Well, can any one who really follows and knows about Pitt football be shocked at what happened yesterday? Surprised maybe, I was – but not shocked.
Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph completed 9-of-14 passes for 252 yards and 4 TDs when Pittsburgh sent five or more pass rushers, per ESPN Stats & Info. Going back to the start of last season, it was the third-most yards and tied for the most passing TDs against the blitz in a single game by a Power 5 QB.
Take a look at the :30s mark – DiNucci with a ‘spark’…
pittpov.com 
looked like men vs boys … especially their WRs vs DBs. They just seemed bigger, stronger and faster.
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Reed,
Can’t stop laughing at that photo … it’s great!!!! Hope it doesn’t get you more trouble.
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I used to be totally upset over Pitt losing. I would yell at them through TV set as they lost, which would chase my wife from the room. Now, I don’t get upset so much anymore. The reason? I don’t watch the games real time. I record them.That way I can decide if I want to watch the game later. If I don’t want to watch, I just delete. My wife is much happier now and so am I. – Hobie
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Thanks for taking the time to do a podcast and keep the blog alive even when our football program is on life support.
Changes to our team I would like to see:
Replace the coaches who are in charge of teaching the defense to tackle, and who are in charge of teaching players how to run routes and catch the ball.
Replace the corruption on the bot. (Though I’m not sure how that gets done. Pennsylvania as a whole is entrenched with it in all facets of business and governments.)
Play the future players. It does no good to play those who won’t help us win championships.
God bless you all. It is a difficult time to be a panther.
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Reed, just listened to the podcast and I think you are right about firing the DC…it would show Nard had BALLS and is practicing some critical self reflection regarding the program’s future… I’m losing hope that he’s the guy.
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why do you keep blaming the DC? It’s Narduzzi’s defense.
It’s not like our favorite $1.5M offensive coordinator who produced all of 7 points last night, and with much more talent.
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Conklin has to execute that defense and he very clearly can’t do it. Obviously HCPN is not going to fire himself.
At the very least firing Conklin sends a message to everyone, especially the players, that he’s addressing the problem in the most basic ways… If PN keeps the defensive at status quo then it appears the 1) he’s a football idiot and/or 2) he’s given up at trying to improve in that area.
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Reed, I’m not sure PN believes the defense is broken or is in need of a fix. In his pressers he keeps deflecting that we need better tackling, better execution and not play week after week the best teams in football. What’s that definition of insanity?????
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Forget, thanks for a great podcast. I have finally stepped back from the ledge. At 66 years old, I get a little shaky so thanks!
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The message that I would get is that Narduzzi is looking for a scapegoat. They obviously do not have the personnel to play a quarters scheme – and yet we continue to see it. The only sure way Conklin gets fired is by standing up to him and suggesting that they install a cover-2 or similar scheme.
We have seen Head Coach Narduzzi jettison assistants whom he feels are holding him back. Conklin is not his son-in-law. He would have been gone in December if Coach though he was doing something wrong.
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Couldn’t agree more Reed.
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Not surprised given the talent returning on OKS and the loss of talent on Pitt. Also, inexperience of our QB and many other players; not to mention the loss of Taleni. My
prediction for the year was 6-6
although that may be optimistic. Net Pitt won’t get better until we can recruit talent at QB position.
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Narduzzi is an excuse maker. Listen to this fools Press Conf. Real Men and Real coaches own it. He makes excuses left and right. He is the problem. Conklin is a paid puppet running Narduzzi’s Defense. Heather is a puppet. the whole group is minor league B team talent. Coaches Admin. All Jokes.
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I have watched all of Pitts ACC opponents play and believe Pitt could loose the rest of their games if something does not radically change fast!
14 points per game does not get it done. They looked like HS kids out there except most HS teams execute better. It starts with totally inadequate QB play but all areas need to be better. The run game seemed best when Ollison and Moss had the ball and that should be a priority.
Lets stop the pitches and flat passes except for the speedster backs and limit those. Receivers need to catch any ball they touch and KEEP it. Defensive players have to tackle and HOLD on. Defense has to play with intensity to the end of each play and on and on.
Did this team drop off so much in one week or is Penn State that much over rated? I had to quit watching and start a repair on my home theater to get my mind off the game for the second half.
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something will radically change; the schedule will get easier. Yes, they will have issue with the triple option this week; almost everyone does … but no doubt you will see a defensive improvement in the next few weeks.
What worries me more is the offense. I knew it certainly wouldn’t be what we had last year, but I expected more than this.
IMO, if a coordinator needs to be fired, it’s Watson. We played two of the best offenses the last 2 games, not defenses.
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Easier schedule?! Where?! Maybe Rice – that’s it. Miami? GT? VT? Are you serious?
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Hey UPitt, looks like a really good game this Saturday between now 7th ranked OK St and your hometown 15th ranked TCU. You should drop any plans that you may have and go see it.
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Haha! Let me run it by the Estonian. I think we have plans but not sure.
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You can’t replace 11 guys on defense. You just can’t. I think you start to let the younger influx of talent in, and you kind of seen that yesterday. We seen Hamlin, Pine, Coleman. How’s about Twyman, Mathis, Ford?
As far as QB goes. Next week starts ACC play, I would maybe give Max one more shot, but probably not. I just have serious reservations on how good Dinucci is. He’s smart as hell, has some mobility, and seems to have way more confidence and moxy than Browne. But ultimately I don’t think he is a legit D1 QB either. Really kind of depressing, honestly.
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I agree DiNucci sucks that’s just the reality of the situation. Play everybody young play Pickett and you have a rough year and a half of next year will be rough but after that we have a shot at being decent
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Georgia Tech will eat up these inexperienced kids that have never seen a triple option.
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I thought about heading to Atlanta from Nashville, but not for this garbage.
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Georgia Tech has no defense. They couldn’t stop UT for crying out loud. UT not exactly an offensive juggernaut. Might want to rethink your prediction.
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Id replace 12.
All 11 and the DC. Ben h the entire atarting Defense for first Q.
That was an abortion on Saturday.
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Thanks for the great podcast talking everyone down off the ledge Big guy? Bunch of things.
You make a good point about the rest of the season. The real season starts next week and the season can be turned around quickly, Will it? I think it’s possible so I think PITT has a chance, as the saying goes.
Wasn’t Camp hurt and I really haven’t noticed Shane Roy doing anything first 3 games. Although Partridge does like to rotate players very often I’ve noticed. I did notice Carter playing, not sure how well he played though?
Weah’s claim to fame last game? Being missed while wide open for a touchdown by Max.
Missed tackles and missed opportunities wouldn’t have won the PITT the game but sure would have made it looked like they were more interested in winning.
The players did not play well but the coaches were worse. OSU outwitted the witless, imo. Getting creamed like that is very unacceptable. Changes need to happen and happen NOW!
It will take a week or two to see if PITT is really really terrible or just pretty bad. As well as to seeing if OSU and psu are top 10 worthy. Maybe then we can figure out where PITT fits into the college football world?
