NOTE: This is the 19th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Friday, Nov. 28, noon (ABC)
Site: Heinz Field (65,050, grass), Pittsburgh
Coach: Dave Wannstedt (4th year, 16-19)
Checking them out
In a Big East that has all sorts of storylines this season, this one rivals West Virginia in the post-Rich Rodriguez era as perhaps the most intriguing: Is Pitt on the verge of something big, as seems possible in light of that 13-9 win over WVU last December, or was that just a fluke and the Panthers are no better than their 4-7 record up to that point?
If nothing else, the pieces seem to be falling into place. Pitt had another highly rated recruiting class, an offense built around a powerful tailback like LeSean McCoy is just what Wannstedt craves and that win over a national championship frontrunner at the time was huge for momentum and confidence. Still, there have been other great recruiting classes and other sizeable wins that led to nothing but unrealized expectations in recent seasons.
On offense, McCoy is the unquestioned centerpiece after rushing for 1,328 yards as a freshman, including 38 carries and 148 yards against West Virginia. There are issues around him, though. The offensive line that blocked for him lost three starters, two of them to the NFL. The quarterback situation is unsettled, although there are plenty of good candidates from which to choose: Bill Stull was the starter before missing virtually the entire season with a thumb injury, Pat Bostick was thrown into the fire as a true freshman, Kevan Smith has experience and junior college transfer Greg Cross is in the mix. Stull goes into the preseason as the frontrunner. No matter who plays the position, the wide receiver corps is athletic and deep, led by Derek Kinder (back from a knee injury) and Oderick Turner.
NOTE: This is the 19th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Friday, Nov. 28, noon (ABC)
Site: Heinz Field (65,050, grass), Pittsburgh
Coach: Dave Wannstedt (4th year, 16-19)
Checking them out
In a Big East that has all sorts of storylines this season, this one rivals West Virginia in the post-Rich Rodriguez era as perhaps the most intriguing: Is Pitt on the verge of something big, as seems possible in light of that 13-9 win over WVU last December, or was that just a fluke and the Panthers are no better than their 4-7 record up to that point?
If nothing else, the pieces seem to be falling into place. Pitt had another highly rated recruiting class, an offense built around a powerful tailback like LeSean McCoy is just what Wannstedt craves and that win over a national championship frontrunner at the time was huge for momentum and confidence. Still, there have been other great recruiting classes and other sizeable wins that led to nothing but unrealized expectations in recent seasons.
On offense, McCoy is the unquestioned centerpiece after rushing for 1,328 yards as a freshman, including 38 carries and 148 yards against West Virginia. There are issues around him, though. The offensive line that blocked for him lost three starters, two of them to the NFL. The quarterback situation is unsettled, although there are plenty of good candidates from which to choose: Bill Stull was the starter before missing virtually the entire season with a thumb injury, Pat Bostick was thrown into the fire as a true freshman, Kevan Smith has experience and junior college transfer Greg Cross is in the mix. Stull goes into the preseason as the frontrunner. No matter who plays the position, the wide receiver corps is athletic and deep, led by Derek Kinder (back from a knee injury) and Oderick Turner.
The defense that shut down West Virginia is pretty much back intact and will have a healthy tackle Gus Mustakas. Scott McKillop led the country in tackles as Pitt's middle linebacker.
All-conference candidates
Offense: RB LeSean McCoy, WR Oderick Turner, WR Derek Kinder, OG C.J. Davis
Defense: LB Scott McKillop, CB Aaron Berry, DE Greg Romeus
Special teams: K Conner Lee
Notes
Here's the stretch of the schedule that makes or breaks the Panthers: Four road games in a five-game span in the middle of the season immediately after a tough home game with Iowa. Pitt begins the Big East season on the road at Syracuse and South Florida and plays at Navy and Notre Dame. The only home game stuck in there is against Rutgers. ... How will the loss of defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads to Auburn affect the Panthers? Remember, it was Rhoads who was in charge of the defense that held West Virginia to 183 yards of total offense.
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