in Pitt Football 98 Words

POV’s Pitt vs VT Game Thread

“The time has come” the Walrus said, “to talk of many things: Of shoes and ship and sealing wax – of Pitt football and kings…”

Pitt football most of all.  Here is your official Pitt–Virginia Tech game thread and here are the ever-enjoyable “Game Notes” for Pitt’s Media Dept.

I’ll be in the Press Box tonight so should be able to chip in with observations as we slowly beat VT into the ground with our running game…

Have at it and enjoy – but make sure to read Dan 72′ BB price I just posted earlier this morning.

469 thoughts on “POV’s Pitt vs VT Game Thread”

  1. Go Pitt! Make it another big home win and send the crowd home happy! That is what keeps them coming back.

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  2. I’m thinking we see a trick play by Pitt tonight. As someone suggested on another thread, maybe a pass from Matthews — or a fake kick of some sort, especially if we are behind. Having the Pens playing at home tonight as well really hurts, especially with dreary weather.
    Hope the crowd is decent.

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  4. Last year Ollison ran for 125 yards against VT and was the hero, in a 17-13 victory.

    This one will be a high scoring affair.

    I’m afraid VT’s better defense will be the difference.

    Hoping I’m wrong.

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  5. #HailToPitt !!!!!!

    RS Senior, In his Home-Stretch for his entire College Football Career —- Nathan Peterman is going to have to be an ANIMAL tonight for his Team to beat a Tuff’, and totally evenly-matched Va Tech Hokies Squad.

    No need to try and insult or put down Va Tech — they are Coastal Division Rivals, a truly solid-team with a ton of NFL guys on both sides on the roster, so much respect to them 🙂 .

    But they do not understand just How Bad Pitt and Our Fans NEED this win for OUR PROGRAM and it’s continued Evolution into A True NATIONAL BRAND. Pitt Football NEEDS to come out tonight with All Cylinders FIRING on full-tilt.

    If Nathan Peterman can come out and be a QB- BEAST (From SNAP ONE — not in-spots, no slow-starting, no late-game “Clamming Up”….Natie-P has got to be a STUD tonight from his first snap) and just find ways to Gut-Out first downs and then eventually TD’s for Pitt —- this could be one Helluva Game. Nathan Peterman is gonna have to get 2 or 3 HUGE first downs on straight-up scrambles, showing crazy-Heart, Guts, and Ball$ of Bra$$ lol.

    Just because Va Tech has a really, really bad loss to Tennessee (WEIRDLY bad — Va Tech is the better team) and one Fluke, Ohio State losing to pswho – ridiculous, “didn’t show up” loss to Syracuse — this team is Solid, Fast, and Talented and NFL-stocked ….. SO IS OUR PITT SQUAD, only 1.5 years into the “Chancellor who CARES Evolution Process” 🙂

    Pitt Is IT !!!! 😉 LIGHT IT UP on National TV Nathan Peterman (& run hard too, scramble for first downs!) — so We can LIGHT UP THE CATHEDRAL TONIGHT! 🙂

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  6. Once again I’m guessing those pesky gold pants just don’t feel comfortable but hey it’s the players call.

    Had a bad feeling last night out of the blue that this would be the game PITT doesn’t keep up and may get blown out of the building. So I just had another beer.

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  7. We’re going to see a big time Pitt victory tonight. With the extra prep time, CC is going to have some new wrinkles on offense that will surprise VT; as a result, this may be J.C.’s best game of the season especialy given the strength and confidence of our offensive line. Does anyone have an update on the injuries to our defense? VT’s offense is talented, but how did they lose so badly to Syracuse and play so poorly against Tennessee? It should be typical Burgh football weather tonight — cool and damp — and that will help. A slick field will cause some turnovers. Hoping the fans are plentiful and LOUD. HTP. Let’s light up the Cathedral tonight!

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  8. Syracuse has an exceptionally good QB which Pitt will find out later this season. Peterman will have to have great game to offset the pressure VT puts on our running game by stacking the box. Hope we see that great game from Peterman, but I’m not counting that happening.

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  10. Dan72..Appreciate you BB article and your insights…I usually stay at the Sheraton Station Square when we come up from Carolina for Pitt home games but none planned this year..next time I will give you a shout and maybe we can have a pre-game beer.
    Let’s keep the pursuit going by taking care of business tonight…LET’S GO PITT!!!

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  11. Just read in the hometown Pittsburgh paper/Valley Daily News version that Pitt BB player is considering a Colon Kapernick protest during the Star Spangled Banner…

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  14. if the experts on 247 are to be believed, local LB Kenny Robinson is WVU bound. Announcement is tomorrow afternoon.

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  15. That’s EXTREMELY disappointing. I’m not going to say anything else other than if I was coach, I wouldn’t allow it.
    If we lose tonight it is clearly all Jeter’s fault with this news coming out on game day.

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  16. Well I was going to pick Pitt to win, but now with the all Blue uni’s and helmet, I will have to consult the Tea Leaves again. The national media and indeed the nation(even the World) loved the Royal Blue and Yellow, and we’re going to be on National TV. So we’re not going to capitalize on that media love and national love of the Royal Blue & Yellow. That is so Pitt. Be back later after consulting the Leaves.

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  17. wwb, I could be wrong, but it seems to me that Pitt hasn’t shown a lot of interest in Robinson. At least he’s not one that is talked about very often. From what I’ve understood he’s been a WVU lean for a long time. Who knows though.

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  18. JJ, I believe you’re right. I assure you I am not one who claims “well. we weren’t recruiting him anyway” when we lose a recruit … however, in this case, I agree that his name has not been mentioned too much at all when it came to Pitt recruits.

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  19. I understand that Robinson’s grades were a little subpar. Not starting rumors but that’s what I heard. I know he transferred this past year to Imani C

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  20. The blue unis beat PSU, they are good luck. Besides the throwbacks, the blues should be the only uniforms Pitt wears.

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  23. After a visitation with the Ghost of Jock, and his advisement that Pitt wore the All Blue thingies when we beat the Pedo’s, EMel did another reading of the Tea Leaves (or was it coffee grinds), no matter.

    And much to my amazement the Leaves read the same exact thing. A Pitt victory !
    The score was slightly altered however, but nonetheless a win anyway.

    EMel’s Tea Leaves said Pitt 38 VT 35. (in the all Blue things)

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  25. Right now at Station Square it’s 65 degrees and the storm has lifted. I see no rain at all in tonight’s radar! H2P!

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  26. ~ Dan72 Have one on me bro. Lucky guy you, get to be in da Burgh, drinking at the Station and going to the game. Have fun and bring home a win dude.

    Pluck a Gobbler

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  27. Was at Market District this morning discussing poor weather for game when a couple behind me in full Pitt garb said that they were going and it wasn’t going to rain. They in fact stated they were from New Hampshire and came in for EVERY home game!! Made me embarrassed I was complaining about some rain!
    Like most, head says Hokies, but to be a sure winner I’ll just go the opposite of whatever our favorite cement seller says lol. Seriously, low scoring tonight, Pitt 24 VPI 20!

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  31. Price and Caprara seem ok and ready to start – both just announced as starters along with T.Webb

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  62. To say that this is a slow start is to say there is a crowd at this game. Horrible pass by Nate. This game may be over soon! Horrible effort by Pitt!! No excuse!

    Like a Foge coached team so far off the layoff!

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  64. Let’s see we fumble another stupid penalty to negate a huge gain and an interception.

    They are giving the game away.

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  80. Offense looks like crap, another presnap penalty, actually 2.

    They need to run straight ahead on VT and set up the pass off a fake jet sweep.

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  91. When I made my prediction I forgot to factor in that we’re playing on national TV which means a certain egg laid. Almost 2 weeks to prepare for this stupidity! It’s making our coaching look bad. Recruits are LOL…

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  92. @Dan72: You’ve never seen an implosion like this? I thought you were a Pitt fan. hehe

    We see this at least twice a year.

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  94. On the bright side, UNC looked about this bad until they won. Maybe Pitt can pull out a win here a la the Tar Heels.

