Pitt will stick with Sunseri

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pitt coach Todd Graham isn’t in a hurry to switch quarterbacks, yet he knows he needs to get more out of Tino Sunseri if the Panthers want to win Saturday at Iowa.

Sunseri threw a pair of interceptions during Saturday’s 35-29 win over Maine, and all but one of Pitt’s nine touchdowns this season have been scored by running backs.

After Sunseri’s first pick Saturday, freshman Trey Anderson started warming up on the sideline. Then, following Sunseri’s second interception early in the fourth quarter of a two-score game, Anderson stepped in under center.

Although Anderson led the Panthers (2-0) to a touchdown by completing 5 of 7 passes for 33 yards, Graham did his best to quell any budding controversy by insisting that Sunseri was his guy.

He, like many of Pitt’s players, just needs to play better.

“Tino is our quarterback,” Graham said Monday. “We have confidence he’s going to get it done. Has he played well? No, he hasn’t played well. He’s made some good plays, but he has to play better and execute our system. I have a lot of confidence in him.”

Sunseri’s performance is hardly the only thing bugging Graham. The others? Try creating turnovers on defense, blocking better on offense and figuring out a way to be more consistent on field goals and extra points. Kicker Kevin Harper has also missed three field goals and an extra point.

“We’re excited to be 2-0,” Graham said. “But naturally, there are a whole lot of things that we have to get a whole lot better at.”

This week could be the perfect time to fix the passing game, as Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz victimized Iowa during a 44-41, triple-overtime win. He completed 25 of 37 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, Pitt will look to control Iowa running back Marcus Coker, who had 140 yards and two touchdowns last week. The Hawkeyes also boast explosive wide receivers Marvin McNutt and Keenan Davis.

“Iowa is a big, offensive team,” Panthers free safety Jarred Holley said, “and they’re going to run the ball.”

To disrupt the Iowa offense, which has scored 75 points in two weeks, Graham will shift outside linebacker Brandon Lindsey to defensive end and play freshman Juan Price in his spot.

While Graham wants the Panthers to create turnovers, he’s also looking for big plays out of the passing game. And despite the fact that running back Ray Graham leads the nation in yards per game (161) and touchdowns (6), Todd Graham said he still wants to stay aggressive on offense.

“We are going to throw the football,” Graham said.