in Pitt Football 549 Words

Pitt vs Virginia Tech Football Game Thread

Go Pitt! Beat the Hokies…

PITT (4-6, 2-4 ACC) vs. VIRGINIA TECH (7-3, 3-3 ACC)

November 18, 2017 • 12:20 p.m., ET

Lane Stadium (65,632/Natural Grass) • Blacksburg, Va.

ACC Network (WTAE-TV Pittsburgh) • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network

PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB • #PITTvsVT

LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (vs. Virginia Tech)

GAME STORYLINES

Pitt plays its final regular-season road game when it visits Coastal Division foe Virginia Tech on Saturday. The Panthers are coming off a 34-31 setback to North Carolina, while the Hokies fell at Georgia Tech, 28-22.

Pitt has won six of the past eight meetings with Virginia Tech. However, the Hokies prevailed in last season’s high-scoring encounter at Heinz Field, 39-36.

Historically, the Panthers have not fared well on the road in this series. The Panthers are just 2-5 all-time in games played in Blacksburg. That mark includes a 17-13 Pitt victory in Lane Stadium in 2015, Pat Narduzzi’s initial season as the Panthers’ head coach.

The last three games in the series have been decided by a combined 12 points, an average margin of 4.0 points per game. The largest victory margin in that span is five points, achieved by Pitt in a 21-16 victory in 2014.

Junior tailback Darrin Hall has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of Pitt’s past three contests. Hall is averaging 162 yards over this span, totaling 486 yards and eight touchdowns on 72 carries (6.75 avg.).

Darrin Hall is coming off a 121-yard, four-touchdown effort against North Carolina. Hall previously had 254 yards at Duke and 111 against Virginia. He will be challenged by a Hokies defense that ranks second in the ACC and 15th nationally, yielding just 310.6 total yards per game (136.6 on the ground).

This week’s game features two of the ACC’s most dangerous punt returners in Pitt’s Quadree Henderson and Virginia Tech’s Greg Stroman. The players are tied for the ACC lead and rank second nationally with two punt return touchdowns each.

The Panthers have six players on their 2017 roster who hail from the state of Virginia.

SERIES NOTES

This marks the 17th meeting between Pitt and Virginia Tech in a series that dates back to 1993…Virginia Tech leads the overall series, 9-7, but the Panthers have won six of the past eight meetings…Pitt is 5-4 at home and 2-5 on the road against Virginia Tech…the Panthers are 4-1 all-time against the Hokies at Heinz Field, the lone loss a 39-36 decision in 2016…in its last trip to Blacksburg during the 2015 season, Pitt triumphed, 17-13…Pitt and Virginia Tech meet annually as Coastal Division members and the ACC series is tied, 2-2…the initial 11 games of the series were played when both schools were members of the Big East…the Panthers lost the initial four meetings before earning their first victory in 1997, a 30-23 decision at Pitt Stadium…five of Pitt’s wins have come against nationally ranked Virginia Tech squads (No. 13 in 2012, No. 5 in 2003, No. 3 in 2002, No. 12/13 in 2001 and No. 19/20 in 1997)…one of the most memorable games occurred in 2003 when a late touchdown by fullback Lousaka Polite lifted Pitt past the Hokies, 31-28, in an ESPN primetime battle of Top 25 teams at Heinz.

BROADCAST INFORMATION  

Television • ACC Network (WTAE-TV, Ch. 4, in Pittsburgh)

Brock Bowling, play-by-play

Renaldo Wynn, analyst

Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network

Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play

Pat Bostick, analyst

Larry Richert, reporter

622 thoughts on “Pitt vs Virginia Tech Football Game Thread”

  3. I’ll still comment but any articles that go up other than gameday articles have to come from readers – tired of doing all the heavy work on here.

    So might as well get game predictions in also:

    VT 48 – Pitt 21

    I think we get the crap knocked out of us.

    Like

  4. Pitt has been left for dead after the Thursday night debacle against UNC. I’ll take Pitt +15.5 points, because Pitt has a way of bouncing back after hitting rock bottom. I say the defense plays well and Pitt loses a spirited 27-20 game. The following week, take the ‘Canes.

    Like

  5. Reed – I will try to stay positive (until 5 minutes after the game starts of course) and say we lose but not that badly. VT- 33 Pitt 27.

    Putting aside recruiting for a minute, would like folks view on Whitehead. No doubt a freak athlete and highly recruited by everyone. A great get. But, is it me or has he made very little to no progress as a player under Conklin and Narduzzi since his freshman year? Still our best, but not a lot of progression or as much impact this year.

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  8. Agree Reed, so that calls in to question to “coach up” supposed 3 stars. Some of it is on the kid but he doesn’t stand out on the field anymore. Now, I’m hoping this comment leads to 2 interceptions and a touchdown out of the backfield for him tomorrow.

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  11. 4 names.

    Bud Foster > Pat Narduzzi and Conklin

    Fuente > Watson

    Lost 2 in row

    At home.

    Playing for something

    Pitt playing for nothing

    VT 48 – Pitt 20

    Like

  12. VT just lost 2 games in a row and are pissed…….Pitt, not so much….

    Pitt does play well against VT though and the game isn’t on national TV. So I think they will cover but lost by 13.

    VT – 37
    Pitt – 24

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  16. VT is a better team …

    Last year’s National Championship caliber O (at least for the 2nd half of the season when NP was turned loose) kept it close while the Gobbler O played alley-oop pitch and catch all night long… had to be the most frustrating PITT game I saw watched last year… our short DBs vs their tall receivers… not much has changed with our D… no real pressure from the front
    7 and still with a porous pass D… hope VT O has been practicing the ole screen pass …we looked like we never heard yet alone seen a screen…

    Gobblers are ready.. they are playing for a better bowl…since we will share equally in the bowl ACC payout- well that’s what the BoT likes about the situation… we are Welfare U…..

    Like

  19. btw B, enjoyed talking with the great Jeanie B at the tailgate. Hope to see all the UNC fans in Chapel Hill next year. . . . ike

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  20. Pitt gets a participation trophy the year….that’s what you get when you are not in it to win it….
    Lots of ball players on here… QUESTION.. Any of you ever try out for 2nd or 3rd string…

    BoT … you want PITT to be the best..ITs ALL INCLUSIVE…. you have let the fans, alumni, and the local are down by your gross negligent mismanagement of our 2 major sports…..

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  22. Ike.. just told her … she said she enjoyed meeting you… we been together since we were 16… cute little high school cheerleader and me the FB player( she was the better athlete who averaged over 30ppg while playing for her nursing school)… girls didn’t have sports st Apollo HS – either became a cheerleader or majorette…I missed out on the twirlers

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    1. Big B, Greensburg Salem didn’t have many sports for girls during my time until my sophomore year. I played volleyball for 2 yrs, then switched to my true sport, softball, for my senior year. I too, was a cheerleader (for 5 years!) The basketball coach wanted me to play for her my senior year, so I wasn’t going to try out for cheerleading that year. My dad told me that if didn’t cheer I would not be allowed to attend ANY sporting events my senior year. He thought cheerleading was the highest honor a girl could attain in high school (his exact words). Ugh, how things have changed.

      Like

  24. Tired of predicting so will just sit back and watch the recording of the game later as grand kids want to go to the Maryland Christmas show in Frederick.

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  26. It’s VaTech Senior Day tomorrow and a senior LB Motuapuaka was permitted to wear no. 25 representing his tackles for loss. Bud Foster said he’s never seen his D this fired up. Bad news for the visitors.
    Hookies 48
    Good guys 9

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  27. If Narduzzi’s really lost this team, we get blown out both of last 2 games. If he hasn’t, we lose a low scoring battle tomorrow 24 to 21.

    Miami will be 48 to 7 even if Pitt is clicking on all cylinders.

    Like

  29. Whoa. Missed the fun here the last 24 hours. Totally understand Reed’s frustration.

    Anyway, I think that Pitt put up an OK fight tomorrow, but will settle for field goals when TDs are needed.

    VT 35-22

    Like

  30. To change the topic, here is an article from ESPN on donations to athletic departments for the right to buy season tickets. The recently passed house tax bill will eliminate the deduction of these “charitable” donations. (I am not taking a stance of the rightness/wrongness of this tax bill.)

    http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/21437392/college-administrators-worry-funding-new-tax-plan

    The article has some mind blowing numbers in it. LSU receives between $50M & $65M in seat related donations. Duke & NC State also has some big #’s.

    If the $65M is correct, that’s only $9M less in PITT’s total revenue for the last reported revenue year.

    (Disclaimer – My wife & I made a $1,600 donation to the Gamecock Club for the right to buy 5 season tickets. We then paid $1,500 in seat donations to the athletic department. Seats are 18 yard line, 20 rows up. lower level, 18″bleacher seat (for a 24″ butt), no alcohol.)

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  31. Ike and I make nice and then.. he picks Pitt to win tomorrow!

    Are you baiting me, kind sir? Well, I’m not taking the bait.

    And I’m not taking the Panthers either.. VT 34 Pitt 13

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  33. Reed, I needed a break from this and I’m hoping that’s all you need too. Anyway I appreciate you giving us all a spot to vent our frustrations, sometimes joy and camaraderie that you and the PoV have supplied us with !

    Everything can become stale, over time. Please take a break, re-energize, recharge the batteries and you’ll be ‘good as new’.

    Sincerely, your friend,
    Emel

    Like

  34. I’d like to think that we have a chance in this one since we always play VT tough for some reason. Then again, I’d like to think I’m going to hit the power ball.

    How do you beat a better team when you have a totally one-dimensional offense and a below average defense at best. Answer – you don’t.

    Us – 20
    Them – 34

    Hoping I’m wrong. Playing the lottery this week.

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  35. Reed – your work for the homeless and Veterans is so commendable. You have a big heart.

    It’s tough being a Pitt athletics fan, let alone running a Pitt athletics blog….

    My guess for this maddening team:
    VT. 34
    PITT 16

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  37. I’ve got the Panthers going down tomorrow 37-16 to the Hokies. It really is a shame that the Panthers dismal situation has us all so surly. This is just a great blog and group of people . Let’s not lose this good thing we got!

    Like

  38. BTW, Vukovan at PSN is reporting a major news story regarding Pitt FB may be breaking soon…..anyone have any info on what it may be?

    Like

  39. Would love to be positive, but this team has taken the hope in me and stomped on it. Anemic Pitt offense still does not get an infusion of power, while Hokies have something to play for and rebound from last week’s loss. VT 35- Pitt 10. VT clears their bench in 4th quarter and all their scrubs get PT. Pitt’s recent dominance of VT (sans last year) is over.

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  41. Reed, I totally understand your decision. What you do with the vets is so much more important than this. Just remember that you built an on-line family- the POV family. Hopefully you will find a way to come back to us. Thank for all you’ve done.

    Like

  42. Well said Annie. It has become family to me since I have met many of you personally. Hopefully we keep it close while emotions are high for VT senior day… But my head says we lose 24-10. Hope very much I’m wrong.

