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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 10.18.17
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Brian Batko
2:33
I think they would, too.
Andy
2:33
Brian I enjoy reading the chats each week.  There is a lot of hype around Paris Ford (possibly the second coming of Darrelle Revis???).  I know Pitt will not be competing for a major bowl or anything but why not play him and let him get experience.  If he is really that good 3 or 4 years from now he will leave for the NFL draft anyways and not use all of his eligibility (if he is redshirted he will only play 2 or 3 years).  If you play him now you may be able to use his 4 years of eligibility.   If he is still here as a 5th year senior he probably was not as good as all the hype around him or he got hurt.  i say play him and let him develop with others in the secondary.
Brian Batko
2:35
Whoa Andy, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here with the Revis comparison. Let's let Paris play a college game first. I'm on record saying Pitt should use him, and I'm not flip-flopping on that even with (likely) only five games left. By now, it doesn't seem that Pitt greatly needs him in the secondary, but give him a chance to do something. Cover a kick, a punt, put him back there on a return with Quadree Henderson, just something.
Dave
2:35
Shouldn't the Panthers defense perform very well against a dink and dunk slowish Devil offense?
Brian Batko
2:35
Oh yes Dave, it should. Duke has really had problems scoring this year. But will Pitt's run defense be up to the task? I will write about that tomorrow, my friend.
NC Ken
2:35
I'd love to know (ask the staff) why Henderson is never thrown anything past the line of scrimmage (that isn't working.) RaRa finds the seam regularly. Having Henderson catch a pass just 5 yards downfield while moving downfield will allow him to do his thing without facing the stacked box. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:36
Ken, I don't think it's by design. Perhaps QH's route-running isn't quite where it needs to be just yet. Certainly, Lopes has outperformed him as a wideout. One play I remember specifically was at Syracuse when Henderson did get (way) past the line of scrimmage, and when the quarterback looked his way, he fell down. Something's not clicking there for him as a pass-catcher.
Panther MBA
2:37
Do you know why Moss was suspended?
Brian Batko
2:37
I do not.
Jeff
2:37
At this point, when HCPN talks QB's, he doesn't mention McVittie by name and he appears to be an afterthought as a QB, playing special teams.  Although DiNucci has been given playing time, he's yet to see a full game in his career, having been pulled in every game he's started.  The staff clearly doesn't think DiNucci is a long term answer.
With the way that he has handled DiNucci and McVittie over their careers, do you think we should worry about one of them transferring?
Brian Batko
2:38
Jeff, I'd say that's always a question to ask in this landscape of college sports. Especially at a position like QB where if you're blocked, you're pretty much injury insurance. Haven't heard anything about one of those two in particular going elsewhere, but you never know.
Panther MBA
2:38
I agree with Mikey T. Why would a top notch recruit want to play at 1/2 empty heinz field when they could play at Rocking Beaver Stadium or WVU?
Brian Batko
2:38
Maybe because they like Pitt's coaching staff, like the city, see a path to playing time, grew up a Panthers fan, etc. etc.
Terry
2:39
As the secondary has improved a ton this season i feel as if the rush defense has not improved to the level I thought it would especially the D-line thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:39
Youthful faces there still struggling to generate consistent pressure. Dewayne Hendrix, Rashad Weaver or both might be close to breaking through, though. Granted, that's not the first time I've written that.
Salma Hayek
2:39
Hi Brian...great chat
Brian Batko
2:40
Thanks, love your work
Jacob Johnson
2:40
Will Pitt make a bowl game this year? They would have to win out I'd imagine
Brian Batko
2:40
Actually, Pitt could still lose even this weekend and still have a chance at 6-6. Then, they'd have to win out. UNLESS ... they could be one of those 5-7 teams that make it because of a good APR score or something. Pipe dreams...
Andy
2:41
do you think whitehead will be back next year?
Brian Batko
2:41
I'm leaning no...
Larry
2:41
Why not play the nickel more? The dime package simply is not working when they load the box and go four wide.
Brian Batko
2:42
Pitt's been playing five DBs a lot more lately, starting with the Syracuse game.
Andrew
2:42
Is it possible the running games isn't working because they don't ever seem to give one guy more than ten carries to get into the flow of the game?
Brian Batko
2:42
I wouldn't rule it out, but the O-line of course needs to get some push, too. It's a bit shocking to me that this position group has been such a disappointment, the backs, I mean. I was high on the group coming into the year and thought any number of them could have a huge season. And as it turns out, not one is...
Alex Ovechkin
2:44
Who is the national champion this year? And will I finally win the SC?
Brian Batko
2:44
Bama. And yes, sure, you will. I know nothing about hockey.
NC Ken
2:45
The D has 31 guys on the two deep; 2 seniors, 14 freshman, 6 sophs. I think they are playing better than last year's D, and they have far less experience. They will be pretty good next year. The offense is the issue going forward. Do you agree?
Brian Batko
2:45
For the most part, yes. Some positive signs defensively, no doubt about it. But there seems to be some serious soul-searching to do on the other side of the ball.
Pitt Jim
2:45
Is Franklin a better coach then Coach Narduzzi?  I know a lot of Pitt faithful make fun of Franklin as being a cheerleader, but he seems to be doing a great job in the  W column and in recruiting.
Brian Batko
2:46
Don't forget, people (read: Terry Bradshaw) called Mike Tomlin a cheerleader, too. And I happen to think Mike Tomlin is a heckuva coach. As for Franklin vs. Narduzzi, well, the overall results of this season and last are difficult to dispute, aren't they?
pete
2:47
how many staff changes do you forsee after this disaster of a season? also,curious what you thought about Dabo going into Cuse locker room- I thought it was really out of bounds and he needs to worry about his own team that he obviously didn't have prepared to play!
Brian Batko
2:48
Pete, I didn't see that from Dabo, but everything I heard/read after that game was about how classy he was and how well he took the loss. As for staff changes, dosen't do anyone much good to speculate on that. Narduzzi has been pretty loyal to his guys, though, since getting to Pitt.
Matt N.
2:48
Also, how is it that Watson, who was demoted in-season by Charlie Strong -- during a bad Texas year -- becomes our first choice to replace Matt Canada?  Watson runs a 1970s high school offense that is so predictable you can set your watch to it...run up the gut, run up the gut, pass on third and long, punt...repeat.
Brian Batko
2:49
Narduzzi and Watson go way back, so the head coach obviously felt comfortable with his new OC and vice versa. If Matt Canada this season and the past two has taught us anything, it might be that a coordinator is only as good as his players. And Matt Canada had some very good players last year at Pitt.
gary@northernVirginia
2:49
I saw a comment on another site that said that Pitt's expectations in both football and basketball should be to emulate Virginia Tech and Virginia, good programs that from time to time break into the top 10. That does sound realistic, don't you think?
Brian Batko
2:52
That doesn't sound like a bad goal at all. VT appears to have excellent coaches in both sports in Buzz Williams and Justin Fuente. Obviously, Frank Beamer's stability was/is huge. As for UVA, things are kinda one-sided there right now in terms of hoops success. Good start for Bronco Mendenhall and the football side so far in 2017, but they're a long way from being a program that breaks into the Top 10. Let's have the Cavs crack the Top 25, first.
pete
2:53
so you think its ok for a coach to violate another teams space and just prance in? can you imagine any coach doing that(saban,noll,ditka etc)? you give your congrats on the field
Brian Batko
2:53
I said I didn't hear about it/read it/see it, pete, gimme a break!
Foolback
2:53
Brian: Who
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