2012 Record: 6-7 (3-4 in Big East)
Head Coach: Paul Chryst (second year at Pitt)
Last Bowl Game: 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl: lost to Ole Miss 38-17
Stadium: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa (capacity = 65,050)
Home Field Advantage: ranked 56th out of 69 BCS teams
Schedule Glimpse:
Out of Conference: 9/14 vs New Mexico, 10/19 vs Old Dominion, 10/26 at Navy, 11/9 vs Notre Dame
Most Likely Conference Wins: 9/21 at Duke, 9/28 vs Virginia
Swing Games: 11/2 at Georgia Tech, 11/16 vs UNC, 11/23 at Syracuse
Statistical Snapshot:
Stats to Fear: allowed 38 sacks (last in Big East)
Stat to Cheer: only turned the ball over 10 times in 2012 (1st in Big East), held opponents to 52.50% TD rate in the red zone (3rd in Big East)
Advanced Stats (Football Outsiders 2012 FEI Ranking): 44th out of 124 teams
Personnel:
Phil Steele’s Returning Starters: Offense: 5, Defense: 8, Special Teams: 1
Key Defensive Returnees: S Jason Hendricks (90 tackles, 6 INT), DT Aaron Donald (64 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks), LB Todd Thomas (59 tackles)
Key Offensive Returnee: WR Devin Street (73 rec)
Top 2013 Recruits: OT Dorian Johnson, WR Tyler Boyd, QB TraVon Chapman, DT Tyrique Jarrett
Inside Scoop with @FearTheStache of Cardiac Hill:
CFBZ: Pitt seems to finally be on solid footing in the head coaching ranks as Paul Chryst enters his second year. What do you think he did well in year one and what does he need to do better this season?
@FearTheStache: On the field, Chryst’s (and QB coach Brooks Bollinger) development of Tino Sunseri was nothing short of phenomenal. The much-maligned quarterback turned into a game manager, throwing for 21 touchdowns in 2012 while only being intercepted three times. Off the field, Chryst let this team know that he would not tolerate their shenanigans by suspending six players before the season opener. This is a position he has not backed down from since, and it is refreshing to see.
As for what Chryst needs to improve on in 2013, #1 on my list would be situational play calling. There were multiple times in 2012 where Chryst went for it on 4th down late in the first half and failed. The problem was that both Notre Dame and Louisville had nearly a minute left and only 30 yards to go to position themselves within field goal range. Both teams did so…Louisville converted, Notre Dame did not.
CFBZ: Three-year starter Tino Sunseri will move on to the next stage of his career. Who will replace him?
@FearTheStache: While most fans are clamoring for redshirt freshman Chad Voytik, the starter will most likely be Tom Savage. In 2009, Savage set several high water marks at Rutgers as a freshman, including being named to the FWAA Freshman All-American team. Despite not having taken a snap since 2010, Savage brings size (6’5″) and a strong arm to the table. With a quality group of receivers and tight ends, Savage will have plenty of targets…if the offensive line can protect him.
CFBZ: What do you see as the primary weaknesses on this team going into 2013?
@FearTheStache: It feels weird to say this, but the running back position. For a team that has turned out NFL-capable backs over the past several seasons (LeSean McCoy, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Henry Hynoski to name a few), the depth in 2013 is thin following the graduation of Ray Graham and the late transfer of Rushel Shell. Isaac Bennett had a strong spring game and looks to be the projected starter, but Malcolm Crockett and Desmond Brown (brother of Steelers receiver Antonio Brown) will see their share of carries as well. The down side, the three backs combined for only 41 carries last season.
CFBZ: What will make the 2013 season a success in your eyes?
@FearTheStache: Not being selected to the BBVA Compass Bowl. What’s that? The bowl doesn’t exist anymore? Well then, let’s go with being bowl eligible and finishing with a winning record.
Despite being in a new system for the third consecutive season in 2012, the team remained competitive in many of their losses…this includes a triple overtime loss at Notre Dame and a one-point loss at Syracuse. An eight win season is not unrealistic in 2013, but playing in a new conference with a new quarterback and running back, I’ll set the bar low this year.
Verdict:
Paul Chryst took over last season and it looks like he’s stopped the revolving door that was the Pitt head coaching job over the last few years. Pitt started out last year by getting upset 31-27 by an FCS squad (Youngstown State) but they rebounded throughout the season by beating Virginia Tech and Rutgers (ranked #19 at the time) as well as having a very close call against Notre Dame.
Chryst enters his second year with another big challenge ahead of him. The team must replace their QB, their top two leading rushers as well as their second leading receiver. Overall, Phil Steele has Pitt as the 12th most experienced team in the ACC and 105th in the FBS. Pitt needs a lot to go their way on offense this season as they will look for new faces to step up. Most importantly, they need Savage or Voytek to emergence as a competent option at QB and they need one of the young inexperienced runners to step up.
The defense returns eight players and looks to be the strength of the team. They return seven of their top eight tacklers, they return their top leaders in interceptions and they return their leading sacker. DT Aaron Donald and S Jason Hendricks have been hyped as pre-season All-Conference selections by numerous outlets.
With the exception of the opener against FSU, Pitt’s new ACC schedule starts out favorably. After the opener against the Seminoles, Pitt plays against New Mexico, Duke and Virginia. The next three games are against Virginia Tech (who will be looking for revenge), Old Dominion and Navy. The schedule ends with five tough games (Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, UNC, Syracuse and Miami) but I like how the schedule sets up and should allow this team to get it’s feet under them during the first part of the year. I wouldn’t look for any miracles in Chryst’s second season but I believe he will have them bowling again and for now that’s a step in the right direction.
Prediction: 6-6
Previous 2013 Pre-Season Previews:
ACC- Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia, Wake Forest
Big 12- Kansas, Kansas St, Texas Tech
C-USA- ECU, FAU, FIU, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulsa, Tulane, UAB, UTEP, UTSA
Independent: Army, Idaho, Navy, New Mexico St, Old Dominion
MAC- Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, EMU, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, UMass, WMU
MWC- Air Force, Colorado St, Fresno St, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, SDSU, SJSU, UNLV, Utah St, Wyoming
Pac-12- Washington State
SEC- Arkansas, Vanderbilt
Sun Belt- Arkansas State, Georgia State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, ULM, WKU
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