.

Bottom line: This group is still a work in progress. There is some potential, but there are also still a lot of questions. Wirginis should do well in the middle, but there's no experience behind him. Brightwell and Pine should make a nice duo at the money linebacker if they can overcome their inexperience. At star linebacker, there needs to be an upgrade over Idowu, and maybe a healthy Zeise can be it. Depth on the outside is also a question, unless McKee or one of the freshman come through.

Bottom line- It's going to be hard to convince some people that the secondary could be a lot better, but I have to say anyway that there's a real possibility that the secondary could be a lot better. If Whitehead returns to form, and Hamlin and Ford live up to their potential, there will be an enormous improvement. And these are three elite talents so it's not unimaginable. Also, last year's underclassmen, like Jackson, Motley, and Stocker, should get better now that last year's shellshocked season is over. Throw in some very talented redshirt freshmen like Coleman, Miller, Campbell, and Garner, and you can see that there may be light at the end of the tunnel sooner than people think.

CONCLUSION:......at the Link!
LINK TO PRESEASON SPRING TIME THINK:
http://panthersprey.blogspot.com/

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Panther Prey does another Good Analysis on Pitt Offense To Think About The Coming Preview: Again go to Link to see Conclusions and Analysis in Totality this was before Watson and Partridge. Panther Prey Analysis was a very good read in Totality.
Excerpts:
PITT QB's:
Bottom line- The lack of big time quarterback play has held back many good teams from being excellent teams over the years, and that includes Pitt. Peterman turned into a pleasant surprise, and just as it looked like the Panthers would have to get by with the inexperienced MacVittie, Pat Narduzzi hit the jackpot again with Browne. When Narduzzi arrived, the starting quarterback was the struggling Chad Voytik. If he can go from Peterman, to Browne, to MacVittie, and have all three succeed, then the Narduzzi regime will be very successful. And in the 2018 class, elite quarterback prospect Kevin Doyle, who already liked the Panthers, is also very close with Watson from when he was offered at Indiana. Landing him would make this promising position even more exciting over the next five years.

PITT RB's:
Bottom line- It wasn't long ago that Rushel Shell transferred away from Pitt, and the Panthers were forced to start a little known freshman named James Conner. Even two years ago, when Conner went down, the Panthers had no choice but to throw in another freshman, Qadree Ollison. There was a very fine line in both seasons where disaster was very close. But both running backs came through. Things are different now because there are now five running backs that are capable of running for 1,000 yards on this team, if they got starter carries. One of them actually did run for 1,000 yards in college, as a freshman, and he may be the fifth best one as far as pure talent.

PITT WR's:
Bottom line- This is going to be a very interesting group next season. There is some talent here, but the group was very young and raw last year so the results weren't overwhelming. But with a year of seasoning, a new offensive coordinator, and a quarterback with a big arm, the results could improve a good deal. The only thing we know for sure is that Weah will start, and Henderson will get the ball in a variety of ways. After that, there will be a mad scramble to see who joins them at the top.

PITT TE's:
Bottom line- The experience is practically nil, but the talent is highly impressive. The staff needed to restock, and they did a fantastic job of doing that. Both Clark and Reeves have NFL potential, and Sear and Carrigan are good developmental prospects. A grad transfer would be a nice touch.

PITT OL's:
Bottom line- The starters should be good, and O'Neill is All-American caliber. Jones-Smith and Bookser are all-star candidates, too. The depth is very questionable, however. There's always a chance that Warren or Drake could see reserve minutes, and they do already have college size, but it would be better for their development if they redshirted. Realistically, barring a rash of injuries, only an extra guard and an extra tackle are needed, and local products Pilato and Ford may have to really come through to provide solid backup minutes. I would also suspect that the staff is on the lookout for a grad transfer to provide some experience as a backup.
CONCLUSION GO TO LINK....
http://panthersprey.blogspot.com/

 

[cruzer]

Interesting analysis. The absolute key to our success next year is going to be the defense. We don't need to get better....we need to get a lot better. We were simply awful last year. If we would have had an even half assed defense last year, we might have won 10 or 11 games. This year, our offense is very likely to take a step back, so we simply can't have another year with the defense giving up so many points.

