2009 Wild Card: David Pittman

by Buck Bravo on Jul 28, 2009 10:00 AM CDT in Gopher Football

There is a senior quarterback on the Gophers who in 10 2007 games passed for 3,643 yards with 35 touchdowns, only 10 interceptions, and a 66.9% completion rate. He also ran for 572 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was rated a four star recruit by both Scout.com and Rivals.com. David Pittman is a versatile, talented athlete who saw little playing time in 2008. Apparently, Pittman was struggling with several different injuries that hindered his play. If healthy, Pittman is expected to see the field as a wide receiver and kick returner. A wild card player for 2009, the possibilities for David Pittman range from a repeat of his disappointing 2008 season to an exciting senior season in which he could contribute with his talents as a receiver, kick returner, and possibly even passing the football.

The Gophers' new look offense will likely add a hard-nosed running game in 2009 complimenting a selection of talented skill players at wide receiver and quarterback. Look for an article on new offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch later this week. Adam Weber will return as an experienced quarterback with grayshirt freshman Marquies Gray possibly seeing the field, too. Both Weber and Gray are mobile quarterbacks. Besides Pittman, wide receivers Eric Decker and Troy Stoudermire (a former high school quarterback) can throw the football downfield. The Gophers could potentially have five capable, mobile passers on the field at any given time.

Prior to the 2008 season, Tim Brewster had commented that David Pittman could be used as a "slash" player in the tradition of Kordell Stewart. If healthy, Pittman may be a formidable weapon and beat defenses with both his arm and his legs. If Pittman meets his original projected potential, he could catch defenses off guard with unexpected passing plays. If a college defense is forced to key on two to three potential passers while defending a power running game, the Gophers could have one of the most unpredictable and exciting offenses in the Big Ten for 2009.

2008 was supposed to be a year in which the Gophers built upon the strong young offense of 2007. The offense showed little improvement. Pittman was expected to be involved frequently on offense, but rarely saw the field throughout the season. David Pittman has one more shot to make his mark in college football. If indeed injuries held him back in 2008, in 2009 he could be a wild card player that surprises fans and opponents alike.

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re:3,643 yards with 35 touchdowns, only 10 interceptions, and a 66.9% completion rate.

You left out where he was playing in 2007…………………

by PantherHawk on Jul 28, 2009 12:40 PM CDT reply actions

Pasedena CC

Click on the link, it will tell you.

by GreasyLlama on Jul 28, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

sorry... Pasadena

by GreasyLlama on Jul 28, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes - the time is now

to create a new offense that incorporates the threat of speed with the power of a running game. Without even factoring in how Gray is involved, I would bet Stoudamire is more likley to break through via end arounds but Pittman may surprise and by next year I will be looking for Bryant Allen to be our shake and bake space player while Hayo is taking the safeties deep. See what fun you can have with some speed?

Best of luck to Fisch to make it work.

by olygopher on Jul 28, 2009 1:03 PM CDT reply actions

Where can you play him?

I think the issue with Pittman is that he turned out to be slower than advertised. His Pasadena JC profile has him running a 4.6 and we know those figures are always exaggerated by a couple of tenths. 4.75 is more like it. That might have been fast enough for a QB but not for a WR, KR or DB.

by Garrick on Jul 28, 2009 1:22 PM CDT reply actions

I agree with you Garrick

Pitman was injured, but I also don’t think he brought the advertised goods with him to campus. I think Gray will be that offensive slash player, Stoudermire will be the end around type guy and Pittman will be buried on the depth chart.

How about a Gray in the slot, Weber hands off to Bennett who runs to the line and flicks it back to Gray (flee-flicker variation), who runs an option with Stoudermire, throws back across the field to Pittman who then throws it deep to Decker! Nobody would ever see it coming.

But that’s why he’s a wild card!

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Jul 28, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions