#dan marino is also in it apparently as himself???

[kenneth-omega]

WE’RE GETTING A FILM WITH KENNY IN IT STARRING ALONGSIDE JERICHO AND AUSTIN ???!¿¿!¡?¿!!¿¡¡?¡

[luckylq44-blog]

Asked whether he was still a member of the staff

They'll just come here, go to my cooler and love the beer I have."For fans in need of some new Bills gear, the store also sells teams hats. Clear plastic bags that are permitted in the stadium are popular as well, Khanna said.The skinny: Droves of football fans flock to Tops on Sundays to pick up their last minute tailgating staples."It's crazy," store grocery manager Mike Babbitt said. "There's a lot of tailgaters coming in and loading up for grilling, for beer, hot dogs, rolls, stuff from our Carry Out Caf, chips.

wholesale nfl jerseys It's been about a year since April 15, 2013, when the bombs went off in Boston. I can't claim to understand what it's been like for the victims of that tragedy or for their families. But I can tell you that people around the world, Cheap Jerseys free shipping including myself, were inspired to do something personal and positive in response to that dark day.  wholesale nfl jerseys

wholesale jerseys from china This popular dish takes time to prepare. However, you can make the sauce in advance and keep it in the freezer or refrigerator. For an authentic dish, don't take shortcuts and don't leave out any of the ingredients particularly the Pad Thai sauce that gives the final dish its rich, amber color and succulent taste.  wholesale jerseys from china

wholesale nfl jerseys from china The oversized sleeve design allows you to handle the remote control comfortably and easily while staying warm all the way up to your wrists. https://www.wholesalejerseyslan.com/ If you start to get too hot, just remove your arms from the sleeves and you'll quicky cool off. The best thing about these NFL comfy fleece throws and wearable blankets is their versatility.  wholesale nfl jerseys from china

cheap nfl jerseys By the time the game came around on Nov. 2, the tumor had affected Hill s right side so much that she had to shoot with her non dominant hand. With Tennessee women s coach Pat Summitt and an impressive cast of WNBA players on hand, Hill took a pass and made a left handed layup only 17 seconds into the game..  cheap nfl jerseys

It was wonderful to get hold of a piece of parachute silk, from which we could make underclothes or a blanket and turn it into a jacket. If you were getting married the brides made their dresses out of parachute silk. Everybody co operated. Apparently, wholesale nfl jerseys this barren land is the closest thing the aliens could find to a major population center in Africa. That's because for Hollywood, the entire continent hasn't advanced much since Jesus was still around. The opening to Casino Royale, for instance, introduces us to Africa with the image of a bunch of black guys betting on a fight between a mongoose and a snake..

Cheap Jerseys from china This was a star studded show. Designer Michael Vollbracht seems to have stabilized the Bill Blass brand by sticking close to the classic Blass style. At times he seems to be slavishly copying the archives rather than interpreting, as evidenced by most of the day looks he showed.  Cheap Jerseys from china

cheap nfl jerseys Dilshad wants to be a world cycling champion, but also wants to stay in Kurdistan and study law. She worries about balancing these dreams, http://www.okcheapjerseys.com/ as well as about the war with Isis and the lack of jobs. "Medals and years of experience mean nothing without a degree," she says.  cheap nfl jerseys

wholesale jerseys from china Asked afterward why Garza was absent, USC Coach Lane Kiffin said, "Willie's dealing with a personal issue. That's all I can say."Asked whether he was still a member of the staff, Kiffin reiterated that Garza was dealing with a personal issue. "At this time, right now, that's all that I can say."Kiffin informed players of Garza's resignation via text message at noon.USC players took Garza's departure in stride.  wholesale jerseys from china

Cheap Jerseys free shipping Also, roping in the local administration (an invite to or meeting the Mayor, with due media coverage) would wave a better, positive message to the people.wholesale jerseys I know this was Sachin Warne's personal effort; but the ICC can do better by taking this forward: include current top players, go for aggressive media coverage (even let go of some financial stake), rope in local administration, and, more importantly, target the local American population. Cricket will have greater audience then..  Cheap Jerseys free shipping

