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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 10.3.18
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Brian Batko
2:38
That's the multi-million dollar question that goes back to the Narduzzi debate. To me, it's some of both. If a corner can't keep up with a receiver, like what happened at least a couple times Saturday in Orlando, that's something of a talent issue. Especially if it's one of the team's best corners. But other teams also seem to be scheming guys open against Pitt, which is a problem. Both long pass plays to the running back, Killins, were the type of thing that's been beating Pitt's defense for a year and a half now.
Teeman
2:39
What changes do you think will be made to the coaching staff this offseason?
Brian Batko
2:40
Probably depends on the final record, Teeman. If things keep trending the way they are, with almost equal issues on both sides of the ball, I'm sure Narduzzi will take a long look at the coordinators, for starters. Position coaches? I'm not really sure how much blame or credit those guys should get, but a big part of their jobs is recruiting. Only Narduzzi knows whether he's happy with how they're doing that part of the gig.

The bottom line though is I think you'll see some heads roll on the staff before you see the Pitt powers that be give up on Narduzzi.
The Stache
2:40
I meant ACC championship guarantees, UNC second half guarantees. We will fix this and fix that! I know he has to talk to the media but quit making yourself and the program  look bad
Brian Batko
2:42
So he's supposed to say he won't fix this, he won't fix that? Guaranteeing a trip to Charlotte probably wasn't smart, but it was confident, and that's exactly what a lot of fans loved about him at the beginning. It's what a lot of fans WOULD love about him if Pitt were winning. What it comes down to is Pitt isn't winning, and that's really all that matters. There's not a whole lot he can say.
H2P
2:42
Dennis Briggs is to slow
Brian Batko
2:42
To me, his tackling problems have been more glaring than a lack of speed.
Wedz4heizman
2:43
Letting Jamie Dixon go was the biggest mistake in Pitt athletic history. Is it time for us to demand Gary Patterson as compensation. I mean come on fair is fair right?
Brian Batko
2:43
Yeah, it's the least the Frogs can do. Pitt even tried to get them into the Big East, and succeeded!
Pitt
2:43
If Maryland doesn’t keep Matt Canada, Pitt needs to go after him!
Brian Batko
2:44
I wouldn't touch the Maryland situation right now.
Pitt
2:44
Offensive coordinator
Brian Batko
2:44
Oh, well sure, that'd be kind of awkward. But maybe Narduzzi would go for it.
John
2:44
Brian, it is clear that Narduzzi initially had success with guys he didn't recruit. He still hasn't proven to be a top notch recruiter. Do you see any signs that would give us hope?
Brian Batko
2:46
He did, but that's not necessarily an indictment of him. You could argue that he used those players in a better way, and won more because of it. So to me, those first couple seasons are the signs of hope. That and continuing to believe in Kenny Pickett as Pitt's quarterback. I'm not off that train just yet, but it seems like some fans are.
Imma Man! Im 40+!
2:47
So, which is it (primarily): scheme? poor coaching, or poor execution?
Brian Batko
2:47
You sound like me asking questions to Narduzzi now. I don't know. I would lean scheme/coaching, but if you're telling a player to do something and he's not doing it right, or not doing it at all, at some point the buck has to stop with the guys who are actually on the field doing nit.
John
2:48
I wasn't clear. I meant as a recruiter.
Brian Batko
2:50
Oh, signs of hope for Narduzzi as a recruiter? Well, it's tough for anyone to recruit coming off a 5-7 year, or during a 2-3 year, what have you. I thought he started off well with some of the prospects he got and some he kept from Chryst's last class. I still think he has a personality that can connect with recruits, in general.
Imma Man! Im 40+!
2:50
I just had my 60th birthday last weekend, the day that UCF curb-stomped us.  How many more multiples-of-60 birthdays do you think I should plan for, in order to live long enough to see Pitt return to the heydays of the late 70s and early 80s when I was a student there?
Brian Batko
2:50
I hope you make it to 120 or more. You'll see a lot more than just a potential Pitt football return to prominence.
Pitt
2:51
What is with resistance to go back to the old colors?
Brian Batko
2:51
Right now, probably just how recently they changed jerseys. I still think there will be a full-scale switch eventually.
H2P
2:52
Any Women’s Volleyball questions? They win!!
Brian Batko
2:53
Pitt women's volleyball is 15-0. Only dropped one game in the past four matches. Playing host to Syracuse at 6 p.m. Friday night. Probably a considerably better chance of them beating the Orange this weekend than the football team.
Imma Man! Im 40+!
2:53
Why do the throwbacks only pertain to the period when the screaming yellow color ruled, when we weren't any good?  Why not roll out the less-loud throwbacks of the late 70s and early 80s, when we were (arguably) the equivalent of now Ohio State and Clemson on the field?
Brian Batko
2:54
That's basically what the current retros are, or at least are meant to be. They're just more vibrant, which I see as a pretty reasonable 21st century update to make. They definitely pop on TV and in person.
No Longer Optimistic
2:55
What position group has been the best for Pitt this season? What position group has been the worst?
Brian Batko
2:56
Best? Probably the tailbacks. Worst? That's tough, but I'll say the D-line. Just haven't seen much from them other than Rashad Weaver recovering some fumbles early on.
Panther Paul
2:56
According to the updated FPI rankings, just three Power 5 teams are worse than PITT - Nebraska, Illinois, and Rutgers. The Panthers defense has consistently gotten worse in Duzz's tenure to the point that it's a complete joke. And now PITT ranks 111th in the nation in penalty yards per game. What do you think of the consensus - that Duzz is a great lieutenant/DC but doesn't come close to having the chops as a head coach?
Brian Batko
2:58
That could be true. But if you're worried about Narduzzi's defense, as you should be, I'm not sure he'd make a great DC in the ACC right now, either. I hesitate to make statements like that, because I can recall thinking this very thought about Paul Chryst, that he's more of a (very good) career OC than HC. But what he's doing now at Wisconsin would absolutely prove me wrong on that.
Doug in Erie
2:58
Can you take out Eric Dungy with a sedative dart from the press box?
Brian Batko
2:59
Don't think I could if I tried, and I'm pretty sure it'd be illegal to try.
Pitt
2:59
What is your prediction for Saturday?
Pitt 27-Syracuse 24, every time I get down on them they suck me back in.
Brian Batko
3:01
Yeah, I'm as much of a "Pitt never does what you think it will" guy as anyone, but I can't go there on this one. Syracuse is dynamic on offense, experienced on defense, and proved its mettle against Clemson. So I'll say Orange cover the 3.5 spread or whatever it is now. Give me Syracuse 36, Pitt 27.
OK, that's all the time we have for today. Apologies if I couldn't get to your question. Let's do it again next week.
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