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  96. unprepared and unmotivated. 100% on the coaches this shitty start. 100%. There are no Kool aid drinkers that can excuse this team with this much time to prepare

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  97. Again defender mistimes jump and doesn’t get head around. And…. this sincompetence is almost as bad as Ga Tech.

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  99. HTP – lining up in neutral zone. INT. Off sides on officer. Those are not on the coaches. Player mental errors. Been happening alllllll season.

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  106. They are fortunate it’s not 28 to 0, can you believe our defense is keeping us in the game and our offense is pretty inept so far.

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  113. Peterman won’t throw to a 6’3″ guy one on one, but he’ll throw to a guy covered by 3 defenders.

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  116. I’m sitting at the thirty. Right behind where Pitt ran that last series. It is like Tech knows every play Pitt is going to run. They are shifting on defense toward every run and pass.

    Nate could have run for 20 on that last play. Getting uglier.

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  120. Would it kill a db to look for the ball.
    That ball hung in the air longer than it takes me to shower.
    Turn ur damn head.
    Pretend it’s a chick across the street.

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  121. Lol jack

    Crazy game. Would be frustrated but it’s anyone’s game.

    And I agree with nardog.. if our db can’t push at the receiver as he runs down the field, their wr shouldn’t legally be able to do that to our db.

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  122. The Pitt offense needs to run straight ahead to neutralize VTs speed and please use the jet sweep as a diversion.

    Throw the ball down field!

    For as poor as they have played they are still in this game.

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  132. Someone please make a GIF of 6’2”, Ox-Strong 225 Nathan Peterman PAN-CAKING VT’s cornerback who ran at him at full-speed.

    That’s the image of this game.

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  147. Oh yeah —- The Refs have somehow let Ryan Lewis get away with 3 pass interference penalties this game — Lewis totally Mugged the WR and NEVER TURNED AROUND

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  151. Maybe the worst first half since Ga Tech. Afraid this game is over. Little resistance from Pitt.

    Tech just wants this game more. You can see it in everything they do.

    Pitt stinking it up royally

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  157. Bro he grabbed Weah’s entire left arm absolute pass interference .

    It’s just that Ryan Lewis mugged wide receivers the whole first half and just got away with it for some reason lol.

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  158. This is a weird game the 🏈 Is bouncing everywhere. Nice make up call in the end zone.

    Pitt gets the ball to start the 3rd quarter.

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  160. “Maybe the worst first half since Ga Tech. Afraid this game is over. Little resistance from Pitt.

    Tech just wants this game more. You can see it in everything they do.

    Pitt stinking it up royally”

    Okay even I have to comment on the Insane Negativity now — What the heck???

    Pitt spotted them 9, but the defense is playing at 150%-Heart, and the offense woke up — the whole team has Absolute Zero Give-Up —- I almost blew a gasket reading all the WHINY early comments YIKES!!

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  161. P”DK”N, your PI calls completely ignore the offensive pushes. Why do you think Narduzzi is going nuts?

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  165. Dark Night I said compound. Just trying to inject some excitement.

    Not whiny posts on here – have you been watching since the first play?! C’mon man.

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  166. All in all I’m just happy I waited all week for this game and I haven’t gone to bed yet. PITT hasn’t been outplayed as much as some think. They just have made mistakes after mistake. VT is lucky in that aspect.

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  167. The bad thing is, Pitt came out of the box…and sh8t the bed. So it’s an uphill struggle since then. First impressions are hard to overcome. This is the first time this season Pitt has had the Nation’s Total Attention.

    Hopeful for a better 2nd half !!! Pluck the Gobblers !

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  183. Oh Galambos oy-vey — ran RIGHT PAST THE RUNNING BACK to hit the blocking fullback…. 😦 😦 Quintin Wirginis needs to be in there.

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  184. And Dane Jackson looks like Pitt’s best cover corner.

    He’s Talented, and he’s Tall and Long

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  189. DID I NOT SAY QUINTIN WIRGINIS???!!!

    6’1” , 240 Pitt’s biggest linebacker and by-far the FASTEST AND MOST EXPLOSIVE why is he not starter??? Future top 3 round NFL draft pick!

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  194. Why is Dontez Ford playing??

    Every play and touch Dontez Ford is getting Needs to go to Jester Weah and Aaron Mathews, period .

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  197. Dontez Ford getting touches and on the field instead of Weah or Aaron Mathew?? What is this?, Did Matt Galambos give Dontez Ford his incriminating pictures of Narduzzi to get PT??

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  199. Dontez Ford cuts off an open route early causing an interception (just like he volleyball set his last pass against penn state for an easy Pick his last touch). Dontez Ford gets a PERFECT BACK SHOULDER PASS from Natie P and he falls down. Get him off the field why is he playing everything was wonderful WITHOUT HIM.

    Dontez Ford gets the hook and stays where he needs to be — on the sideline — Pitt’s offense takes off .

    Ford comes back on the Field when it NEEDS TO BE Jester Weah (killin it) , Quadree Henderson, and Aaron Mathews and Tre Tipton on the field at wideout ONLY. Dontez Ford is bad luck leave him on the sideling.

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  200. Positive Note — Heck Yeah Dane Jackson — long, tall, step-for-step with every receiver. WE HAVE ALL SAID HE SHOULD BE STARTING over Lewis and Maddox.

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  203. You don’t run jet sweeps against speed. You use power and mis direction. Good grief. I learned that during my third year of 9th grade

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  204. the only good news is that VT coaches are as inept as ours. Keeping us in the game along with the officials.

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  210. Worst db’s in college (maybe high school), and yet we play press.
    Is it on players or bullheaded coach?
    Hmmmm

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  212. unbelievable. our D backs are painful and absolutely embarrassing to watch. the natives are restless at the stadium!

    thank God for James.

    if only our D Backs had any pride in what they do.

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  215. Pitt has the wind at Our back for the 4th Quarter— and that’s huge.

    Evans and Virginia Tech had the wind at their back that whole last quarter and that was a Huge Factor in helping their QB’s pass.

    Pitt has the Wind now — Way to set it up for the Fourth James the Beast

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  216. ESPN which is known for trying to hide empty seats at all their 3rd rate bowl games with low angle camera shots…..certainly likes to use camera angles to show all the empties at Ketchup Bottle. f em

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  221. we should be running a 4-2-5 and covering the back shoulder. I would even go to a 3-2-6 with a blitzer out of the 6 and make the qb figure out where the blitz is coming from.Alot of hand wars going on between WR’s and DB’s.

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  254. Gotta admit Narduzzi has worked the refs beautifully. Our DBs interfere on every jump ball and only got called for a few. Love it

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  257. Wow….that was the play we kept saying, where Nathan Peterman has to find some way — ANY WAY — TO GET THAT FIRST DOWN 😦 😦 urgh

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  263. Not looking good VPI taking away the outside and Pitts O looks lost.

    Tech just outplaying Pitt now. Need a miracle to win this. Ps nice punt

    And another reciever makes a long catch.

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  270. We have forgotten the Tight End. I guess two monster catches is enough. And Webb can’t catch an interception. Only DB not victimized is Whitehead and that’s because he is never in the same zip code as the ball

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  278. Do the DB’s practice?
    Is that why no press coverage at practice?
    Playing Pacman?
    Blowing bubbles?
    Catching butterflies..well, dead ones, cuz they can’t catch anything that moves

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  279. Webb misses a golden opportunity then the next play a VT TD this pass defense is horrible but we all know this.

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  282. Who’s going to defend this coaching staff. when you have 7th grade Dbacks you adjust. The VT QB has been comfortable all game.

    Horrific coaching and preparation. The good news is nobody in the press will challenge the coaches.

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  283. It also hurts that only One Linebacker — Quintin Wirginis at this point, is strong and fast enough to consistently make an impact if he blitzes. Oh yeah — he never plays though because all world Galambos is the Entrenched starter, so there is no one to blitz.