Cheap Jerseys from china PolitiFact New YorkTV and MediaWeatherEditorialsLetters to the EditorAdam ZyglisStateKeep the tickets: Eero and Liseviel Keltamaki had one of the strangest signs seen around Bills tailgates this season: a blown up Google Maps screenshot detailing their route to the game. But the story behind it was incredible.Eero didn't have to be a Bills fan. Growing up in Hearst, Ontario a small French Canadian town more than 200 miles north of Michigan's Upper Peninsula Keltamaki figured he had his choice between Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland or Buffalo, since all are roughly equidistant from his hometown.Hearst, Ont.  Cheap Jerseys from china

Cheap Jerseys china They lamented the left knee injury that forced Roethlisberger out the lineup on that warm late fall afternoon.And then Roethlisberger made an uncharacteristic request : a signed Brady jersey to hang on the wall in Roethlisberger home office next to Hall of Famers Dan Marino, John Elway and Jim Kelly.consider him one, if not the best of all time, Roethlisberger said. https://www.cheapjerseys18.com/ A group Roethlisberger does not include himself in.Not even with as many championships as Brady longtime friend and occasional foil Peyton Manning (two). Not even with a spot in the top 10 in just about every major statistical category out there on Roethlisberger still growing resume. Not even with a bust in Canton one day alongside Brady and the rest of the guys whose jerseys adorn the walls of his home almost assured regardless of what happens in Sunday AFC title game.The reason is simple: rings Cheap Jerseys china.

[madpicks]

New Post has been published on https://www.madpicks.com/sports/nfl/checking-rookie-qb-class-2017-nfl-season-starts/

Checking in with the rookie QB class before the 2017 NFL season starts

The importance of a building-block quarterback has never been more apparent in the NFL. Since 2002, the league’s Super Bowl champions have employed an array of future Hall of Famers en route to the Lombardi Trophy. With the exception of Joe Flacco, every NFL champion in the past 14 seasons has been led by a passer with at least three Pro Bowl invitations to his name.

That emphasis echoed through the 2017 NFL Draft, where a cache of talented but flawed quarterbacks surged into the first round. Teams in need of offensive leadership paid dearly for the chance to roll the dice on the next generation of passers. Every QB selected came at the cost of premium picks as the Bears, Texans, and Chiefs all traded up in hopes of finding a franchise cornerstone.

Mitchell Trubisky, the first passer drafted, wound up as the No. 2-overall pick despite just one season of starting experience under his belt. Patrick Mahomes II, the 10th pick of the draft, threw for nearly 10,000 yards and 77 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Texas Tech, but went 13-17 as his team’s primary QB. Deshaun Watson, the most accomplished of the first-round selections, raised concerns over whether his dynamic scrambling and hot-and-cold decision-making could translate to the next level.

All three have had their moments this preseason, giving hope they can live up to the expectations and high costs their franchises have placed on their shoulders. They’re not the only rookie quarterbacks to turn heads, however. DeShone Kizer and Joshua Dobbs have each earned starting assignments this preseason, and mid-round picks like C.J. Beathard and Nathan Peterman could each wind up forcing their way into regular season lineups for rebuilding squads.

Here’s a look at where all 10 of 2017’s drafted quarterbacks stand after three weeks of preseason play.

Mitchell Trubisky, No. 2-overall pick, Chicago Bears

The Bears were roundly criticized after sending four picks to San Francisco to move up one spot in the draft and select Trubisky, but the UNC product’s efficient preseason suggests the overpay may have been worth it. He played his way into the starting conversation after completing more than 70 percent of his passes and posting a 3:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his first three preseason games.

While $45 million acquisition Mike Glennon eventually shook off enough rust to claim the team’s top spot, Trubisky will have every opportunity to push him for snaps this season. The Bears can jettison Glennon next offseason with just $4.5 million in dead cap money on the books. A comparison of their preseason performances could mean his tryout may not last long.

Patrick Mahomes, No. 10-overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs

In order to live up to his draft status, Mahomes will have to fight off years of history of Texas Tech quarterbacks flopping in the NFL. With a solid preseason performance, he may be on his way.

Barring an injury to incumbent Alex Smith, Mahomes is unlikely to start for the Chiefs in 2017, but he has helped validate the team’s decision to trade up for him. The big-armed rookie hasn’t been asked to do much — his longest pass of the preseason has gone for just 19 yards — but he’s been accurate and transitioned well from his college system to Kansas City’s so far.