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  43. Yeah, our defense is better this year, but our offense is a lot worse. DiNucci is not a starting D1 QB and more importantly doesn’t have enough ability to suggest much upside (no offense personally to the young man, he’s obviously a tough kid and a good athlete), therefore without a change in QB to charge this Pitt team up and start looking to the future, I see us losing by about 13 points. 30-17?

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  44. Here is a good article looking at the game from the opposing sides POV…

    http://www.roanoke.com/hokies/sports/football/breaking-down-the-virginia-tech-pittsburgh-matchup/article_a1885c50-cb9c-11e7-9a2b-33aca9c833a0.html

    Even though VT’s QB is an average passer this is still the key in any game Pitt platys

    Virginia Tech’s receivers vs. Pitt’s defensive backs:

    Pitt basically dared the Hokies’ receivers to win the game last year, putting its corners in press coverage and hoping the officials would let them play down the field. Well, the refs did, and it was to Tech’s advantage. Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips toasted the Panthers to the tune of 22 catches, 397 yards and a touchdown, with all three going over the 100-yard mark. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi did not take it very well. Well, two of those three receivers are gone, and the one that remains isn’t quite as strong of a 50-50 play-maker.

    The Hokies’ young receivers have had trouble getting off press coverage and creating separation, especially lately. Eric Kumah had some success against Georgia Tech, but this isn’t a receiving corps that’s going to make a ton of those plays. As such, you can probably expect Pitt to reprise a good portion of its game plan from last year, selling out to stop the run, pressing the receivers and forcing the Hokies to make plays down the field. Would that be a great strategy? That’s debatable. Pitt’s allowed 43 pass plays of longer than 20 yards this year, 24 longer than 30 and 12 longer than 40, all worst in the ACC.

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  45. Huh, I just noticed something about Pittsburgh Sports Now (PSN) blog site.

    It looks like they have 14 subscribers by email to get their articles when they’re posted… as opposed to the 648 that are subscribed to the POV. Look at the box on the right side of the linked page.

    http://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/11/16/pitt-ready-virginia-tech-saturday

    That 648 of the POV subscribers doesn’t count the thousands that automatically get the POV posts through Facebook and Google+.

    Like

  46. ∆∆∆ Also on that same PSN website notice what Duquesne is doing for their sports fans. They’re offering a double header for $25 you get a ticket to a basketball game and a ticket to a football game. Now if I’m not mistaken that would be something Pitt could do easily.

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  47. This scares me when we have a QB like DiNucci under center… VT has an excellent defense.

    Team Stats – Through games 11/17/2017

    Stat. Rank Value

    Total Offense 53 412.9
    Rushing Offense 64 164.7
    Passing Offense 50 248.2
    Team Passing Eff 35 143.23
    Scoring Offense 46 31.5
    Total Defense 15 310.6
    Rushing Defense 33 135.7
    Passing Yards Allowed 14 174.9
    Team Passing Eff Defense 12 108.31
    Scoring Defense 6 14.8
    Turnover Margin T-22 0.60

    I think we need to have RB Darrin Hall break another two monster runs to keep us in this game…

    Like

  48. Now look at Pitt’s rankings…

    Team Stats – Through games 11/17/2017

    Stat Rank Value

    Total Offense 98 368.3
    Rushing Offense 73 157.5
    Passing Offense 80 210.8
    Team Passing Eff 78 126.92
    Scoring Offense 91 24.9
    Total Defense 87 415.2
    Rushing Defense 48 150.7
    Passing Yards Allowed 111 264.5
    Team Passing Eff Defense 106 144.49
    Scoring Defense 77 28.5
    Turnover Margin T-51 0.20

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  49. Hey Reed, just one point of contention, you mentioned that we all wanted you to continue your massive effort churning out POV articles…honestly, I think to a man(and maybe a woman), when you first mentioned backing off here, everyone that had a comment actually supported your position even though no one wanted the POV to end. Your explanation of how much time you spend doing it really was eye opening for me.

    What you created here is great, what you are committed to do more of is great and maybe greater, do what you know is best for you. Obviously, when YOU do something, you do it with the utmost commitment and never half-a$$ed. I am sure it has served you well in life, here in the blogosphere, not so much. For me, I could stand to spend less time here but your content AND the commenters has gotten me addicted. Balance what is best for you, I’ll try to take the same advice.

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  52. I think Pickett will see playing time today and I hope it is more than just one series. I say if we give DiNucci a full 1st quarter and he’s struggling and we are losing then do switch horses in the middle of the stream.

    Liked by 2 people

  53. Hmmmm, someone “built a wall” in recruiting…

    https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/11/08/wisconsin-badgers-recruiting-paul-chryst

    I wish Pitt could developed a really strong walk-on program, you know there are more kids like George Aston in WPA.

    “Haering says the program’s commitment to walk-ons necessitates two recruiting cycles: one in which he and the rest of the staff pitch kids with multiple offers, then another, later, when they push for less developed talent. Coaches aren’t neglecting coveted players—of the 16 four- and five-star recruits raised in Wisconsin over the last decade, 13 enrolled at Madison—but it’s no surprise then that under-recruited players in the state are willing to forgo better opportunities at lesser football programs for a shot at the Badgers    .”

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  54. There are very few addictions I have in this life and reading the POV is clearly one of the few. I love reading it. Reed’s analytics have been amazing and I can only guess at the amount of time and effort that he has invested in making this site a success. I understand that “one has to do, what one has to do” so I fully support him as he goes in another direction.

    Thanks you Reed for all that you have done here. And best wishes as you pursue your noble passions.

    Like

  55. Apparently I can’t stop commenting.

    Still very serious about the offer to post reader’s articles. Don’t be shy…just sit down and start typing. Actually a lot of comments on here could easily have been turned into great articles.

    Anyone who comments on here can do it. My email is on the front page.

    Liked by 1 person

  56. Reed:
    You have created a great community. If we can find a way to just periodically update a brief post to start a new comment thread the POV should be able to continue.
    The amount of work and effort you put in was beyond what should be expected from anyone. I hope we can continue going forward.
    N.B No way we make 4th and 19

    Like

  60. VT’s two straight losses have taken the wind out of Hokie fans’ sails down here in central Virginia. There is concern about the effectiveness of the offense as well. A number of friends who normally make the 3hr drive to Blacksburg are foregoing it today. Should be interesting to see the turnout at Lane, although a light turnout there would be a great crowd at Heinz.

    I’m going against the wisdom of The Oracle of Jumonville (UPitt) and am taking the points, but expecting to lose by 11, 21-10.

    My Pickett prediction – he Greta in the game, but has a poor outing against a strong Hokie defense.

    Hope I’m wrong on both counts.

    Like

  61. Well, I would like to see Pitt do some crazy things today—throw every trick play you have in the book at them. Try a surprise onside kick, fake punt, etc. Do whatever it takes to hang around and oh by the way PLAY PICKETT!!!!! If the majority of those things happen you never know.
    Pitt 24
    VT 16
    As Michael Keaton said in Batman, “you wanna get nuts? Come on let’s get nuts!!”

    Like

  63. We lost the UNC game because our lines did not hold up in the fourth quarter.

    It will be interesting to see how they do vs significantly better lines today.

    Will the D line apply pressure and will the O-line protect our QB?

    We also need more big plays from our skill guys on both sides of the ball.

    VT usually wins the special teams battles, but the Guru is gone.

    If Narduzzi wants to shock the world, start Pickett and see how he does, or bring him in when we have good field position. My gut says we may not see him at all. We did have extra practice time this week, so hopefully we see him.

    Does the weather suck like Pittsburgh? I like our chances in the mud.

    Like

    1. If the O-line couldn’t hold up versus Carolina then coach Peterson should be the first assistant fired at the end of the season. No excuse for that against a depleted opponent.

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  65. This game could be a blowout or Pitt could keep it close…ultimately our ‘Defensive Guru’/Conklin defense letting us down once again late in the game.

    I don’t comment on here very often, but read it all the time. I guess I am addicted too. Thanks Reed for all the great articles. Your decision to take a break is similar to my position with Pitt Football…enough is enough & there are better things to do in life. However, my take on Pitt football is like a horrible car accident…you don’t want to look as you are driving by, but you just have too!

    Reed…Happy belated Veterans Day! Thank you for your service. With giving us readers a little insight on your personal life & all the volunteering you do, this world needs more people like you in it.

    Liked by 1 person

  66. First,
    – Reed, your POV is AWESOME! Thank you!
    – our #18 Pitt wrestlers escaped my son’s former team mates 21-18 in last nights dual meet. Knowing the rich history of Cal State Bakersfield’s wrestling program I am not surprised.
    – How enjoyable was it to watch the Steelers play GOOD football last Thursday night. Seems like an eternity since we’ve seen Pitt playing good football!
    Pittman4ever Predicts:
    PITT: 12
    Vir T: 33
    Duzz keeps DiNooch in no matter what (except for maybe a few plays when it doesn’t matter).

    Like

  68. Pitt will either lose or win. I do not expect a tie. Okay, Pitt wins because I can never pick against us. We get 26, they get 24. Kessman is the star of the game after he gets one blocked.

    Kirby Pickett leads us to victory. Wanna beat VT, run, run and run some more. VT knows they are susceptible to the power run game and stack the box. BD can’t handle this and in comes Kirby. We go 4 wide, open up the box and run the snot out of the ball. Trenches win game!

    Ohhh sorry guys, just woke up. Was typing in my sleep. I’ll stick with coma induced prediction.

    Hmmmm, major FB announcement, Pitt FB upgrades busses for travel to away games. Heather Lyke quoted as saying “traveling to Duke by bus and to Miami by bus will promote team unity and is something noone else does”. Kind of like our decision to play games in a 200k stadium with 30k avergae attendance. We are trend setters. Cutting edge thought processes. Good grief! Seriously, perhaps Charlie Partridge news!

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  69. Austin and Reed – hasn’t “we looked tired” in the 4th quarter been a theme much of the year? I think it’s clear the O-line has not progressed under Peterson’s care (And Brian has regressed unfortunately) but somethings’s up with the S&C coach as well.

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  71. Half hour to game time and I feel like I do when I am about to walk into the dentist office for a root canal. I need that root canal but do I need to continue to endure Pitt sub-mediocrity? If the answer is “no” and I act on that answer does that mean I am a less actualized human being?

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  76. So…poor tackling continues, and on the TD run the slot receiver’s toe was at the same yard line as the front of the football. Isn’t that illegal?

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  77. Goalie just stole my post….what a mess the Pitt D is! Guys running into each other, out of position, poor tackling …just what it’s been all year. Disgraceful. Do like 5he Unis

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  78. Let me just get this out of my system so I can watch the game:
    This team cannot tackle
    This team does not hit hard – ever- so nobody goes backwards
    As always, no push or pressure from the DLine
    AND..wide open receivers all over the place

    Why would VT play a freshman QB. he couldn’t possibly be ready, can’t be mature enough, hasn’t learned to see the field and will obviously get hurt. Their coach must be crazy and needs to talk to Duzz for advice!!

