2021-2022 Super Pitt Panthers Sports Thread

[robbiestoupe]

6-8", 331 lb.

[willeyeam]

H2P

[Dickie Dunn]

[meow]

Moraga stunk anyway.

[Dickie Dunn]

All Pitt TEs stink.

[willeyeam]

JP Holtz is the goat

[Stoosh]

One week into camp and despite the fact that I should absolutely know better than to get my hopes up for Pitt football, I'm getting my hopes up again for Pitt football.

Will this be the year that we somehow rediscover the phenomenon of the receiving threat at the TE position?
Will this be the year that we establish a running game and some sense of balance to the offense?
Will this be the year that Chase Pine and AJ Davis...you know what never mind
Will this be the year that the Pitt Coaching Staff stops tripping over its collective d*ck and finally gets this team to a 10-win season?

1. Talk of camp so far has been Izzy Abanikanda. He and Powell spoke to the media earlier this week, and both confirmed that Abanikanda's playing at about 215-220 lbs. right now, up from 190 last year. It was also mentioned - maybe by Powell? - that Abanikanda also recently ran a 4.37 40-yard, and a number of other players have commented on how explosive he's been. We'll obviously have to wait until UMass to start to verify the latter but if you've seen photos of him from camp, he has absolutely bulked up. Outside of maybe John Morgan and Bengally Kamara, I'm not sure another player on the roster has gone through a more striking change from last year to this year. From most reports, it sounds like Abanikanda and Vincent Davis have separated themselves from the other RBs.

2. Of course, this all means that AJ Davis opens the UMass game as the starter and has 15 carries by halftime.

3. LB depth is absolutely ridiculous. While some of this is because Covid allowed Campbell, Pine, and Petrishen to come back, having Campbell, Davis, Bright, and Dennis is a ridiculously-strong starting point. I think it's safe to say those are the top four LBs. What remains to be seen is 1) how close Kamara, Deshields and George are to those four, and 2) whether Pine and Petrishen are any sort of significant step down. I had to sound like I'm selling Pine and Petrishen short there, but I've seen enough of Pine and not enough of Petrishen to know they're not ahead of any of those first four.

4. QB depth chart so far sounds like Pickett, Patti, and then Yellen and Beville for No. 3. Please Kenny Pickett, don't get hurt.

5. Starting WRs early on appear to be Addison, Mack, and Shocky. Next group appears to be Stovall, Barden, Wayne, and for the 5th...6th...10th straight year (?), Tipton.

6. I refuse to get excited over true freshmen, but Gavin Bartholomew may be working his way to TE2 behind Krull.

7. Jim Hammett reported that Zubovic is getting some work at center along with Owen Drexel, Bam Brima is getting reps at both DT and DE, and LB A.J. Roberts is also getting reps at both MLB and DE. They also have Rashad Battle and MJ Devonshire working at both corner and safety.

[willeyeam]

LFG ACC CHAMPS

[the wicked child]

https://tenor.com/GQRm.gif

[meow]

I’m sitting in an ice rink Charlotte NC watching the Blue and Gold game. It is jarring.

[willeyeam]

I'm confused

[willeyeam]

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Just read that Marquis Williams called out Justyn Ross by name and said he wanted a shot at covering him 1 on 1. I suppose he doesn't remember last year's tire fire against Clemson?

On a more positive note, should be interesting to see what this guy from Ohio State can do. Seems like a few guys on the OL are also solidifying spots in the lineup. Any thoughts on WR beyond Addison? Seems to be pretty quiet in camp.

[Dickie Dunn]

Any thoughts on WR beyond Addison? Seems to be pretty quiet in camp.

John Vardzel to play 1000% of the snaps.

[Stoosh]

Just read that Marquis Williams called out Justyn Ross by name and said he wanted a shot at covering him 1 on 1. I suppose he doesn't remember last year's tire fire against Clemson?

On a more positive note, should be interesting to see what this guy from Ohio State can do. Seems like a few guys on the OL are also solidifying spots in the lineup. Any thoughts on WR beyond Addison? Seems to be pretty quiet in camp.

From reading/listening to Williams's comments, I think he was mostly being respectful toward Ross and seemed aware that Pitt was the underdog. He called Ross the best receiver in the ACC and he was looking forward to playing him here. Had he done some sort of "Who's Justyn Ross?" type thing, it would bother me a lot because that's complete lack of self-awareness. Maybe the bigger question here is whether Williams even gets the chance because Devonshire has reportedly looked really good in camp at corner.

As far as wideout goes, it sounds like the top three are Addison, Mack, and Shocky. Barden, Wayne, and Stovall appear to be the next three and Uncle Tre is in there somewhere as well. Jaden Bradley has been talked up a bit and his height may help get him on the field in some situations. It also sounds like the TE depth chart is going to be Krull and then Wright/Bartholomew. Bartholomew possibly cracking the two-deep as a true freshman probably says as much about him as it does about the rest of the TE roster, assuming Renda will redshirt, of course.

I've gone back and forth on how good the passing attack can be and actually will be. Addison is terrific but he's not going to surprise anyone this year. They really need one other receiver to step up consistently. In a perfect world, Krull is the top candidate here, he stays healthy, and plays the part just as well as he looks it. If that happens, it opens up room for other receivers to operate. I'm not sure we're going to see anything different from Mack & Shocky than what we already have seen. Barden showed some good flashes last year so maybe he's the WR that takes that next big step.

Back to DB...Rashad Battle is apparently pushing Erick Hallett at safety, which is probably a good thing. I like Hallett but Battle is a legitimate 4-star prospect and all things being equal here, I'd rather have the 4-star prospect on the field. Speaking of 4-star prospects...

DE rotation appears to be Morgan, Alexandre, Baldonado, and Dayon Hayes.

[Dickie Dunn]

Paris Ford cut by the Rams. What a waste.

[willeyeam]

This stuff will always be great

[NAN]

Saw that. Absolutely awesome.

[slappybrown]

Is this the year™

[willeyeam]

10-2

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Is this the year™

No

[NAN]

Is this the year™

No

No

[willeyeam]

It's not not the year

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

If being picked to finish fourth in the milquetoast Coastal Conference is "the year" then "the year" sucks.

[Stoosh]

First depth chart, folks...

OFFENSE
QB: KSP, Patti, Beville
RB: AJ Davis OR Abanikanda OR V Davis. Look at Narduzzi trying to throw off those UMass coaches.
WR First trio: Mack, Addison, Shocky
WR Second trio: Wayne, Barden, Tipton
TE: Krull, Bartholomew
Starting O-Line: Warren (LT), Minor (LG), Drexel (C), Kradel (RG), Houy (RT)
Backup O-Line: Goncalves (LT), Zubovic (LG), T. Moore (C), K. Wilson (RG), Branson Taylor (RT)

DEFENSE
DE starters: Baldonado, Alexandre
DE backup: Morgan, Hayes
DT starters: Kancey, Camp
DT backup: Danielson, Green, Jules, Bentley
Star LB: Bright, Petrishen
Mike LB: W. Davis OR Dennis, George
Money LB: Campbell, Dennis or Pine
SS: B. Hill, Tallandier
FS: Hallett OR Battle
CB starters: Williams, Mathis
CB backup: Woods, Devonshire

They have Barden and Abanikanda as the top KR. Barden & Devonshire are the top PR.