Quote:Pitt Panthers: Five keys for success (5-7 Last season)
Post-Gazette Pitt beat writer Paul Zeise takes a look at what the Panthers need to do to contend for a Big East crown

Monday, August 25, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
John Raoux/Associated Press


1. Win the games they are supposed to win, particularly at home

The difference between Pitt going to a bowl and staying home in Dave Wannstedt's (pictured) first two seasons was losses to Ohio University in 2005 and an average Connecticut team in 2006. Last season, the Panthers had four games in which, had they executed better in the closing minutes, they would have won. This year, there is no reason they can't win eight games or more, but they absolutely must beat Buffalo, Bowling Green, Navy and Syracuse, then take care of business at Heinz Field against Rutgers, Louisville and Iowa -- three teams that do not have better players than the Panthers.

2. Open it up some on offense

Redshirt junior Bill Stull (pictured) is a smart player with a good pedigree coming out of pass-happy Seton-LaSalle High School. He has plenty of targets and is not likely to be mistake-prone or make bad decisions. He needs to be allowed to make some plays with his arm, but Wannstedt and offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh traditionally have favored conservative approaches that often leave little margin of error for their team. That's not to say a healthy dose of superb tailback LeSean McCoy is not warranted, but it is hard to win in college football if you don't score 28 or more points a game. Not to mention the fact that a dangerous passing attack would enhance McCoy's ability to run.

3. Stay healthy

Obviously a no-brainer, but more so for the Panthers, given that their season was ruined before it got started last year because of so many key injuries. And looking at the roster, it is clear that there are some areas where the dropoff from the starter to backup is dramatic. Pitt cannot afford to lose any offensive linemen or linebackers (they begin the season with weakside linebacker Shane Murray, pictured, day to day with an injured knee). Keeping Stull healthy is a priority. On the flip side, there seems to be some depth at running back, tight end, defensive tackle and wide receiver, so the talent base is steadily improving though not quite where it needs to be.

4. Turn them over as opposed to the other way around

Last season, the Panthers had a habit of setting up the other team with great field position -- or just giving up scores all together -- by turning the ball over. South Florida returned two interceptions for touchdowns and returned a third to the 1. Michigan State scored 17 points off Pitt turnovers. The Panthers would have won both games and reached a bowl game by protecting the ball. The Panthers ranked 93rd in NCAA Division I-A in turnovers gained (19) and 88th in turnover margin (-.42 per game). New defensive coordinator Phil Bennett (pictured) has put a major emphasis on creating turnovers, and the Panthers are hoping all their work in this area will pay off.

5. Block 'em early and often

LeSean McCoy (pictured) is one of the best running backs in Division I-A, and he is capable of posting an 1,800-yard rushing season (150 per game) with 10 or more touchdowns. Stull is a good quarterback with great understanding of the offense. The Panthers have excellent receivers, one of the nation's best trios of tight ends and a stable of explosive running backs built around McCoy. All that skill is wonderful, but it will be useless if the offensive line does not improve. While showing signs of steady improvement in training camp, it has a ways to go to become dominant. Given the team's man talented skill-position players, the Panthers' line just needs to be solid for the offense to have a chance, and it appears to be equipped to do so.

Paul Zeise can be reached at pzeise@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1720.

First published on August 25, 2008 at 12:00 am

Week 1: Pitt did one of the above 5 and is now 0-1.

Week 2: We play Buffalo, who is coached by the man who wanted the Nebraska job. Trust me when I say Turner Gill knows who our AD is. He will try to run it up if possible. Cav had better be ready to open it up. On the other hand, if we can do the above 5 things, we should win going away.

STEP 1 should be fire Dave Wannstedt. The 5 steps should follow after that, otherwise Pitt will never make it to respectability...