Deshaun Watson, No. 12-overall pick, Houston Texans

The Texans hit eject as the Brock Osweiler experiment hurtled through the atmosphere and crashed back into the Earth’s crust, opting to spend what turned out to be three premium draft picks to ship him out of Houston. Two first-round picks went to the Browns (who also absorbed Osweiler and his albatross of a contract for a second rounder) for the chance to select Watson — the draft’s winningest quarterback.

Watson has endured an up-and-down preseason, impressing in his first appearance with the club but cooling off since then (14 of 31, zero touchdowns, one interception). That will leave Tom Savage as the team’s starter, though he’ll likely have a shorter leash than Osweiler, who was replaced after 14 starts last season. Watson gives the Texans a dynamic running threat from the pocket, but the Clemson product will have to improve his accuracy to make an impact in 2017.

DeShone Kizer, No. 52-overall pick, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland will field the league’s youngest starting quarterback this fall after naming Kizer the winner of a quarterback battle that included 2016 sometime-starter Cody Kessler and Texans castaway Osweiler. His big arm has produced some highlight moments, like this touchdown strike to Jordan Payton:

However, the uneven tendencies that dropped him to the second round have also surfaced early in his NFL career. He’s taken five sacks in just 54 dropbacks this preseason, and put together a putrid 6-of-18, 93-yard, one-interception performance in his first start for the team. The good news for Kizer is expectations won’t be high, so he’ll have every opportunity to prove himself as Cleveland rebuilds.

Davis Webb, No. 87-overall pick, New York Giants

New York’s Eli Manning retirement plan now falls on Webb, who put up big numbers at California after spending the first three years of his college career at Texas Tech. He started the preseason slotted into the Giants’ No. 4 spot, behind Josh Johnson and Geno Smith, leading to limited snaps. He’s completed just 10 of his 20 passes so far, but will likely get extended reps in the team’s preseason finale and will likely make the team’s 53-man roster as a developmental prospect — probably at Johnson’s expense.

C.J. Beathard, No. 104-overall pick, San Francisco 49ers

Beathard threw for just 148 yards per game as a senior at Iowa and was a bit of a surprise pickup at the end of the third round. He’s been a playmaker this preseason, throwing for more than 10 yards per pass attempt and slinging four touchdowns (an 11 percent touchdown rate).

That’s not sustainable, but it’s a strong foundation for a quarterback with plenty of room for upward mobility. With Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley standing in front of him on the depth chart, Beathard could work his way into a starting spot in San Francisco.

Joshua Dobbs, No. 135-overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Dobbs was immediately thrust into a starting role with the Steelers — but it was just for the team’s preseason opener as Ben Roethlisberger stayed glued to the sideline. Returns on that opening performance were mixed. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes and threw a pair of interceptions, but the franchise will bank on him to overtake underwhelming Landry Jones as he develops as an NFL quarterback.

Nathan Peterman, No. 171-overall pick, Buffalo Bills

The University of Pittsburgh hasn’t produced a good NFL quarterback since Dan Marino, but that hasn’t stopped Bills fans — and players — from hitching their wagon to Peterman. As the team’s only healthy passer — starter Tyrod Taylor and backup T.J. Yates are both currently in the league’s concussion protocol — he’ll have the opportunity to start Thursday’s preseason game and potentially beyond. With Buffalo selling assets for draft picks in what looks like a tanking year, Peterman could be in line for regular season playing time as the team evaluates its roster.

Brad Kaaya, No. 215-overall pick, Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford just became the most highly paid player in league history, which means Kaaya’s path to playing time in Detroit now hinges on the 29-year-old getting injured. The former Miami Hurricane has been useful in the preseason, but will need plenty of polish to prove himself an NFL starter. He’s currently behind Stafford and Jake Rudock on the Lions’ depth chart.

Chad Kelly, No. 253-overall pick, Denver Broncos

Kelly wasn’t even a part of Denver’s quarterback competition thanks to an extended recovery from ACL and wrist injuries. While the team will likely hold him on the injured list while he convalesces, his spot on the active roster is no certainty. Kyle Sloter, an undrafted free agent who played wide receiver at Southern Mississippi before handling QB duties at FCS Northern Colorado, has looked capable enough this preseason to be the Broncos’ third quarterback, behind starter Trevor Siemian and 2016 first-rounder Paxton Lynch.

