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Fast 40 countdown: Pittsburgh

August 12, 2011  |  By Benjamin Miraski

Pittsburgh

Last season: 8-5, 38th in the MRI

The good: The defense for Pittsburgh will carry them through the season. With a new head coach in Todd Graham, who was previously a defensive coordinator, and his staff from Tulsa (Don't knock the Golden Hurricane, they were 10-3 last season - the losses: East Carolina (by 2) Oklahoma State and SMU (by 3). They were snubbed for a bowl game invite), Pittsburgh is in the perfect position to capitalize on their strength from last season. Plus they have eight returning starters on that side of the ball.

On offense, maybe their best back from last season, Ray Graham is back and while the line gets new blood, there is just one projected starter who didn't see significant time last year.

The bad: There is no telling how much last season's coaching fiasco will weigh on the players. Pittsburgh may have done the wrong thing in forcing Dave Wannestedt out, believing that the results he achieved were below the exaggerated expectations. But they did the right thing canning Mike Haywood after he got into trouble with the law.

They lucked into one of the best coaches over the last four years, and expectations will again be high. Pittsburgh fans have to be patient that Graham will actually come through where the Stache didn't.

Best name: Almost was Chas Alecxih (7.5 sacks last season) since it is basically unpronounceable, but this one goes to Lafayette Pitts.

Trending: Up - Graham jumps in at the perfect time, with an experienced defense and a light schedule. Outside of the conference, Pitt gets both Notre Dame and Utah at home, which could turn the tide on last season's losses. Figure a tough one at Iowa, but the Panthers should be at the top of the Big East and near the bottom of the MRI top 25 all season.

Posted August 12, 2011 11:36 AM

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