I’ve been on record stating this isn’t PITT’s year to roar but I did not expect a loss like that. Still say PITT played better than expected at psu. ….and personally I think OSU is really great. Defense too. That said, I keep hearing how young and inexperienced PITT is but out the other side of the mouth comes thoughts like this. Narduzzi should be winning by now. I get that a little bit about his recruiting but a year too early like it or not. It is what it is. It’s called building a football program the right way!
What good would it do to fire Conklin right now? Send a message? To who? To the POVer’s? His players may very well like him and wouldn’t appreciate it much? A lot more to it than that, as we all do not know what’s going on down at the south-side… . . ike
H2P!
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Jesus Ike. There is no hope for you. Are you f ing serious or are is your brain fried from some bad dope as a youngster.
Building a program the right way??? Did you just say that. Give him next year or his next class or some more BS. It is Year 3. Many teams are playing and winning in year 1-2 and his players stink. Mullett coaches his guys. Narduzzi is not capable.
I swear man you are a great guy but you can’t be this ignorant to football.
OSU could of scored 100. Easily!!!!
7 drives. 7 TD’s.
9-9 on third down.
3 td’s on same route.
I can go all night.
The season starts next week. Are you f ing seeious that we can win the coastal????? We wouldnt win the division playing Cal U Gannon and Edinboro man.
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I disagree, I think this squad would be 3-0 against Cal U, Gannon & Edinboro.
I also predicted 1-2 at this point in the season. However I did NOT see Pitt stinkin the place out on both sides of the ball though against OSU like they did, pathetically embarrassing.
And keeping it real Upitt, I don’t think OSU scores 100 on Pitt. The game isn’t long enough, maybe 80. But that would also involve Pitt not getting 7 from a botched OSU punt, since the Cowboys never would have needed to punt if the 1st team Cowboy offense stayed in during the 2nd half.
That’s the best optimistic spin I can put on the huge bag of 💩 Pitt shoveled out there on Heinz Field last Saturday.
On to GT. I’m rambling & Pitt is a wreck.
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Great last line… My uncle went to GT and we had to sing “Rambling wreck from Georgia Tech (and I drink my whisky clear…)” every Christmas when he came to visit…
Damn – back in the day our parents were so proud of their universities…
Dr Tom is on the right and Erie Express on the left – at least I think so.
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Ike, Reed, etc. seriously. What makes you think that because it is an ACC game that the team will play better than playing against the three we have played this far.
I love you guys but come on. I’m more and more in UPitt’s camp.
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While yesterday was worst than expected, i definitely thought 1 and 3 was in play considering the quality of offenses we are playing in this stretch, and the inexperience Pitt has. But the defense got no help from the offense yesterday which is suicide against an offense like OSU.
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1-3 is different if you played semi competitive. We were embarrassed 2 weeks in a row.
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THREE weeks in a row. Don’t forget the mighty Penguins took us to OT.
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Wrong again. Penn State just beat us, or more appropriately, we beat us, with those early turnovers that we offered up to the Nitters.
Embarrassed is not a strong enough term to use for the OSU game. We were owned, violated and left on the roadside for dead against the Cowboys. Narduzzi should write a thank you note to Coach Gundy for calling off the wolves in the 2nd half or it would have ended up like 80-14. That’s beyond embarrassing.
On the good side, I’m pretty sure that this Pitt squad won’t go into any of their remaining games over confident after the raping OSU put on us.
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Personally I’d go with Dinucci and have a few packages for Macvittie. Sucks for Max, and I feel for the kid.
Would not blow Pickett’s redshirt. You can’t give up in this year, although at this point I’d do cartwheels if we won 6 games. But I think you get Dinucci and Macvittie playing time and see which guy is your so called starting QB next year until RS FR Pickett ultimately beats them out for the starting job next year.
Pgh Sports Now caught up with some of the recruits at the game yesterday and they all said the right things. But I honestly don’t know how any prospective recruit could have came away impressed…
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Too many questions in too many places in the whole Pitt organization top to bottom.
Narduzzi is making nearly $2 million year to put a competitive product on the field that folks want to spend their hard earned money to see. Changes need to be made and Little Ben needs to start and Browne sat. ( Who gave him a “C” and I literally mean gave.
Narduzzi won’t fire Conklin- that would be like dismissing himself and admitting his scheme doesn’t work, Maybe it works with 5-6 future pros on that side of the ball but it ain’t happening at PITT. ( Narduzzi might need the help of an escort service).
Flying to Atlanta to see this group next Saturday. Will be the 1st time seeing them as I was scouting out the Tarheels in Norfolk vs ODU. Heels have no fat asses on their OL or DL but look beatable but we wouldn’t beat ODU who left 10 points on the field..
UPITT and Reed who catch way too much grief for their negativity… happen to be right most of the time.
Big week, big game and huge UPitt 🎩 WEDDING on Saturday… lots to look forward to……..
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Thanks Man!! Love some Big B!
As far as OSU. I said quote. They have a great defense.
They are just as good running as passsing and be RB was a beast.
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This may sound insane. It does even typing this…
But I’m truly more concerned with the offense moving forward than I am with the D.
Yikes!!!
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Pap. Blow a redshirt is comical. Honestly.
If you think Narduzzi will be here in 4 years then I have 5 acres in Brownsville on the ocean.
You play and get reps.
Save him for next year my a$$.
He is probably the only true D1 QB on the roster. You guys and save the redshirts.
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Upitt. – I grew up around Brownsville and now I live in happy retirement at the ocean (Bethany Beach, DE) and even I don’t think Narduzzi will last the four years of Pickett’s career.
Serious question though… I suffered through the embarrassing rout of the Steelers versus the Pats last year and wondered can a coach really make that much difference.
After watching film study of how the Steeler secondary got used over and over with their zone schemes, the answer seems to be yes (if you are going up against Belichek).
Seems like Pitt recruits rank in the middle of the pack (similar to WVU or Wisconsin). Now the question, can they (the recruits) really be that bad (and over-rated) or is the scheme run by Narduzzi really that awful? Did he ever try five or even six defensive backs to slow down the receivers.
Some of those guys seem big enough to be effective against the run as well (like Miller or Campbell). When you are down by four or five touchdowns, what do you have to lose by trying?
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Narloozie will not play a FR QB short of injuries to the other 2. All we need is 22 young men who don’t know what they are doing. A leader is he who keeps his head when those around him are losing theirs.
You all crack me up on Ben D and automatic negative thought., I for one will give him a chance – he ball handles better than any QB at Pitt since Palko, he extends the play and sandlots it like Davey Havern, he makes split decisions – did anyone notice the flat pass he was going to through to a RB who pointed either at a DB coming up or Matthews in the end zone, BN immediately switched his set up and let it flail for almost a TD (think MB could do that?)
He QB’d Pine-Richland to an undefeated 16-0 record winning a state title and being the only PIAA QB to throw for more than 4,000 plus yards in a year; can run, had up and down showing in a game that was a slaughter when other backups would have been killed. I do not know if he will make it but he can at least mark time till next year but even a skeptic like me will give him a chance which is more than Nardlosie and most of you will do – don’t tell me Nardloozie didn’t promise Capt Max to start.
