Saturday, September 8, 2007

Wannstedt holds off naming starting QB


BY DALE GRDNIC, For The Patriot-News

PITTSBURGH - It's not called Division I-AA anymore, but Grambling State University --from the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision -- won't be taken lightly by Pitt in its game at noon today at Heinz Field.

The Panthers, 1-0 after beating Eastern Michigan last week, can't afford to look past Grambling because they'll have a freshman as the starting quarterback.

Either redshirt freshman Kevan Smith or freshman Pat Bostick will replace injured junior Bill Stull (thumb surgery).

"They've both done a good job," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "They really have. I think we've tried to make it as difficult on them as possible, but I think it's important not to try to fool them. But you want to try to pressure them and give them some different looks.

"If you're going to face a freshman, you want to try to force them into making some bad plays. So, that's been our approach as far as our preparation has gone this week. And we've gone through each situation with each kid, and both of them have done a good job."

Wannstedt has noted that he will not name a starter until game time.

"But I'd like to see both of them play, to be quite honest with you," Wannstedt said. "Whether that will happen or not, who knows? But they've both prepared well, and we've pretty much split it down the middle from a rep standpoint in practice.

"And that's not ideal. You'd really like the starter to get about 70 percent of the work, and your backup 30. But under these circumstances, I think this is the best thing for the kids and the best thing for our team. And I'm happy with how it's gone so far."

Wannstedt added that he was cautiously optimistic that either Smith or Bostick would perform up to their capability just because others on the Pitt team have done that this season.

Pitt's quarterback, Wannstedt said, will face a 4-3 defense that pressures an offense.

Junior linebacker John Carter is Grambling's defensive leader, while senior tackles Jason Banks and Donald Williams also provide a push from up front.

When the Tigers run the ball they primarily use just one back, as Frank Warren ran for 143 yards on 30 carries and added four catches.

Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers completed 19 of 36 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns in a in a 31-10 win against Alcorn State last week.

Wideout Reginald Jackson had six catches for 198 yards and two scores with a 69-yarder for one of them.

Clyde Edwards had three catches and the other two touchdown receptions.

"Grambling's receivers are very fast and quick, and very athletic," fifth-year senior cornerback Kennard Cox said.

"In their division, they have a lot of good athletes and a great quarterback. I think they're a little better team than Eastern Michigan with better athletes, even for a Division I-AA team. [But] I respect everybody I play, and we won't look past them." NOTES: Wannstedt said that every player is healthy and ready to play except redshirt sophomore TE John Pelusi, who banged up his shoulder last week against EMU, and he is listed as "day-to-day." However, he did not practice all week and isn't likely to play. ... Sophomore CB Aaron Berry is healthy now, but he will not start. Redshirt freshman Ricky Gary will start his second straight game. Berry is likely to play, though, when extra DBs are used.


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