Pitt’s NFL prospects only positive from season

When Dave Wannstedt addressed the media after Pitt’s loss to Louisville on Saturday, what he… When Dave Wannstedt addressed the media after Pitt’s loss to Louisville on Saturday, what he said slightly resembled what we heard after last season.

“We are not a dominant team physically by any stretch,” Wannstedt said.

He went on and continued to say that the team didn’t make plays and failed to capitalize on opportunities and so on. But the fact of the matter is, aside from a few solid playmakers, this Pitt Panthers team lacked the talent that Wannstedt proclaimed to be bringing in.

Granted, it was only his second season and second full year to recruit, but a 5-6 season followed by a 6-6 season doesn’t exactly bode well. Were the guys Wannstedt had to work with so incapable of picking up and playing to his game plan that Pitt not only hasn’t made any progress in the past two years, but in my mind has regressed? Were these not Division I-A football players?

I don’t know what was going on behind the scenes, and no way would anyone involved with Pitt football admit the true state of things, should they be that bad.

That only deepens the questions heading into next year. And this is the final Pitt football Q’A until next fall, so let’s make it a good one.

Q: Which Pitt players are going to get drafted?

A: Revis is undoubtedly the best NFL prospect on the team, but hasn’t disclosed whether or not he plans on leaving. Being a junior, he still has another year of eligibility, meaning he could most likely secure a first-round draft pick, if he wasn’t as sure this year. If he decides to leave, he goes in the first 50 picks.

Revis aside, I think both H.B. Blades and Tyler Palko have solid futures in the NFL. Blades was a monster at middle linebacker all year and finished his career as one of Pitt’s all-time leaders in tackles. However, some NFL coaches and general managers may pass early on Blades because he lacks ideal size for an NFL linebacker (he’s only 6-foot). But, guys like Miami’s Zack Thomas have proven that’s not always a hindrance. I think Blades is another first-day pick, most likely third or fourth round.

Palko, as we all know, is a purebred football player. The guy has toughness, athleticism and a work ethic that is sometimes few and far between among big playmakers. But Palko doesn’t have the big arm that is coveted in the NFL, and rumors have been floating around that he might translate well into a safety. But I think he brings too much leadership to move him away from quarterback, where I think he stays. I say he’s a fourth to fifth rounder.

Throw Clint Session into the mix as well. Although he was chronically out of position this year, he’s fast and has solid athletic tools to work with in the NFL. He might get drafted on potential, but what position he’ll be is unsure.

Q: Is Dave Wannstedt really the right guy for the job?

A: Well, in a time where fans want instant gratification, this answer may seem to avoid the question. Pitt needs to give him more time. As impatient as many Pitt football fans may be, Wannstedt is still in the process of completely revamping the football program. When you look at some of today’s best coaches’ first years, the same thing that is happening to Pitt happened to their programs. Pete Carroll needed three years to turn USC into a national title contender and Rich Rodriguez struggled at West Virginia years before it won the Sugar Bowl last year. Do you suppose USC and WVU fans were questioning their respective hires when things weren’t going well?

I’ll say this, though. If Wannstedt and his coaching staff haven’t made significant progress with the football program by 2009, he may need to go. By then, he’ll be coaching all players he recruited, and if he can’t win with them, he simply can’t win.

Q: With Tyler Palko gone, is Pitt in good hands with Bill Stull?

A: I’ll admit that it’ll be a bit odd not having Palko line up under center next year. And it might feel a little out of place for Stull as well. Although Wannstedt did get the sophomore a decent number of snaps this season, Stull is still going to be a little bit frazzled. Remember Palko’s first game as a starter three years ago? For those who don’t, he threw three interceptions and looked visibly uncomfortable. But, he had one of the best seasons a Pitt QB has ever had that season, so it could go either way with Stull.

What Stull does have to worry about, however, is incoming freshman quarterback Pat Bostick. The current Pitt verbal commitment is touted as one of the best passers in the country as well as the best player in Pennsylvania. Bostick originally planned on enrolling at Pitt this spring, but has since eased off of that. Either way, he’ll push for the starting job.

Q: Where is the Pitt football program headed?

A: That’s a tough one. Who really knows at this point? Everybody thought Pitt was back when the team started 6-1 this year, and look what happened. There’s just something about Pitt that I’ve noticed my entire life – you can’t rely on a Pitt team to do anything it’s expected to do. Wannstedt might win nine or 10 games next season as soon as having another mediocre season.

But, the plethora of talent that came in with this year’s freshman class needs to be utilized more if the team wants to go anywhere. Guys like Dorin Dickerson, Elijah Fields, John Malecki, Joe Thomas, Kevin Collier, Jason Pinkston and Aaron Smith need to have big years, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t. In my mind, the near future of the Pitt football program rests on their shoulders.