If he starts MB again I will rush the field or brick my TV. MB is an overrated 5 star 7on 7 QB.
Fire Conklin and Hill now and next year if this shoootshow continues pull the trigger; I got a kick out of post game comments on Th Fan radio by Nardloozie it was bad play by safeties alone that was the problem. “just have to continue to recruit” he said. What 3 star slow?
BN=BN
MB=SS=AM
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Dinnucci has what 1 TD and 3 INT’s in 3 games. Plus 1-2 lost fumbles. Heart and Hustle but zero D 1 talent.
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Narduzzi =’s Excuse Meizer
#Year3
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Upitt, get married, be happy, understand situations.
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Ike – I am happy. Pitt Football is an abortion. Pitt AD makde the program even more of a joke on National TV and Yahoo. It embarrasses me and my school.
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That’s pretty dismissive Ike. I expect better.
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You are right Pitt It Is, I am better than that.
Mark knows I love him and can be honest with him as well. Could have been more distinct I guess in wishing him the best as he already knows I do.
I mixed things up there at the end, adding a PITT thought. It was about Dinucci and not judging him on mop up duty.
I’ll correct things right now and yell out to Upitt. My Best Wishes Upitt and to the soon to be Mrs Upitt (does she know that’s going to be her future POV nickname) and all the best to you two about to be newly weds!!! My best to you! . . . . .ike
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Ike now you brought a tear to my eye.
🤣
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Thanks Ike. Tell Heather hi tomorrow morning. You have to work in athletics. Haha
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Upitt:
Pickett ain’t some 5 star golden arm savior. But I think he could be a good QB for us.
This year is lost. Hope I’m wrong, but I think it is. Find out if Dinucci or Macvittie have any chance being the man moving forward and let Pickett win the job next year. He’s not ready and with this supporting cast taking their lumps, why feed him to the wolves.
Anyway, congrats on your upcoming nuptials. Myself I could never walk the plank. Was engaged. That’s as close as I got…
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I think talent if Pickett has it and reps this whole season is so valuable for next. If not we are in exact same place next year. Try MacVittie but Dinucci isn’t a solid option.
And Thanks! This is my second so stay SingleI did it enough for us both.
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We are playing at the level of the Tulsas, East Carolinas and South Alabamas…
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South alabama beats us.
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BigB:
Some kids are greathogh school QB’s, but not so much in college…
Does Pat Bostick or Tony Zimmerman ring a bell?
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We have reached some a new low that no one cares we lost by 453 points.
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It seems like SOP to me yet again. So how do we break the cycle?
Pitt needs stability. So firing Narduzzi is not the answer. But firing our DC is a good start.
Heather needs to learn that giving away free Fantas for those fans that stay is not good business and is a marketing embarrassment.
Gallagher preaches about the porch but his words ring hollow. A charlatan he is.
The BoT is a dysfunctional group of people who have no interest in sports and have no incentive to change the sports culture. If you think DC is a swamp, our BoT is far worse. They truly must be drained…of their blood. 🙂
Pitt’s overall sports programs are a mess. Wait until basketball season.This is no country for old men.
We play in a stadium that is not a good fit and too large for us.
We cant agree on our school colors.
We have only 38k show up yesterday on a good weather day against a top 10 team.
Mediocrity has been the norm for the past 35 years.
If you expect our AD or Chancellor to have the answers, you are sadly mistaken. They are just tools and fools in the BoT’s box.
If you want to change the culture and make a difference, you as fans can boycott games, send letters to the administration and refuse to donate or purchase merchandise. Only by starving the program will the BoT come out of their worm hole. Unfortunately, the $20M Pitt receives from the ACC is a welfare check which makes the BoT less inclined to take action.
Pitt needs to either get busy living or get busy dying. I know what path the BoT has taken.
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Excellent post Tex. Are you a vampire ? haha
In the long run, we would have been better off, going in the dumper totally after the Heyward/ToadGraham debacle. Pitt’s muckety mucks only have acted strongly in the past when the program was totally in the dumper. (see 1971 & 1996 in contemporary history) So taking that into account, the multiple 6 and 6 years of Cheesehead Paulie were something that just extended the charade of Pitt football.
We would have been better off, going 1-11 or 2-10 for a couple seasons, bite the bullet so to speak and have the Muckety Mucks forced to act aggressively as they did in 1971 and to a lesser extent in 1996.
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We’re not done yet this season. Both 1-11 & 2-10 are still within Pitt’s grasp this year!
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First Vegas line just out…. GA Tech -7. I’ll take that right now. Game will go off -11.5.
Pitt stinks. There is no hope!
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There’s always hope. It is just a matter of if such mindsets are rational or irrational.
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Hell while were at it…
Max Browne??
I just don’t think Dinucci got it. We’ll see. And I’d like to. Seen enough of Max. I hope Ben starts in Atlanta in Saturday…
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Sorry I addressed that to BigB. Meant rkb.
Apologies BigB
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Tony Zimmerman put up gaudy numbers out of Penn Trafford. Was a Majors II recruit.
Walt takes over. Took one look at Zimmerman and knew he didn’t have it. Transferred to Duquesne almost immediately after Walt took over.
I know Dinucci won a state title and threw for over 4,000 yds. But still had no D1 offers.
Max Browne had offers from everywhere.
Neither one is a long term answer at QB.
But at least Dinucci has a couple years to learn and grow in the system. That’s why I would start him and get Macvittie some game reps.
In the end one of these guys backs up Pickett next year…
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I’ll just say one it more time or I’ll ask the question. Does Narduzzi play his favorites/veterans or the players that he thinks gives him the best chance to win? If anyone has the thought that if and when he wins, then he moves on to make mega bucks, why wouldn’t he play the best players to do so? As a matter of fact, why wouldn’t he do so even if his plans to win at PITT and not move on?
Answer: He see’s the players all day long everyday. Fan’s speculating and pontificated is great fun and I do it to pass my time. I do not however think I know better than the coach. As pointed out though, yes coaches make mistakes like we all did/doing our jobs. Do or did we make them on a regular basis? I think not.
Narduzzi, keeping us all in the dark is driving most PITT fans crazy. Pickett is now the answer to all of PITT’s woe’s? I’m all for playing the younger players but we all want the best chance to win tomorrow. It doesn’t work both ways. It just doesn’t. I continue to read comments that want the best of all worlds. Yes I want that too but I have to be realistic about things in life.
Anyone remember the Pirate baseball cry? “Wait until next year” Well, I’ll break that down to “Wait until next week”! . . . . .. . .. ike
H2P!
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Hope we don’t get a side show while at Tech..Pitt and UPitts wedding are a full plate….
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/georgia-tech-student-activist-shot-dead-by-campus-police/ar-AAs4U04
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This staff better sift thru the JuCo ranks for a QB. Better make sure there is a solid No. 2 on the 2018 roster. If Pickett is the guy then what happens if he gets hurt? Back to Ben? MacVittie won’t be here very long. Does a QB who at the end of camp was playing on the punt-coverage team give faith that he can one day be the guy to lead the program?