[junker-town]

Checking in with the rookie QB class before the 2017 NFL season starts

DeShone Kizer is a starter — but he won’t be the only one by the time the season ends.

The importance of a building-block quarterback has never been more apparent in the NFL. Since 2002, the league’s Super Bowl champions have employed an array of future Hall of Famers en route to the Lombardi Trophy. With the exception of Joe Flacco, every NFL champion in the past 14 seasons has been led by a passer with at least three Pro Bowl invitations to his name.

That emphasis echoed through the 2017 NFL Draft, where a cache of talented but flawed quarterbacks surged into the first round. Teams in need of offensive leadership paid dearly for the chance to roll the dice on the next generation of passers. Every QB selected came at the cost of premium picks as the Bears, Texans, and Chiefs all traded up in hopes of finding a franchise cornerstone.

Mitchell Trubisky, the first passer drafted, wound up as the No. 2 overall pick despite just one season of starting experience under his belt. Patrick Mahomes II, the 10th pick of the draft, threw for nearly 10,000 yards and 77 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Texas Tech, but went 13-17 as his team’s primary QB. Deshaun Watson, the most accomplished of the first-round selections, raised concerns over whether his dynamic scrambling and hot-and-cold decision-making could translate to the next level.

All three have had their moments this preseason, giving hope they can live up to the expectations and high costs their franchises have placed on their shoulders. They’re not the only rookie quarterbacks to turn heads, however. DeShone Kizer and Joshua Dobbs have each earned starting assignments this preseason, and mid-round picks like C.J. Beathard and Nathan Peterman could each wind up forcing their way into regular season lineups for rebuilding squads.

Here’s a look at where all 10 of 2017’s drafted quarterbacks stand after three weeks of preseason play.

Mitchell Trubisky, No. 2 overall pick, Chicago Bears

The Bears were roundly criticized after sending four picks to San Francisco to move up one spot in the draft and select Trubisky, but the UNC product’s efficient preseason suggests the overpay may have been worth it. He played his way into the starting conversation after completing more than 70 percent of his passes and posting a 3:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his first three preseason games.

While $45 million acquisition Mike Glennon eventually shook off enough rust to claim the team’s top spot, Trubisky will have every opportunity to push him for snaps this season. The Bears can jettison Glennon next offseason with just $4.5 million in dead cap money on the books. A comparison of their preseason performances could mean his tryout may not last long.

Patrick Mahomes, No. 10 overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs

In order to live up to his draft status, Mahomes will have to fight off years of history of Texas Tech quarterbacks flopping in the NFL. With a solid preseason performance, he may be on his way.

Barring an injury to incumbent Alex Smith, Mahomes is unlikely to start for the Chiefs in 2017, but he has helped validate the team’s decision to trade up for him. The big-armed rookie hasn’t been asked to do much — his longest pass of the preseason has gone for just 19 yards -- but he’s been accurate and transitioned well from his college system to Kansas City’s so far.

Deshaun Watson, No. 12 overall pick, Houston Texans

The Texans hit eject as the Brock Osweiler experiment hurtled through the atmosphere and crashed back into the earth’s crust, opting to spend what turned out to be three premium draft picks to ship him out of Houston. Two first-round picks went to the Browns (who also absorbed Osweiler and his albatross of a contract for a second rounder) for the chance to select Watson — the draft’s winningest quarterback.

Watson has endured an up-and-down preseason, impressing in his first appearance with the club but cooling off since then (14 of 31, zero touchdowns, one interception). That will leave Tom Savage as the team’s starter, though he’ll likely have a shorter leash than Osweiler, who was replaced after 14 starts last season. Watson gives the Texans a dynamic running threat from the pocket, but the Clemson product will have to improve his accuracy to make an impact in 2017.

DeShone Kizer, No. 52 overall pick, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland will field the league’s youngest starting quarterback this fall after naming Kizer the winner of a quarterback battle that included 2016 sometime-starter Cody Kessler and Texans castaway Osweiler. His big arm has produced some highlight moments, like this touchdown strike to Jordan Payton:

However, the uneven tendencies that dropped him to the second round have also surfaced early in his NFL career. He’s taken five sacks in just 54 dropbacks this preseason, and put together a putrid 6-of-18, 93-yard, one-interception performance in his first start for the team. The good news for Kizer is expectations won’t be high, so he’ll have every opportunity to prove himself as Cleveland rebuilds.