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  88. Dinucci to Ffrench where he stayed in the pocket—could that be Ben’s best pass play of the year? And it looks like it gave him some confidence….hopefully this continues

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  92. Yeah for those that can’t see it, it’s on watch ESPN. I put it on air play to my Apple TV and voila! Pitt on the Big Screen!

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  105. Nothing wrong with this Pitt defense so far. Hard to believe same players who played against N.C. Now let’s see if our HC has the balls and intelligence to put in Pickett because we know if Dinucci stays in SW is going to take away from him any longer passes which will affect the rest of the offense.

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  115. Pitts’ biggest immediate problem is that our OC is not very smart. Our longer range problem is our HC wants his not smart friend to continue to be the OC.

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  116. Now STICK WITH PICKETT. May have been a 3 and out but he looked better in pocket. That last pass to Stone Hands was a good choice and solid throw. I never see stone hands elevate over a defender to get a ball. He is marginal at best. Throw at Lopes and Ffrench all day long.

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  126. I don’t care if we lose this game. Pickett is a much better QB and someone a team can be built around. Don’t need to see DiNucci again.

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  128. I realize Pickett has 2 4 and outs, but he clearly passes the “eye test” so much over the Nooch you have to be blind not see it.
    Unfortunately there are a lot of blind guys around!

    Liked by 1 person

  140. Everybody in the county knew Whitehead was getting the ball! Someone take Watson out back and …….

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  141. So how many wide rights have there been this year? I think I know what will be practiced over the spring and summer.

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  142. You can just see Pickett is more composed, smarter, faster and throws a much better ball. All around better. Dinucci brings NOTHING Pickett lacks.

    Liked by 1 person

  144. Narduzzi and Chryst are now linked. Narduzzi on the left hash and Chryst on the right. You dimply can’t expect P5 kickers to make those.

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  152. I started this off-season by saying the kicking position was going to kill us…and here we are. Kessman is AWFUL. Nard better find a transfer KICKER!

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  154. That missed kick was a game changer. Mark my words. Should have gone for it – coach telling offense I believe in you. Instead we have a shaky K miss a chip shot.

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  159. Not defending the missed kick…and not excusing the terrible 3rd down play call that preceded the missed kick…either throw the ball past the first down marker (or heaven forbid the end zone) or run it right at them…at worst you are 4th and 2 right in the middle of the field

    Liked by 2 people

  160. I’ll say it. PITT has played a good first half. Missed field goal is big..

    We are now officially on KP duty.

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  161. First half QB observations:
    1. Pickett looks like the “Rifleman” as he throws bullets!
    2. Nooch looks like he’s the captain of “The Good Ship Lollie Pop” with his lollipop throws.
    3. The talent level and potential is SO OBVIOUS what the heck are Duzz and Watson smoking????

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  164. We don’t have our first play already called?

    Also – someone way up said the O line is playing well. Absolutely not. Nowhere to run and the QBs have to scramble for their lives. They are getting pushed all over the place.

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  165. Reed and I have been telling you since the spring that Pickett is the best QB on the roster. And Reed’s QB analysis has been spot on for years.

    Weah should sit. Reminds me of Jamel Artis. Plays hard when he feels like it.

    It’s amazing that we’re only down 3. No pressure (again) from the d line, and poor tackling (as always).

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    1. Early on, Nooch and Pickett each had multiple opportunities (mainly on early downs) to sit in the pocket. But, as the game has gone on and we’ve generated NO running game, VT is pinning their ears back on obvious passing downs. Play calling is affecting pass protection.. IMO

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  173. And he’ll be back because there is no accountability.

    Haven’t heard from UPitt. Mark are you at Kohl’s with Heather picking out a new yellow blouse for next weekend’s game?

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  175. Is the Big 10 still looking to expand? Every time I flip over to Wisconsin vs Michigan we look better equipped to play them than VT/MIA/Clem etc

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  178. The O Line is horrible. They are going to get Pickett killed. If we can’t run the ball, Pickett will be a sitting duck back there.

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  183. I’ve heard the color guy say heart of a lion regarding about 10 different players. Does he have another line?!

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  185. Just think how good Pickett would be now if he replaced Browne after his injury. That’s on the coaches!

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  199. Dear Santa:

    Please bring me for Christmas, anyone, I mean ANYONE, who can tackle.

    If such a player is not available, I’ll take a coach who can teach his players how to tackle.

                      Sincerely,

                  Missing Wlat

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  213. Read every comment and maybe one or two compliments to a PITT football team and a game well played. … so far

    7-10 to a team that was ranked near the top 10 this year…. at their house sound familiar?

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  219. Wow. Can the special teams coach call the O for the rest of the game?

    Ike you’re right. Amazing we are only down by 3

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  226. There is the anti-Narduzzi play offered as an early Christmas gift for Reed. That certainly was outside the box.

    Like

  242. ok, well a 14 and out…….good grief! Nice stop at the end.

    Like Pine, Reynolds, Campbell on the defense. I think Zeise might be hurt

    Like

  243. Wow,, VT’s kicker just made a 27 yard field goal from the left hash. Fuente is an inept coach whose kicker bailed him out.

    Like

  252. Am I the only one who saw VT #6 throw a punch to Morrisey’s facemask after he made the tackle on that pick? Open hand but big enough shot that it should’ve been a 15 yd. penalty. Those with DVR, go back and watch. Southern Fried officiating.

    Like

  256. What was Whitehead doing there? It looked like he was supposed to be the help for Maddox and did nothing at all. That ball was in the air a long time.

    Like

  260. Let’s go Pitt! Let’s go Pitt! Let’s go Pitt..

    ..so you’re saying there’s a chance?!

    JoeKnew.

    Grab the headset and start calling plays!

    Like

  272. BURN A TIMOUT AND PUNT???? Just take the 5 yd penalty.

    Anybody remember Walt Harris doing that all the time?

    Stupid.

    Like

  321. Honestly dumbfounded. Can’t run all day and 3 of 4 plays are runs..

    Man, it really hurts being a Pitt fan.

    Like

  322. Wow….I guess there was no time, but any run to the outside would have been better. A Pickett keep, even.

    Like

  325. Man Narduzzi really is stubborn. You have been owned all day on the ground. and you run 3 of the 4 plays at the goal line.

    I would say SOP…but SOP usually beats VT historically.

    Kinda a new twist by coach Nard Dog and OC Watson.

    DaveD

    Like

    1. The 4th down play was truly sub-moronic…sickening that we have to put up with complete idiots at the coaching position year after year.

      Like

  326. Dumbest play calling I ever saw. I knew Hall couldn’t score if they gave it to him 40 times. This O-line absolutely stinks. Weah could have scored if he wasn’t looking behind himself during that run.

    Like

  327. If you can’t gain 2 yards on 4 plays, that isn’t play calling. It’s bad trench play, period. And Weah effort at the end of his nice catch and run!

    Like

  328. Driving on 95 outside West Palm Beach, looking at ESPN website for updates. So 75 yard pass to the 1 yard line. First and goal. Next I look second goal. Third and goal. With four seconds left. Honestly somebody in the middle of Walmart at four in the morning looking for funyons could coach better than our doozy and Watson. I was just ready to post congrats Panthers on win. SOP. What a bum Narduzzi is. Keep hiring unemployed buddies

    Like

  329. I’m going to listen to the North Allegheny girls volleyball game for the State Championship at 5:00. Hope THEY have better a better day. Pitt did better than I expected though. Keep Kenny Pickett. Quit using Weah as #1 receiver. He did have a good catch, but was that his only catch of the day?

    Like

  330. I don’t think we had a single inside run that worked the entire day. NOT. ONE. Their d line was better than our o line. Unbelievable.

    Like

  331. I don’t know crap about calling plays…but I could have called better plays than the guy making $1 million a year to do so.

    Plus Im with everyone else. How the crap does a 100m champion or whatever he was get caught from behind when he had a 10-yard headstart for only 60 yards

    Like

    1. That’s what I wanted too. Run it twice if you need to then call the TO and pass twice. Watson is a complete idiot.

      Like

  333. I’m already pissed beyond words but if I find out Pitt brought the wrong spikes I’ll be furious. And…have we completely forgotten our tight ends??? Watson is Bush league at best. Narduzzi not far behind.

    Good effort by Pitt. Weah w a 4.9 40, we found our QB!

    Like

  334. Oy Vey………
    Just stick needles in my eyes!!!!
    Watson creativity =
    Amish farmer

    WARNING:
    Watching this team is hazardous to your health!!!!

    Like

    1. Laugh out loud Amish farmer.

      Only Nardozzi could lose that game. Out of all the Division I coaches nor doozies the only one that can lose that game. And he’ll keep losing that game and the games next year and the year after because at the end of the day he’s a bush league defensive coordinator

      Like

  335. Pickett played “OK” today. He’s definitely got to play the rest of the season but the DEFENSE and special teams “led us to the dance” today not Pickett.

    However, I agree he should’ve had the ball in his hands.

    Like

  336. I really am trying not to be hyper critical…but they really could of used that 2nd time out that was burned after deciding not to go on 4th and 9.

    I guess it was irrelevant in the end the lack of any creativity in the RZ probably would have been different even with another timeout.

    DaveD

    Like

      1. Jackagain,

        Yes but typically SOP beat VT. This one has that Narduzzi Spring freshness to it (and by “Spring Freshness” I mean the smell you get driving around farm country around that time of year.).

        DaveD

        Like

  337. Tomlin would say no situational awareness by Watson.

    The line gave solid protection down the stretch but couldn’t run block all day.

    What was Watson thinking?

    Like

  338. Gentlemen (and Annie):

    I generally do not overreact and call for people’s jobs. What I just watched made Mike Tomlin look like a time management genius.

    To barely get 4 plays off from the 1 yard line, WITH a time out in your pocket??? The only play to run on second down was a pass or run pass option. How is it possible that we get to third down with only 13 seconds left.

    And absolute embarrassment.

    Watson needs to go. IMMEDIATELY!!!

    Like

  339. C’mon.. Weah turns a 15 yd completion into a 73 yarder and people complain he didn’t run fast enough? (Maybe trucking #6 slowed him down.)

    Even UPitt and I aren’t THAT negative.

    Like

    1. Yeah, I’m complaining because it’s his job to break tackles and not his job to look back 3 times (count them if you think I’m exaggerating).

      Like

    1. He caught lightning in a bottle once in his effing career Ike and Matt Canada. The other unemployed bums is he have hired suck. We couldn’t even keep count of the year.

      Only you defend Nardozzi and watch them after the ball in the goal line with a minute left in a time out. I swear you drink beer but your Piss is the color of a rainbow.