It sucks because his Hudl tape looked impressive with some real arm strength.
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If the choice is to see where you are going in 2018 three games into 2017, you use Pickett. Most likely however, the Head Coach will not throw away this season yet because he is incentivized to win the ACC Division and go to a bowl game. Because of the win now incentives, your best chance is with Browne right now. That is the reality, and not what we want. You guys understand business, yes?
You don’t have to watch the game to set a strategy for attaining your goal. Browne beat out Dinucci in camp. Dinucci played against backups. He couldn’t beat out Manny Stocker for backup last year. Repeat : Manny Stocker. Personally, I am with Upitt on this. If you are looking forward, take your lumps with Pickett now IF he is a very good QB. If he is not a very good QB, you try to win as much as you can now and that is with Browne over Dinucci.
Regardless and in order to keep the locker room, you demote the DC. Narduzzi preaches competition at every position in order to get better. That includes coaching. His kids are watching to see if he is a man of his words. Demote the DC now.
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Pap76.. no apologies needed.. good to see you posting
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MacVittie ( the other D1 school to offer) transfers to LSU hooks up with Canada and after sitting out a year leafs the Tigers into the SEC championship game….. We once had a commit named Hornibrook…..
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Dinucci didn’t win a state title, lost in finals to St. Joe’s Prep. I watched him for three years and he was amazing in high school. Not sure if he has the arm strength for D 1 but he deserves a shot. Not like Pitt is going anywhere this year.
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I didn’t realize this until Tex mentioned it above.
Attendance: 38,952
That is the type of crowd we use to get for like Akron or Bowling Green.
Seriously only 39K showed for a Top 10 team on a beautiful day. Gallagher can’t Lyke that. Or do they
even care ?
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There was no way there were 38K+ people in attendance – those numbers are ticket sales, not turnstile count.
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Mavittie comment above- just trying to amuse myself….
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We had a bigger announced crowd for the D2 Penguins.
Attendance: 40,012
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Emel… they just hadn’t come up with the right combination of peeps on their ” fan committees.” To solve the attendance problem…. she
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If we lose to GT this week and that is most likely. ( GT lost by only 1 point to Tennessee 41-42.) The following week back at Ketchup Bottle against the C-USA Rice Owls will probably see 20,000 attendance.
The UVa game which also is another Nooner start, will be another lightly attended game.
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In fact all of the remaining games are Noon starts.
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Maybe we should move the Rice game to Tartan Field 🙂
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Or CMU – the students could walk to get their free FANTA.
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doubleheader with the Chargers. 25,381 Chargers attendance (yes, the NFL Chargers in the 2nd largest city in the US)
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Sometimes we get so down that reality leaves our area. < brains. Many many great QB’s have all different kinds of arm strength, mobility and QB IQ. It doesn’t take all 3 and there really isn’t a recipe of which 3 is necessary to be a good to great college QB.
PITT needs a QB that HELP’s them win football games. If it’s Pickett, so be it. Same for Dinucci or anyone else. The lack of faith disturbs me at times. These are the days. When the times get tough….. you all should know the rest……..Neither PITT football or you guys can get me down. . . . . . …ike
I’m With the Team
H2P!
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……and just to stir it up….. PITT is tied for the Coastal Division lead as of right this second. Ohhhh no Mickey!
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We have returned to the Dave Hart era 67-70. A fast talking ego driven
Idiot of a coach took over Pitt football from Johnny Mike.
He sold all of us on the slogan “This is the year the Panther begins to growl!”
Every game was a blow out like Saturday! After 1 win a year for 3 years he was gone. Narduzzi is the ghost of Dave Hart. How bad was he… he offered me a walk on spot in 68. I still have the letter.
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Dan72, really???
Now listen to me, slowly, back, away, from, the, ledge.
Both you & I have seen generations of Pitt Football. So you should know better than to compare this era to the Dave Hart era.
Yeah, Pitt got their a$$es handed to them by OSU but this is one really good team! Better than PSU IMO. So one game does not make a season.
There is talent on this team. The issues are correctable. But this is a coaching issue at this point.
Two 8-5 seasons and at this point a probable .500 record going forward in 2018 is in no way comparable to Dave Hart’s teams. Paul Chryst maybe, but not Hart.
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Dinucci could be a serviceable qb…. with talent around him. A line that can block. Receivers that can catch the ball. A defense that could keep Pitt in the game.
We have no real talent at LB. They will be required to do a majority of tackling in the GT game. I would take GT giving 7 all day long. We didn’t tackle well last week. That’s not fixing itself in 7 days. The bright side…Pitt will give up less than 400 yards passing. But probably over that rushing.
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Disappointed in all the yellow seats, given this was the best college team to visit Heinz this year. Of course, that was dwarfed by the dreadful performance by everyone except Lopes and our punter.
HCPN’s steadfast refusal to change defenses shows not only an insane obstinance, but a willingness to throw the entire program under the bus, simply to prove a point.
If i was Gallagher, i personally call HCPN and tell him he produces a better product for the paying customers, or he can find another job.
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Narduzzi’s stub orneriness is a growing concer to me at this point.
The defense needs to get better soon. It is not all on the players. These coaches have to place these players in a position to be successful.
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Maybe Heather needs to start taping photos of available coaches around the locker room.
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Still making amends from an above post :
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are right Pitt It Is, I am better than that.
Mark knows I love him and can be honest with him as well. Could have been more distinct I guess in wishing him the best as he already knows I do.
I mixed things up there at the end, adding a PITT thought. It was about Dinucci and not judging him on mop up duty.
I’ll correct things right now and yell out to Upitt. My Best Wishes Upitt and to the soon to be Mrs Upitt (does she know that’s going to be her future POV nickname) and all the best to you two about to be newly weds!!! My best to you! . . . . .ike
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DiNucci currently has thrown 3 INT’s, but several other passes (4 or 5) were close to being picked off except for DB’s with stone hands, like some of our WR’s.
Neither Browne nor DiNucci pass the eye test for me at this point. RaRa Lopes and Mathews get the starting spots at WR in my opinion – Weah and Ffrench are the 1st off the bench in the 3 receiver set. QH and Flowers relegated to 3rd team until they catch a few clutch balls. QH had one big reception vs the Pokes, but he was caught from behind by two defenders – conditioning or speed or both?
The RB position should start with Moss. QO as the back-up. If neither gets hot after the 1st two series, bring in AJ Davis, Whitehead and QH at the tailback position and do some quick tosses, shuffle passes, motion out the wazoo and use 2 or 3 of those guys in the same sets.
Finally, use our TE’s over the middle – they are bigger than the LB-ers and DB’s – I thought that position would be a HUGE weapon – they average like 1 or 2 passes per game for the TE spot.
If Watson’s playacting is cold to start the GT game, send Tim Salem to the both and bring Watson to the sidelines to hold Duzz’s headset after he throws it.