Davis Webb, No. 87 overall pick, New York Giants

New York’s Eli Manning retirement plan now falls on Webb, who put up big numbers at California after spending the first three years of his college career at Texas Tech. He started the preseason slotted into the Giants’ No. 4 spot, behind Josh Johnson and Geno Smith, leading to limited snaps. He’s completed just 10 of his 20 passes so far, but will likely get extended reps in the team’s preseason finale and will likely make the team’s 53-man roster as a developmental prospect — probably at Johnson’s expense.

C.J. Beathard, No. 104 overall pick, San Francisco 49ers

Beathard threw for just 148 yards per game as a senior at Iowa and was a bit of a surprise pickup at the end of the third round. He’s been a playmaker this preseason, throwing for more than 10 yards per pass attempt and slinging four touchdowns (an 11 percent touchdown rate).

That’s not sustainable, but it’s a strong foundation for a quarterback with plenty of room for upward mobility. With Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley standing in front of him on the depth chart, Beathard could work his way into a starting spot in San Francisco.

Joshua Dobbs, No. 135 overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Dobbs was immediately thrust into a starting role with the Steelers — but it was just for the team’s preseason opener as Ben Roethlisberger stayed glued to the sideline. Returns on that opening performance were mixed. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes and threw a pair of interceptions, but the franchise will bank on him to overtake underwhelming Landry Jones as he develops as an NFL quarterback.

Nathan Peterman, No. 171 overall pick, Buffalo Bills

The University of Pittsburgh hasn’t produced a good NFL quarterback since Dan Marino, but that hasn’t stopped Bills fans — and players — from hitching their wagon to Peterman. As the team’s only healthy passer — starter Tyrod Taylor and backup T.J. Yates are both currently in the league’s concussion protocol — he’ll have the opportunity to start Thursday’s preseason game and potentially beyond. With Buffalo selling assets for draft picks in what looks like a tanking year, Peterman could be in line for regular season playing time as the team evaluates its roster.

Brad Kaaya, No. 215 overall pick, Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford just became the most highly paid player in league history, which means Kaaya’s path to playing time in Detroit now hinges on the 29-year-old getting injured. The former Miami Hurricane has been useful in the preseason, but will need plenty of polish to prove himself an NFL starter. He’s currently behind Stafford and Jake Rudock on the Lions’ depth chart.

Chad Kelly, No. 253 overall pick, Denver Broncos

Kelly wasn’t even a part of Denver’s quarterback competition thanks to an extended recovery from ACL and wrist injuries. While the team will likely hold him on the injured list while he convalesces, his spot on the active roster is no certainty. Kyle Sloter, an undrafted free agent who played wide receiver at Southern Mississippi before handling QB duties at FCS Northern Colorado, has looked capable enough this preseason to be the Broncos’ third quarterback, behind starter Trevor Siemian and 2016 first-rounder Paxton Lynch.

[junker-town]

How will 2017 Pitt football follow up on beating Penn State and Clemson?

The Panthers are progressing nicely, but this season is probably a bump in the road.

In my North Carolina preview, I mentioned how Larry Fedora had the unstable program achieving at a strangely normal rate. The Tar Heels are now recruiting and playing at a top-30 level. They cannot be called underachievers.

Narduzzi has pulled off a similar feat.

It felt like I was bringing it up in the Pitt preview every year just to twist the knife: the Panthers had, over the course of two decades, experienced brutal close-game luck.

Since Johnny Majors retired and Walt Harris took over, Pitt has had a winning record in one-possession games just five times and has been at least two games under .500 in such games nine times. In this nearly two-decade sample, the Panthers are 35-53 in these contests, a 0.397 win percentage.

The Panthers have managed to attend 13 bowls and share two conference titles in these 18 years. If these demons that have taken over Heinz Field ever relinquish their powers, Pitt could easily become an annual ACC Coastal contender.

I wrote in 2015 that bringing in a guy who helped kill the “Sparty, No!” meme was a deft one.

Baggage: shed. Sort of. Narduzzi is still struggling to get his classes balanced and takes on a massive rebuild of the two-deep, but not only have his Panthers reminded everyone of the program’s upside, they’ve finally won their share of close games.

