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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 10.11.17
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Brian Batko
2:00
Good afternoon, folks. Pitt is coming off its first loss to Syracuse in five years, and now No. 20 N.C. State will visit Heinz Field. Away we go...
Pope
2:01
Where is the coaching?!?!  Terrible tackling.  Jumping offsides.  Roughing penalties.  Bad blocking.  Dropped passes.  Pitt was SO unprepared last week against Syracuse and pretty much all season.
Brian Batko
2:02
Well that about covers it, right? I'm gonna assume Pitt's coaches probably tell their O-linemen not to jump offisdes. Now the late hit penalty, maybe that's one that's a sign of not enough discipline, and something where a coach has to step in and make sure the point is getting across.

Then again, is this team really unprepared for all the games it loses, or is the opposing team just better?
OkiDoki
2:02
Can you explain why Narduzzi burned Pickett's redshirt for one meaningless play at the end of the game?   Why not MacVittie?  Why not a direct snap to a RB?  Since the season is over, I sure they make burning Pickett's redshirt worthwhile and play him every snap the rest of the year.  If not, then what a waste and yet another awful decision by Narduzzi!
Brian Batko
2:05
Sure, let's tackle this. Narduzzi did it because with 2 seconds left, and even with the ball at your own 15, there's still technically a chance to win, small as it may be. But I don't think many coaches admit defeat easily, so Narduzzi went with his third-string QB. We now know that's Kenny Pickett, even though the plan was to redshirt him.

One thing I disagree with though is all the anger about burning the redshirt. That basically implies concern that Pickett will be so promising as a fourth-year senior that people will be mad he's graduating instead of starting for another year? I think if that is the exact scenario three years down the road, things will have actually gone pretty well for Pitt.
Bulk
2:06
Brian - over the last couple years Narduzzi continues to talk about Macvettie and how athletic he is.  Is this his way of sending a message that he is in for a position change?  If I'm Macvettie and I see a true freshman pass me on the depth chart I'm not a happy camper.
Brian Batko
2:07
It sure seems that way, no matter what Narduzzi says publicly. Not only is he at the bottom of the depth chart, but he's also being used on special teams. Nonetheless, he is only a redshirt freshman, so maybe it's too early to write him off. For all we know, Narduzzi and his staff have every intention of molding/grooming MacVittie as a QB and giving him a fair shake in the competition again this spring. Granted, it's unlikely...
john
2:08
Whats the over/under for Pat Narduzzi's tenure as a Pitt coach?
Brian Batko
2:09
Well John, that's an interesting question. I'll put it at 5.5, simply because I'd guess that the majority of power-five football coaches don't make it to 6 years these days, but Narduzzi's already on Year 3. Now, don't ask me if I'd take the over or the under, but I'll put it at 5.5.
Marvin Fillmore
2:09
Do you agree that the Narduzzi is failing?  He is a defensive first coach (some say guru, but clearly that ship has sailed) that has had one of the worst defenses in the country for the past 3 seasons.
Brian Batko
2:11
It's hard to argue that he isn't failing, at least this season, as Pitt is 2-4. But overall? No, I wouldn't say that. Look at where the program was when he came in and look at what he did the past two years. Back-to-back 8-win regular seasons. He isn't failing, in terms of the big picture, in my opinion.
Blawnox Panther
2:11
Can we agree that Narduzzi two 8-win seasons were build on the back of Chryst's foundation?  Now that those Chryst players are gone, no one has stepped up and replaced them from narduzzi's recruits.
Brian Batko
2:13
Not really, no. Chryst left behind some very good players, certainly, but they didn't coach themselves. I generally think the whole "winning with someone else's guys" concept in any sport is overrated, because it's so hypothetical. And how far does that hypothetical go? Maybe I could argue that Narduzzi hasn't been able to get recruits good enough to step up because Paul Chryst kept going 6-6. You know what I mean?
Ruckno
2:13
In Narduzzi's third season, did you expect Pitt to regress this badly?  2-4 record to date; no running game; the need to discipline 6 players in 5 months; poor play with the OL & LBs; and the incoming recruiting class ranked #58.  I did NOT think we would tank so bad.  We should be on the rise like Penn State on the field and in recruiting.
Brian Batko
2:15
I did not see this coming, no. I thought they'd be 2-3 after five games, but figured they'd find a way to be more competitive in those losses. And I definitely did not envision a loss to Syracuse. It's been a bad year all around, for all the reasons you outlined, and a far cry from the high bar Narduzzi set for himself and the program this offseason.