      Like

  341. BTW, blatant interference on the 3rd down play. He was face guarding and tackled our guy. Pitt receivers need to complain more. They were holding receivers all day with zero calls. They held on the play before Weah’s big play too.

    Like

  344. They lost and that sucks. BUT no one can say that Duzz lost the team or that they don’t have heart. They played their tails off and I’m proud of them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree, but the coaches let them down. I’m not at all proud of the O-line though. They played like crap all day.

      Like

  345. I picked pitt 26-24…..dagnabbit! Don’t we have a MOOSE package? We got owned on the OL. 1 1/2 yards! Seriously!

    Like

  347. OMG.. I said in a prior thread that PN needs to hire a strategic thinker and keep him by his side the entire game. Remind him if a field goal try is likely to get the ball centered. Remind him how to TO’s… And most importantly, remind him what is NOT working…. It doesn’t take deep dive analytics to see the running game is nowhere or that Weah’s hands are not reliable or that time management is an issue.. PN needs the help and the payoff for him (and the fans) would be enormous…

    Still, I can’t complain.. Thought he would be too stubborn to play Pickett and I was wrong. And Pickett seems like the real deal – playing on a hostile field against a top defense… He rose to the moment.. Imagine what same additional game reps will do for him.. Also give him some “hands” receivers when we absolutely need a play…

    Like

    1. Imagine he probably wins this game if he had been playing since the USC quarterback went down. But no no doozy stubborn.

      Pickett can basically be Dan Marino and it won’t matter as long as Nardozzi and Watson or coaching him

      Like

    2. Pitt Engineer….

      And there lies the rub….more reps for Pickett means more ability to execute higher complexity schemes. Familiarity with executing plays not just understanding the playbook.

      This could’ve been one of those moments we get to see out of bad seasons…a glimmer of hope. I don’t think this team will get that chance against Miami. Especially given how they played today.

      A wasted opportunity IMO….one that may have been created by the stubbornness not to play this QB earlier in the year.

      DaveD

      Like

  348. You had to run a roll out on second down, with option.

    Run pass, pitch or throw it away. Then no urgency on third down.

    Really, really stupid playcalling.

    Like

  349. gc,

    It was a great game. And the coaches owed the kids a better goal line package because they played their hearts out.

    I agree you got 2nd and goal at the 1 and Darren Hall sees it two more times? you need to try a sneak if you want to run.

    I know the VT was getting penetration on the run…perhaps a fake Jet Sweep and a picket run.

    Something/Anything…but what they schemed up was crap.

    DaveD

    btw this is typical man up coaching that I hate. We do what we do…we will make respect our authorit-ae!

    Hate that…

    Like

  351. I loved watching Pickett play today. He’s confident & not afraid to throw it in there….shades of Marino.
    Can’t believe Weah couldn’t score on the pass play. Couldn’t believe the formation on the last play, tipped off everyone it was a run…..couldn’t run inside all day???

    Like

  353. 15/22 for 243 yards is just OK?

    Pickett outplayed anything Ben dinucci could possibly do out there. He’s Head and Shoulders above any other quarterback we have on this team and that first time he ever really played a game and almost wins it for us and you all you can say is he was okay

    Like

    1. Without Weah turning that 15 yarder into a 73 yarder he has 170 yds 0 TD 1 INT and led ONE scoring drive. If we don’t run a trick play and miss a FG, he would have led us to 2 FG drives. That’s better than OK? Not in my book.

      I LOVED his effort and he is definitely the best QB on the roster. He may one day be great. Today? I think he played OK.

      Like

    2. I agree no comparison between Dinucci and Picket. Arm strength, poise, accuracy. Also, did you notice on the very first pass attempt that Weah stopped the route? Would have been a perfectly thrown ball.

      Like

  355. This game is 100% on the coaches.

    Not Weah. Not the O-line. Certainly not the defense.

    Play calling and game management stole this game from a group of kids playing their hearts out.

    Narduzzi is in his third year as a HC and Watson has been coaching for decades. Can we stop making excuses for them?

    Like

    1. The O-line couldn’t run or pass block all day. Pickett was running out of the pocket all day and Hall was stuffed like Thursday’s turkey.

      Like

  356. I have soooooo many thoughts. Will wait at least a day to post, but everyone, and I mean everyone should have seen the good and the bad on this one, pretty much a season in a game.

    Like

  357. Game is on Weah. Period. He slowed up and then got caught. He was sure he was going to score.
    While I agree the play calling was suspect at the end, there is still no excuse for an o line to be that weak that they can’t get enough push for 1 yd.

    Like

  358. All of a sudden Upitt is available for comment. How ironic.

    Great play calling for PITT first 59:30, kept them in the game. Didn’t like the goal line play calling like the rest of you. I just tend to give credit where it is due.

    Can we look at the predictions page again?

    Mark didn’t I say I would take that bet with the pts?

    Really serious unhappy campers on the POV. The entire PITT football team played a great game down at Blacksburg Va today. <<<< I give the coaches and players great credit and i don’t find that hard to do!

    Annie. Didn’t know you went to school at GSHS? Class of 73?

    Good game PITT, should have cashed in there at the end… bummer.

    Like this team moving forward…. ike

    Like

    1. Yes Ike I just got in service I was in the middle of Lake Okeechobee you dolt. There is zero cell service there. I’d be more concerned with your $2 million coach they can’t put the ball in with a minute left from the 1 yard line.

      Like

  359. Pitt should have won this one and last one. Pickett threw some nice balls. He was our best player in fourth quarter. Got to let him win game at the end of game. Imagine how different if we throw a TD on fourth down. Glad we have two young QBs with experience heading I to next year. Whitehead was hitting some guys big time. Defense looked good. Young and coming on. Look forward to a stronger team next year.

    H2P

    Like

  360. Here’s what I hope. That PN has been hearing his feedback and goes out for the press conference and says “the kids and especially KP put us in position to win the game. And the coaches let them down and it won’t happen again…” If he said that, my respect for the man would increase ten times over. First, its true. Second, it acknowledges that the players worked their butts off and should be praised. Third, it would say that maybe he can learn a new trick or two.. In any case, give him kudos for proving me wrong and playing Pickett….. And Hail to Pitt….

    Like

  362. Should we start to identify some of the PSU trolls who are causing trouble on this blog? Guys pretending to be Pitt fans.

    Like

    1. How about you post here more than once in your life before you start throwing around mud Dr. faith. Keep enabling Nardozzi.

      Like

  363. We saw today what Pickett can do. Why couldn’t SW see that last week or the week before or the week before? What did SW see behind the scenes that made him think that BD should be the starter. I’ll tell you what: NOTHING or at least nothing that merited the conclusion that BD should start. Pitt Nation, we have a problem and it can’t be fixed without SW being fired. You can’t make someone who isn’t smart, smart. When they say “it’s baked in the cake” that’s what they mean.

    Like

  365. Jay you are right. 100% on the coaches. Since Watson was guaranteed his job back no matter what and the recruiting has been below the line and our best players (Jordan, Brian, Henderson) have gotten worse under the teaching of these coaches, why on earth does the “wait til Duzz’s 4th or 5th year” crowd think this will get better?

    Like

    1. Ike wants to give Nardozzi till 2035.

      He has shown countless times on the national stage he’s not a head coach. You don’t become a head coach just threw a bunch of experience. If that was the case janitors would be CEOs.

      Like

  366. Reed @ 3:52 pm
    + 100
    Pickett is the FIRST legit D.1 QB Duzz/Watson has put on the field this entire year!!!! Maybe that’s why they don’t want anyone watching their practices???? That they sat this kid out for this long is an absolute crime. CSI needs to investigate!!!

    Like

    4. Ditto…tired of feeling like Charlie Brown being told by my alma mater this time they are committed to winning only to see the same old PItt.

      But hey wait until year 5 when they bring in another po-dunk name to coach, lose a recruiting year…and have Heather Lyke tell me they are now committing themselves to win ACC championships.

      And expect the fan base to say “Yeah I am with coach useless part infinity”

      DaveD

      Like

  369. Have faith.

    I’m curious as to your thoughts on who the PSU trolls might be.

    The VAST majority of posters on here have been with the POV since its inception and on the Blather before that.

    Frustration is the HALLMARK of being a Pitt fan, not the sign of an enemy “troll.”

    Like

  370. @Pitt Engineer – I started the bench coach theory back when Wanny was here. Actually sent a note to Pederson to make that happen. Then realized quickly that Pederson didn’t necessarily want to win and give power to Wanny.

    One needs only look at Nick Saban. He usually has 2-3 prior head coaches on his staff and uses their experience to help him decision. The yankees did that with Don Zimmer and Joe Torre for years, but hey since it works we shouldn’t do it.

    Three TE’s blocking against their skinny db’s and Ollie pushing it over seems pretty easy to me.

    Like

  372. Pickett is and will be a stud. Yes he needs a lot more work which is what any Division I coach with a losing record would’ve done. He would’ve committed to growing him and letting him skip his knees this entire season. It’s like buying a brand new sports car but not a doozy and Watson didn’t want to take it out of the garage but would rather drive there 1996 Bonneville

    Like

  374. Found our QB. Team played hard, no quit in them, but they deserved a better outcome. Can hardly wait to hear the thought process, or lack of same behind the final 4 play calls.

    Like

    1. Nor doozy will come out with the usual all these kids play their tail off they were in position to make plays and other BS jargon. It’ll say on that last series it’s up to the kids have the fight to get the ball in the end zone. He won’t second-guess his buddy and he won’t take any blame.

      Like

  375. Can’t wait to hear how “the kids played their tails off” and “we gotta Check the tape” on those 4 plays at the 1

    Like

  376. And just so it is not forgotten let’s not forget Picket’s timeout with 15:00 remaining on the clock. I trust Mr. Picket will remember the wastefulness of that call for the rest of what I hope will be his glorious career.

    Like

  377. Actually, we do have a few trolls here, let’s at least be honest.

    As for the game, it turns out Pickett may be a pretty good quarterback after all, nice call Reed. Chase Pine looked good to, and this is yet another example of a much improved Pitt defense this year (not to say that they don’t have a ways to go yet), but one thing that stuck out is how dominant VT’s front 7 was against our OL, Overall VT just had better athletes, and this is why recruiting will have to pick up fast, and this should be our biggest concern right now imho.

    Like

  378. Someone tell me how Pickett wasn;t ready three games ago. What exactly was the thinking that he would lose the games and cost Pitt a bowl game. Really and Danooch was the guy to get you there. Narduzzi and Watson showed me why that kind of thinking is prevalent in the program. Zero imagination and risk taking to win the game. Pickett with three games and working with the first team would have been much further along. by now.

    Like

    1. I’m border-lined shocked that they played him today…

      At least it gives me something to interest me next Friday. If the Nooch & Watson Show was on, I’d just pick up leaves or go to the gym.