Pitt is 7-7 in one-possession finishes over the last two years. For this program, that feels like 14-0. Last year they beat two Power 5 champions — Penn State early and national champ Clemson in November — by a combined four points. They were two of the most exciting, symbolic Pitt wins of the last decade. They survived shootouts with Georgia Tech (37-34) and Syracuse (76-61) and finished 20th in S&P+, their best finish in seven years. They fielded maybe their best offense since Dan Marino was quarterback. They took on a brutal schedule, one featuring six S&P+ top-25 teams, and landed punches.

There were still regrets, though.

There was the 45-38 loss to Oklahoma State, which could have been a win with one fewer deep-ball breakdown.

There was the 37-36 loss at UNC, in which the Tar Heels scored the winning touchdown with two seconds left.

There was the 39-36 loss to Virginia Tech, which could have flipped if the Panthers had managed a minus-2 turnover margin instead of minus-3.

There was the 31-24 bowl loss to Northwestern, which could have flipped had the Panthers held NU’s Justin Jackson to 150 rushing yards or so instead of 224.

2016 was huge. But the Panthers still left wins on the board, and despite the top-20 S&P+ finish, they ended 8-5. The demons aren’t vanquished just yet, and last year’s pangs might feel a little stronger as Narduzzi attempts a third-year rebuild.

Pitt has to replace star running back James Conner, quarterback Nathan Peterman, tight end Scott Orndoff, All-American guard Dorian Johnson, all-conference tackle Adam Bisnowaty, four of five defensive linemen (including Ejuan Price and Shakir Soto), three of four linebackers, and three of five defensive backs. Plus, Canada leaves Watson with nearly impossible expectations.

The Panthers are not without star power; dynamic rusher/receiver Henderson is back, as are leading receiver Jester Weah, cornerback Avonte Maddox, and, of course, 2016 Piesman Trophy winner Brian O’Neill. And if some high-profile transfers find niches, Pitt will have more than enough talent to challenge good teams.

Still, it’s going to be nearly impossible to match last year’s upside, and Pitt’s success might end up defining how we look back at 2016. Was it the year a corner was turned, or was it a year of dramatic upside and too many missed opportunities?

From a symbolism standpoint, you could do worse than this:

Narduzzi is 16-10 after two years, ranked 20th in S&P+ in his second year. He faces a third-year setback.

Mentor Mark Dantonio at Michigan State: 16-10 in his first two years, 23rd in S&P+ in year two, and 6-7 in year three.

Beginning in year four, Dantonio went 65-16 over his next six seasons.

So there’s that.

2016 in review

2016 Pitt statistical profile.

The offense was not only good; it got better against better teams. Unfortunately, the defense was demonstrably worse.

Pitt vs. S&P+ top 50 (3-5): Avg. percentile performance: 68% (80% offense, 36% defense) | Avg. yards per play: Opp 6.6, Pitt 6.5 | Avg. score: Opp 40, Pitt 36

Pitt vs. everyone else (5-0): Avg. percentile performance: 78% (60% offense, 54% defense) | Avg. yards per play: Pitt 7.0, Opp 4.9 | Avg. score: Pitt 50, Opp 28

Against top-50 competition, the offense averaged just 0.4 yards per play fewer than it did against lesser squads, but the defense allowed 1.7 yards per play more. As a result, Pitt games were virtually guaranteed shootouts; only the first and last games of the season finished with fewer than 70 combined points. Not what one would expect from either Pitt or a Narduzzi team.

Offense

Full advanced stats glossary.

The most encouraging thing I can say about Watson is that Canada hadn’t proved himself before coming to town either. In nine seasons as a coordinator, Canada had never fielded an Off. S&P+ top 20 offense, and his average finish was 51.9. His first Pitt offense was 46th before his second surged to fourth.

Watson’s track record hasn’t been sterling either. Including his time at Texas — even though he was technically QBs coach and associate head coach, he was at worst a co-coordinator in Charlie Strong’s strange arrangement — he has spent 15 years as an OC with an average Off. S&P+ ranking of 45.7. Since ranking in the top 10 in 2007-08 at Nebraska, that average has ballooned to 64.9. At Louisville, with Teddy Bridgewater at QB, he peaked at 47th in 2013.

