2024-2025 Pitt Super Panthers Sports Thread

Post by **Stoosh** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 5:09 pm

Hey, it's 2024 Football Super Panther Training Camp Eve, so what better time to start a new thread. Last season's thread hasn't had a post since the end of April, which really speaks volumes about where things are right now.

Being 100% honest as we kick off another sure-to-be thrilling season of the Chris Bickell '97 Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi Era:
1. For the first time in probably my entire Pitt fandom, I have absolutely no idea what to expect of this team, especially the offense, and,
2. realignment, NIL, and transfer portal have pretty much killed large portions of what I used to love about this time of year. It sucks knowing that roster continuity from year to year is most unsustainable for 90% of all college programs.

On the field, Narduzzi at least finally did what I hoped he should've done after 2021 and embrace the fact that you have to try to score points to win games. It worked in 2016 and to even better effect in 2021. Cignetti's hiring set this program back at least two full seasons, so kudos to him for cleaning the entire offensive house.

All I know of Kade Bell is that his offense scored a crap-ton of points in FBS and Florida Gators fans really wanted him. I went to the Spring Game to get a look at the offense but came away with nothing. Injuries depleted most of the lineups, the roster draft format is stupid, and from what I heard at and after the game, the playbook was "Villanova in 2016" levels of watered down. Desmond Reid is really quick and fast but he and a lot of the other new guys look really small. The OL also looked small, though most of the guys that played in the spring game were 2nd/3rd string guys. It was a good time but it was impossible to get any sense of what this offense will look like.

Can the offense be worse than last year? I don't know. I'd say no, but I said that last year and they were in fact much worse, at least until Jurkovec got benched.

The defense I think could be decent...it's so tough to say because they were on the field so much last year, and then the entire DL turned over. I think the safeties will be good provided they're not too over-aggressive. I think the LB depth is decent with Biles, Bass, and Lovelace. CB and DL are mysteries due to turnover and inexperience.

Post by **willeyeam** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 5:33 pm

I don't believe I can predict 15-0 in good faith like usual. Too many unknowns. 12-2 most likely

Post by **skullman80** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 5:42 pm

I’ve haven’t been less excited for a Pitt season in a while. Glad they got a new OC, but probably have the worst QB in the ACC even if he is an improvement over the stiffs from early on last year.

I just hope they aren’t boring. Last year they were just really boring to watch. Especially on offense.

I’ll still watch though because I like to torture myself.

Post by **Joegap** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 6:03 pm

I canceled my pantherlair subscription. Haven’t been following recruiting much or anything, but just got excited for the season anyway!

Post by **dodint** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 6:44 pm

I hope they do badly enough to get Narduzzi **** canned mid season, then they win out after that.

Post by **meow** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 6:46 pm

The Matt Canada effect (TM)

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:27 pm

Stoosh is the man

I think yarnell will go down as one of the most okay quarterbacks in Pitt history.

Is the o/u currently 5.5?

Also, I’ll see you fools in Dallas.

Post by **Stoosh** » Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:52 am

Sorry for the typo in the thread title. Anyone know if there's a way to edit that? If not and no one minds, I'll just leave it.

Post by **count2infinity** » Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:53 am

I got you, boo.

Post by **Stoosh** » Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:29 am

count2infinity wrote: ↑Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:53 am I got you, boo.

BEAUTY

Post by **Stoosh** » Tue Jul 30, 2024 4:47 pm

skullman80 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 5:42 pm I’ve haven’t been less excited for a Pitt season in a while. Glad they got a new OC, but probably have the worst QB in the ACC even if he is an improvement over the stiffs from early on last year.

I just hope they aren’t boring. Last year they were just really boring to watch. Especially on offense.

I’ll still watch though because I like to torture myself.

This is really my base level expectation/hope for this year: I just want an offense that can convert first downs at some decent level of consistency and efficiency, and actually threaten to score a touchdown more than once per half. Last year, it felt like a miracle any time they managed to string together a couple of first downs in the same possession, let alone actually get the ball inside the opponent's 30 yard line. Just give me something that looks like it can move the ball with regularity and actually score touchdowns.

I still can't believe I'm saying that just two full seasons removed from 2021.

Post by **willeyeam** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 12:08 pm

Post by **the wicked child** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:28 pm

I haven't been paying much attention... is there anything to realistically look forward to this season?

Post by **willeyeam** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 9:45 pm

Beating WVU

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:20 pm

The receivers might not be bad. Same w RB

Post by **willeyeam** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:21 pm

Yarnell is gonna be good bold prediction

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:25 pm

I think there is a reasonable chance he won’t stink. Dudes thrown 4 tds and 1 pick in 62 or so attempts. Completes a decent percentage of passes and his YPA is objectively good.

Post by **skullman80** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:28 pm

He can’t be any worse than the awful qb play of last year. It’s impossible.

Post by **willeyeam** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 10:33 pm

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:31 am

Per panther lair podcast

Rylan Gandy will be “the guy” at corner. Which means he will get toasted frequently but eventually carve out a nice 6 or 7 year career in the nfl

Blew some smoke about how the staff and players are excited about Holstein and Davis. That’s what I want to hear in fall camp, a bunch of bs about down the liners.

George Lovelace and Kyle Lewis will be the guys at lb

Said there was some huge defensive lineman from Jeanette on the roster. I never hear of the guy but apparently he transferred like 8 times in his career.

Post by **Dickie Dunn** » Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:00 am

MrKennethTKangaroo wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:31 am Said there was some huge defensive lineman from Jeanette on the roster. I never hear of the guy but apparently he transferred like 8 times in his career.

Anthony Johnson. 6'3", 300 lbs. Left Jeanette to play his senior season of high school in Cleveland. Went to Bowling Green, left for YSU where he played 4 seasons, transferred to Illinois for the 2024 season, left Illinois after their Spring Game and came here.

Post by **Stoosh** » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:19 pm

I do think LB is one of their deepest positions on the team.

George seems like a great team guy and he's decent in run support but he really struggles with angles at times. Louis was in the 2-deep last year, I think backing up behind Shayne Simon? I don't remember him doing much of note. No idea what to expect with Keye Thompson (6th yr transfer from Ohio U). If they could get Tyler Wirtz-levels of production from him, that would be nice.

I like Lovelace. I thought he played really well last year given the jump he had to make as a true freshman. Biles made some splash plays in limited time, so I'm hoping to see more of him. Bass made mistakes last year borne of inexperience but his athleticism is there.

I think this can be a good group. If the D-line comes together at all, it would help.

Post by **Stoosh** » Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:21 pm

Anthony Johnson:
https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/f ... nson/13695

Dude just turned 25.

Post by **meow** » Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:54 pm

“General Studies” degree and a 99 birth year. What a dude

Post by **NAN** » Sat Aug 03, 2024 12:15 pm

First time in my life I’m not counting down until kickoff for college football in general. Between the consolidation of power, realignment, nil, etc it’s just not fun anymore.

I’ll be excited for Pitt and will always follow, but when a 110 year old power conference gets blown up over night and it’s Everyman for themselves, my days of waking up to watch game day and not stopping until pac football was done is over. Watch Pitt, maybe another non big 10 sec matchup (refuse to watch) and call it a day. I’d rather watch the nfl instead of nfl lite.

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