      Like

  379. Our biggest concern is the coaching staff stinks and can’t recruit, and the O-line stinks now and may be worse next year. I say ‘may be’ because a couple RS freshman coming in may be better than this crew that moves on to their life’s work in the private sector.

    Like

  380. 1618mt.

    Who are the trolls? Call them out.

    Me, Dan72 and UPitt are likely the most “negative” posters on this blog. We all went to school at Pitt. Dan and I played the POV golf outing together. I have donated a few hundred bucks to the POV and UPitt loves Pitt football almost as much as Estonian women and killing random wildlife.

    So again, I ask you and Dr. Faith, who are these trolls?

    Like

    1. I tore my shoulder that hurts every freaking night against St. John’s as well as laid it on the line every game I ever played for pit. Two shoulder surgeries later.When it was baseball and not many people gave two cents but I love pitt much as anybody.

      Like

  381. @Huff. Someone with the ear of the administration should really push the gameday coach help for PN. I love PN’s fire and ability to whip up the troops but he has to recognize he doesn’t think fast enough out there during the gameday stress… I’m thinking this could be a 7 points a game kind of difference in performance (on average)… Right now he seems even worse to me than Tomlin and I didn’t think anyone could be worse than Tomlin….

    Like

  383. See, here’s my problem. When you guys think that Narduzzi called those bad plays down at the goal line at the end of the game, and they were bad, it rings ridiculous to me.

    … and before you say or talk about that fact Narduzzi hired Watson (a friend) so was Canada but that was just dumb luck, right?

    Understand that PITT was severely undermanned today on the road to a defense that is highly ranked and thought of.,,, and played them as tough as anyone this year at home (beside Clemson) who PITT beat on the road last year.

    No you guys want to ripped PITT constantly and see no good and tear down the playhouse. Shaking my head as I just don’t get it… This isn’t a PITT blog…

    Like

    1. We had the ball on the 1 yard line 1st down with a time out in a minute to go. The coaches are inapt when it matters. Do you agree or disagree?

      Like

    2. Ike.

      It IS a Pitt blog.. just not a Pitt Cheerleader blog. I absolutely love your faith and optimism. I just disagree with you. You see what you see and you have faith.

      I see the same thing and have frustration.

      It doesn’t make your feelings any more valid and it doesn’t make Dan, Mark or me any less of a Pitt fan.

      When you go to a game, have you noticed that the cheerleaders still smile and cheer when we’re losing big in the 4th quarter? They don’t love Pitt any more than the fans booing in the stands.

      They just see things differently.

      Like

  384. 9 seniors on Techs D .. I qouestion giving the ball to Hall who burieshis head and runs straight ahead … QB bootleg with passing option or play action….

    Something to be excited about- We have ourselves a QB!!! Most POVerts recognized that during the NCSU game… Eh ?

    Like

    1. Yes but it took the guys making three and 4 million a year total to realize that Bernie. I mean he’s gay serious playing rigatoni boy

      Like

  385. Didn’t see it all but saw the ending. That would have been season redeeming for me and even though the players almost earned it, they didn’t, and the coaches mostly didn’t deserve it.

    As many said, Pickett should have been in a few games ago and really if Browne never transferred, I believe would have.

    Everyone has pretty much covered it above, but Weah looking back? Running 3 of plays from the 1.5yd line? And with Hall, inside, while he has never been a STRONG back. WTF?

    Real easy to 2nd guess, but I bet 90% on here call plays that get us into the end zone and were probably yelling them out. The only call I like is the throw to Stone Hands would-be Savior if he doesn’t turn back Weah.

    Like

  386. I thought we played a pretty good game for the most part.
    I’m curious to all those saying the players deserved better. How? Maybe if they blocked better or didn’t let up on a couple plays (Weah) we win. It goes both ways. A coach can call whatever play they want but if the players don’t execute it doesn’t matter. Case in point was the fake field goal. Great execution by the players for the td. It made the coaches look good for calling it. If it would have failed there would have been all kinds of fire thrown at the coaches. I’m not making excuses cause I’m mad we lost too. But there’s more than one way to look at something.
    And regarding Pickett the plan was to redshirt. Once Browne went down he became backup and started getting more reps. It takes some time to get him ready to play. It’s startjng to look like he’s ready to take off. Let’s hope it’s a good sign for next year.

    Like

  387. I see no good in Pitts coaching staff. These kids don’t deserve this. I’m far more confident in Stallings than Doozi. First down at the one proves it. I don’t think even Tomlin could have done worse.

    Like

      1. I think they were just talking about his clock management….which could use a little work. Not near as bad as Amateur Hour Narduzzi though….

        Like

  388. Ike- narduzzi may or may not have called a couple but he is on the headset with Watson all game. He’s the CEO. Period. We’ve all said the kids played hard and didn’t quit. But, like always, the D caved when it mattered and the coaches blew an almost 100% chance to win the game from the 1. The coaches suck. Plain and simple. That’s why we all get so upset. The truth is if we weren’t die-hard why would we waste so much time and energy on here and going to games. Narduzzi is not who we hoped he’d be. He can’t recruit and he doesn’t make good in game decisions. So what does he do? Hire guys with the same weaknesses. The coaches stole this game from the kids and I feel bad for them.

    Like

  390. Upitt. He’s a true freshman who was planning to redshirt prior to brownes injury. You can’t just except him to be ready immediately upon injury. It took several weeks to get more meaningful reps and get more game ready. As qb3 he got very little to any work in practice.

    Like

  391. Only thing wrong today was that they didn’t give Pickett a chance to win the game, but overall I think we look a lot better for next year.

    Jurcovec and Pine Richland absolutely destroying Central Catholic.

    Maybe we can’t have Jurcovec but Narduzzi is really stupid if he doesn’t try to seriously hire Eric Kasperovics, or however you spell his name. This guy is going places if he wants to.

    I agree with Ike, not appropriate to rip Narduzzi or the program today. The kids were ready and played very hard even if Watson let them down at the end. I really think he needed to give pPckett the chance to win or lose the game after 1st down. Yes I’m repeating myself.

    Like

  392. Nardo must have been right concerning his correlation to the Nooch being at QB and our running game.

    Who would have thunk that would have played out like it did.

    Jester Jester, the sprinter who keeps turning his head around.

    Like

  393. Someone mentioned linemen graduating? GOOD!! See ya. Can’t fricking score first and goal from the 1. Send Peterson out with them after next Friday’s game. Totally ridiculous not to spread them out and run a qb draw or quick slant to Lopes.

    Like

  395. Pickett was 13-20 for 126 yards if you take away his 44 yard shuttle pass to Hall and Weah’s 8 yard catch and run for 73 yards. Isn’t that what we did considering Halls two longs runs a couple weeks ago?

    He took a bad sack when he could have thrown the ball away. Isn’t that the beef against BD?

    You guys don’t play fair.

    So happy to see Narduzzi and Watson finally figured out that trying out Pickett is the way to go…. but it’s obvious to me and I know only to a very few of you guys, that HCPN was trying to win games up until this game. I understood what he wasn’t doing all along. Best move he made all year

    Maybe Pickett could have beat UNC last week but maybe he needed first team reps this past week to get better prepared?

    I see a good PITT football team in the coming years. I’ll keep them…. ike

    H2P!

    Like

  396. I disagree that it’s not right to rip the coaches. The players didn’t lose this game. When would be the right time to question? Need to hold our leaders accountable. Need to have them answer why we couldn’t punch it in without blaming players. Need to justify their pay and employment. Pitt got out coached today like always. Enough of well we didn’t have the players. We might not have been more talented at this stage but we played with more heart and desire. Players needed the coaching to put them over the top. Coaches failed again. Repeat call aches failed again. Stop being in denial. Coaching is the real problem. Not lack of talent or inexperience.

    Like

  397. htp123, I respect the hell out of you but who gave these kids a chance to win at the end of this game.. Answer. The Coaches!

    Like

  398. Call aches = coaches
    Yes I’m aching with another headache after this one
    Waiting for the presser so doozi can blame everyone but himself

    Like

  402. What happened to Jerry DiPaola? The Trib is running the AP game story; they didn’t even bother to cover it with one of their own writers. Too cheap? . Did Narduzzi run him out of town? Or, has Pitt fallen so far off the average sports fan’s radar, it’s a waste of time?

    Like

  403. You know, I’ve come to the conclusion I know nothing about football and I have a severe vision impermanent. I think I’m going to believe what I’m told and not my lying eyes.

    Like

  404. Many called us out for demanding Pickett early. We had a great opportunity to play him against our last three opponents, games we should have won if the Montour Elementary Aer Class Chief Painter was our qb.

    It was our 4th 1/4 defense that couldn’t hold, our sprinter WR that couldn’t finish and our OL that couldn’t man up and beat the guy across from them when it mattered most. Time, place and circumstance is critical to understand. At a minimum, we should have had our two point conversion play ready to go. I can guarantee that our 2 pt conversion is not a handoff to Hall.

    Personally, I would have preferred a 3 TE set with Sear, Clarke and Edwards, with Ollie in at RB. That is a bunch of beef against smaller db’s. With that option you can fake to Ollie if desired and have 3 guys that can catch in the pattern. Or just BLOCK!

    Sad ending. Decent game. A lot of Freshman played 5 games too late.

    Like

  405. Well. Better effort than expected.

    I hear it’ll be better next year.. Wait. Where’ve I heard that before?

    See you guys next Friday! I hear we’re gonna win.

    Good night, gentlemen.

    Go Nebraska!

    Like

  406. Post game on the FAN is trashing the play calling in the last minute. Why not call a rollout? Etc.

    Like

  407. @Tex – typically players are responsible for winning and losing. JimLeyland told me one time that a baseball coach is responsible for about 10% of the games in a season. The athletes usually win or lose it.

    When we look at Weah at the end, he didn’t give max effort his last 40 yards. Why is he looking around? He should have had one goal and not let the dude catch him. Speaking of that VT dude. The player gave max effort and caught Weah. The VT player wanted it more. That’s not VT coach or even in game coaching. That was desire by a player. Their guy had it. Ours didn’t.

    Can’t have it both ways fellas!

    Like

  409. Pickett has been out playing DiNucci all season in practice. Narduzzi goes with experience until he absolutely has to do something different. That said good for him to realize that a meaningless game… And in the big picture this and Miami are just that…you give the more talented QB a chance to show his stuff going into the off season.

    I did tell you that Pickett’s arm was the strongest we have had in decades…and it is.

    What I saw was an accurate passer, throws on a rope and leading the receiver so he could get YAC.

    This kid is a true star in the making and best of all he’s as poised as a SR.

    Like

  410. My 23 year old daughter, who does not watch football and could care less, sat to watch the last 5 minutes with me. The 3rd time they ran it up the middle for no gain, she said football is stupid, why would they do that 3 times in a row? And then she walked out. Perfect.

