Pitt Notebook: Offensive line riddled by injuries
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pitt may have emerged from its 16-10 overtime loss Friday night to Ohio University with more than a bruised ego and hurt feelings.
The Panthers also lost a number of starters to injury, particularly on the offensive line, and coaches may have to scramble to find replacements before the game Saturday at Nebraska. :blink:
Starting guards Dominic Williams and John Simonitis went out with undisclosed injuries in the first half and did not return. Starting right tackle Mike McGlynn went down with an apparent knee injury in the first quarter, but he returned.
Middle linebacker H.B. Blades finished the game despite a leg injury, but he was not at full speed.
Starting defensive tackle Thomas Smith, who just returned from knee surgery, hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter, and receiver Joe DelSardo had a foot injury.
As a result, the Panthers were forced to break the redshirt of true freshman offensive lineman C. J. Davis (West Allegheny) and use backup center Chris Vangas at guard. Vangas had been getting some reps at guard in practice, but his natural position is center.
Earth to receivers
Tyler Palko struggled throwing the football during the Ohio game, but the receivers did not do well, either.
Palko completed 13 passes. Nine were caught by running backs or tight ends, and wide receiver Greg Lee caught the other four.
The rest of the receivers were shut out, including DelSardo, who was Palko's target all three times he threw an interception.
"Obviously that's not what we wanted to do," DelSardo said, when asked why the wide receivers didn't have more receptions. "Sometimes, the game goes a certain way. I think we were close to making some plays, we just didn't get it done. We'll keep working hard, that's what we can do."