Narduzzi and Watson worked together at Miami (Ohio) 25 years ago, and apparently the bond was a good one.

For his struggles as an OC, Watson is still regarded as a good quarterbacks coach. In Peterman’s absence, the Panthers turn to either USC grad transfer Max Browne or sophomore Ben DiNucci. Whereas Peterman averaged 15.4 yards per completion in last year’s explosive offense, Browne and DiNucci combined to average just 8.6. And creating explosiveness will be a key now that Conner, a wonderful grinder in the backfield, is gone.

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

Quadree Henderson

Then again, you don’t have to throw deep to Henderson for him to end up going deep. The 5’8 junior was one of the most thrilling players in the country, gaining 631 rushing yards in just 60 carries. One in five carries went for at least 20 yards, and while he lined up all over the field (he was also targeted with 42 passes), it appears he will begin as Pitt’s No. 1 receiver.

That leaves relative unknowns at running back, but there’s size and upside. Sophomore Chawntez Moss (5’11, 210) and juniors Darrin Hall (5’11, 220) and Qadree Ollison (6’2, 230) combined for 111 carries and 514 yards in 2016. That’s an average of just 4.6 yards per carry, 0.5 below Conner’s pace, but while Conner was far more explosive, this trio was actually more efficient. Plus, two incoming freshmen — Todd Sibley Jr. (5’9, 215) and A.J. Davis (6’0, 205) — are four-star prospects per the 247Sports Composite.

There’s quite a bit of potential in the backfield, and there’s even more up front. Losing Johnson and Bisnowaty hurts, but Piesman-winner O’Neill was a third-team all-conference selection, guards Alex Officer and Alex Bookser have combined for 51 career starts, and size won’t be a problem: the 10 players on the OL two-deep average 6’5, 319. Combined with the bigger backs, that’s quite a bit of meat.

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Brian O'Neill

The receiving corps could be a thrill as long as Weah and Henderson don’t get hurt.

Weah’s return gives the Panthers one sure big-play threat. He was one of the nation’s most underrated receivers, combining a 24.2 yards-per-catch average with a 51 percent success rate. He caught fewer than three passes per game but still nearly finished with 900 receiving yards. Henderson was a nice possession option near the line of scrimmage. The tight end position, meanwhile, has quite a bit of potential as well between four-star sophomore Chris Clark, senior Devon Edwards, Rutgers transfer Matt Flanagan, and incoming four-star Charles Reeves Jr.

Size isn’t an issue here either. Weah is 6’3, backup sophomore Aaron Mathews 6’4, and Reeves is listed at a whopping 6’5, 280.

A single injury could be devastating, though. After Weah and Henderson, Mathews, sophomore Maurice Ffrench, and junior Rafael Araujo-Lopes combined for just nine catches last year.

Defense

The offense has potential, but there’s almost nowhere to go but down. That means the defense will have to pick up the slack. Easier said than done.

A Narduzzi defense is nothing if not aggressive. He is willing to give up big plays in the name of making some. He wants to force college players to make plays college players typically can’t, and that’s great as long as he has the personnel. But his first two Pitt defenses ranked just 50th and 62nd in Def. S&P+. Last year’s Panthers made plays up front but gave up too many big plays; meanwhile, the pass defense was strangely conservative (and still gave up too many big plays).

Pitt allowed 213 gains of 10-plus yards (120th in FBS) and 24 of 40-plus (121st). And that was with Price and Soto up front. That duo combined for 33 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks, and of the nine players to record at least 4.5 TFLs last season, six are gone.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Rori Blair

The end position still has plenty of potential. Rori Blair and Allen Edwards combined for seven TFLs as complementary pieces, and four-star Tennessee transfer Dewayne Hendrix had a good enough spring to be listed as a starter. But there’s a massive void at DT, where the three leading tacklers are gone.

Shane Roy and Amir Watts combined for 6 tackles, and that’s the extent of your experience in the middle. Big things are expected of four-star redshirt freshman Keyshon Camp, but he’s still a redshirt freshman. There’s still plenty of size here, thanks to players like junior Mike Herndon (6’4, 315) and incoming freshman Jalen Twyman (6’2, 315), but there are no proven pieces.