    One thing I’d like to debate (and Ike will keep me honest) is how do we actually get better next year? Does our ACC competition not also recruit? Do their freshman and sophomores not get better? Of course they do. AND, they out recruit us and will continue to get better players. And, my opinion here, they have better coaching – at least the top 4 teams in each division. So, while we may get a little better the top ACC teams are getting a lot better, so I’m not sure where this is going.

    Like

  411. Huff – you make some good points about the Weah play. Let me explore the other side. Weah has been a lazy route runner and player since he got here. A real coaching staff demands more, demands maximum effort and “coaches”. IF he doesn’t respond he sits. Even if he’s good for two great player a year. Lazy players who are coddled negatively impact the whole team. That’s coaching. So, in a way we can have it both ways. Talented players who don’t get better (Weah, Whitehead, Henderson) with multiple years of this coaching tells the story. I wish I was wrong here.

    Like

  412. In 3 quarters of play Kenny Pickett threw for more yards today, 248, than DiNucci has in any of his games….

    Today he had 16.1 ypc and 11.0 ypa which is excellent.

    I would have thrown three passes at the end because it would have either been a TD or stopped the clock on the incomplete pass.

    Like

  413. I agree with the terrible play calling at the end of the game…. but … Why was a 16 and 1/2 pr underdog still able to win the game with 3 seconds to go? You guys figure it out.

    I was very impressed with Pickett today and give the coaches credit to finally get him in there. Anyone surprised he played the rest of the game after BD benching?

    htp, I wouldn’t really know the answer if the players will be better but it goes to figure. That was a very young ass team out there today. Then again, The D played well, well at least imo. Seems like credit is hard to come by one the POV lately?. I still don’t get it.

    I look back and listened to the game prediction. Almost everyone was off by a mile but lets change the subject. Why even have game day predictions when no one looks back and admit to being way off?

    Answer, too much bitching about a great whole team effort that ended in a close loss to a heavily favorite team on the road.. . Still don’t get it? ike

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  414. Ike, we still lost. Who cares if people’s predictions were wrong. It’s a bottom line industry. We got schooled by a 1-8 team and we lost a close one to a better school. We couldn’t get it done …. again.

    Like

  416. Bottom line, the coaches had a chance to reward a great effort by calling ONE spread formation and instead played right into VT’s strength. Watson and Peterson should be ashamed of themselves and if Duzz has his players backs he would can one or both of them.

    Like

  417. It was a tough loss because of the last 4 plays but most everyone predicted a VT blowout.

    Pitt had a great chance to win at the end on the road. Tough year but I see a better team than at the beginning of the year.

    It comes down to making plays and they made more than us at the end.

    But I see our guys starting to make plays.

    Maddox and Whitehead made some plays today. So did Pickett, not bad for his first real meaningful stuff.

    In the end their lines played better than ours. But not by much, except when it counted the most.

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  418. No Pitt played well Ike but when the game was in the coache’s hand at the end they failed.When the team ran for a total of 55 yards…with 15 of those on QB scrambles you do not call 3 straight ahead runs.

    Our true RBs today had 14 carries for 10 yards up to that point…so why think we would do better especially with the LBs on the LOS also?

    Like

  419. Ike – I predicted we would lose 33-27 and it would be close. But, as everyone else has pointed out, it’s how we lost. I love your positivity, so take a look at my question a few posts up and tell me how we get better in the ACC against teams with currently better players, much better recruiting classes and (my opinion) better coaching staffs. You may have a better window in to how that can work. Worse yet, ticket sales and attendance will be much worse next year, which will continue to kill recruiting. Yes, us die-hards will buy them and go, but I know at least 8 people at work who are not renewing because the school finally “broke” them.

    Like

  422. 14 carries for 10 yards is .714 yards per carry…evidently we were playing the percentages and if we only could have covered the .714 on our 3 running plays we win.😎

    Like

  423. Fellow Pitt fans…I’m a little more negative than usual as I am heading into hospital for tests on Tuesday. Not expecting good news.

    As a Pitt Grad I live, eat and breathe Pitt sports, especially football and have for 45 years. This was another in a series of soul crushing losses. While I appreciate that this is a young team, and at times impossible to coach, it just seems that every critical decision Nard and staff make is the wrong one. It’s no longer a coincidence!

    The one decision to go to Pickett, was one anyone on this site could see should have happened weeks ago. I predicted he’d be in by game 4. Wish that would’ve happened. I am utterly stunned that Narduzzi chose to go to him today, but thankful he was able to peer thru his massive ego and make the call. Hope he learns how to be a successful head coach before he leaves Pitt. So far he’s a 4 on a scale of 10.

    H2P

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    1. All is well Dan bro. You’ll be fine. You’re probably in better condition than Pitt football & basketball.

      Like

  424. Hay Dan72 – don’t worry about this. Best of luck on Tuesday and you have my prayers.

    We’ll worry for you!

    Like

    2. This guy is a complete moron the same BS every week play or tails off I love them blah blah blah blah blah four and seven orders in a make 2 million bucks a year you’re a bum

      Like

  427. There needed to be at least 2 designed passing plays at the end, maybe 3.

    Put the shoe on the other foot. If Pitt were out there defending that goal line stand, the plays that were called were exactly what the defense would HOPE you call.

    Kenny would have completed 1 if given 3 chances. He got only one rushed chance. None in space where he could maybe tuck and run.

    Complete coaching failure. Gutless. I’m pissed.

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  428. Whatever you haters do… don’t watch Narduzzi’s postgame press conference. He threw Weah and the OL under the bus and said “the play calls were fine. We just didn’t block anybody” in reference to the goal line stand.

    WTF is wrong w/ him? Just give kudos to the VT DB for catching Weah and the great VT defensive goal line stand and be done with it. He’s a moron. I’m sorry.

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  432. Good luck Dan.

    While I am still PO’d about the last series, I think many expect way to much. We lost all our close games this year as opposed to the last two when we won them all. Isn’t that what you expect when you lose a big senior class and have a lot of new guys.

    While I think Pickett should have been given the chance, he could have just as easily thrown an INT or fumbled on a sack.

    I want to win as much as any of you, but I’m not ready to throw the baby out with the bath water.

    I do think Pickett is the QB of our future, but not at all upset that they bring him along slowly, He would have got killed vs PSU and OKST. BN won two of his four, no guarantee that Pickett does better, or was ready.

    You have to know the playbook.

    Will Watson sleep tonight? I hope not. Shame on him if he didn’t have some redzone plays for Pickett.

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  433. Typical Narduzzi presser. His not a good CEO or leader. He takes no accountability for anything. I knew I shouldn’t have watched it. Now I’m even more pissed.

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  434. when you lose, its how you lose. When you win, it doesnt matter.
    Pitt consistently loses games because of coaching.
    I would fire all of them and start from fresh…AGAIN
    The avg coach only last 4 years in college football. I posted a while back on this.
    Yes – Nard Dog is below average
    I feel so bad for the players
    They dont deserve their coaches
    And we fans dont deserve watching these games.
    I still expect Pitt to beat Miami.
    Remember it will be Pitt’s Super Bowl
    And butterflys will fly out my arse

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    1. That would kind of mess up a ACC Championship Game, with 2 teams ranked in the Top 3. Guaranteeing a ACC team in the 4 way.

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  435. Wow, after beating Pitt I thought Syracuse was on their way to a Bowl Bid. Then the next week they upset #2 Clemson and even more so on the Bowl BId.

    They are now are their way to their 4 straight defeat, getting hammered by L-Ville…..3-35 at halftime.

    And no bowl bid. What do you think of Dino Babers now ?

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  436. I have stated numerous times above I didn’t agree with the play calls at the end of the game. I’m also aware I’m not a coach on this PITT team and thinks I know better than them. Especially considering the refs signaled for a PITT TD with a little over a minute to play that would have won the game. No it wasn’t a touchdown but the coaches got them there.

    Consider if PITT went for the 4th and 5 and didn’t make it as an example? << Isn’t that what some of you wanted? Coaches are paid to put their team against the next opponent on the schedule (where have I heard that before) and give their team a chance to win. They did that today and I’m proud of the entire PITT football team, coaches and all.

    For those of you that do not think this loss tears my heart out, you’re wrong. The past two games have been a real bummer. PITT, before the game didn’t deserve to be within one short play to win the game but they were. That wasn’t the players guys. You all thought they wouldn’t even make it close.

    Why have a prediction thread if no one wants to own up to being wrong? That’s why I bring up pt spreads and predictions.

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  437. I’ll repeat. We have to practice 2 point conversions all year. Those plays often have some trickeration or rub routes. We didn’t call any of our 2 point conversion special plays.

    That said, I still don’t think you blame the coaches for an OL that can’t gain 1.5 yards on 3 rushes. Sorry. The game is about trenches.

    If someone wants to argue about playcalling, I would suggest that Aaron Mathews should have been in there for a fade and let him use his body to get the ball. Jester is NOT that receiver, sorry. Coaches can’t take all the heat fellas unless you give them the credit for being in the game, the entire way. That’s cherrypicking. And yes that is basketball.

    If you want to look at a player that missed an opportunity to make a big play, look no further than J Whitehead on the TD pass. He had the angle to intercept or at a minimum knock the ball down and he had a brain fart. Watch it and watch him! That isn’t coaching.

    Timeout usage is coaching and the 4th and 9 or 10, was a blunder.

    Had the fake kick for td not worked, you would be cussing out narduzzi too. You all put too much emphasis on one thing and not the totality of the game. I didn’t like the result of the playcalling. I typed on first down to have a jumbo package with Olli in there, so I wasn’t pleased. So what. They aren’t going to pay attention to us.

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  438. Looks like Nebraska has had enough of Life of Riley.

    Very interested in UCF HC Scott Frost…who is a former Cornhusker QB. UCF is 10-0

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  441. For what its worth, I didn’t mind this PN presser as much as usual. He seemed genuinely angry about the outcome (good!!) but did try to deflect blame (on the time out on the 4th and ten where he said it was “perfect” and said the time management was good on the final four plays). Still, I like the fire. And I loved the way he chatted up the effort of the team… They, of course, deserve it but it came across as genuine and heartfelt. I think most teams would respond well to that message. I still think the strategy errors could be fixed with the right hire but the fire he brings is his best attribute and he let it show unvarnished in that video. Good for him… Now go hire the right strategic thinker and rely on that guy!!!

    Look, I am starting to move towards the Ike camp. This team is showing some mettle and we may have the most important piece – a QB that can get the job done. Someone asked how we improve (differentially) on other ACC teams. Well, someone said (and I did NOT verify) that VT was starting nine seniors on D. Well, that’s nine guys we will face next year who will be much less experienced than our 9 or 10 guys who will be back with loads of tough games under their belt).

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    1. I’ll have a couple of the let’s wait till next year soup followed by an entrée of next year’s going to be different. Lastly I have a dinner cordial and a dessert of man I can’t wait till next year these guys are really going to blossom.

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      2. Media/Coaches will pick Pitt to finish next-to-last in the coastal next year. So Narduzzi has zero expectations and more excuses to throw out to the AD.