Teams without a plan to defeat the opposition fail. The Pitt team looked like total failures vs the Pokes. That can’t happen again this year or the Texas revolt will be on full force…
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I haven’t seen the replay but it seemed to me that QH got caught by the second defender who had an angle on him. It looked to me that QH was faster than the defender right behind him but lost confidence because he was getting winded and cut to the right which favored the second defender. I think getting winded is worse than being slower than the defender.
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His passes in high school always looked like they were about to be picked off, but they weren’t. Like I said before, I don’t know if that will translate to D1, but it’s worth a shot.
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Hi Jamie
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playacting = playcalling
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A half empty stadium is bad press. Despite what Cardiac Hill says (you’re wrong on this Anson), recruits dont want to play in a dull and lifeless pro stadium that is half filled. Those yellow seats scream Pitt fans dont care and nor does the administration. Yes – the shared practice facilities are a plus but there is no home field advantage in a carnivorous stadium off campus. If an alien dropped you at this stadium you would think you’re watching a bad minor league team associated with the Steelers.
But lets begin asking the question – why is Pitt so cheap when it comes to sports?
Is the ROI not sufficient?
Do they really believe their front porch babble?
Are they content with the status quo which is 35 years of just hanging in there?
The answers are to have separate and much smaller committees for academics and sports at the university. How can anyone worthwhile get accomplished with 36 voting BoT members with many of them having Penn State degrees.
I’m sick and tired for being taken as a fool.
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I’d like to see Coach Duzz personally coach the safeties for the rest of the season. Some coaches– Conklin — can understand a concept or system but can’t teach it or convey it to players adequately.
I watched Stocker on a play. The slot receiver ran straight at him, then broke to the left. Before Stocker reacted and got going, the WR had a 3 step lead on Stocker. He made a catch and scored.
Now Stocker looks like a good athlete, but either he has poor reaction time or he’s looking for something in the backfield, or he’s just thinking too much.
Another example — I watched Hamlin on a play. There were 2 WRs on the far side of the field. Maddox had the top guy on the outside. Hamlin was more toward the center of the field and no one covered the second WR. At the snap, Maddox saw that the slot guy was running down the seam totally uncovered. Maddox left Washington to cover the slot guy who was running all alone down the field. Washington cut off his route along the sideline and was all alone but the QB overthrew him.
Seems to me the safeties have a real tough job in this defense — our guys are doing a poor job of coverage, perhaps because they are so concerned with run support… Whatever the reason, it’s not working.
I say the only way to find out if Coach Duzz’s defense can still work is to have him personally coach-up the weakest link — the safeties.
The GT game is coming at a bad time, me thinks…
Go Pitt.
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Wheels come off next week in Atlanta.
Last season our offense covered many sins of the the D. Without an offense this year, both are exposed.
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Very True Post Buddy.
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As bad as the safeties are I’m not sure the linebackers are not worse.
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It is coaching pure and simple. These guys don’t know their assignments. 1st quarter D players didn’t even know where to line up. Inexcusable in D1 football.
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Yep.
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Fake-blonde Heather needs to hang Stoops’ photo on HCPN door
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Chip Kelley’s mugshot goes on his windshield
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Tressel’s face can go on a shirt she wears around the athletic office, before, say, one of her six-mile runs, after which she polishes off a frosty Fanta.
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Dan 72 — you nailed it. I said to my wife in the second half that this game reminded me of when we were in school. We graduated in ’71.
We had so many games back then where we knew we had no chance to win…
Go Pitt.
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I was at every game. I had a system….first I’d see if we could stay on the field with a team….giving up 14 or less 1st quarter. Then I’d see if we could get to halftime giving up less than 30. Thank god we were allowed to bring in alcohol!!
Saturday’s game was over the moment we went 3 and out first series. Made sure 2 Pitt fans were in my seats. Never ever thought id be as embarrassed as those days again.
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I’d tape a pic of Wanny on EJ’s forehead, but thats just me.
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@Major – Or schedule a big10 team like indiana to see if it is the system that works or is the coaches or players that are lacking.
I would like to see Ford playing this weekend and Whitehead, both in run support. I would also trade a CB for another safety like Miller or Campbell. A 3 Safety type set to play to GT strengths. Need more tacklers vs. coverers.
Obviously DL penetration shuts down the running attack. Any demotions yet? Is it Conklin OR Partridge at DC on the two deep coaches roles. If not, why not? As a player you don’t like different standards applying. If it is letting the best coach on defense being the DC, so be it.
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One year and 640 yards later, did Pitt throw the same defense against OSU?” – Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
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Good post my friend MajorMajors, GT may be coming at a bad time but Whitehead coming at a good time. I got that crazy feeling about this game. Yes, I’ve been known to be wrong a time or three.
Hey BTW true story, walking through Gold-A parking lot on Saturday, there was a man walking all alone with a halting gate and a blazer on. Low and behold it was the man, Johnny Majors. Gave my “Hey, way to go coach” and hug an moved on. When I looked back he was being swamped by another group of PITT fans. That was a pretty cool moment.
So I went from double MajorsMajors at the tailgate to the singularly real Majors! Not that one is better than the other. Nice to meet the wife as well……. . . . ike
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Whitehead not the savior. Will not be in football shape and he is not playing up to his perceived greatness.
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Hey Huff, great call on Campbell, did see him making strong plays. Like I do, expect to see a good PITT product on the field in Atlanta. You gotta have faith……ike
H2P!
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Love all you guys but blaming Heather on anything is crazy. What the hell does she have to do with anything PITT football this year? That’s just hating imo.
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Agree Ike. She’s not responsible for this product. Fanta soda is a different story however.
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So many Pitt fans claiming there is no hope. While it might feel that way today, remember the pedos to the east lost to Michigan last year 49-10, shortly after Pitt beat them 42-39.
Their season turned around nicely on the way to a B1G Joke division title and conference championship.
Why not Pitt? Hopeful thought and a little sunshine on a rather gloomy weekend.
HTP!
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I’d like to see what DiNucch can do with a week or two of prep as the starter. Seems to me that Watson’s plays are designed for having a running threat at QB. What the hell is Watson thinking with that playbook and Max at QB?
DiNucch’s game looks like quick passes, a run threat, and some scrambling. Though I wonder at his size how many hits he might be able to take…
Go Pitt.
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Right EE, right, this giving up stuff isn’t in my DNA.
Here’s a great post by TX_Panthe in an above comment. I did leave out the last paragraph though:
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“It seems like SOP to me yet again. So how do we break the cycle?
Pitt needs stability. So firing Narduzzi is not the answer. But firing our DC is a good start.
Heather needs to learn that giving away free Fantas for those fans that stay is not good business and is a marketing embarrassment.
Gallagher preaches about the porch but his words ring hollow. A charlatan he is.
The BoT is a dysfunctional group of people who have no interest in sports and have no incentive to change the sports culture. If you think DC is a swamp, our BoT is far worse. They truly must be drained…of their blood. 🙂
Pitt’s overall sports programs are a mess. Wait until basketball season.This is no country for old men.