In terms of what I agree and disagree with: I agree that our D tackles could be much better and potentially very, very good. We now have depth and while many of these guys don't have tons of experience, they have talent. D Ends still a TBD. Hendrix should be pretty good but who knows. Can he stay healthy? The other side needs someone to step up. Blair doesn't impress me at all nor does Edwards. Hopefully, one of the new guys can grab that job. I mostly agree with his assessment of the LB's. We should be better almost by default. Wirginis will be OK in the middle and Brightwell looked very good in the time he was in. On the other side, Idowu did not impress me even a little. Not sure about Zeise. Again, I'm hoping that one of the young guys like Pine, Pugh, or McKee, steps up and grabs the job. One thing I keep hearing is that Pugh may move to DE. Personally, I don't like it. Pugh is like 6'1" and weighed 210 last year. I simply don't think he has the size to play at DE. I'd rather see him grow into a 235LB then an undersized DE. Finally, regarding the DB's I'm still holding out hope that either Coleman or Miller steps up and sends Maddox to the bench. Sorry, but I've seen him get burned too many times. Not much upside and he's not that good, so play one of the young guys.

Finally, Conklin better figure out how to get better results with whoever is playing, or his butt should be out the door.

Cruzer

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Interesting analysis. The absolute key to our success next year is going to be the defense. We don't need to get better....we need to get a lot better. We were simply awful last year. If we would have had an even half assed defense last year, we might have won 10 or 11 games. This year, our offense is very likely to take a step back, so we simply can't have another year with the defense giving up so many points.

In terms of what I agree and disagree with: I agree that our D tackles could be much better and potentially very, very good. We now have depth and while many of these guys don't have tons of experience, they have talent. D Ends still a TBD. Hendrix should be pretty good but who knows. Can he stay healthy? The other side needs someone to step up. Blair doesn't impress me at all nor does Edwards. Hopefully, one of the new guys can grab that job. I mostly agree with his assessment of the LB's. We should be better almost by default. Wirginis will be OK in the middle and Brightwell looked very good in the time he was in. On the other side, Idowu did not impress me even a little. Not sure about Zeise. Again, I'm hoping that one of the young guys like Pine, Pugh, or McKee, steps up and grabs the job. One thing I keep hearing is that Pugh may move to DE. Personally, I don't like it. Pugh is like 6'1" and weighed 210 last year. I simply don't think he has the size to play at DE. I'd rather see him grow into a 235LB then an undersized DE. Finally, regarding the DB's I'm still holding out hope that either Coleman or Miller steps up and sends Maddox to the bench. Sorry, but I've seen him get burned too many times. Not much upside and he's not that good, so play one of the young guys.

Finally, Conklin better figure out how to get better results with whoever is playing, or his butt should be out the door.

Cruzer

Hugh Green was 6'2" 225 when drafted in 1981! On Pugh Size you may be right but speed is important now more than ever.

 

[cruzer]

Hugh Green was 6'2" 225 when drafted in 1981! On Pugh Size you may be right but speed is important now more than ever.

yes, and Hugh Green played what position in the pro's? LB. And btw, when he played at Pitt, we played a 5-2 with standup "DE's" that were really OLB's. Playing Pugh at DE in a 4-3 is not the way to go IMO. Could a guy like that play DE at the college level? Possibly. Will he ever play that position in the NFL? No freakin way.

Of course, no one from Pitt's coaching staff is calling me for my opinion.

 

[4Mark_Marty]

yes, and Hugh Green played what position in the pro's? LB. And btw, when he played at Pitt, we played a 5-2 with standup "DE's" that were really OLB's. Playing Pugh at DE in a 4-3 is not the way to go IMO. Could a guy like that play DE at the college level? Possibly. Will he ever play that position in the NFL? No freakin way.

Of course, no one from Pitt's coaching staff is calling me for my opinion.

Nor does Pitt play in the NFL.

 

[cruzer]

Nor does Pitt play in the NFL.

No, but recruits absolutely think about playing in the NFL. If they're playing out of position, it makes it harder to make the league. If you're Pugh, you have to know that it's not likely that you're going to make it as a seriously undersized DE in the NFL. Rather play at the LB position, where you have a shot.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

yes, and Hugh Green played what position in the pro's? LB. And btw, when he played at Pitt, we played a 5-2 with standup "DE's" that were really OLB's. Playing Pugh at DE in a 4-3 is not the way to go IMO. Could a guy like that play DE at the college level? Possibly. Will he ever play that position in the NFL? No freakin way.

Of course, no one from Pitt's coaching staff is calling me for my opinion.

Many DE in CFB play LB in NFL agree seldom to none stay DE in the NFL. No question he still needs Weight like you said and prefer a taller DE too, Why they are considering him I'll leave that up to PN & CP! No one calls me either you would be better though if they needed advice.

Aldo, enjoyed reading your own thoughts and analysis that made good points as well, Thank You!