        But don’t fret… that tough early schedule… they’ll get blasted a few times and no one shows up to the games… he’ll be gone at the end of the year. I’m not concerned. He’s history.

        Like

    2. According to ourlads, VT only lists 6 seniors on the 2 deep. However it was senior day. According to ourlads, they start 3 seniors on defense.

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  442. This guy at Toledo who replaced Matt Campbell (who left for Iowa State) looks pretty capable.

    In his 2nd season, he’s 9-2. After being 9-4, his first season.

    2016 Toledo’s offense was #19 nationally in PPG with 38 ppg (defense was #48 at 26 ppg)
    This year their offense is even better, #12 nationally with 39 ppg (defense is still respectable at 26.8 ppg)

    Plus always in important factor at Pitt…. his price tag would be in keeping with our cheapness.

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  443. I have seen a number of posts saying in essence “Pitt has found it’s QB” While I agree, Narduzzi and Watson ‘s decision making has been so poor a majority of the time that I wouldn’t be at all surprised to her him say that he’s going back to DiNucci or the starter for Miami will be a game time decision. Why, because he can and he knows so much more than every Pitt fan. I’m still nauseous 3 hours later! 😠

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  445. I would say conservatively that coaching probably cost us at least one win. It would be nice to beat Miami because they will probably lose to Clemson anyway. Even when we had 8 wins we could not get the Coastal title. Two wins in the Coastal is sad. As I said before, I look every ten years for that great Pitt win.

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  447. @Goalie44. I think it would have been very easy for the team to quit. Look what happened to Notre Dame last year. They simply gave up on their school and their coach. I’m sure there are plenty of other examples of teams basically giving up. Our guys faced a murderous end of season playing VT on a hostile field and then facing Miami who (crazily enough) is in the discussion for national champion. After all the tough losses and ESPECIALLY after losing the prior week to a 1-8 team, it would have been so easy for them to quit. They didn’t. This is where I respect quite a bit what PN brings. He has a fire that is obvious. He wears it on his sleeve proudly. It still seems to have an impact with the players… They could have quit and they didn’t – that is kind of textbook mettle…..

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    1. I agree….every guy on the team showed fire except for the hapless O-line. Receivers couldn’t get open most of the time but they were being held all day because of man-to-man single coverage due to 8 guys in the box all day. Weah’s routs were a little lazy but he made that one good play.

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  448. The MOST important factor concerning Toledo’s HC, is his first name is Jason, as in Jason Candle.

    And as we all know, Pitt’s better/best HC’s, other than Pop…were guys that their first named started with the letter J

    Those being Jock, Johnny, Jackie & John.

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  449. @ engineer,
    I hear what you are saying but where was there “mettle” against an inferior nc team??
    Terrific. They played hard. That’s what they are supposed to do.

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  450. The Dookies destroyed GT today….43-20.

    Still think Pitt could have beat GT, had Max played against them rather than the Nooch.

    Another poor coaching decision, imo.

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  452. You guys won’t be happy until you hear Narduzzi admit to coaching Kessman to miss a chip shot field goal. Cause we all know that’s Pat’s fault..

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  453. So Hall gained a net 4 yds on 15 carries 0.3 yds per carry and Narduzzi says they were good calls….

    What game was he watching?

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  454. Stallings is a bum for throwing his loafing players under the bus. Narduzzi is a bum for standing behind his team and coaches?

    HCPN has never called out his players and don’t try and tell me different. I don’t understand the excuses you all hear when he speaks. He a real good dancer but owns up imo.

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  455. So earlier in this thread a comment was made about Pickett using a TO and Reed informed the poster that it was because a call was made not on Pickett’s wristband.

    Here is a question I have for Reed (which I think I know the answer but don’t want to go on a rant if it’s unfair to do so)…

    Would have more gametime reps given Pickett a better command of the playbook that he wouldn’t have needed to call a TO for a call not on the wristband?

    Because if yes…then it’s another piece of the puzzle that is Nard Dogs stubbornness coming to the forefront.

    DaveD

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  456. I waiting a while before posting to think about a few things without let emotion influence my words.

    I’ll side with Ike on a number of issues. FIrst off, one huge missing piece of the Pitt offense this year is George Aston, whose father if from Wilmerding if you didn’t know. Having that bruiser lead block for the RBs is huge and I don’t think we all realize what he meant to the offense besides the 10 TD’s he scored. We also lost not only a very good quarterback, but an NFL starting quarterback in Nate Peterman. There is a tremendous drop-off between him and BD and KP. We also lost 2 NFL O linemen.

    So as frustrated as I get watching them lose, I take that into perspective and hope they are better next year. KP may have not been ready to play an extended amount of time until this week. We aren’t there at practice to see. He may have grasped the playbook, but he may not be making the decisions necessary when reading the defense. Today he showed he is ready and he could have a bright future at Pitt. The defense really played well today.

    VT is very good team and we hung with them all day. Should we have won, probably. Are we a better team than VT, no, not at this time. Good teams find a way to win and VT did that today. Pitt will be in a better position to do that next year with a solid QB, good RBs, and George Aston. Defense has improved all year in my opinion and today was their best performance.

    Who would have thought that once Pitt punted with 4 minutes or so left in the game that they would hold VT and the ball back. That was something we didn’t expect and shows the growth of the team and we continue to see the development of depth on the defense. No qualms about our HC here. I’m giving him the time he deserves.

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    1. In Law of UPITT

      Sorry I don’t buy it. This is a 4-7 team soon to be 4-8. You blasted his red shirt and gave him very little reps.

      At some point you gotta get reps for the kid prior to the final 2 games of the year. What we are seeing now is a glimpse of his abilities with very little game day experience.

      I get the 243 yards was inflated by a 75 yard play at the end, but just like Mr. Dinucci’s paltry numbers were inflated by a big play or two.

      That said I watched his passes…crisper, more accurate and quicker release.

      Obviously I don’t get to see practice….but even if I concede the point of a missing FB and OL…the coaches know that when they are at the goal line.

      They need to be more creative than hey diddle, up the middle (really more off tackle) when you know that is your weakness.

      Hell even faking a Jet Sweep at least gets them moving…

      Just don’t think you can justify what happened today by saying his practices may suck, no FB and our Oline sucks.

      That is making excuses for a coaching crew that needs to respond to those weaknesses in gameplanning/playcalling and execution.

      DaveD

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    2. Yea but there’s no Winky’s in Wilmerding (or not much of anything else for that matter).

      Although at one time they had a pretty good Restaurant called the Station Brake I believe. And a deli across the street that had excellent take out food, particularly Fried Chicken 🙂

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  457. Please refer to Huff’s post up top around 6:30 or so. He knows how to watch a football game.

    To Reed, people are taking you serious about the play-call not being on KP’s wrist? Can you expand……?

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      1. Confused by your comment. I was the poster and I said “Thanks” to Reed something I have said to him previously when he knew something I didn’t. I wasn’t being sarcastic. Gee whiz. You can’t say thanks and it being seeing as any thing else but an expression of appreciation.

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        1. I wasn’t getting on you. I actually wasn’t being critical at all. I was actually asking a question about that post.

          If you somehow interpreted that was the case…that was not my intent.

          I was actually trying to find out if reps earlier in the year may have prevented this…

          So nothing to Gee Whiz about

          🙂

          DaveD

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  458. I “love” KP. Gosh, does he even shave? He is so young looking and yet he has poise out there and really zips the ball. He is shifty and doesn’t seem to get rattled. The homer TV announcers said many times that he was a highly rated prospect out of high school with a very strong arm.

    I also wish Weah would have leaped for the end zone. That is why a lot of breakway runners do that so as not to get caught from behind. Not just to show off. Remember Conner getting caught from behind at Heinz Field on a long run against GT and getting the ball poked out from him just before he crossed the goal line with the ball going out of the end zone for a touchback, ball to GT and no Pitt TD.

    James said he was looking up at the big screen to see who was behind him instead of concentrating on racing to the end zone and not slowing up. One TV commentator during a pro game last week said that Belichik (sic) of the Patriots does not teach or allow his runners or receivers to hold the ball out over the pylon or goal line for fear of having it poked away.

    I wrote last week that Hall’s recent rushing numbers were possibly inflated because of the weak opposition we played against and that his performance against VT would be a truer test. Of course, I also mentioned that our OL was also part of that test. Our final 4 plays today revealed that our running game with Hall did not pass (forgive the pun) the test.

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  459. Closer game than expected. Pitt missed 2 great opportunities the past 2 weeks to win games.
    Tough times this season…I see better times next Year. H2P always!!!

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  460. Why wouldn’t we give Ollison a try after he seem to gain some yardage earlier. DH was pretty much shut down all afternoon. Do we ever attempt a naked bootleg? I’m still sick after this loss.

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    1. Fair question…

      How I interpreted Reed’s comment…is that is Standard Operating Procedure. And watching the film the call came in…KP looked at his wristband.

      Didn’t see it and then called a T.O.

      I assumed this is something that happens to many teams…what I wanted to know is if reps reduces that from occurring.

      DaveD

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  464. Huff is right. Weah kind of slowed for some reason. I do not know why. Maybe out of gas? Any way, this team and coaches just came up short consistently. But kids played hard.

    Our OCC schedule next year looks really tough and Coastal schedule just as bad. Can we do better?

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  466. Dan, I’m sorry I missed your upcoming visit. I hope it’s all good news. You can be negative when it comes to PITT football but don’t think negative when it comes to your health. Hail to you brother Dan and my best wishes! ike

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  467. DD, to me it was possibly the reason that KP hasn’t played sooner (unfamiliar with the playbook) but now it’s go time. Like the team moving forward.

    The timeout and then a punt was another dumb move by the coaches. Can’t have that when you are an inferior team. ike

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  468. Weah often appears to run out of gas on long plays…also no human runs as fast as they can when they are looking behind them every ten yards or so…two gut punching losses in a row…on to next week.

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  469. That missed FG turned out to be big. We could have tied the game on 4th down and at least lost in OT… lol

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  470. Ike,

    Agree on the time out before the punt. If you call a T.O. you need to go for it on 4th down. If not you take a 5 yard delay of game and kick it.

    But it’s funny, it really wasn’t the killer. In fact, when it appeared Weah scored I thought out loud “Too much time left with 1:02.” I have been so programmed with SOP in my head that I felt there was no way we would be able to stop them with 1:02 on the clock from getting in FG range and winning 23-21.

    No it was the inability to be creative at the 1.5 yard line with a first and goal.

    DaveD

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  472. Looks like at least 10 out of 14 ACC teams will be in a bowl. Two teams we LOST to, Syracuse and UNC also out of bowls. Pretty sad.

    We should be very glad the ACC splits all proceeds evenly.

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    2. We should be!! No ACC championships in any sport. Bottom dwellers in every sport. What exactly is the point that Pitt is in the ACC? They belong in the MAC where their middling sports teams could stink up the Ohio Valley along w/ the chemical plants.