We play in a stadium that is not a good fit and too large for us.
We cant agree on our school colors.
We have only 38k show up yesterday on a good weather day against a top 10 team.
Mediocrity has been the norm for the past 35 years.
If you expect our AD or Chancellor to have the answers, you are sadly mistaken. They are just tools and fools in the BoT’s box.”
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PITT absolutely needs a firm commitment from the above lords << (PITT BOTs) to compete with even the middle level P-5 schools in college football. Saturday was a complete embarrassment to me and ESPN made a complete mockery of the PITT football program. Hey they should have. Actually, PITT made a mockery of themselves for what happened on that field. No more excuses.
When this football program breaks me down to the ground then you must have broken 85% or more of all the faithful PITT nation to the ground. Less than 40,000 for that game and that performance was truly pathetic? Makes me think I was the fool to pay to go see that debacle.
That said, TX_ is right, no need for changes right now considering the head coach but money directed at the money making football program should be in order. Hey Bots, get on board or many of us will stay home and watch PITT get their asses kicked on TV!!! or stop caring at all… ike
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I was penning a post for tomorrow but this gets to the core of it. A lot of folks are looking at the,symptoms without diagnosing the disease.
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Yeti,
So I guess the disease is multi layered. Hence, here’s a diagnosis:
After a complete body scan of the patient, who is a panther, the patient was diagnosed with critical low amounts of talentitis, a bad case of the dropsys, poor tackleosis, and no capable life coach showing on the scan.
The diagnostic conclusion was to put the Panther immediately on life support.
Dr Pittman4ever (MD)
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I almost never leave game early, and I couldn’t stand to sit there any longer. Left just before the 3rd quarter ended. Pitt scored their bad snap recovery TD while I was walking out. I was so embarrassed by the total lack of competency the team showed. I’m going to DVR the game Saturday and instead watch some women’s volleyball games at CMU. At least there will be good competition there- on both sides of the court. H2P- I’ve not given up yet, but they are making it really tough to stay positive and committed to the program.
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You all know how I love statistics, not. They tend to tell the story you want to tell instead of the reality. The reality is our QB’s have performed similarly and well below average. They get too much credit for losing.
Dinucci has been sacked 3 times in 34 attempts, Browne 7 times in 66. Both pretty close per pass attempt.
Dinucci is hitting on 12% less in passing percentage.
Dinucci leads in yards per attempt at 8.1 to 5.1. However, if you take the long “screen pass” from Dinucci to Henderson of 74 yards, than Dinucci’s yards per attempt goes down to 6.15 per attempt. The screen pass is probably not an indicator of his downfield passing ability. If you take away Browne’s long of 30, his yards per attempt decreases to 4.74. Both of these numbers are terrible and helps explain why their rankings are not so good. Dinucci would lead in touchdowns, by 1, but lead in interceptions at 4 to Browne’s 2.
RK PLAYER TEAM COMP ATT PCT YDS YDS/A LONG TD INT SACK RAT
111 Bryant Shirreffs, CONN 27 39 69.2 351 9.0 60 3 1 2 165.1
112 Montell Cozart, BSU 33 48 68.8 348 7.3 47 5 1 3 159.9
113 Max Browne, PITT 43 66 65.2 338 5.1 30 1 2 7 107.1
121 Ben Dinucci, PITT 18 34 52.9 277 8.1 74 1 2 3 119.3
To close for the evening, our QB’s are both not so good. Yes, one may seem to get a better response but in reality, they both achieve about the same result. I give Browne the nod this week to start with the lanky right hander from pine richland in the bullpen. If Pitt loses, move to Pickett next week.
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If you do start Brown, at least get rid of the plays that require Max to run or look like he’s going to run. They aren’t fooling anybody. And I don’t know what you do about the rollout throws. Again, he’s no threat to run. Did you notice that the roll-out plays looked totally different when DiNooch ran them?
And DiNooch can overthrow Weah just as well as Max can… 🙂
That’s why I say I’d like to see what BD could do if he took the first-team snaps for a couple of weeks…
Go Pitt.
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Some great comments folks.—Several of us have been advocating for Pickett very early and in some cases even before the first game. If he is the best talent at QB give him the ball and lets see what happens. DiNucci understandably probably knows the play book better than Pickett. But if the added arm strength Pickett brings to the table gets Weah(and others) involved on deep passes that option should be seriously taken in to account. How many true freshman QB’s are playing D1 ball currently? Saving the Pickett red shirt should not even be considered if he truly is the best talent we have at QB today. From the tapes I viewed I believe that’s the case. Now lets see if he can do so in live D1 game action.
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Huff, I’m guessing you were an advocate for Tino Sunseri?Because statistically his numbers aren’t too bad, however if you saw him play, the eye test told you he really didn’t have it. If Pitt starts Browne, I believe Narduzzi will completely lose the team if he hasn’t already. Pitt doesn’t owe him anymore than the shot he already got. If Browne plays he’s got relatives on high places at Pitt…
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Annie I agree… maybe one day PITT has a football game and none of the faithful show…..
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That might be the next home game
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These are actual players for Oregon …
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJ93dhyWsAA0nc7.jpg:large
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Pitt has problems and they are many. (Chuck Noll paraphrased)
Chris Dokish @ChrisDokish 10h
Pitt is currently No. 96 in total offense, No. 108 in scoring, No. 112 in total defense, & No. 117 in scoring defense. But other than that.
I’ll say this again …. I am more concerned about the offense than the defense. We just played two of the top offenses in the NCAA, not defenses. And the offense provided no help whatsoever this past game when we needed it the most.
Last year as we all know, we had a great offense and a poor defense. And we returned more starters on the offensive side than on the defense … where on Saturday, we only had 2 defensive starters from last year … 3 if you count Briggs.
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The fact I typed OSU may have more problems on defense than us should place me on a prediction suspension for life.
There is so serious coaching defects going on, at MSU Duzz had an entire defense of 2-4 star players just like at Pitt and they rarely gave up over 21pts. I feel Conklin Hill and Harley do not fully understand how to teach the system and that’s totally on PN-it’s on Maddox to turn his head, its on the coaches to teach the system and it looks like this staff is totally failing. When dozens of other schools with similar or worse talent have way better defensive production it is not the players, that is clear evidence it’s the coaching.
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I sense Pat is loyal to a fault, possibly because of how his dad was treated by YSU, so he is letting Conklin, Hill, and Harley get second/third/98th chance to fix this. Personally a change to one of the three needs to be made today before practice-demote Hill and have PN strictly coach CB and S would be my suggestion. It sends a message and addresses the position that the defense needs most to succeed
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@PittPT – I have been posting for many years and I can count how many times I ever said anything positive about Tino Sunseri. That would be zero, with a lean towards one after the Todd Graham “he could have done better game”.
I am not a proponent of statistics at all. Never have been, never will be. The point was that statistics lie and are often used to help or hurt an argument. I can take the exact same statistic and slant it to support my point, which is what I did here. I am just a counterpoint to the majority most of the time. Candidly, I don’t really care who plays. I leave that to the coaches who watch them every day. They have more on the line than I do when it comes to wins and losses and everyone needs to understand that point.