Pitt Man 81
2:15
What is going on with the team discipline and continuing player suspensions?!?!?!  Just for this season, Narduzzi dismissed 2 players permanently (Taleni & Blair); 3 players for various number of games (Whitehead, Wirginis & Bookser) and now 1 player indefinitely (Moss).  It appears Narduzzi is losing the team.
Brian Batko
2:17
This is a little tricky to judge, right? I think we had roughly the same discussion when the preseason suspensions first came down. Is it a case of him losing the team, or is it actually a case of him doing the opposite by not hesitating to discipline his players, and meaningful players at that? Hard to say without being in that locker room, but what isn't hard to say is that all the suspensions/dismissals are a bad look, regardless of circumstances.
H2P
2:17
I haven't yet heard a good reason from the staff for burning Pickets redshirt can you clarify exactly why they did it especially since he isn't starting
Brian Batko
2:18
Not really sure what you're looking for. Do you not believe them that they wanted/needed to put in a QB for that last play and consider Kenny Pickett their third-stringer? Do you want me to say it's some kind of grand conspiracy in order to bench Ben DiNucci this week at the first sign of trouble and go to Pickett? Because I don't actually think that's true.
2:19
Good times never seemed so good...
Terry
2:19
How long of a leash do you think Dinucci will have this week
Brian Batko
2:21
Nice segue from the last question, Terry. I don't think he'll be on a particularly short leash. As far as opponents go, not sure N.C. State is really the one you want to throw Pickett into. Now, if this game gets out of hand and DiNucci really struggles, maybe Pickett comes in late. But I'm not ready to write off DiNucci like so many others are. Do I think he can lead Pitt to a win this weekend? Probably not. But do I think there's no chance he can be the guy under center for Pitt long-term? I'm not making that call just yet.
overhead
2:22
How much is Narduzzi's buyout ?
Brian Batko
2:22
I don't know, and Pitt does not have to disclose that.
Alex
2:23
How confident are you in Dinucci? He has shown flashes of making good decisions under center, but do you think he has what it takes to be a starting QB for the near future (this year and next)?
Brian Batko
2:23
Wouldn't be surprised to see him be better this week, I'll say that.
Alex
2:23
If this season ends in no bowl game , do they throw Pickett in there to start a game or two in the last few weeks just to see what he brings to the table before spring ball next year? Obviously there is a bit of hype around the kid due to the praise Narduzzi gives him when his name is mentioned in questions or comments.
Brian Batko
2:24
I could see that, Alex. I've heard the staff really does like him, and that was before the Syracuse game. Might depend on if the season ends in no bowl game, and whether that's because of poor play under center.
mickey's
2:24
You probably don't know the answer to this, but what's wrong with Henderson? Obvious he has something physical holding him back.
Brian Batko
2:25
The word a few weeks back was he was dealing with back spams, but I haven't heard anything more on that front. Narduzzi mentioned early in the year he wasn't 100 percent, but hasn't said anything like that lately. So I assume he's healthy.
Dean
2:25
Was there ever a real answer given to the question on what has happened to Thomas Macvittie? One second he is the future of Pitt football and in less than a year hes on special teams
Brian Batko
2:25
Don't think anyone in the program ever called him "the future" but yes, it sounds as if he hasn't made as much progress as everyone hoped.
fort pitt
2:25
What percent would you guess Oneill, Whitehead will enter draft?
Brian Batko
2:26
Hmmm, I think with the way he's excelled since coming back from suspension, there's a much higher chance Whitehead goes pro. If I have to put a real number on it, I'll say 68 percent chance for Whitehead and, like, 32 that they both leave.
Hanze
2:26
Do you contribute the slide this year to anything specific?  A lot of people thought this would be the rounding a corner year but it feels like we are back at square one? Bad luck, coaching, players are still young?
Brian Batko
2:27
Yes, I attribute it to my first full year covering the team for the Post-Gazette, my friend Hanze. All this ire about what's plaguing the team, and the answer has been obvious all along. It's me. It's my fault. The proof is in the pudding.
PiTT
2:27
Are you sure there isn't just maybe 1 percent more chance that Whitehead goes pro? Just want to double check
Brian Batko
2:28
I said what I meant and I meant what I said.
BigPitt
2:28
If your calling card to land a P5 head coaching position was defense and the defense has been bad for 3 years, how can you possibly succeed as a head coach?
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