    Why not blitz Jordan Whitehead more when Pitt is getting ZERO Pressure on the QB??? Do SOMETHING it’s backyard pitch-and-catch for Va Tech’s QB

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  284. This is like sandlot and 15 year old receivers are playing against 10 year old DBs. If you’re a football fan in another part of the country watching this, you have to be laughing your ass off

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  286. The over once again was an easy bet. If the opponent can throw take the over.
    I have never seen dbacks this bad.,Just think if all the interference calls would have been called.
    Is nobody coaching these kids?

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  287. Get the ball out quick to wide receivers to loosen them up — run some screens with Conner or with Moss — **What is thing bs offense again?*

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  288. With our schedule we may win 2 more games tops. About what we figured with this schedule. Next year’s QB better be good or it will be another bad year.

    The secondary can’t possibly be this bad though. Of course that’s what I thought last year too. I would kill to have Pitts back….(just shoot me again……)

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  289. Down by 10 – 7 minutes to go – 80 yards away – 1st and 20 – Call a run play…yea that’s a Pitt call.

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  294. Sorry…I had to turn this crap off…..

    You’re right Sam…this is hard to watch when you can’t appreciate the comedy involved.

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  296. Alright-Alright —- Touchdown Time. — What is Nathan Peterman’s Legacy going to be as a two year starter at Pitt??

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  305. And this mess a week after Penn State beats Ohio State in front of a 110,00 whiteout. Can’t help recruiting unless you’re an 8th grade DB looking to skip high school. Bright side- some good games this weekend including the Wisconsin Paulies against Nebraska.

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  313. That dumb offsides when we got the int may have cost us this game if we lose. They got a TD and we would have had the mo….

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  317. Well they never quit but way too many early mistakes.

    Until they correct the defensive scheme with the personnel they have expect to see record setting passing performances by the remaining teams on their schedule.

    I got the 4.5 points but it sucks they should have won this game.

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  323. Run defense stats look good because the opponents get 300 plus yards passing so easily so they don’t bother running

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  329. Good to know Pitt just allowed only the 3rd 400 yard passing game in the history of Virginia Tech. But I guess that is better than the record setting 540 yards they gave up to Oklahoma State … or the 450 they gave up at UNC…. or the ..aw nevermind. This team could be 8-0 if only some head coach we all know would stop being so stubborn and change up a little. Another nice game by the offense.

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  330. Jack, that may not be an exaggeration. I don’t know that I’ve watched college games where long completions/jump balls are so automatic.

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  334. We don’t have the players. IKE or someone said 7th grade defenders…how is that this coaching staffs fault? Whitehead has disappeared. Coaches fault? He is nowhere to be found and could have stopped a drive and whiffed! Coaches fault? Plz.

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  337. Ok. Some positives. Offensive production is good. Weah looks good and improving. Conner getting back to the Conner of old. Orndoff is capable and needs to be used more. Henderson, despite bad game is a great kick returner. Moss can play even though he didn’t tonight. Ollisin hasn’t quit. O’Neill developing into an offensive threat. Biz and Galambos are seniors. Graham isn’t the coach.

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  338. Either made Whitehead a corner of switch him to offense. Did he play tonight? Did he take a bus to Pitt Field instead of Heinze Field? I don’t remember seeing him.

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  340. Only good thing about the game, was the Luigi’s Sicilian Pizza we consumed during it. And the bottle of Cabernet. 🙂

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  341. So I sat with a guy who was a MSU grad and his girlfriend from VA Tech. He was telling me the story of how Spartan fans pulled their hair out the first 3 years of Narduzzi as he played press coverage w slow short corners ala Pitt. Then finally in his 4th year he got 6 1 corners and safety’s that could fly. He asked me ” is Pitt willing to wait 4 years? Are we?

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  344. Mike McQuery awarded 7.3 million. Hope someone has the balls to give him a job and he comes back to stick it up PSUs ass. Where’s coach Bradley that was there for 30 years but knew nothing and got jobs again

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  345. Tiger – coach Bradley admitted in a deposition he knew which is why his agent made the statement about the 70’s allegation. Glad to see Peds lose but it will be my tax money. Could care less about McQueery as he let the boy be raped and turned his silence into a job. We should salt the earth in Happy Valley.
    Just back from the game where max 30 k in attendance and havent yet read the comments. Several observations 1) Peterman SUCKED not matter how Reed spins his boy 2) defense sucks bad 3) in stadium it felt like we were hosed bad but didnt have advantage of replays to confirm my feelings. I usually dont complain about refs but…… Good night.

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  347. Well this was expected like anytime we play a meaningful game. Sad but expected. In Boise Idaho people laugh about this team and lack of a Defense. Glad we hired the Guru who Baylor hung 70 on.

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  348. Coming into this game, Pitt’s pass defense was ranked 112th in FBS. Narduzzi’s stubborn attitude that it’s more important to play his scheme, even though we don’t have the personnel is mind boggling. How about some safety help for these undersized cornerbacks? Continuing to put 7 in the box daring the opposition to run is an open invitation to pass the ball. If nothing else, their QB can throw a jump ball and our CBs will get a pass interference call on almost every play. Even Bill Osborne on Pitt’s own radio broadcast acknowledged that the defensive scheme is not working with Pitt’s current players The frustration of being a Pitt fan continues. By the way, Fraud Graham has the worst pass defense in the nation at #128.

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  349. If you score 36 points you should win the game. PN is stubborn and won’t adjust his scheme. I still think the future is bright but it feels like a missed opportunity for the present to be bright as well.

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  350. Jokingly I put the entirely on Coach Canadas shoulders and his inability to get the offensive scoring average to 40 ppg.. Duzz could continue in his stubbornness and we would be undefeated with one of the worst past defenses in the history of college football

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  351. Was at the game and the bottom line is our play at CB is the absolute worst thing ever. Lewis is totally clueless and Webb was awful in help. Burning Hamlin’s redshirt was an act of desperation because Lewis was SO BAD. The int vs PSU is probably the worst thing to have happen for him because now he thinks he is s good corner. And for everyone screaming for Duzz to change the scheme, you have to have 2 corners out there—-we have ZERO. Who would you like to see play?? And for those longing for the d of 2014…..House had Wanny recruits, this d has his any difference? It’s like the old this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs commercial. Narduzzi wants these guys to play a style that forces them to be competitive and physical, but when you were hosting Matt a House in your living room while waiting for Akron’s staff I don’t think competitive and physical are your strengths.

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  352. I fault the coaching staff. The safeties when playing cover 2 seem to be missing assignments or breaking late due to hesitation. I don’t think Lewis is that bad – other than he can’t get turned around to play the ball – but when you are put out there every single down solo on an NFL-caliber WR bad things will happen.

    There are more good QB’s and WR’s to come. It is quite obvious w/ Webb out there things will remain ugly.

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  353. Yes our corners are weak, but not the only problem. There was no pressure on the QB most of the time.

    He had all day to throw. His throws were very accurate and he has great receivers. Many jump balls that should have been knocked away, but quite a few passes thrown only where the receiver could catch them.

    Face it, VT is just a better team than us. Their QB is better, their receivers are better, their defense is better. They made more plays than we did.Very lucky they didn’t score 80 points.

    They shut Henderson down by causing a fumble and kicking out of the endzone.

    I hated Chryst’s sideline lethargy, but though Narduzzi’s sideline behavior was more than over the top.

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  354. And yes, after a nice fourth qtr TD to tie the game our offense stalled out twice with the game on the line.

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  357. It’s time to prepare for the future and play the underclassmen. Hamlin needs as many game reps as possible. Sit Lewis and Webb and play for ACC Championship 2017.
    Defense is thisbteams achillies heal. Jet sweep is no longer effective as opposing teams have it dead in the water.
    I’m still loving this Team who stomped the Pedos.

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  358. Still can’t understand how putting your undersized, moderately skilled cornerbacks on an island against future NFL receivers and an accurate QB is a good defensive plan? Especially without a pass rush.

    Well we did stop the run, except for that last series.

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  359. John, you be right on!
    When you have a team whose offensive strategy is to just throw lobbed passes up for grabs as jump balls all night long, that right there confirms the obvious.
    Next year we see what guys like Miller, Coleman, Campbell & Hamlin can do with a year worth of coaching under their belts. It’s too bad that Graham & Chryst recruited that position so poorly because with better play from our defensive secondary this team could have been a serious contender in the ACC Coastal this year.
    Season’s not over yet though. Let’s go beat Miami!