There was noone here more critical of Browne when he threw the ball into the ground against YSU. If you look back at the comments during the game, I called it a Tino.
I view everything strategically. Look, if you bring in Dinucci now and the team loses to Gtech, wins against Rice (as currently favored) and loses the next game, we sit at 2-4 with each QB going 1-2. Let’s say Dinucci looks as good in those three games as Browne, what do you do at QB?? You don’t wait until game 7 to burn a redshirt with Pickett.
You either burn it now (and Pickett plays 9 games) if he is the best option now, or you leave it in place until next year and start fresh. You need to have a strategy and a plan B. Not many think through what happens if Plan B (Dinucci) fails. So again I ask, what do you do if you pull Browne now and Dinucci performs no better and the team is 2-4? Go back to Browne? MacVittie? Using Picket’s redshirt now makes complete sense. Not in 4 weeks.
Using statistics shows that our current option at QB appears to be a wash. Would I like Browne, Dinucci, MacVittie or Pickett to turn this team around, yes. Do I care which one does it, NO! I sure hope you were kidding about the Tino point or I obviously don’t convey my thoughts well.
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Sorry, Huff. I’m not advocating for DiNucci , just saying that if you had seen the game I don’t see how you could in any way lobby for Browne going back in. Anybody else maybe…even iF Browne and DiNucci are even, how does it benefit Pitt to start Browne? Set me straight, guys….
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The offense is killing this team. No identity.
DiNucci is not the answer but you can see the additional options he gives them being able to run.
Start Pickett
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I would ask narduzzi how he likes his captains. A safety that misses way too many tacklles, a cb that can’t cover the big boys, a wr that has the drops, and a qb that … you get the picture. The caps can’t lead by example and the rest of the team has very little experience. The pre-season is over, it’s time for conference play. Let’s hope whitehead can make a difference.
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Leadership! It was a major concern of mine in the preseason and it remains a concern as of today.
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Agreed, Dr Tom. Someone in the program needs to step up and show some cojones, starting with Narduzzi !
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That was the worst Pitt game I’ve seen since the’98 Backyard Brawl when WVU beat us 52 to 14. I must really be sick in the head to have watched the entire game. I am a Pine-Richland grad so Ben Dinucci will always have a special place in my heart, (not to be confused with Dave Hart) but Ben flunked his big audition against OSU. Brown makes nothing good or bad happen, he is like a sleeping student. It’s a 50/50 chance with Ben…td or pick. I think we have to go back to Browne and hope for a 6 and 6 trip to the toilet bowel. I’m glad I didn’t make the 3 and a half hour trek for this one, but I am pumped for the Rice game and will be there to see one of our few wins of the year.
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A smart observation of a VERY DUMB Coaching decision…
Narduzzi blew his biggest game of the home schedule from the opening coin toss.
Pitt won but elected to defer to Oklahoma State, which was averaging 51.5 points a game and has a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Mason Rudolph.
Kevin Gorman – Trib Review
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Exchanging DiNucci for Browne s the easy part.
Having Narcuzzi MAGICALLY transform into a Defensive Mastermind or a Mastermind of any kind… much more difficult.
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I think he deferred trying to instill confidence in his defense but OSU shot that down in a hurry. He definitely should have put the O out there and try to get the lead. This is NOT last year’s offense, they can’t play from behind.
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As everyone expected, Pitt is 1-2.
2-2 after this weekend.
Briggs appears too slow for safety. This week the safeties should be Garner and Whitehead.
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Fact. We got killed last Saturday.
Next Saturday is another game. What happens this week can be a difference maker. That’s all on the coaches, not on the players.
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What a great hire by our new AD! http://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/09/18/pitt-wrestling-lands-three-major-recruits/
Now, maybe if she was the AD here for the past 3-4 years, things would be much different
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WARNING… GaTech is a VERY Good Football Team. And VERY WELL Coached.
That’s 2 Strikes!!
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I was thinking before the season that Pitt would have a half decent chance of winning, after all Pitt is 2-0 vs GT the last 2 years. However, with no help from the offense, GT may have time of possession of over 40 minutes this game.
btw, GT is averaging only 39 pppg so far … much less than the previous two opponents.
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I agree with GT as a team. I think Whitehead’s return may help against GT. However I think GT is a better team, especially earlier, than the past two seasons.
Regarding coaching, still mystified by Johnson’s decision to go for it on 4th and 1 from his 34 with a little over 2 minutes left in in a tie game versus Pitt last year.
For PoD, Blewitt with the 31 yard field goal off the upright for the win!
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Baffled isn’t the word Barvo….lol
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If you were at the game you would have seen that at,least two of BDs out patterns should have also been intercepted. On one the dab slipped and on the other he was just late. Play the best kid, freshman or not. You would hope you would be able to recruit over anyone on this roster anyhow.
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But we still have Blewitt!
Wait… he graduated?
Strike 3.
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Is Blewitt the guy that hit a declining percentage of his field goals each season and bottomed at less than 59% of his field goal attempts last season? He also missed 3 extra points last season. I type that knowing full well that stats don’t tell the whole story! He may well have been on the right hash mark for those misses. Unfortunately my eye test led me to the same assessment as the stats.
That said, I’d take the sophomore version of Blewitt in a heartbeat this season.
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The loss Saturday really disgusted me and there is no changing that feeling. The players did not make plays but I put the blame on the coaches for the way PITT was embarrassed. Losing to OSU is not the end of the world but the players need to be armed with a reasonable setup so as to have at least the possibility of making the game close and they were not given that chance.
This “we want Pickett” chant seems crazy to me. How in the hell does anyone know anything about how he could play right now? Hey, don’t get me wrong? If KP duty is inserted into the lineup I’ll be all for it but just because he’s not Browne or Dinucci doesn’t make him the great savior for this PITT season. If the coaches go there then I will feel he’s the best man for the job at the time it’s decided upon.
Of course we all will be looking out the rear-view mirror all week cause that’s what we do here. For me, next Saturday can’t get here fast enough. psu/Osu vs GT those are two completely different animals. Especially OSU and GT. Again going into this week at least myself, I don’t have a clue to what may happen. I really think the return of Whitehead could bolster this team on defense.
1-2 isn’t that where many predicted PITT to be?
The YSU game, way closer than expected and raised an eyebrow.
The psu game, way closer than expected and raised some hope.
The OSU game, a way bigger blowout than anyone expected and dashed all hope, for some but not me.
I believe a team like GT could be what the doctor ordered to resuscitate this PITT football team. Looking forward to forgetting the first 3 games. PITT is not nearly as bad as they looked on Saturday. . . . . ike
H2P!
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Kind of sounds like the “we want Tino” chants we heard when Wanny was coach. How’d that work out for Pitt?
Nothing looks or feels good this morning with Pitt FB. We do have a difference maker returning in J.Whitehead. How he is used, that will be another story.
