The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Pittsburgh – INSIDE SLANT
As much as the loss to Notre Dame hurt and with the bad taste likely to linger for a while, the Panthers somehow need to make sure the triple-overtime defeat is in the rearview mirror.
That’s because they have three games remaining — all Big East tilts — and need to win two of them to become bowl eligible.
The first of the trio of conference clashes is Friday night in Hartford against a Connecticut squad starved for its first conference victory.
“I think in this case a shorter week, one day shorter week, is maybe a good thing,” said coach Paul Chryst at his Monday press conference. “I think we all are looking forward to getting back and going. We need to turn the page and we already have.”
Chryst better make sure his quarterback has turned the page. In Saturday’s postgame media session, Tino Sunseri pointed a finger at Kevin Harper’s missed 33-yard field goal attempt in the second overtime as the reason why Pitt lost to the Irish.
Any lingering effects or potential ill will within the ranks, especially if it centers around a fifth-year senior quarterback, could sabotage any chance the Panthers (4-5/1-3 Big East) have of becoming bowl eligible.
“I don’t agree with it,” said Chryst of Sunseri’s comments. “We have to make sure everyone is squared away there. A lot of guys made plays to put us in position to win that game and we all did some things that led to us not winning. It doesn’t fall on one guy.”
The Panthers cannot let the season fall on one tough loss. While the Huskies (3-6, 0-4 Big East) are winless in conference play, Rentschler Field is a tough venue to play especially on what will be a chilly Friday night.
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NCAAF Team Report – Pittsburgh – NOTES, QUOTES
–Coach Paul Chryst said he has not heard anything additional with respect to the criminal complaint filed Oct. 21 against running back Ray Graham, receiver Devin Street and defensive back Lafayette Pitts. As such, the first-year coach said he “felt good” about allowing the three to play at Notre Dame. “We have not heard anything (additional), but we are not going to put our head in the sand,” he said. The players were not arrested and are scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in Pittsburgh on Jan. 9.
–Last Oct. 26, Ray Graham entered the Connecticut game second in the nation in rushing. After only two attempts against the visiting Huskies, Graham was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Fast-forward one year and Graham heads into this year’s matchup coming off a season-high 172-yard effort against Notre Dame for his third 100-yard game of 2012. “I feel like I was improving three weeks,” Graham told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
SERIES HISTORY: The series is knotted at 4-4 with Pitt having won last year’s contest at home, 35-20.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Ray Graham and the running game have been a major factor the last couple of weeks and quarterback Tino Sunseri has a string of six games without an interception. That combination opens up the playbook for offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph. There is one thing that has to be gnawing at Rudolph, however, and that is the Panthers were 1-for-14 on third-down conversions last week. Granted, they were going against a Notre Dame defense that is at or near the top nationally in virtually every major category. However, the Huskies’ defense ranks ninth overall and leads the Big East in third-down defense. Hence, it is an area that is going to have to show marked improvement Friday night.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The defense is coming off a game in which it had an effort to be proud of. It bent, but did not break while the Irish controlled the ball for most of the first half. In the fourth quarter and overtime, the unit came up with critical turnovers in the end zone to keep the Panthers’ hopes alive. The Huskies have done little right on offense this season as they rank 117th in scoring at 16.5 points per game. Coordinator David Huxtable needs to find a way to keep his unit’s intensity level high so as not spring any leaks against an UConn offense it should otherwise handle.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think you can do both and I don’t think you cheapen the game at hand.” — Coach Paul Chryst on keeping the focus on each remaining game while also understanding the bigger picture in attempting to achieve bowl eligibility.
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NCAAF Team Report – Pittsburgh – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Pitt at Connecticut, Nov. 9 — The above quote by Chryst truly hammers home what this game is all about for the Panthers. They have to focus on a down, but still tough UConn team while attempting to come within one game of bowl eligibility. Pitt certainly does not want to face a situation in which it has to beat Temple and USF in its final two games in order to finish 6-6 and earn a bowl bid.
KEYS TO THE GAME: This is truly a game in which a turnover-free effort while limiting the penalties would go a long way toward achieving victory for Pitt. The Connecticut defense is rugged and could cause a lot of havoc while forcing the issue with the Panthers’ offense. That is why fundamentals such as ball security and field position are paramount heading into this contest. It is okay to win ugly given what Pitt needs in its final three games. Of course, they cannot show any signs of a hangover from South Bend.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
K Kevin Harper — How is his psyche after missing what would have been a game-winning field goal from 33 yards in overtime then having his quarterback point a finger straight at him following the Notre Dame loss? Let’s face it. Bowl eligibility can rest squarely on Harper’s right foot in the final three games and the senior needs everybody on his side.
QB Tino Sunseri — With respect to Harper’s miss, the fifth-year senior failed as a team leader in the aftermath of last week’s loss. He needs to screw his head on and place all his energy on what remains of the season. Fast.
LB Joe Trebitz — The senior is coming off a productive outing at Notre Dame in what was his first-career start. Trebitz had a team-high 13 tackles and will need another strong effort especially with the cast of linebackers still banged up.
ROSTER REPORT
–LB Shane Gordon — Chryst said he hopes Gordon (high ankle sprain) can play more snaps against UConn than the few he played on an emergency basis against the Irish last week.
–LB Emmanuel Rackard — While Chryst does not like to discuss the particulars of an injury, he said he is not sure if Rackard will be available Friday night. An injury to the reserve linebacker is what prompted the call for Gordon last week.
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