Published: August 28, 2007 11:43 pm      

Panthers relying on depth this season

PITTSBURGH — Injuries and attrition have hampered Pitt during coach Dave Wannstedt’s first two years, but the Panthers appear to be able to survive that this season.

They’ll need to after suffering three season-ending injuries in training camp. Senior wideout Derek Kinder (knee), freshman offensive guard Chris Jacobson (knee) and sophomore tailback Kevin Collier (wrist) were all injured in the past two weeks, but good teams – the Panthers can’t be classified that way just yet – should be able to overcome them.

“At almost every position, except the offensive line, we’re pretty deep,” Wannstedt said. “That’s the way the good teams have it, and we’re closing the gap a little bit in those areas, but now we have to go out there and play. That’s why they play the games, so you can go out there and prove it.”

The depth chart isn’t set, because fifth-year senior Mike McGlynn is just returning to full-time duty on the offensive line and the starters at linebacker are not definite, either, but a preliminary group certainly can be drawn up.

At quarterback, junior Bill Stull clearly was the most efficient quarterback in camp and beat out redshirt freshman Kevan Smith and freshman Pat Bostick from the opening snap.

If Stull can minimize his mistakes, Pitt’s offense could be explosive with talent at the skill positions.

Even without Kinder, the wideouts should be solid with redshirt junior Marcel Pestano, redshirt sophomores Oderick Turner and Cedric McGee, sophomore Tamarcus Porter and freshmen Aundre Wright and Maurice Williams. Collier wouldn’t have gotten more reps than junior tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling and freshman LeSean McCoy or even fullback Conredge Collins. All three should be threats in the passing game as well.

The offensive line is still a question mark due to McGlynn’s status and a lack of experienced depth. Senior left tackle Jeff Otah, junior left guard C.J. Davis, fifth-year senior center Chris Vangas, sophomore right guard Joe Thomas and sophomore right tackle Jason Pinkston had good camps and should be solid.

The defensive line should be the team’s strength with five rotating tackles and ends. The tackles are juniors Rashaad Duncan and Gus Mustakas, sophomores John Malecki and Tommie Duhart and redshirt sophomore Mick Williams. The starting ends are fifth-year seniors Joe Clermond and Chris McKillop, while the backups are redshirt freshmen Greg Romeus and Ty Tkach and freshman Jabaal Sheard.

The linebacking corps is loaded, if not experienced, with redshirt junior Scott McKillop in the middle and fifth-year senior Jemeel Brady, redshirt junior Adam Gunn, redshirt sophomore Shane Murray, sophomore Dorin Dickerson and redshirt freshman Nate Nix battling for the outside spots.

Gunn and Murray are the early leaders. Gunn also backs up in the middle.

Fifth-year senior Kennard Cox returns at one corner spot, while sophomore Aaron Berry is a first-year starter. The safeties, fifth-year senior Mike Phillips and redshirt junior Eric Thatcher, return as starters and are finally healthy. Sophomore Jovani Chappel is a backup safety, but he has played corner before. The other safety is freshman Dom DeCicco, while senior Lowell Robinson is the first corner off the bench.

Junior Dave Brytus is the punter, and redshirt sophomore Conor Lee is the place-kicker.