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Pitt is in desperate need of more playmakers on offense. Yea the defense sucks, but it sucked with Whitehead as Safety as well. As they say….the best defense is a good offense. Only reason we won 8 games last year.
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There’s also no denying that we have left some big offensive plays on the field. Reed pointed out the play against UPS near the goal line that would have been a big gainer instead of a safety. Against OSU, again when we were backed up near the goal line, we had a play where Clark was running wide open down the hash marks behind the defense but Max threw incomplete to somebody along the same line of vision but only about 5 yards down field…. Ugh. Of course we also missed an open Weah on a deep ball where it would have been nice to see some more air under it…
Maybe DiNooch can find some of these guys?
And I agree that we have no idea if either Wilson Pickett or TM are ready to go into a game and know what play to run — remember the sweeps and shovel passes require some precise timing… And I imagine that up until now Watson has been spending the vast majority of his time coaching up Max Browne. Ugh again!
Go Pitt.
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Wilson Pickett — lol
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Forget the QBs for a moment. Here are my top four areas of concern: OL, was supposed to be a strength. Does anyone think they are playing well? Officer is a disaster at rt. tackle. O’Neil should be moved back, he is only average on the left side. Next, no one can tackle. how many missed tackles were there? That missed tackle when OSU was 3rd and 11 deep in their own end was inexcusable. Third, blown coverages. Do these DBs know where they are supposed to be? The safeties are clueless, why not go with 5 or 6 dbs in obvious 3rd and long situations? and Forth, There are I think 2 sacks so far by the DEs in 3 games. What is Hendrix doing? Edwards is a bust. Is Hendrix just another overrated player? Now sum this up and ask yourself, are the players or coaches at fault??
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a few weeks ago, Reed expressed alarm when he saw Roy, Morrisey and Jones-Smith as starters on the initial depth chart. The red flag went up for me when I saw Briggs .. and he is allegedly starting because he knows the defensive keys and coverages.
I hate talking bad about a player who is out there giving a great effort … but we just continue to be overmatched when we play the really good teams.
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Thx for the comment and nice name btw. Jared Jones Smith plays RT. Fatman Officer is the RG.
I suggested they flip the OT’s since O’Neal was great as a RT and JJS played LT sometimes better than Biz a couple years ago. Since these kids are so huge today, they surely go better to the right or left.
O’Neal was clearly better blocking to the right on a DE. And JJS was clearly better moving to the Left on a DE.
So they made 2 positions bad. Even if JJS was not that good anymore, O’Neal would be. So 1 position bad is better than 2. Just sayin 🙂
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Edwards was never overrated. He came in as a lowly rated 2Star from Dean JC. I’ve been backing him for two seasons now. It seems as though he will not be a breakout DE this year after the 1st 3 games.
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Is Wirginis returning… thought I heard Reed mention he was injured in the podcast..
Inexperienced team that is seemingly devoid of on-field upper class leadership… this year will be a challenge with Rice being our Super Bowl…a huge concern is recruiting.. we had some mo after Clemson lost some with the Northwestern loss and crapped to bed the last 2 games.
I always like playing the big boys but finally have come around to Huff’s way of thinking.. schedule a couple of cupcakes- I would suggest Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon… a game of local interest should boost attendance… He’ll if we were ranked on Saturday I bet 45k at the most.
Public interest in Pitt football may have slipped past the threshold of no return. I fear Hans Solo and Luke Skywalker cannot save us now!
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Wirginis is done for the season …. I believe due to an off-the-field injury
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haha, yea but we got beat by the Dukes in bball. So maybe not 🙂
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BarnesKnew.. right on … multiple places to point to… totally outmatched last week.. could have made a game of it vs PSU…
I like OSU vs Clemson in the big game at the end of the year…
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It will likely come down to OSU-Oklahoma in B12. OSU has a good test this week vs TCU who has looked very good so far.
Right now … it appears that Clemson is prohibitive ACC favorite although the game at VT in a few weeks should be pretty interesting.
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Dinucci is not the answer. I like his demeanor and his effort. But if he’s the starter, I’m banking on more TOs by him than TDs.
I agree with someone mentioning above – Briggs seems like a good kid all around…..but he’s gotten torched a number of times this year already.
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BigB, Wirginis not returning and boy could PITT use him. Wiginis suspended the first 3 games but the rumor is, he was injured in a water skying accident. Reed says he may never return but I think he can play in the NFL so I think he will.
We talk about how some players should be moved around and one of them imo is Brightwell. PITT is losing out on his good speed on the outside where it could be used more effectively. Pine or even the Medure kid could play inside just as well as Salem? . . . . ike
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FWIW, Wirginis still has a redshirt year available so can return next year
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I’ll bet a dollar we have seen the last of Wirginis… rs SR year or not. He’s gone.
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Yes wwb and I think he will…
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What Pitt’s defense needs is a steady diet of Big Joke lightweights circa 2009 to 2014.
Joke QB’s and very little WR speed. A list that includes Purdue, Indiana. Minnesota, Illinois, a down cycle Michigan team and a down cycle Pedo State team.
Think I brought this up a couple years ago(before they hired Nard)….but was shot down.
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I challenge anyone to find any QB’s of those teams or WR’s that are in the NFL. Even Pedo State’s all-time leader rusher of that era was cut by the NFL. lol
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In 2014, Pitt played Delaware, BC, FIU, Iowa, Akron, UVa and VT … and went 4-3 and was actually ranked in Top 25 in defense. Of course, not any of the aforementioned was anywhere close to being a Top 40 offense.
They then played GT, Duke and UNC … and surrendered 56, 51 and 40
Like it or not … it’s pretty much about the schedule
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Yep wwb. Like it or not, Nard’s defensive numbers were built on a weak bigjoke schedule.
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would love the Steeler’s opening schedule
1) Browns (equivalent to YSU) … won 21-18 (equivalent to 28-21 over YSU)
2) Minnesota (starting QB goes down in pre-game)
3) Bears (0-2 .. and looking worse than Browns so far)
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MMQB is up…
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Loser — Whatever was happening with Kansas here: Like, is this by design or … ? You’ll be stunned to know the Jayhawks’ road losing streak trudged on to 42 games after a 42-30 loss to Ohio.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-winners-and-losers-from-week-3-clemsons-defense-dominates/
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Defensively:
Two Safeties this week – Paris Ford and Whitehead. Great run support guys. My two CB’s are Campbell or Miller and then a cover CB for their best WR target (Hamlin, Coleman, Jackson). Pick a winner.
LB’s – Pine in the middle. Brightwell, McKee and Campbell/Miller. Look, those kids are long and fast. You need long, fast, disciplined and desired tacklers to play against GT.
DL – Weaver, Wheeler, Hendrix/Camp, Carter . Put in an extra Big DL to penetrate.
DC – Conklin OR Partridge.
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ike– good call on Brightwell. Would be better on the outside.
–This GT game scares me. Now I’m expecting not just another loss, but another embarrassing loss…
GT has a nifty QB — we are setup for another game like the bowl game against Navy. Ugh!
Go Pitt.
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