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  360. The upper classmen corners should be given there walking papers. Play all the kids, that cannot be any worse.

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  361. A couple of my thoughts on the CBs and team in general….
    1 Opposing WRs aren’t running free much like at the beginning of the year – the CBs have (a majority of the time) been in position to make a play – they just aren’t making them. Although it is tough when you are 5’10” going up against a 6’7″ receiver. If the ball is thrown in the right place, the WR wins EVERY time.
    2 The WRs against us have had career games – partially due to our coverage – but have made some absolutely remarkable plays. Last night Ford had a couple unbelievable grabs – guys all over him and ball thrown out of position. Sometimes the WR just makes a great play. Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed quite a few of them. Take away one or two of them last night and we win. So many singular plays that could have turned the outcome of the game.
    3 Whitehead needs to move to WR full time. His athleticism and quickness is not doing us anything on the D side of the ball. Webb should never see the field again.
    4 If Lamont Wade wants to play early – then he should commit to Pitt now. Guaranteed he plays from day 1.
    5 If we had a pass defense that was even mediocre we would be 8-0 and ranked in the top 12.
    6 PI could have been called on both our CBs and their WRs on almost every single play. We did an awful lot of grabbing and they did a ton of pushing off. Only problem is their pushing never got called.
    7 I’ve never seen a running team change their plan and pass that much in my life. It’s great coaching by the other teams and bad coaching by us to not come up with a way to stop it. We will get killed by Miami if we don’t change our philosophy.

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  362. Everyone dumping on PN for not adjusting the defense is engaging in counterfactual analysis without considering the counter facts. If the CBs are given help, our slow linebackers would be exposed resulting in the run defense being weakened. The fact of the matter is if Whitehead makes that play on the last 3rd down we get the ball back with plenty of time. I’m not saying I don’t think PN should adjust the defense because I don’t know if he should because I don’t know what the consequences would be if he did. And neither does anyone else. This does not mean there is no room for criticism because in my opinion there is starting with why Wirginis does not play more let alone not start. The guy is faster than Galambos and has a motor.

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  363. If the Defense would improve even a little….if the Defense was respectable, Pitt would now be in the top ten..
    and our Coach is supposed to be a guru on Defense…very frustrating…

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  364. The fact that there is a lack of pressure on the QB is a concern. Maybe I’ve it missed it, but I don’t recall us rushing only 3 guys. If we did try it, I’d suggest trying it a bit more. If you aren’t going to get pressure on the QB, you might as well have the max number in coverage.

    VT tried it on our one 3rd and long, and Peterman had no where to throw. He had to tuck and run and he came up short of the first down marker.

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  365. Webb is absolutely horrible and needs sat. However, if you keep trying to stick a square peg in a round hole, you can’t blame the peg. Narduzzi has to change his philiosophy.

    That was one frustrating loss.

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  366. GC- 55k people at this point only wanted to see PSU. We simply don’t have the product in the field to get people out of their leisure chairs.

    These comments about coaching problems in relation to safeties out of position, slow reactions, corners not turning, etc. do you honestly not think anyone on the staff is teach those grade school fundamentals? Come on. Our corners are so sub par you could put every one of them on the field at the same time and they would all get burned and look surprised every time. JW’s play on D is absolutely horrendous as well. That missed third down tackle – yeah, must have been coaching. The only one on the field that appears to not accept these mental error penalties and poor play is JC. Good for him.

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  367. Do we have any top recruits coming in on the defensive side of the ball?
    The receivers are looking good…nice catch by Weah for the late TD…Tipton and Ford look good too..
    hope that Ollison , Conner and other RB’s come back for another year. The issue for the past several years has been on the defensive side of the ball…

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  368. 6&34 – good point. It’s possible that we switch things up on the back end and end up giving up 250yds rushing to them and still lose. We don’t know what would happen.
    The frustrating thing about all of this is that we are 3 or 4 plays away from being 8-0 – or maybe 1 or 2 players. That hurts big time. Cause we have a lot of legit players on the team.
    I can’t imagine what would happen on here if Pitt were to lose a game like Arkansas (upitts favorite coach and team last year) did last week to Auburn 56-3. And Arkansas was ranked!!
    There are definitely things about this team that I like. We are close to turning the corner – the bad part is when the D finally gets there in a couple years will we have the O that we have now?

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  369. If you don’t have the players to play your scheme, you need to change the scheme.

    Sorry, but I don’t buy we are playing for the future, or we don’t have the players right now to play Narduzzi’s brilliant scheme. You have to play with what you got and give the kids the best chance to win.

    Our D-backs are holding on every play, is that good coaching?

    We also stubbornly kept trying the jet sweep when Conner was gouging them up the middle.

    Where was Moss yesterday? Ollison ran for 125 last year against VT but didn’t get a carry yesterday.

    They almost killed Henderson on one sweep and ran slow Ford on another.

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  370. I know the box score says we won the 4th quarter, but I felt that we were outplayed then. All three of our losses were any team’s game in the 4th, but we didn’t get it done. Obviously it’s not easy to close out against a quality opponent, but great teams would find a way.

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  371. OK… so it’s all on the players? Of course… it’s never the guy making $3 million/yr. His only responsibility is administrative: bus shows up on time, team meetings organized, meals arranged. Holy crap.

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  372. 10,000 season ticket holders were psu fans & 10,000 didn’t show up for a weeknight game. This isn’t hard people.

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  373. gc – we had a very good pass rusher that NEVER go into the game on D last night.

    We could have used him and in the 4th qtr the crowd would have gone nuts if Conner entered the game at DE.

    Game changer – yes in my opinion – but we’ll never know.

    The guys in my section were calling for it – we wanted it – It = the beast at DE rushing the passer who eventually beat us.

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  374. I don’t think we can say anything more about the worst corners in Div. 1…..I am probably more concerned about Whitehead’s picture being on the milk carton and missing. Narduzzi is wasting the best athlete on the team by essentially playing him at linebacker. Worse yet, the kid seems to be going backwards as a player. So yeah, for those that don’t want to blame the coaches, you have to blame them for this.

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  376. The following from game recap on Sports Illustrated website

    “If Pitt’s pass defense was even average, the Panthers would be a threat to reach the ACC title game. It’s not, and the Panthers almost certainly won’t be in Orlando in December”

    So close….yet so far away!!!!

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  377. gc – I disagree – Conner was a beast at RB last night and full of energy. One or two plays is all we needed last night. I was in the stadium – with about 9 minutes left in the game the place was loud and electric (the students had not left yet) – my section was screaming for Conner to be brought in on D. They knew Pitt needed a stop and no one was getting pressure on QB Evans.

    “One more thing, what happened to the 55,000 season ticket holders?” gc at 8:35am

    Are you a season ticket holder? If not, please try not to make comments like that – very negative… I know numerous loyal Pitt fans with season tickets that could not make the game last night (dentist who had emergency oral surgery this morning)(business man who’s insurance renewal is 10/31 and he has choices of increases from 16% to 45%)(friend who’s son has a HS FB game tonight in Eastern PA)

    Oh and the Pens played the Islanders in downtown Pittsburgh at the exact same time of the Pitt kickoff.

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  378. EE, the comment was meant to be negative. It was directed at the athletic department that boasted about the sales and said it wasn’t because of PSU, when we all know it was.

    I don’t disagree about Conner. He should have got some snaps on D. What I don’t understand is why Ollison and/or Moss get no carries.

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  379. Pitt it IS: Not me?

    I will always (try) and defer to the coaches but it is getting more difficult to do that

    but just take Hamlin. Everyone wanted to see him but looks like the coach was right, he isn’t ready to be much help just yet. Although you now play him every minute you can.

    As everyone has now figured out, Wirginis is way better than Galambos and Mitchell is way better than Webb. Why aren’t they playing more, is anyone’s guess. gain coaches decision.