There aren’t many at linebacker either; junior Oluwaseun Idowu is the only of last year’s top four tacklers to return, though senior Quintin Wirginis and sophomore Saleem Brightwell showed some potential in backup roles.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Avonte Maddox

Last year, opponents had to be wary of the run defense and took to the air. They ran just 49 percent of the time on standard downs (123rd in FBS) and 24 percent on passing downs (126th), a sign that there wasn’t much fear of the secondary. Maddox took advantage of the extra attention, combining for 8.5 TFLs and 11 passes defensed, but opponents still completed 64 percent of their passes with a 143.6 passer rating. Pitt basically turned every quarterback into Washington State’s Luke Falk (145.6).

Opposite Maddox will be some combination of sophomores Dane Jackson, Damar Hamllin, and Malik Henderson, junior Phillipie Motley, and redshirt freshman Therran Coleman. Blue-chip freshman Paris Ford could help, but he needs to secure his eligibility first.

Safety was less of an issue last year, but it remains unsure. Free safety Jordan Whitehead returns, and junior Dennis Briggs had 2.5 TFLs and a breakup and might be a play-maker. But once again, if someone gets hurt, there’s almost nothing proven after them.

Special Teams

Chris Blewitt made the biggest field goal of his life against Clemson but still left something to be desired from a consistency standpoint. Pitt ranked just 85th in field goal efficiency, and while punter Ryan Winslow’s leg was strong (42.6 average), the Panthers ranked just 103rd in punt efficiency because of an eight-yard return average.

When you grade poorly in those, you’re going to grade poorly in Special Teams S&P+. Pitt ranked 81st, losing about 0.4 points per game, despite Henderson’s superhuman averages (30.5 yards per kick return, 15.8 yards per punt return, four combined touchdowns). Winslow is back, but Blewitt is replaceable, and Pitt isn’t likely to fall further here.

2017 outlook

2017 Schedule & Projection Factors

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 2-Sep Youngstown State NR 25.0 93% 9-Sep at Penn State 8 -16.0 18% 16-Sep Oklahoma State 22 -2.4 44% 23-Sep at Georgia Tech 31 -3.3 42% 30-Sep Rice 120 24.6 92% 7-Oct at Syracuse 60 2.3 55% 14-Oct N.C. State 27 0.9 52% 21-Oct at Duke 65 2.9 57% 28-Oct Virginia 70 10.7 73% 9-Nov North Carolina 38 3.8 59% 18-Nov at Virginia Tech 25 -5.7 37% 24-Nov Miami 18 -3.2 43%

Projected S&P+ Rk 33 Proj. Off. / Def. Rk 13 / 78 Projected wins 6.7 Five-Year S&P+ Rk 7.8 (35) 2- and 5-Year Recruiting Rk 33 / 41 2016 TO Margin / Adj. TO Margin* 1 / -0.4 2016 TO Luck/Game +0.5 Returning Production (Off. / Def.) 44% (44%, 44%) 2016 Second-order wins (difference) 8.2 (-0.2)

Ten years ago, Pitt pulled one of its biggest upsets ever, when a team that had lost seven of its last nine games went to Morgantown and took down No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9.

It was the biggest possible rivalry move — we can’t make anything of our season, but we’re going to destroy yours — and it was a springboard. Pitt went 19-7 over the next two seasons, their best two-year win total since 1981-82.

It’s hard to imagine that happening again following last year’s PSU and Clemson wins. The Panthers just have too much to replace. And that’s fine — sometimes it takes a while to get your classes balanced, and Narduzzi’s mentor experienced a third-year blip before he got rolling at Michigan State.

But as with UNC, newfound normalcy will be tested by a 2017 blip. If Pitt manages a top-40 performance and wins seven or eight games, that could set up a nice run in 2018 and beyond. This team doesn’t have many seniors, after all.

In the increasingly talented ACC, a top-40 performance could take on a lot of looks in the win column. S&P+ projects Pitt 33rd, which means three likely wins (Youngstown State, Rice, Virginia), one likely loss (at Penn State), and a whopping eight relative tossups with win probability between 37 and 59 percent. Pitt has played 14 one-possession games in two years; unless the Panthers fall further than expected, that average probably won’t go down.

That means 4-8 and 10-2 are technically on the table, depending on the bounces that eluded the Panthers for so many years.

Team preview stats

All power conference preview data to date.