Pittsburg wants to run 80+ plays

ArizonaHawkeye88 · 08-09-2011, 08:00 PM

from cbs blog
Graham expects Pitt to run 80+ plays a game
Posted on: August 9, 2011 12:18 pm
Edited on: August 9, 2011 12:20 pm

Posted by Chip Patterson

Picked in the top two of the Big East by most preseason polls, it is fair to say there are some high expectations of Todd Graham's first year as the Pittsburgh head coach. The school has made the former Tulsa coach the new face of the football program, even using his "high-octane" theme to market the football team at HighOctaneFootball.com - University of Pittsburgh Official Athletic Site.

So what exactly does Graham expect from his "high-octane" football?

"Our goal is to run 81 or 82 plays per game, and I believe that as long as we protect the ball, we're going to be able to do that," Graham said as the Panthers opened camp on Monday.

In 2010, West Virginia led the Big East averaging 69.8 plays per game and the Panthers were fifth averaging just under 64. If the new no-huddle attack does produce 81 or 82 plays per game, it would rank them among the top offenses in the nation - where Graham's Tulsa team was a year ago.

There is no reason to think that the Panthers can't achieve their goal with the personnel on the field. Junior quarterback Tino Sunseri, son of Alabama linebackers coach Sal Sunseri, is a fast learner and has reportedly improved with the move to a shotgun formation. All-conference receiver Jon Baldwin may be gone, but Mike Shanahan (43 catches, 589 yards in 2010) and 6-foot-4 sophomore Devin Street will serve as the perfect compliment to the speedy return man Cameron Saddler - who will likely takeover the "Z receiver" position in the spread.

Ray Graham returns after a breakout 2010 that earned him 3rd Team All-Big East honors while sharing the load with Dion Lewis. The high play count will mean that some of the other running backs will need to step up, but there is no doubting Graham's playmaking ability on the field.

The Big East is filled with multiple looks on offense and defense, with no clear cut trend across the league. Seeing how the Panthers "high-octane" system matches up against different defenses will be just one of the story lines to keep an eye on in the upcoming Big East season.

ArizonaHawkeye88 · 08-09-2011, 08:04 PM

I think to slow this down we need to run ball control, 15 play drives, to give our defense a good rest.

imported_ankle23 · 08-09-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArizonaHawkeye88

I think to slow this down we need to run ball control, 15 play drives, to give our defense a good rest.

of course - their running 80 plays is more predicated on their defense almost moreso than their ball control offense.

If a team like iowa can run the ball and thereby run the clock, it's all just a bunch of talk.

ArizonaHawkeye88 · 08-09-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_ankle23

of course - their running 80 plays is more predicated on their defense almost moreso than their ball control offense.

If a team like iowa can run the ball and thereby run the clock, it's all just a bunch of talk.

Also this is a new offense. Will they have it perfected by the third game.

cibula11 · 08-10-2011, 07:22 AM

That's going to be awfully hard when you go 3 and out on every series and Iowa takes 10:00 scoring drives.

goods10 · 08-10-2011, 07:39 AM

If new Pitt coach was able to do this at Tulsa with that talent level why wouldn't he be able to do it at Pitt with better talent?

I will be at the Pitt game and it sounds like it will be fast tempo and fun to watch! I am beyond ready for football to get here!

hawkeyescott · 08-10-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goods10

If new Pitt coach was able to do this at Tulsa with that talent level why wouldn't he be able to do it at Pitt with better talent?

I will be at the Pitt game and it sounds like it will be fast tempo and fun to watch! I am beyond ready for football to get here!

I'm not saying it can't be done but the defenses he will be facing have better talent to slow it down.

So saying it worked at Tulsa so it should work at Pitt with better talent isn't really comparing apples to apples when the defenses also have better talent that Pitt is facing compared to what Tulsa faced.

Clark · 08-10-2011, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goods10

If new Pitt coach was able to do this at Tulsa with that talent level why wouldn't he be able to do it at Pitt with better talent?

I will be at the Pitt game and it sounds like it will be fast tempo and fun to watch! I am beyond ready for football to get here!

I heard the same thing when ISU got their new offensive coordinator. Two seasons later and still no high powered offense.

While it's true he'll be upgrading talent on his own roster, he's also upgrading in competition to play against.

ShadasRevenge · 08-10-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clark

I heard the same thing when ISU got their new offensive coordinator. Two seasons later and still no high powered offense.

While it's true he'll be upgrading talent on his own roster, he's also upgrading in competition to play against.

Good point, although to be fair to Herman, the players he inherited in his first year weren't recruited to run his type of offense. ISU is getting more of those type players, so perhaps that will begin to change.

But in general I would agree that an offense that lit up scoreboards at places like Rice and Tulsa doesn't exactly translate well.

JonDMiller · 08-10-2011, 08:40 AM

Pitt's defense is gonna be pretty salty.

DodgerHawki · 08-10-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clark

I heard the same thing when ISU got their new offensive coordinator. Two seasons later and still no high powered offense.

While it's true he'll be upgrading talent on his own roster, he's also upgrading in competition to play against.

will not translate into great production. It is an indicator, but not the magic number by itself. Northwestern also has the play fast mantra, they averaged about 73 plays per game last year. Contrast that with 62 per game for Iowa. Last year's game against Northwestern the Wildcats ran 82 plays to 71 for Iowa.

Pitt does have some talent and I think Graham is a competent coach, so this will be an interesting game. Biggest thing Iowa can do is get at least a couple of first downs every time we have the ball. Even if you don't score you are running the clock and letting the defense rest.

FML · 08-10-2011, 09:43 AM

This game worries me a lot more now that the Stache is no longer coaching.

vosov · 08-10-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

Pitt's defense is gonna be pretty salty.

Jon, there is nothing that will make a salty defense sweeter, than an offense like Pitt is about to run. Pitt's defense will be talented this year, but I think they might be a little low on the salt.