Sep 16, 2005 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The move from the NFL to major college football hasn’t been as seamless or as successful as he wanted, with questions quickly arising about his plain-vanilla play-calling and the big falloff by one of the nation’s best quarterbacks last season. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt isn’t alone in feeling the heat during what has been a trying and, so far, victory-free move from pro football to NCAA Division I-A.

Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, who was running the Baltimore Ravens’ offense a year ago, is getting plenty of questions about an underperforming offense. The running game has been ineffective amid a frequent shuffling of the running backs, and the passing game looks nothing like the innovative system Pitt had for eight years under coach Walt Harris.

Tyler Palko, who couldn’t have played much better while throwing 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in his final six games last season, acknowledges the current system is a work in progress. That’s evident: He had two interceptions returned for touchdowns in last week’s 16-10 upset loss to Ohio U. – arguably, one of the worst defeats in school history.

“I’m not playing very well,” Palko said. “I’ve made some bad decisions.”

According to Cavanaugh, Palko wasn’t alone. Cavanaugh himself took the blame for one interception, saying a pass route that worked well in the NFL isn’t as suited for the college game with hashmarks located closer to the sidelines. The second interception, he said, partly was the result of wide receiver Joe DelSardo cutting short a route.

DelSardo, a former walk-on, has been benched for sophomore Derek Kinder for Saturday’s game at Nebraska (2-0), the Panthers’ first game there since 1958. Pitt (0-2) hasn’t started a season 0-3 since 1984.

“Obviously, getting the turnovers under control is a big thing for us this week,” said Cavanaugh, a former Pitt quarterback. “I think Tyler was embarrassed by some of the decision-making that went down in the Ohio game. Going on the road against a team like Nebraska that’s getting a lot of scores off turnovers and is pressuring the quarterback, he’s just got to make better decisions.”

Perhaps some better play-calling might help, too? Wannstedt came to Pitt with a reputation for basic offenses, and it was a much-discussed topic in Miami this week how new Dolphins coach Nick Saban’s system featured a lot more wrinkles than Wannstedt’s did.

“It’s been two games,” Cavanaugh said. “We hit a couple in the first game, but we didn’t get any in the second one. So I don’t know that we’re going to push a panic button yet.”

Under Harris, Pitt often used four-receiver sets and pro-style pass routes, but this Pitt offense has seemed more interested in establishing the run. That’s been difficult with so many running backs playing, and the plan this week is to give Brandon Mason and freshman LaRod Stephens-Howling a few carries, in addition to starter Rashad Jennings and backup Raymond Kirkley.

“We’re going to shake up the backfield a little bit, and give the other guys a chance, too,” Cavanaugh said.

Greg Lee, considered one of the best receivers in the country coming into the season, also has been contained at times, even while making eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. A year ago, he caught 68 passes for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“We probably should take some more shots down the field,” Cavanaugh said. “We need to give those guys an opportunity, and Tyler’s got to get the confidence that if he puts the ball up, his guy’s going to go up and compete for it and come down with it.”