Panthers will try to ground high expectations

While the Pitt football team’s backfield situation is only one of many combatant areas… While the Pitt football team’s backfield situation is only one of many combatant areas entering training camp, its eventual result figures to have the most impact on the team’s prospects. The battle is especially important, considering new head coach Dave Wannstedt’s desire to transform the Panthers into a running team.

“Right now I think we have 14 running backs when you count the fullbacks,” he said. “That’s a good thing. The bad thing is I’m not sure who the starter is.”

However, while only one can start, many can make an impact over the course of a game. Quarterback Tyler Palko explained that he cherishes having so many running backs to choose from, as it presents an opportunity to confuse defenses.

“It’s exciting, when you’ve got someone in Rashad [Jennings] that can pound you, someone in [Brandon] Mason that can make a lot of people miss,” he said. “He’s shifty, he’s a bigger back, but he’s someone who’s multi-dimensional.” He didn’t hesitate to praise the upperclassmen in the backfield, either.

“Ray [Kirkley] can just run hard,” he went on. “[Tim] Murphy can play fullback and tailback. I would love to just watch running back drills for a day.”

Murphy, a redshirt senior, had to sit out spring practices after off-season surgery on his left shoulder. But having the time off hasn’t made him less confident, nor does he feel more threatened by the freshmen as a result.

“When I first came here, we were in the same situation because they had seniors that were leaving that season,” he said. “So, they brought in around six of us, and it’s the same thing that’s going to happen this year.”

It would worry him more if the coaching staff hadn’t brought in any new running backs.

“We kind of expected it because so many of us are leaving,” he continued. “They’re going to have to replace us in some way.”

With so many contenders, getting all of the new players into games could be next to impossible. As a result, Wannstedt hasn’t been shy to experiment with his backfield.

“I’m going to have [defensive coordinator] Paul Rhoads put them through some drills,” the coach said of a handful of his running backs. “Two or three of those kids could play defense.”

The establishment of a consistent running game can’t arrive soon enough for the Panthers, who come off a season in which their rushing attack ranked 105th out of 117 teams in Division I-A, with a meager 97.75 yards per game. To put it in perspective, 25 running backs averaged more yards per game individually than Pitt did as a team. Palko acknowledges that while the stats are bad, they aren’t a perfect reflection of the running game from last year.

“Granted, we were horrible at running the ball last year,” he said, “but you also have to realize that a lot of the times we got into situations [where we couldn’t run] last year were because we got behind. You have to pass the ball.”

Solidifying the running game can only help a passing attack that features Palko and wideout Greg Lee, both members of the preseason first team all-Big East squad.

“When you get linemen confident in run blocking and you can physically beat people, guys aren’t pinning our ears back all the time with just pass rushing,” Palko said. “It makes it easier to run if they don’t know if we’re going to run or pass. If they think we’re going to pass, then we run the ball, and we’re not running against eight, nine guys in the box.”

Murphy agreed with his quarterback, adding that the defense has to work a lot harder against a balanced attack.

“To win the games, you have to run the ball,” he said. “You can’t just pass all game, because defenses can play that; that’s easy for them. They can just get in nickel or dime and just play you.”

Rushing the decision itself is something Wannstedt does not appear ready to do. In fact, he hinted that he is toying with various options now, given the time to do so.

“We may have to have plays specifically for each guy. We kind of have a group of guys,” he said after the team’s first practice with full pads. “Tim Murphy and Rashad Jennings do things right, and Conredge Collins did a couple things right. Raymond Kirkley had a nice run. It’s going to be tough. I wouldn’t want to pick [starters] after today. I mean, I could if I had to, but we need a little bit more time and, fortunately we have it. It’s only a week in.”

While it may take the entire preseason to figure out who eventually claims the starting spot, Palko isn’t worried. He’ll be confident with whomever Wannstedt starts behind him.

“It’s going to be an exciting camp, to see them battle it out,” the quarterback said. “It’s nice to know you have those guys in your hip pocket.”