Pitt Football Spring Previews Surfacing

by CardiacHill on Mar 20, 2026 12:00 PM EDT in Pitt Football

With spring practices officially underway, the previews from the national outlets aren't going to be far behind. ESPN and Athlon's are already out.

In the ESPN preview, Andrea Adelson says position battles to watch are at quarterback, defensive end, linebacker, and offensive tackle. I'd agree with that for the most part, but Tino Sunseri is looking like he'll be a tough guy to beat. Paul Chryst essentially said he's the guy heading into the spring and I have to believe that he'd really have to struggle in order to open the door for someone else. For those screaming for Chad Voytik, keep in mind he won't be practicing with the team until Fall camp. He could surface at some point in 2012 if Sunseri really can't get much going, but he'd still have to beat out the other guys and there's virtually no chance he goes into the year as the starter.

Athlon also has their Pitt preview out. Their main storylines, of course, include Sunseri. But their top storyline is Paul Chyrst replacing Todd Graham.

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Pitt QB

There literally is no future playing Tino at QB. 1) We know his severe limitations passing the ball beyond the line of scrimmage. 2) With this season’s schedule whacked out by the tossed together opponents (GW and Temple) the season should be looked upon as a time for the new coaching staff to get their feet wet and to prepare Pitt for their entrance in 2013 to the ACC. 3) Pitt wants to go into the 2013 ACC season with an experinced starter at QB obviously good bad or indifferent Tino will be 24 years old and not eligible (going on with his life’s work by the 2013 season which will not be playing football)..

by PittACCfan on Mar 20, 2026 6:08 PM EDT reply actions

Well, we missed out on the Manning Sweepstakes..

Tino will have a decent senior year.

Anyhow, this is Running Back U.

by H.LandPitt on Mar 20, 2026 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Tino

The point about wanting a QB ready to go into the ACC with some experience is interesting, but I don’t know who is better equipped to run the team.

While it’d be nice to start off on a good foot in the ACC with a QB with experience, it’s not mandatory. What the program needs to focus more on is avoiding a second straight bad season, which will affect recruiting and the general feel of the program heading into the new conference.

Pitt’s perception will be much better heading into the ACC if they can avoid another down season. And like him or not, Tino probably gives the team the best chance to win this season.

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by CardiacHill on Mar 20, 2026 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Even at the "best chance to win"

I doubt Tino nets more than seven wins. Why not have a down year (4-6 victories) with an unproven guy so that he’s in place for the ACC move? Sunseri’s been nothing but inconsistent and hasn’t truly proven himself a sure-fire starter. If Chryst is in for the long haul, he should be given the leeway to make tough decisions about personnel like this one.

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by JohnCassillo on Mar 21, 2026 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions

No

CH is right. You always want to play the guy that gives you the best chance to win, and that right now is Tino Sunseri. There just isn’t anyone on the bench right now that can step in and beat him to the position. Tino by far has the most game-time experience (2 yrs.) and mind you that he “has” shown greatness at times in his career. His game against Syracuse the last two years were very good as well as his game against USF last year. He has also spattered some greatness other times as well. It’s easy to criticize a player, but you can’t over-look the good things he has done.

Tino just needs to work on being more consistent. He has it in him to be a great college QB. Don’t judge and just see how it plays out this year. Remember Bill Stull’s senior year? He was awful his junior year, and then came out as one of the best QBs in the country his senior year. Just give Tino a chance.

Also, Chryst’s offense is less QB centered than Fraud’s which will help out Tino. Trust me, Chryst won’t demand something out of his QB that he can’t handle like Fraud did. Pitt should have more of a RB focused offense this year, and that is what Chryst will do. Remember, we might have the RB in all of college football playing for us this year. Everyone loves Ray Graham.

by PittGuy on Mar 21, 2026 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

ACC Move

Someone really needs to explain the importance of ‘having someone in place for the ACC move’, because I don’t get it.

The far more important thing is that Pitt avoids a second consecutive bad season, which would probably set the program back in recruiting at least a bit. It also wouldn’t help Chryst out if Pitt starts off poorly in his first season.