    I love this team through it all though. Never quit and usually they keep the turnovers down. (not last night) The players play hard for Narduzzi and appear to love the guy. Little over the top last night but the officials were very inconsistent. #7 was grabbed and held at the same time he was pushing off, happened every play. At worst there should have been offsetting penalties almost every throw his way and the other wr (ford) made a couple of spectacular catches.

    PITT didn’t get the breaks much last night but I still see sunshine in the horizon out there, somewhere…………..ike

    H2P

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  380. I would still like to see Whitehead at corner, couldn’t be any worse and think he would have a better shot at knocking down those jump balls. Move Brightwell to safety, he can run and he can hit.

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  381. Lol — If anyone actually read this post from the Heat of the Game last night, apologize for one really rude posting I made, where I complained about other posts! Hard not to be emotionally caught-up in the Heat of the Game, especially after spotting Va Tech (A really talented team who should absolutely be 8-0!!) 9 darn points to start the game!!!

    Truthfully — I only see positives about last night. Pitt Football in this 2016-17 season has an absolute real shot at 8-4, no B$. No excuses — but who knew North Carolina, and Virginia Tech (with the HUGE, Cannon-Armed Evans being a revelation at QB) would be so good, and have such incredible Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers. But no excuses, Pitt was right there to take each Coastal Division game.

    Damar Hamlin looks “Eye-Test Wise” like a Stud. I thought he would look like a String-Bean out there once he actually got on the field, but he looks Great as a Tall and Long Corner. And on Corners — Redshirt Freshman Dane Jackson is also long and tall — but even though he did not make good plays on the ball in the air, he is fast and was stride-for-stride all night with Va Tech’s longtime NFL Player receivers Bucky Hodges and their 6’2” wideout Ford as well.

    I totally agree now — Jordan Whitehead’s future is not on Defense I don’t think. A future NFL Safety makes that play on 3rd down where he had the jet sweep runner DEAD-TO-RIGHTS — and Whitehead wiffed. He’s a genuine 4.3-4.4 Player who is a Game-Breaker everytime he has the ball in his hands though. James Conner moves-on this year??? Well how about Jordan Whitehead being Pitt’s FEATURE BACK next season in “Year One” of Thomas MacVittie (Samurai-Savior, haha) — Exciting Prospect, NO??

    Linebackers —– URGH . Just can’t…… every poster has taken their turn beating that deceased-Horse like a Stubborn-Pinata so much and the Staff just does NOTHING….Next season is QUINTIN WIRGINIS (6’1”, 240) TIME in the Middle 🙂 🙂 .

    Offense —- Can’t Complain !!! Keep it up boys! — Better yet, keep improving!

    I now officially Disagree with you if you do not think Nathan Peterman will play himself at least into some NFL camps with a legit shot to make a team as a Free Agent (mayyyybe a Late round draft pick if he IMPROVES and leads Pitt to 9-4? Possible still). He was not perfect of course, but he was a Warrior out there last night. Anti-Tino Presence out there, which is all we could ask of a Pitt QB 🙂 lol.

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  382. If I have to hear wait till
    He gets his guys or we will get there next year I may vomit. The players suck but last I checked Barduzzi who looks like a buffoon jumping up and down on the sideline. He can recruit freshman, juco db’s, or create a scheme to fit the personel. He was outcoached by a good HC not a coordinator like we went with.

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  383. What are you smoking this early in the day DK 🙂

    Peterman had 8 completions for the game until that last Tiny type boost the stats drive. Now he’s gonna get drafted. lol

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  385. ^^^^ ANNNNNNND — I immediately RESCIND apologizing for my irritation at the ridiculous negativity relentlessly exhibited by the same usual suspects — with a (very, very) sarcastic “lol” 🙂

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  387. @emel1981 —- I’m tellin’ ya, even though @Reed ain’t buyin’ it no matter how much I plead —- Thomas MacVittie is gonna be something to-behold. Pitt’s even Bigger (maybe faster!) Marcus Mariota — another “Overlooked” Quarterback who one up-and-coming first time D-1 Head Coach (Chip Kelly) just saw something in when no other Power 5 Programs did. 🙂

    Now how about 6’5”, 235lb R.S. Freshman Thomas MacVittie at Quarterback next year…..with Jordan Whitehead (5’9”, 195) as Pitt’s Feature Running Back next year going into the “Battle for PA” in Beaver Stadium???

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  388. Pass defense is rushing to QB, disrupting WR routes, staying with the WR, looking back at the QB, etc. DB is one of the most skilled positions on the field. Play everyone regardless of class standing.

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  389. Tough to watch. They make offensive adjustments every game – yet refuse to make them on defense. The DBs that Chryst recruited – by and large – suck. Yet despite that – and I watched the game in the stadium not on TV – the team was in position to win. Back to back 3 and outs after tying the game sucks, too. I don’t know if that’s on the coaches or the players, but that can’t happen. And you can’t get shut out at home in the first quarter.

    I also agree that the officials did not have a good evening. Not consistent – and at times flat out wrong. Make-up calls are usually reserved for hockey.

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  390. I would question that ‘holding’ a team to 6 field goals is considered good defense – but the defense did enough to win. The offense put up enough points….

    Just too many mistakes, a couple calls/bounces don’t go your way – and with this team, and this defense, that’s enough to lose.

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  391. Every DB that Narduzzi has brought in – save Whitehead – is over 6′. I hope they all end up in the NFL, cuz if not, it’s going to be a brutal few years watching the secondary get torched, over, and over.

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  392. 3 step drop-back and heave it. Galambos is left to just look up at the sky and watch the pass go over his head. Too many wasted players left to just standing there. Need linebackers that can play the run and the pass, and thee are some options on the bench. In not all schemes, its also player personnel and loyalty to a fault as well. add in stubbornness you got the trifecta of three close losses that could of should have won.

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  393. Again, a defense that worked in the least pass oriented conference(the BigJoke) would not work in the Big 12 or the PAC 12 and most probably not the SEC. So we don’t know if it’s gonna work in the ACC either, Since the ACC is now shifting towards Pass Happy Spread offenses. Just look at the transformation of Va Tech with Fuente as HC and Babers up at Syracuse to name 2.

    So it’s no given that even with ‘his’ recruits, that this type of defense will work in this conference.

    As I posted last week, UNC held UVA to only 14 points and only 143 yards passing by using 6 DB’s and 1 LB.
    And they aren’t even known to be a good dfense. So they came up with a defensive scheme for that game.

    Which is what good coaches do. They adjust due to the circumstances.

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  394. Whitehead needs to play CB or offense. Or Both. He’s wasted at safety.

    Yes – he missed a tackle. No – that didn’t lose the game. Should have never gotten to that point.

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  396. Am I missing something here ?

    “They did have help at times,” Narduzzi said. “You’ve got to stop the run. Virginia Tech is a team that likes to run. There’s not a whole lot you can do, or you’ll get the ball run down your throat.”

    VT is the #39 ranked Passing offense in the country, avg’g about 9 yards per completion.

    VT is the #51 ranked rushing offense in the country, avg’g about 4 yards per rush.

    Would rather see them have to go down the field attempting to rush the ball for 4 yards a play than 9.
    Also in rushing offenses if you get one penalty called against you for holding or whatever, it tends to kill drives

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  397. That’s the point I tried to make, guard the pass and make them take 15 plays or so, sounds like a more sound idea. I expect a different look on D for the Miami game. We have to. I understand Kaya isn’t having the greatest of seasons though??

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  398. Agree that Duzz should alter his defense to deal with a more pass happy conference. What puzzles me, and I realize I am in the distinct minority, is that if we want dbs over 6 foot then where is Smurf Wade to play – the dude looks like he is in midget football, about 5’9″ being generous. I don’t care if Rivals calls him #1 DB in country. A speedy scatback?
    No disrespect to JC who continues to improve but did the announcers explain the absence of Moss and Ollison?
    On the way home listened to PN re officials and kept saying you cant beat the “other side” and they were just smiling about complaints. Obviously our DBs don’t turn around and run into receivers but on replays did it seem VT receivers were pushing off. I remember why I saw VT as a rivalry game – classless yahoos who obscenely cuss more than Hoopies. Still I wished the 4 aholes behind me a safe trip back to the trailer park and to be gentle having sex with their sister as she is also their mother.

