Pitt Football: What the 2011 Season Could and Should Have Looked Like

Todd Graham strolled into Pittsburgh with promises of a high-octane offense and points in bundles. Pitt fans were supposed to see nothing but speed and excitement.

The expectations were high coming into the season, as Pitt was picked to finish second in the Big East Conference.

Instead, the Panthers offense was as boring as ever, and the 6-6 record reflected that.

When Graham was hired, the BBVA Compass Bowl wasn't exactly what Panthers fans were hoping for.

It didn't have to be that way, though. Several games were left on the field.

Here's a look at what the Pitt season could have looked like if one bounce or one more coaching decision goes their way each week.

Week 1

Result: Pitt 35 Buffalo 16

This actually turned out to be a solid indication of what the Pitt season would turn into, as the Panthers didn't exactly handle the Bulls until late in the second half.

Pitt's Record 1-0

Week 2

Result: Pitt 35 Maine 29

If you didn't think Pitt was in trouble after the first week, this game should have given you some idea. The Panthers were lucky to come away with a win against FCS Maine.

It took three Ray Graham touchdowns to get the win, and this was the first indication of how bad quarterback Tino Sunseri would struggle in Todd Graham's system, throwing two interceptions before being lifted in the fourth quarter.

Pitt's Record 2-0

Week 3

Result: Iowa 31 Pitt 27

If there was a game to look back on and say Pitt definitely should have won, it was the Iowa game.

Pitt led by 17 points with under 12 minutes left, but then their secondary made Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg look like a Heisman Trophy candidate as he threw for 399 yards in leading the biggest fourth quarter comeback in Iowa history.

Not only should the finger have been pointed at the secondary, who would get much better as the season went on, but at Graham as well.

It was his decision not to slow down the game and take time off the clock in the fourth quarter that helped lead to the Panthers demise.

Pitt's Record 2-1

Likely Should Have Been 3-0

Week 4

Result: Notre Dame 15 Pitt 12

This game showed how bad Graham's offense truly was, as Pitt couldn't muster anything against an average Notre Dame team.

The Panther defense played well until Notre Dame's final drive, where the Irish quarterback went 8-for-8, and in a real shock, Tino Sunseri was sacked twice on Pitt's final drive.

On the day, Sunseri completed 22 passes for only 165 yards for only a 7.5 average. This Panthers team would never be able to get the ball down the field all season.

If Pitt makes one play on that drive or if someone gets a hand on Jonas Gray instead of him going 79 yards untouched, then this is a win.

It should have been a win.

Pitt's record 2-2

Likely Should Have Been 4-0

Week 5

Result: Pitt 44 South Florida 17

In what turned out to be the highlight of the season, Graham's offense actually wasn't running on empty for a change, as Pitt dominated the Bulls, who, at the time, were ranked No. 16 in the country.

The main reason for that was the performance of Ray Graham, who rushed for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns and had another 42 yards receiving.

At this time, you could make the case for Graham as one of the better running backs in the nation.

Pitt's Record 3-2

Likely Should Have Been 5-0

Week 6

Result: Rutgers 34 Pitt 10

For the first time all season, Pitt really got their butts handed to them.

An odd stat in this one saw both teams finish with 271 yards of offense, but Rutgers scored 34 points off that.

Graham had another big day on the ground with 165 yards and a score, but the combination of Tino Sunseri (three) and Trey Anderson combined to throw four interceptions.

Pitt's Record 3-3

Likely Should have Been 5-1

Week 7

Result: Utah 26 Pitt 14

The Panthers scored two special teams touchdowns in the first quarter, which normally would lead to a win, but not in this case.

In one of the more pathetic displays of offensive football of any team in the nation, Pitt managed just 120 yards of total offense as the Utes defense dominated the Panthers offense.

The Sunseri-Anderson combination at quarterback was sacked six times and combined to only go 9-for-30 in the air for only 50 yards.

So much for high octane.

Pitt's Record 3-4

Likely Should Have Been 5-2

Week 8

Result: Pitt 35 Connecticut 20

If anything, Pitt was doing well on ESPN. Their best two performances of the season were ESPN prime-time games and both times the Panthers won.

Ray Graham was lost for the season in this one, which drained what little excitement there was right out of the Pitt offense.

Sunseri had his best game of the season, throwing for 419 yards, but somehow after the game, Coach Graham still found a way to criticize his play.

Pitt's Record 4-4

Likely Should Have Been 6-2

Week 9

Result: Cincinnati 26 Pitt 23

Another double-digit second half lead and another Pitt loss that really should have been a win.

Pitt had 179 yards on the ground in the first half in this one, but they finished the game with those same 179 yards.

Sunseri had two crucial turnovers, and the Pitt offensive line quit blocking in the second half, as he had no time to do anything.

The game ended as the reliable Kevin Harper missed a 52-yard field goal that never had a chance.

It should have never come to that.

Pitt's Record 4-5

Likely Should Have Been 7-2

Week 10

Result: Pitt 21 Louisville 14

Sunseri wasn't that bad, throwing and rushing for a score as Pitt won its first road game of the season, beating a red hot Louisville team.

Pitt racked up nearly 400 yards of offense, and the defense played very well. The Panthers were about to head into the Backyard Brawl with technically still a shot at winning the Big East.

Pitt's Record 5-5

Likely Should Have Been 8-2

Week 11

Result: West Virginia 21 Pitt 20

Stop me if you heard this before, but another Pitt double-digit lead and yet another Panthers loss.

The Pitt defense played their hearts out and deserved to win, but the offense could move the chains in the second half with only four total first downs (two on the final drive).

The Panthers couldn't take advantage of three West Virginia turnovers and again couldn't hold a lead.

Sunseri gets much of the blame in this one. You have to be able to move the chains, and he missed a bunch of throws, but the offensive line hung him out to dry.

He was sacked 10 times (nine in the second half), including four on Pitt's final drive in which they had no time outs remaining.

Like it or not, the Panthers should have won this one as well.

Pitt's Record 5-6

Likely Should Have Been 9-2

Week 12

Result: Pitt 33 Syracuse 20

The Panthers ended on a good note to become bowl eligible, but in their hearts, they know it could have been so much more.

Graham embraced the expectations and made the promises, yet the Panthers spent most of the season struggling to get a grasp on their new coach’s “high octane” offense.

Pitt dropped four games—to West Virginia, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Iowa—by a combined 11 points, all which featured second-half collapses.

Graham finally took much of the blame for his team’s inability to close out opponents instead of throwing his players under the bus.

Pitt appeared to finally learn their lesson in the season finale when Antwuan Reed returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining to put Syracuse away.

What was the problem?

Could be bad coaching, a lack of execution or more likely, a combination of both.

At the end of the day, though, this team shouldn't have been as bad as their record indicates. A couple plays here and there, and they are in a much better bowl game, maybe even a BCS game.

Whoever gets the Pitt coaching job will have to do a better job than Graham, especially in the second half of close games.

Pitt's Record 6-6

Likely Should Have Been 10-2