Big East Preview: Pittsburgh Panthers
July 7th, 2008 by Jason Collette
Dave Wannstedt is a cockroach that cannot be killed. His teams have continued to disappoint but he does just enough to keep his job each year on the field while somehow continuing to recruit well off the field. Last year, Pitt won the cupcake start to their schedule but then lost at Michigan State, got destroyed by Connecticut and Virginia and blew the lead to Navy at home. All that followed by pulling off upsets against Cincinnati and West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl to end the season.
The only highlight of last season for Pitt was the emergence of stud freshman LeSean McCoy (right, Icon SMI)who was the only source of fantasy production for the team. The Panthers did not pass well at all to help McCoy, but that did not stop him from producing 1600 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns.
The same quarterback mess from last season returns en mass. Bill Stul l is back from a thumb injury while Pat Bostick and Kevan Smith also return. All three quarterbacks combined for a dreadful 10/17 TD/INT ratio. The passing game has to get better to keep defenses more honest and give McCoy more room to dominate.
Despite the wretched passing attack, super freshman LeSean McCoy shined last season. 1600 yards and 15 touchdowns and he even threw in a few plays where he lined up at quarterback. Look for another amazing year out of McCoy as the schedule plays into his favor. Pitt’s out of conference schedule includes Bowling Green, Buffalo, Navy, and Notre Dame. If McCoy needs a blow, LaRod Stephens-Howling is still here but his role is severely diminished in this offense from where it was in 2006.Redshirt freshman Shariff Harris falls 3rd in line on the team.
The receivers group returns intact this year – that is where the good news ends. While experienced, the group was far from productive last year and suffered from Derek Kinder’s preseason knee injury. Oderick Turner had no serious threat on the other side to keep defenses honest and failed to top 500 yards receiving on the season. T.J. Porter is the third receiver in the offense and Nate Byha m returns at tight end this year. I cannot recommend taking anyone higher than WR3 or TE3 on this team until someone steps up to solidify the passing game.
Conor Lee returns for kicking duties this season and he has been very consistent in his career. In a more prolific offense, he would be a fantasy asset. Here, he is a reserve kicker.
The defense was not terrible last year as they finished 5th in the nation in yards allowed wtih 298 per game but 42nd in the nation with 24 points allowed per contest. They return seven starters on defense which will help in 2008. The Panterhs had eight of their twelve games last season decided by nine points or less which tells you how the defense helped despite a one-dimensional offense.
Pittsburgh’s season hangs on the quarterback position. If Stull, Bostick, or juco transfer Greg Cross can take it over and utilize the experienced receiving corps, Pitt could return to the bowl season for the first time since Urban Meyer thrashed them in the Fiesta Bowl. As it stands today in July, LeSean McCoy is the only reason to look at this team for a fantasy starter in your August drafts.
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