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  400. Lamont Wade at Free Safety for Pitt is a Game-Breaker —- Free Safeties life Earl Thomas, Tryann Mathieu (5’8” and 5’7” Pro-Bowlers in the NFL) don’t need to be tall — they need to be Explosively Fast enough to break on deep balls, and Powerful enough to come up and SMACK ball Carriers if they break-through the linebackers.

    How is Lamont Wade Pee Wee if he’s a Yoked-Up 190 pounds??? LOL — go in the weight room with him and see how strong you are compared to him if he’s a Pee-Wee player, Yikes!!!

    Free Safety in the way Pat Narduzzi plays defense is where you need and NFL-Talent in terms of Speed and Explosiveness — Height in his system is more important to Cornerbacks.

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  403. Emel – Don’t know about Blacksburg, Va. but Blacksburg, SC (my city mailing address) is definitely more redneck.

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  404. I understand the frustrations – I do.
    But please, some of you are puzzling.
    @upitt – please explain to me your feelings on Arkansas getting flat out demolished last week by Auburn. You’ve brought up Arkansas and Bielema on the Blather several times over the past couple years citing them as an example of good coaching, etc. 56-3 with his guys! What’s your take on that? Honestly, I’d like to hear it because last I looked we haven’t lost a game like that since I was attending Pitt and in your eyes Pitt is the worst program in the NCAA.

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  405. ^^^ And BOTH Dane Jackson (6-foot redshirt frosh who looks taller, and oozes speed) and True-Frosh Damar Hamlin (looks the part already at his what…160 pounds?? Give him 2 more years in the weight room then NFL) are going to play-out the rest of this season and Grow . Both are going to be Ballers .

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  406. DK – I’m not sold on the “Wade to free safety” talk. The Earl Thomas I’m familiar with is 5’10”. Mathieu may be on the short side, but he played corner, not free safety, at the college level, and played it very well (when he actually played and wasn’t dealing with off the field issues).

    Of course, who knows where Wade will wind up. Let’s hope he makes a similar decision as Revis and picks Pitt so that he can play early and turn himself into a first round NFL draft pick.

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  407. Something to think about. We all know Narduzzi likes to play man-to-man and let his corners out on an island — and they’ve been torched all year. So people have been calling for a switch in scheme to offset the weaknesses. But think about this. Narduzzi’s out there recruiting guys to come play for him and his D style/scheme.

    Guys are coming in and learning the system each year and getting better with hopes of seeing the field. How can he practice with his team and teach these FR and SO his D so that they can grow into it if we aren’t playing it now?

    How can you recruit classes of guys to play man and LBs to fit your scheme and then have them come in as FR and learn/practice/play zone or different schemes and continue to have them develop in those schemes for 2 or 3 years because the upperclassmen aren’t quite up to par on playing your man-to-man style?

    Where’s the balance there? I’m not defending anything or any side. But it’s something to think about. Look at the growth and development young players show from one year to the next. He’s grooming these younger guys (his recruits) for next year and beyond. Unfortunately, the only way to get better and learn it is to practice it and play it and develop.

    Guys can’t do that if they are suddenly playing zone all the time. Development of these guys would be hindered. Maybe it wouldn’t matter if we had a D backfield of superior athletes – but we don’t. Growing pains I guess.

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  408. I agree with you JJ. It’s part of the process. It just hurts because the O is putting up a lot of points and the losses have been close, so you get a lot of “what ifs”. I’m glad they burned Hamlin’s redshirt, get all the kids some experience. Pitt doesn’t have the depth to redshirt folks.The games are entertaining and the future looks bright.

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  409. LOL, From a Dude here who followed Earl Thomas since he was at Texas until he came into the NFL:

    Earl Thomas “listed” at 5’10” , 200 now at age 27 : http://www.nfl.com/player/earlthomas/2508080/profile

    Lamont Wade, “listed” at 5’10” , 190 as a 17-18 year old: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3344522/lamont-wade

    — Both are 5’7” – 5’8” but Elite Physical Athletes in terms of both Explosive-Speed, and Power. Lol “The Internet” also says Brad Pitt is 6-foot tall lol. If **@Reed becomes a National-Celebrity the internet will say he is close to 7-Foot 🙂 🙂 lol.

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  410. Narduzzi’s last year at MSU his defense was torched by the best 3 teams they played.

    Oregon torched them for 500 total yards, of which 318 were via the Air.

    Ohio State torched them for 568 total yards of which 300 were via the Air.

    And Baylor lit them up for 633 total yards of which an incredible 603 yards were via Air.

    Now they were good against the likes of Jacksonville State, Eastern Michigan, Wyoming, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Buttgers and Pedo State and a 5-7 Michigan team. That’s 9 pretty much cupcakes.

    Pitt’s not going to get that easy of a schedule in the ACC and their non-con.

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  411. This may be stating the obvious, but the turnover battle really hurt us last night. Not only our giveaways (like the early fumble on the KO that led to a field goal, and of course we lose by 3), but our missed opportunities: the INT erased by the offsides, the juggled ball that at one point was sitting on Motley’s chest that gets pulled away by the VT receiver, and the Webb drop.

    Also Peterman was a bit sloppy carrying the football, we are extremely lucky neither of his fumbles were lost.

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  412. Now his system was in place 8 years by then. Again his system works against teams that have terrible QB’s or just terrible teams. But then again any system would work against teams of that ilk. 🙂

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  413. YO AT emel1981 — that year your trying to “Make a Point with” about Pat Narduzzi was vs. TOP-5 Oregon with Marcus Mariota that played in the National Championship….vs. TOP 5 Ohio State THAT PLAYED IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and won…(AGAINST THAT SAME OREGON TEAM BRO)..and TOP 5 BAYLOR (THAT PAT NARDUZZI BEAT)— with a top 4 round draft QB on the Jets, the Biletnikoff Award Winner Corey Coleman and so many other draft picks ON BOTH O-AND-D, and Michigan State WON** ….. What point are you on??? Just being a (Sorry, going FULL MILLENIAL here) HATER lol

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  415. ^^^ The year before Pat Narduzzi came (Home) to Pitt — Pat Narduzzi’s MSU team lost ONLY to Marcus Mariota-led Oregon and Urban Meyer-led Ohio State — Narduzzi’s only 2 losses —– BOTH OF THOSE TEAMS MET IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER COURSING-THROUGH THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS BRO.

    Pat Narduzzi BEAT #5 BAYLOR (THE FIRST TEAM-OUT OF THE PLAYOFF) —- Pat Narduzzi WON THAT GAME. **WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT AT THIS POINT???? **

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  416. Pitt could go undefeated, win the NC beating Alabama 54-0 and some of you would complain about it. Even if it was as simple as our uniforms suck.
    Ask any MSU fan/grad right now if they’d take Narduzzi back today. Think any would decline? Didn’t think so. Face it, our D players suck minus one or 2 guys. Graham and Chryst recruited offense well – which is why our O is good. They were awful on D recruiting.
    And I agree that PN went a little overboard on the sideline last night – but I’d much prefer (and I’m sure the players would too) a coach that shows he gives a dang by sticking up for and arguing on behalf of his players and team – the complete opposite of PC who stood there in a daze the whole game (I liked PC by the way too).

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  418. ee–So someone should not make comments unless they are a season ticket holder. I’ll take it one step further. Maybe you shouldn’t make comments unless you are a donor who loves the University so much that he/she donates without any benefit. Is this you? Have you ever made a donation without receiving a benefit in return?

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  420. Narduzzi acting out on the sideline isn’t a problem. It’s an act of becoming a great college head coach. He’s new and improving……each day…..

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  421. Emel.. 633 Yds vs Oregon and 600 were through the air… we were told the defense was set up to stop the run.. and it did!!! LMAO

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  422. Just checked into Pitt ticket office .. tickets will be mailed out next week… wouldn’t it be great to beat them in Death Valley…

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  425. tiger paul – my answers are yes to all of your questions except your first. It seems ridiculous to complain if you are a part of the problem by not attending. Some can’t because of health or financial reason (those folks probably aren’t complaining and shouldn’t).