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        1. F’ you! I’ve going to Pitt games since ’75. Donating since the early 80s. I am sick and tired of watching this train wreck of an athletic department going thru the motions for 40 years.

          And the women’s volleyball team will probably find a way to choke… hell… they already did losing to NC State and Louisville. They can only hope for the first-ever “shared title”.

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  474. The new name for the PITT game day thread. “The Jim Laurinaitis PITT game day thread. Kind of rings true to me….

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  475. I agree with people saying Pickett passes the “eye test” but reality is that DiNucci led our offense to the end zone, KP did not. Hopefully KP grows and develops and leads to lots of points over the next couple years.

    It’s hard to compare when watching high school level competition and college competition but, personally, I think Pickett shows better speed than Jurkovec. I’m happy with Pickett.

    I don’t know the exact defense, but on VT’s game winning play, I think that was Whitehead’s play to make. He made some great plays in run support today, but that final TD looked like a pass play he wished he had back.

    Big picture-wise, I’m not so sure whether this team showed enough progress over the course of the season. The 2007 4-7 Pitt team I thought was better than their record and showed lots of improvement as the year went on … and we all know what happened the next game against a team with national title hopes. I’m not so sure this team has showed true improvement. On the other hand, I’m not convinced Miami a playoff caliber team, but we’ll see on Friday.

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  476. htp, sorry I missed your above posts. First off the season ticket sales will be high again next year with the schedule. Attendance may be a completely different issue when not playing psu. I’ll bet you an ice cream cone that not all 8 do not renew. (because of psu on the schedule) only.

    Why do I have hope? PITT found it’s QB of the future and HCPN has handle that situation perfectly. PITT has a young team all the way around and the players that are leaving are the players you guys don’t like all that much.

    Also and here’s one you didn’t expect. PITT will have a half semi experienced backup at QB next year. Do you see the young defensive players today?

    I was always told, you go looking for trouble you will surely find it. Be ware of those that look for trouble as they will surely lead you to their church of the poison mind! PITT played an admiral game to day as hard as that is for some to admit. ike

    I’ll keep on keeping on when others when others are in doubt…

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  477. ike – your’e probably right and they will change their mind and renew to sell the PSU tickets. Ice Cream cone it is (just not a peachy paterdo). Attendance will be another story. Time will heal. BB season will be so bad we’ll actually be saying “Can’t wait for football to start” soon enough.

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  478. I played golf today and taped the game. Boy am I glad that someone spilled the beans to me in the clubhouse afterwards!

    Just finished watching the game and reading all the above posts (exciting Sat. night at my house!)

    Forget about Pickett’s stats today. All one had to do was watch him to know we have a good one. He’s gutsy and a gamer. Great arm and accurate. Great awareness in the pocket. Outstanding mobility. And he looks like a confident leader.

    BTW…How many stars did he have and what were his other offers and which coaching regime landed hm? That was rhetorical.

    Thought the kids came back with a good effort following an awful loss against UNC. I think it’s fair to give the coaching staff some credit for that. Says a lot about the character of the kids too.

    Play-calling at the end = 💩

    DAN72 – good luck Tuesday!!

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  479. Ike: You and I usually share similar feelings. I, along with you, have been preaching patience to our fellow POVerts all season. But there is no excuse for the mismanagement of timeouts, and the play calling on the one yard line. We couldn’t run the ball all day. VT was geared up for the run, with everyone in the box. I’m sure we have some special play calls for two point conversions that are not running plays. Why not unwrap one of those? Plus throwing stops the clock if incomplete. Running three times with Hall in that situation is incompetent. Yes we played a good game otherwise. There is such a fine line between winning and losing. And with competent coaching, we win today. Because of inept coaching, we lost.

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  481. What happened to wwb? I wanted to talk Pitt strength of schedule. It’s now a good time of the year for this because a team’s record is indicative of what kind of team they REALLY are. No need to speculate any more.

    Ok State lost to now 6-5 K State at Stillwater today. That’s Ok State’s 3rd loss of the season (2 at home). Ok State hasn’t beaten any team in the current CFP Top 25. PItt lost to OSU at home by 38.

    NC State lost to now 7-4 Wake Forest at Winston-Salem today. That’s NC State’s 4th loss of the season. NC State hasn’t beaten any team in the current CFP Top 25. Pitt lost to NC State at home by 18.

    PSU with 2 road losses this season. PSU has beaten 2 teams in the current CFP Top 25. Pitt lost to PSU at State College by 19.

    VT with 3 losses. VT hasn’t beaten any team in the current CFP Top 25. Pitt lost to VT by 6 at Blacksburg.

    Pitt with losses to 5-5 GT, 4-7 Syracuse and 3-8 UNC. Margins of 18, 3 and 3 respectively.

    Pitt with wins against 6-5 Youngstown State, 1-10 Rice, 5-6 Duke and 6-6 Virginia. 3 of those were at home. Youngstown State is an FCS team.

    Sagarin currently has Pitt’s SoS at 37. PItt is #51 in the NCAA SoS. Pitt is #61 in ESPN’s FPI. Somehow I don’t think SoS is why Pitt is currently 4-7 on the year.

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  483. I spent over an hour last night, writing on this blog about the shortcomings of Shawn Watson and Narduzzi; the large egos, surprising lack of insight, inability to recognize and use talent, maybe low intelligence, and mentally slow. For whatever reason it didn’t print. Makes no difference, I would be preaching to the choir. We are all of same mind.

    I really shouldn’t blame Narduzzi as much as I do. He’s afraid he may have to replace a 3rd OC. He lost Chaney because of temper on TV. That’s why he “plays nice” during the press conferences. But Narduzzi needs to be careful going along with Watson’s decisions. Truly Watson is a poor coach. I blame this year’s record mainly on him. His ego and lack of smarts gets in the way. He underused Henderson and Pickett and wore out Whitehead.

    Narduzzi limit him, or you may be gone.

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  484. Just watched the game. Only Pitt could lose a game in that fashion. Nothing even surprises me anymore with this program. Would have loved to see Pickett pull the ball on the zone read. The whole Tech defense collapsed on Hall. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Everything has been said about the disaster that was the final 4 plays. Ready for Jester to move on. He had a chance to redeem the drops and he couldn’t finish. Tough season for him.

    Night and day watching Pickett compared to Dinucci. At least Pitt found themselves a QB today. Kudos to Reed for his August due diligence. Pickett is athletic, makes quick decisions, and the ball comes out hot. Please get this kid some offensive lineman. He was under duress all day, and still played a strong game.

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  485. Watched it all. If #63 Officer even takes one step and hits his block assignment, Hall has lane to cut back or get to edge with QO lead. Either THAT or KP pulls it out and dives through big hole behind DH, but not sure it was a read option.

    Pickett looks like a winner including post-game. Get him a decent o-line and he will make plays.

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    1. BINGO!!! I watched that play five times and still can’t understand how Officer completly freezes on that last play.

      As to the wristband… You can see KP get the signal, look at his wrist band, look back to the sidelines then again to his wrist…. then call TO in confusion. Maybe a more experienced player audibles or spikes the ball or something…

      I believe our 2017 QBs are not given permission to audible like Peterman had so that TO happened.

      What bothered me more was Narduzzi doing his calling a TO on 4th down with 4:14 left in the game and then punting anyway. He done that a few times this season and last season also and l can’t figure out why.

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  486. The stupidity of Pitt’s leadership

    Pitt didn’t want to spend any money on Pitt Stadium even though it was on campus & owned by the school.
    Pitt needed a larger basketball arena even though there was one a few miles from campus Pitt regularly used for big games and regularly sold out setting an attendance record vs. North Carolina.

    Pitt promised fans attendance would go up and recruiting would take off playing in a pro stadium.
    Pitt thought its basketball program had become elite.

    Now Pitt plays in two empty arenas. Football recruiting is no better than when Pitt played in its own house.
    The Pete is empty because Pitt’s leaders are so inept they can’t manage to win consistently.

    No room in Oakland for a stadium but as much room as predatory UPMC wants and don’t ever question it.If UPMC wants to tear down structures and build in Oakland no problem.

    Washington Post mocked Pitt in a full article after in over-her-head Lyke gave away Fanta. The students mocked her and the national press mocked Pitt.

    Now Pitt is being dissed by national ESPN hacks announcing there will be plenty of yellow seats when Pitt loses to Miami.

    When I look at the picture of Pitt trustees, it’s easy to see why Pitt athletics is not on the front porch. The women have sent football out back to Gallagher’s outhouse.

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  487. Tony77019, I have no idea what you are talking about. What Washington Post article? What did Heather give away? What were the students complaining about? What is Fanta?

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  488. Grandfather – hard to believe Tony wasn’t lying if you didn’t see it first hand, right?

    You had to believe he was making it up because it it is so pathetic….but it’s all true. The BOT hired a ridiculously under-qualified AD with Fanta-level strategic thinking. Not her fault at all, I would have taken the money too. She can redeem herself and prove me wrong that she is a real “up and comer” and just needed some time to figure things out.

    OK, I’ll bite. Let’s see what Heather does when the season is over. If nothing, then we know exactly where the Administration stands and they’re fine as long as we’re good in volleyball.

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  489. I wonder what the success rates of two plays are…

    1. Taking a TO to ‘ice’ the opposing team’s FG kicker and

    2. Trying to draw the other team into an offsides penalty when you have the ball on 4th down?? This usually results in taking a TO and punting

    I think both are semi-ridiclous and use up valuable TOs, but this staff loves to do both.

    Sometimes I wonder if HCPN has a book on his office shelf titled “Conventional and Conservative Wisdom in Head Coaching” and it has highlighted text all through it.

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  491. Look at the Pickett -Weah play @ the 1:55 mark of the video linked below.

    That pass was from the 24 yard line to the catch at the 41…17 yards on a frozen rope…that is a perfectly accurate, hit the receiver in stride, pass and something DiNucci couldn’t have done with his weaker passing arm.

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  492. Pickett should have been playing all year. PITT doesn’t have the luxury of red shirtting anyone. Play your talent and get them experience. We’re not f’ing Bama!

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  493. There can be no doubt in the coaches mind who the better QB is now. KP should be the starter until he leaves PITT.

    Eric we are still in agreement. The end of the game lacked any imagination and ingenuity as if the coaches didn’t expect to be down at the one yard line. Wouldn’t it have been nice to have Georgie down there..

    That was a heart breaking loss. EE have you started to recover yet? … ….ike

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  494. Pickett is for real..composure- poise- pocket awareness- timely decision making-arm stength with accuracy and a set of legs.

    The pass that stands out was Cam Phillips TD reception. Maddox falls and 2 guys including Whitehead standing (and I mean standing there) while the ball landed in the receivers hands. He was untouched. These guys taking money to throw the game? – just kidding – SOP.. time to make a change in Duzz’s D style

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