Smashmouth Football?
by CardiacHill on Mar 9, 2026 2:30 PM EST
in Pitt Football
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PrintSports Illustrated had an article up recently about the most pressing questions for each team.
The question for Pitt? Can Paul Chryst bring his smashmouth style of football to the Panthers?
SI focuses on Pitt's running game and with a questionable passing offense, that's to be expected.
Chryst is well known for his rushing offenses, including this year's monster season with Montee Ball in the backfield. Part of me wants to lessen expectations with a fairly weak offensive line, but with Ray Graham, it's hard for me to believe that the rushing attack won't be above average.
I still don't know what to make of incoming freshman Rushel Shell. I think he'll get his share of carries, but Graham is the man in my eyes. Either way, though, the two should give Pitt at least a good ground game. The success of the running backs will also be tied to the quarterback, presumably Tino Sunseri. If Sunseri isn't able to keep defenses honest, teams will stack eight in the box and make it difficult for Graham and Shell to find yards.
Chryst is used to having better offensive lines to work with, but he has some major talent to work with at running back.
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Pitt
Being a 40 yr Pitt grad my passion for Pitt athletics has not, unfortunately, been surpassed since my attending the 1976 Sugar Bowl and its grandness..What a year and what an era for Pitt that in my opinion was the true turning point in not just athletic acceleration but more importantly an academic mindset that has put Pitt at a premium long lost. My thanks to those many who have brought us back. My initial reaction to the March 10th ’12 conversation with Chryst doing the "Fan Morning Show" interview with Bostick et al left me quandering about Chryst’s lack of depth intellectually and perceptually…which haunts me of years past when Posvar muddled academia and athletics. My point is that, just like the coaches and leadership chosen back in the late 60’s-early 70’s, the intellectual base from the top, which chose Pederson, has given us a weak table. I truly hope that I am wrong but too many pins are pointing in the wrong direction.
by DNAINC on Mar 10, 2026 7:56 PM EST reply actions
Chryst
I agree that Chryst doesn’t appear dynamic or inspiring in interviews, but the one thing that I hear a lot is that he’s just a football coach and really knows his Xs and Os. Time will tell on that front, obviously, and we’ll have a better idea of him down the road, but until I see what he does on the field, it’s difficult for me to form a strong opinion on him.
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by CardiacHill on Mar 10, 2026 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
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