    Look, attendance at Pitt games is less than ALL of us would like to see. gc explained his reason for his negative comment – he was targeting the Athletic Dept with his comments because he believes they lied to us fans.

    It seems that most of the attendance complainers don’t go to the games – I personally thought the crowd was better than I expected it to be.

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  426. After all my bitching, I do have to add one big positive. This team does not quit, give up, hang its head in the face of adversity. Chryst and Graham teams absolutely quit on games, these guys don’t.

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  427. I’m not complaining and rarely do. I wasn’t able to be at the game (health) yet two of my friends were sitting in my seats courtesy of mwah. Yes they are club so I donate and gain something from it. I still reserve my right to complain if I ever get the urge and think I’m so much smarter than a head coach who been doing this job for 25 years.

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  428. Htp123 – you’ll have to show me a game where the Chryst players quit on him.

    That happened 2 or 3 times with DW… but you are correct it hasn’t happened with Narduzzi.

    Ike – I’ll disagree re Narduzzi getting better. He’s been a HC for 21 games now and has shown little progress as a game day coach.

    Podcast up tomorrow am… I just now got home… and btw stayed till the end of the game last night.

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  429. There was 28 or so scores on the PITT – VT prediction thread. Only 3 had VT winning:

    REED 31 – 28, Dan72 48 – 21 & jrnpitt 42 – 24. It looks like Dan72 is the winner if you go by total overall points scored.

    If you compare total points to prediction w/o regard to who actually won. “JJ” had PITT 37 – VT38 which matched the total final score.

    A shout out to “gc” for saying PITT would have to score 40+ points to win. I didn’t see an actual prediction from him.

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  430. I see your point Reed. Improvement is there, camouflaged by some stubbornness. He’s banking all this and there is no substitute for experience. Please don’t say that Wanny didn’t become a better COLLEGE head coach after a few years of on the job leaning. He really did.

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  431. Here’s note, Pittsburgh channel 2 KDKA pretty tough on Narduzzi for not changing up his defense against the pass. Really called him out (Pompeani) Pressure going up a notch.

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  432. Reed … biggest improvement with Duzz has been bringing in Matt Canada and turning over the offense to him.. now we need a shakeup or growth on the defensive side … we still have 4 to go and Clemson is beatable

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  433. Pomp is still yearning for Tom Bradley, what he says is irrelevant and as a general rule stupid. I have been a season ticket holder for over 20 years and attended regularly before then so I say last night’s attendance was a DISGRACE,, period. For healthy Pitt fans who live in the area Shame.

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  434. I agree on Pompeani 1000% rkb, but it still applies pressure on HCPN. I should have made that more clear. PITT has never had many friends in the Pittsburgh media. I think at this point constructive criticism however nastily pointed is good for Pat N.

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  435. Rkb agree wholeheartly. No excuse for attendance last night! It was as cold and miserable as it could be but I drove6 hours to make it.

    Left the game feeling as low about Pitt Football as I have for a long time. Team wasn’t ready to play and blew another prime time TV game again.

    I really don’t think Pitt Football will ever be a National success again. No matter how many games we win.

    If the game was played at Blacksburg there would have been 75,000

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  436. BigB — you beat me to it … I was going to say that the most-glaringly-obvious improvement Narduzzi has made is who he hired as OC the second time he had to make that decision.

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  437. Dan72… the loss was hard to take but the support for the team was devasting … no wonder local kids look to greener pastures .. they want a college football experience….can’t blame them .. there is an uncommercialized atmosphere that surrounds the storied programs … we are still searching…

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  438. Newbk… wish Duzz could bring a quick fix for the D.. lots of good commentary and insights on D fixes have been written.. my tendency is to say Duzz is stubborn and he is .. but the D was POORLY recruited before he arrived and he has his system ” to death do us part” He is a fun guy to watch – and as someone has said a lot like Cowher.. this team is exciting and that is an understatement! Had a beer with Matt Canada this past summer and he told me we will score a lot of points .. need to score 40 per game Matt and we are undefeated.. time to lift myself out of this post-Mortem funk.. there is a lot of football to be played before the dreaded winter sport.. got tickets to Clemson and they are beatable.. hope they are undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation when we come to town… could be our biggest win since 13-9… Matt Canada said we will score a lot of points … start putting “40 or more on the score”

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  439. how about a 45k on campus stadium then
    70k Heinz is too big and too cheap and too commercial and too off campus

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  440. The point I was trying to make is I don’t think this defense works against good teams with good QB’s.

    Stopping the run is not important today. Pitt’s D is #10 in stopping the run after 8 games. Yet we have 3 losses and 3 losses against Power 5 competition. Even though we’re avg’g 38 ppg.

    A defensive philosophy that is more geared to stop the run vs the pass is flawed in today’s age.

    I like the Nard Dog, love his passion, etc. But it’s a flawed defensive philosophy.

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  443. Tx…I’m with you ….and have been on the on campus stadium. But it, like Pitt Footaball being a national power …is hopeless! Talk about recruits wanting a real college experience? Won’t ever happen at Pitt. Last night Va Tech came out fired up and ready to beat Pitt. Pitt waddled out to mild applause and 15,000 people in the seats (4000 of them VPI fans). The only upport our players got was scattered booing…and even that was passive.

    Face it….for the ardent fans…like us…there are about 30,000… that live eat and breathe PF!

    No one else cares.

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  444. In getting to 9-0, VT was gifted 6. Our defense kept us from getting blown out in the first quarter. It could have been 21-0. We played from behind until we got it to 21-16. Then 2 Fgs made it 22-21 VT (again the defense). Even though we got it to 29-29, those first 6 VT points in the first quarter were the difference,

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  445. Pitt’s never gonna get back to where we were once, on the cheap. It took an about $200 mil Plus to create Pitt’s basketball program. They have spent nowhere close to that on football.

    You get what you pay for !

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  446. Pitt fans don’t show up because of the long history of epic fails.

    That is why the Navy game hurt so bad. Annapolis was loaded with avid Pitt Fans and Pitt does not show up.

    Narduzzi has all those painful losses to overcome.

    People did not show up because they knew Pitt would lose again, just like they have done in most meaningful games.

    Things may be headed in the right direction, but we haven’t turned the corner yet.

    Narduzzi has to win some big games before fans believe again.

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  447. ESPN’s summation of the game:

    Pitt: Midway through Narduzzi’s second season, the defense remains a chaotic work in progress. Even the debut of ballyhooed freshman safety Damar Hamlin’s long anticipated debut did little to help. If Pitt’s pass defense was even average, the Panthers would be a threat to reach the ACC title game. It’s not, and the Panthers almost certainly won’t be in Orlando in December.

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  448. Pitt came in with the nation’s 120th-ranked pass defense yet played bump-and-run for most of the game, hoping its defensive backs could win more than they lost.

    Didn’t happen. Instead, three Tech wide receivers topped 100 yards in the same game for the first time in school history. Isaiah Ford’s 10 receptions included his school-record 23rd receiving touchdown. Bucky Hodges caught six passes for 145 yards and a score and Cam Phillips added 109 yards on a night the Hokies piled up 556 total yards.

    “It’s a great feeling when you can do what you love doing and that’s throw the ball up and down the field against a pretty good defense,” Evans said. “One-on-one coverage. You can’t ask for anything better than one-on-one coverage.”

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  449. Irritating loss for many reasons. Missed the 2nd half on flight home,, and when I tried to watch the DR’d game, it cut off at 3:30 just before the call was made on the 3rd and 1 which looked like a slightly generous mark to me.

    BTW, what is up with this crap: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17911590

    Many teams with players who do not have pants down to the knees.
    http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/564/023/hi-res-20cbb178822d44764a0e380a49faa8e2_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75

    and there are many more. WTF, a-hole commentators?

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  450. Exactly gc…..the curse of the nationally televised game is still strong here. Narduzzi has only one big win against the pedos.

