Pittsburgh 2005 Season | Team Page	Select Conference ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC Select Team

Special Athlon offer for SI.com readers

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Dave Wannstedt (2nd season, 5-6) 2005 record: 5-6 Big East finish: 4-3 (t-3rd) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 93rd (116.8 ypg) Passing: 67th (219.0 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 94th (185.2 ypg) Passing: 2nd (152.8 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Virginia Sept. 8 at Cincinnati Sept. 16 Michigan State Sept. 23 The Citadel Sept. 30 Toledo Oct. 7 at Syracuse Oct. 14 at UCF Oct. 21 Rutgers Nov. 4 at South Florida Nov. 11 at Connecticut Nov. 16 West Virginia Nov. 25 Louisville Depth Chart: Offense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. SE 87 Marcel Pestano So. - Dorin Dickerson Fr. FL 81 Derek Kinder Jr. 4 Joe DelSardo Sr. LT 62 John Bachman So. - Jeff Otah Jr. LG 57 C.J. Davis So. 78 John Brown Fr. C 68 Joe Villani Sr. 64 Chris Vangas Jr. RG 60 John Simonitis Sr. 70 Dominic Williams So. RT 75 Mike McGlynn Jr. 72 Chase Clowser So. TE 84 Steve Buches Sr. 14 Darrell Strong Jr. QB 3 Tyler Palko Sr. 11 Bill Stull So. FB 31 Conredge Collins So. 6 Chris Bova Fr. TB 34 LaRod Stephens-Howling So. 26 Shane Brooks Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 54 Charles Sallet Sr. 58 Joe Clermond Jr. DT 97 Corey Davis So. 90 Craig Bokor Fr. DT 50 Rashaad Duncan So. 95 Ernest Williams Fr. DE 41 Chris McKillop Jr. 48 Doug Fulmer Fr. SLB 17 Clint Session Sr. 39 Derron Thomas Jr. MLB 51 H.B. Blades Sr. 40 Scott McKillop So. WLB 44 Brian Bennett Sr. 29 Tommie Campbell So. CB 25 Darrelle Revis Jr. 7 Jovani Chappel Fr. CB 21 Reggie Carter Sr. 5 Kennard Cox Jr. SS 46 Sam Bryant Sr. 24 Jemeel Brady Jr. FS 10 Mike Phillips Jr. 28 Eric Thatcher So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 16 David Abdul Sr. P 18 Adam Graessle Sr. KR 34 L. Stephens-Howling So. PR 25 Darrelle Revis Jr.

To order your 2006 Athlon Sports annual and receive $1 off plus free shipping courtesy of SI.com, click here.

The first thing coach Dave Wannstedt did following a disappointing 5-6 debut at his alma mater was search for answers. Wannstedt started by looking in the mirror.

"As coaches, when you have a losing season you have to look at yourself first -- and that's what we did," says Wannstedt, a 31-year coaching veteran. "We had to look at our team as a whole and figure out the areas we failed in."

Despite an incoming recruiting class that is one of the best in school history, Pittsburgh has far more questions than answers beyond its big three of senior quarterback Tyler Palko, linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Darrelle Revis. Youth and inexperience dominate the roster, and several players from that heralded recruiting class are being counted on to contribute immediately.

"You look at us on paper, we have a lot of things we have to find out about a lot of players," says Wannstedt. "I think it will help that, as a coaching staff, we're going through this a second time now."

OFFENSE

Palko spent the offseason determined to put his sub-par junior year behind him and return to his impressive 2004 level. Everything he has done since the end of last season -- from assuming a leadership role to his work habits -- indicates that the stylish lefty should bounce back in a big way. Having another year in Wannstedt's system will help as well.

But Palko needs some support, and beyond wide receiver Derek Kinder (37 catches for 374 yards), there are far more questions than answers on offense. True freshman wide receiver Dorin Dickerson, a consensus Top 100 recruit, could have an immediate impact. So should classmate Kevin Collier, a tailback brought in to jazz up a running game that ranked 93rd nationally last year. Sophomore LaRod Stephens-Howling was Pitt's top rusher last fall with only 434 yards, though he did average a solid 4.5 yards per carry.

The offensive line has four returning starters and another good one in Pittsburgh's long tradition of quality linemen in right guard John Simonitis.

DEFENSE

Wannstedt is looking for more balance from his defense after it finished No. 2 nationally against the pass but No. 94 against the run. The anchors to the unit will again be two of the nation's best at their positions: middle linebacker Blades, who led the Big East with 121 tackles last year, and standout junior cornerback Darrelle Revis, a two-year starter.

The defensive line returns ends Charles Sallet and Chris McKillop, but size is an issue there. That's why Wannstedt will build around his linebackers, with talented-but-injury-prone senior Clint Session at the strong side.

In an effort to offset the lack of size with speed, Tommie Campbell was moved from strong safety to the weak side. Though undersized at 195 pounds, Campbell has reportedly been clocked in 4.18 for the 40. He dazzled in the spring by flying all over the field making plays.

True freshman Jovani Chappel is in the picture at cornerback after enrolling in school in January and taking part in spring practice, where he impressed.

SPECIALISTS

New special teams coordinator Charlie Partridge inherits a unit that produced four touchdowns, returning a punt and a kickoff for scores in the same season for the first time since 1977.

Punter Adam Graessle averaged 42.2 yards per kick last year, but Pitt only ranked 108th nationally in net punting. David Abdul, the placekicker in 2002 and 2003 before being beset by personal problems, is battling sophomore Conor Lee.

Revis, who averaged 11.6 yards (with a 79-yard TD) on 28 punt returns, has the duties again. Stephens-Howling and Marcel Pestano, both sophomores, are the leading kick returners from last year - although one of the Panthers' talented incoming freshmen may get a crack at the job.

FINAL ANALYSIS

With so much of the emphasis on youth, including one of the school's best recruiting classes, the Panthers face some growing pains. But a more reasonable schedule (and seven home games) should help. Wannstedt is a quality coach who will learn from the disappointing showing in his return to the college ranks. A winning season is there to be had if Palko regains his form and some of the promising young players deliver.

Preview another team: Select Conference ACC Big East Big 10 Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC

Select Team