Pitt air attack looks to turn Rockets

Pitt will attempt to start a season with a 4-1 record for the first time since 2002 this… Pitt will attempt to start a season with a 4-1 record for the first time since 2002 this Saturday at Heinz Field against Toledo.

The game will be broadcast by ESPNU, and kickoff is set for noon.

The Panthers (3-1, 1-0 Big East) are coming off a 51-6 stomping of The Citadel last weekend. Pitt managed to rack up 507 yards of total offense with six touchdowns.

Quarterback Tyler Palko was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week for his stellar performance against the Bulldogs.

Palko completed 88 percent of his passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns in the game. It was the sixth highest single-game completion percentage in Big East history.

For the season, Palko has completed 66 percent of his passes for 1140 yards, 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He also leads the nation with a 187.25 quarterback rating.

Palko’s new favorite receiver, junior Derek Kinder, has also generated some impressive performances in the early season. Kinder leads the nation in receiving so far this year, and has scored five times in four games – not bad considering he was a role-player last year.

“We went into [the season] with him being our possession guy,” head coach Dave Wannstedt said. “But he’s made some big plays and has given us a chance to score some points.”

Joining Kinder and Palko on the potent Pitt offense is running back LaRod Stephens-Howling. Stephens-Howling leads the Panthers in rushing with 157 yards despite playing in only three of the team’s four games. He has also accumulated 94 receiving yards, including a touchdown catch from tight end Darrell Strong last week.

“I love LaRod,” Wannstedt said. “The guy gets the most of what’s there. Very seldom do you ever watch a play of LaRod and say I wish he would have gotten two more yards. He is a tough runner and he can take it the distance if he breaks one.”

Toledo (2-2) is shrouded in questions despite a 41-7 win over McNeese State last Saturday.

Most importantly, the Rockets have to figure out who will start at quarterback.

Sophomore Clint Cochran started the first three games of the season under center. Despite throwing for 721 yards and four touchdowns, he led Toledo to a modest 1-2 start.

While he sat out the McNeese State game with an unspecified injury, Cochran’s replacements, freshmen Brandon Summers and Aaron Opelt, combined to throw for 186 yards and one touchdown in the rout.

Despite the merry-go-round at quarterback, Coach Wannstedt still believes the Rockets could be very dangerous.

“They’ve got a good system in place. You can see that even though they’ve rotated quarterbacks, they really haven’t taken a step backwards,” the second-year head coach said.

Some of the success of the quarterback rotation has to be attributed to tight end Chris Hopkins. Hopkins leads Toledo in receiving with 23 catches, 280 yards and three touchdowns.

While there may be questions concerning the Rockets’ quarterback situation, be sure running back Jalen Parmele will handle most of the carries.

Parmele has a stout 5.1 yards-per-carry average in the young season. He has totaled 324 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

But Parmele isn’t the only Rocket that can burn his jets. Redshirt freshman DaJuane Collins also came off bench last week, launching his career while running for 91 yards and two touchdowns in his first action of the season.

If Pitt needed any extra incentive to beat Toledo this week, they need not look further than the 2003 meeting between the two teams. In that game, the Rockets embarrassed Pitt 35-31 at Toledo.

“I don’t have to say anything but the guys who were there will, I promise you that. They’ll say it better than I will.”