    Yeah Evans….you can’t ask for anything better than one-on-one coverage against short slow players.

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  451. @gc:

    “Pitt fans don’t show up because of the long history of epic fails.

    That is why the Navy game hurt so bad. Annapolis was loaded with avid Pitt Fans and Pitt does not show up.

    Narduzzi has all those painful losses to overcome.

    People did not show up because they knew Pitt would lose again, just like they have done in most meaningful games.

    Things may be headed in the right direction, but we haven’t turned the corner yet.

    Narduzzi has to win some big games before fans believe again.”

    (gc “drops the mic”, turns around and leaves)

    You sir have perfectly articulated the situation, thank you. You are indeed a scholar and gentleman.

    urgh — Chris Petersen Built It in Washington — http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/105332/why-washington-for-chris-petersen-the-huskies-are-a-challenge-worth-fighting-for — (they were 6-6 last year and now they’re dominating the weak PAC-12 , undefeated and top-4 ranked).

    Until Narduzzi Builds-It-Up, fans will not Trust that Pitt is Back as National Power Team, simple as that.

    I just will be irritated if once Pitt is Built UP by Narduzzi in Power-Status, the same who were Relentlessly Whining During the Growing-Pains (callin’ it as I’m seein’ it lol) will be the one’s going-crazy and Rockin’ the Bandwagon!!!

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  452. 🙂 🙂 🙂 @LamontWade, Please come be a “Prodigal Son who Never-Left”, and Come Help YOUR Pitt Panthers become a National Power!! Lamont Wade at Pitt Returning Kicks and Punts, Getting offense touchs a la Brian O’Niell (haha), and being Pitt’s Tyrann Matheiu on Defense.

    This is Lamont Wade’s Incredible Future-Role here with His Pitt Panthers:

    Lamont Wade is gonna Make a Lotta National Noise at Heinz if he decides to Rock the Script!!

    ^^^ Great young man 🙂 , rooting hard for young Damar Hamlin to Hit those weights, and Gobble-Up that Chicken Breast-N-Broccoli, and become the next Great Long, Fast Cornerback. I sensed star-power right away,as my eyes-jumped to him right away and I exclaimed: “Who is that Tall D-Back, #3 out there???”

    Damar Hamlin, Dane Jackson, Jordan Whitehead, 6’1” RS Frosh (Florida-Boy) Malik Henderson next year, 6’1” Jay Stocker at Safety — even incoming Paris Ford (don’t forget about him!! 6 foot, high-4 star Safety / Corner/ Wide Receiver / stud athlete who’s been Riding All-In with Pitt this entire recruiting process!! 🙂 no flippy-flopping) — Narduzzi is not going to COMPROMISE when he knows Reinforcements are At-The-Wings, and even Lamont Wade may (Come rock the Script YOUNG MAN! 🙂 LOL) come to Pitt (Star DB’s in the NFL AND College want to play in Narduzzi’s Philosophy, period) .

    Patience, young Padawans…Patience 🙂 It’s Painful and Arduous, The Metamorphisis from a Caterpillar to a Butterfly 🙂 lol.

    HAIL TO PITT!! 😉

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  454. Emil, Narduzzi’s defensive philosophy is not flawed, you just need NFL caliber defensive CB’s to implement it at a high level. Turning some of those jump balls into incompletions would have left the opposition defense gasping for air in the 4th Q with having to spend so much time out on the field.—The big question is whether or not Narduzzi will be able to recruit the talented defense players necessary to execute his system. His best selling point has got to be the ability for these recruits to SEE THE FIELD early and not ride the bench at Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

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  455. Two interesting facts to share before I head out of Pittsburgh this morning –

    A. Pitt’s O has produced at least 36 points per game in each of it’s last 7 games (longest streak in FBS) and yet have a 4-3 record in that stretch.

    Let that sink in –

    B. Start times for both the wvcc and pedo state games are at noon today. Both ranked and playing in the Midwest.

    I hope they both lose…

    And I still hate pedo state!

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  456. The game turned in the 3rd Qtr when Pitt went from up 21-16 to down 29-21…VaTech scored to make it 21-19 and our offense ran a jet, inc. pass, followed by and end around…the punt – which led to another FG – followed by a short Pitt drive followed by a Hokie TD…the complexion of the game would have changed if Pitt had put 3 pts on the board…

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  457. After that first quarter of horrible football execution that Pitt put out there, you tell me that any past Pitt team from the last couple of decades that comes back from that to make a game of it like ours did on Thursday??? This is a Narduzzi Era team, and it is only going to get better.
    Yes, this team has a big problem, it’s defensive secondary. The solutions are already in the pipeline however, with guys that are tall, talented & fast.
    Jay Stocker 6’2″
    Henry Miller 6’3″
    Phil Campbell 6’1″
    Damar Hamlin 6’1″
    Therran Coleman 6’0″
    With guys in the two deep already getting experience, like Dane Jackson at 6 feet even looking over his shoulder next season, wondering if he will be good enough to stand up to the competition coming up behind him.
    And we are not even considering verbals like Paris Ford who could see playing time as a true freshman next season.
    I hate saying “wait until next year”, but WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
    Coach Narduzzi is building a program here at Pitt. You’re watching it being forged right before your eyes. This VT loss will not be a source of despair for this team it will be motivation to get better.
    Hail to Pitt!

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  458. Price doesnt wear need pads as a lot don’t. But the others don’t cut the pants like shorts. I agree it looks stupid but so does players jumping around like bush leaguers on the 4th quarter.

    Many of the POV’ers are in love with Narduzzi. I don’t see it. Doesnt win big games, defense atrocious. Somehow we think Freshman will play lights out next year when other holes present themselves from LB and Dline. Then offense next year we have a qb with zero playing time. I don’t know who we need but a coach who has no HC experience who doesnt learn much as he goes is not posirtive. Perfect example is Fuente. High powered offense and HC experience and look at VT in leas than 11 months. They sucked under Beamer as HC offensivily. Narduzzi needs to learn and class it up. At least we dont have to worry about anyone wanting him.

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  460. Pitt made the decision to go cheap with a coordinator not an experienced head coach. Is Narduzzi recruiting the defensive players he needs? Season ticket sales next season will suffer. Óklahoma to State won’t fill the rented stadium. The Narduzzi nerds are delusional.

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  461. Anthony – I agree Narduzzi stinks. Sadly Mich St wont want the bum either after showing Edinboro would hang 30 on this defense.

    He is all talk and excuses. Guys were in position, refs robbed us. He is a baffoon.

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  462. Some think miami’s speed and QB will torch the Pitt secondary – if true, the Pitt offense will need to put 45 plus on the scoreboard to win.

    I’m not giving up on HCPN, but for the record I preferred we hire an experienced HC.

    Duzz is now gaining experience – I believe as Doc says, we are close to winning the big game.

    Can you say Clemson?

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  463. EE – He gains experience and his pride doesnt let him make changes or adjustments so what value is there learning if you don’t change.

    I say Narduzzi’s success was as much D’antonio than him.

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  464. UCONN +6.5
    WVU -3.5
    Utah +9.5
    UT +3.5
    ND +2.5
    Bills +6.5
    Dallas -4.5
    Saints +2.5
    ATL -2.5
    NW -26.5

    Had to pick 10 so here they are.

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  466. Pitt earned a paycheck from the ACC by playing on Thursday night. When was the last time you saw Michigan play a Thursday night? Or Alabama? Don’t blame the fans. It’s Thursday night. The SEC rarely plays them and nor does the BIG . There’s a good reason they don’t inconvenience their fans.

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  467. Michigan & Alabama don’t play on Thursday night because they don’t have a contract with ESPN like the ACC does. If they did they too would be playing on Thursday nights.

    CBS has the TV contract with the SEC and they are not an all sports channel like ESPN.

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  468. Sorry to burst your bubble but the Big Ten and the SEC both have contracts with ESPN. Another Narduzzi nerd pulling at straws.

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  469. I had us wining VT and losing Mia and Clem to finish 8-4. Now we must win 3 out of 4. Not impossible but…

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