Tino Sunseri is what he is … but he’s the team’s best quarterback. I thought we saw that last season with Trey Anderson and Mark Myers doing practically nothing, but hey - we all love the backup QB, right?

I’d love to see Pitt get off to a good start in the ACC, but even if they go 6-7 then, how is that any different than going 6-7 in the Big East? The whole philosophy of Pitt needing to get ready for the ACC by having a quarterback with experience in the first season is nothing more than something that sounds nice.

Maybe someone can set me straight …

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by CardiacHill on Mar 21, 2026 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I think if you're 6-6 in the ACC

You’re viewed as a bowl team, but in the Big East you’re neither guaranteed a trip to the postseason, not are you considered much of a success. Of course that’s not necessarily right, but perception’s not always fair. Most pundits at the WWL don’t know what they’re talking about. But will that stop them from the “Pitt and SU should’ve stayed in the Big East” stories if they both go 4-8 in year one? Of course not. The trickle-down effect then transfers to recruits. It’s easier to sell players on a winning team than a losing team, obviously. But it’s also easier to sell players on a .500 ACC team than a .500 Big East team.

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by JohnCassillo on Mar 21, 2026 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

ACC

Eh, guess I can understand the perception argument a bit, but I also think the perception will be bad if Pitt goes 4-8 this season and ‘limps’ into the ACC.

It’d be nice to have a quarterback with experience to go into the ACC, but I think it’s more important that Pitt puts together a good season this year.

And while .500 in the ACC will mean more to the media, recruits, etc. than .500 in the Big East, I think it’s just as bad if Pitt ends up with a dozen wins in the two seasons going in. Six vs. half a dozen to me.

The other thing is that Pitt’s best QB option in two years is likely incoming freshman Chad Voytik. If Pitt went the route you suggest, they’d be far more likely to play either Mark Myers or Trey Anderson - not a freshman that won’t even be practicing with the team until the fall. So if Voytik is ready by 2013, as projected, then Pitt will still be entering the conference (assuming they’re in there in 2013) with a new quarterback.

And when you mix in the fact that even going into the conference with an experienced quarterback might not mean the team is any better, I don’t see how the team benches Sunseri this year just to get another guy some reps.

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by CardiacHill on Mar 21, 2026 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Tino

Sounds like Fraud Graham is back in town -“the best chance to win this season” !

by PittACCfan on Mar 21, 2026 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Running Game

If we have a great running game then why can’t some underclassman get the starting QB, managing the offense, so we can go into ACC play with an experienced QB. We won’t need Tino then.

by PittACCfan on Mar 21, 2026 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Again

As I wrote above, I don’t see why entering the ACC with an experienced QB … far more important to avoid another losing season.

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by CardiacHill on Mar 21, 2026 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Weak Schedule is why

With WVU and TCU off your schedule this year Pitt is playing one of it’s easiest schedule in years. Running game is suppose to be strong. Between the weak schedule and strong running game Pitt should be able secure a winning season with a QB lacking experience. A QB that can manage the game not win it is what Pitt needs in 2012 . What better time to play a QB that can reap benefits in 2013 going forward into the ACC.

by PittACCfan on Mar 21, 2026 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

But

That doesn’t really answer the question of why it’s important to enter the ACC with an experienced QB.

And just to play devil’s advocate, if Pitt can achieve a decent season with an inexperienced QB, they should be able to do even better with Sunseri since he’s better than the other options on the roster. So why not try to get more wins and win the Big East?

If the argument is that Sunseri isn’t the best option, I’d disagree, but could at least understand the logic a bit better. But I don’t know why a team should make a calculated decision to NOT play its best player just so another player can get reps and enter a new conference with experience.

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by CardiacHill on Mar 21, 2026 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

You always play the guys

that give you the best chance to win. You don’t ever sit a guy to give someone else more experience for a new conference the next year. That is just ridiculous. When 2013 rolls around, Pitt can worry about what to do at that time.

by PittGuy on Mar 22, 2026 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions