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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 11.7.18
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Brian Batko
2:00
Well, you can throw the records out the window when Pitt and Virginia Tech get together. But don't do that, actually. Their records are important, and the winner will be in great shape to take the Coastal. The loser will be sad. Questions, please!
Robert B Bottleservice
2:01
should we be nervous, excited, scared? should the band start playing neck? im not used to rooting for a first place team and i need guidance
Brian Batko
2:02
You should be eager, not anxious. Big difference between those two words, though they're often used interchangeably. Anything LSU related would be quite pleasing to my excellent boss, Tyler Batiste. (Hi, Tyler)
Doug in Erie
2:02
Please pick Pitt to lose Saturday, you're on a roll
Brian Batko
2:04
Valid point, Doug in Erie. Extremely valid point. I have picked Pitt to lose four games in a row, and as you may know, Pitt has won three of those and fared far better than I predicted in the other (I think I had Notre Dame winning by 19).

Anyway, I'll save my prediction for the end, as is custom. But given my very spotty track record recently, I don't blame you if you just leave now.
(Also, how are things in Erie? My wife is a proud Gannon alum and Erie holds a dear place in my heart)
Jake Adonizio's Best Friend
2:05
What kind of role do you think Taysir will play this week from what you've seen in practice this week?
Brian Batko
2:07
Hello, Jake's friend. Best friend, excuse me. We really don't see much of anything in practice that could realistically inform us for Saturdays, but I'm still waiting for Taysir Mack to get back on track. He looked like the closest thing this team had to a No. 1 wideout, the guy with the best ball skills and ability to make a big grab downfield, thanks to his combination of size, speed and hands, all decent across the board.

Someone emailed me last week before the UVA game asking me if Kenny Pickett will throw for 200+ yards in a game and if a WR will manage a 100+ yard game this year. I know, sounds like a chat question, right? I told that reader both will happen, but we are running out of time, indeed.
2:08
Who ya got?
Pitt (85.1% | 40 votes)
 
Virginia Tech (14.9% | 7 votes)
 
Total Votes: 47
Chris
2:08
Hi Brian- I submitted on the twitter machine a few days ago that this Saturday is the most consequential (not most hyped, but consequential) game for the Pitt program since Cincy 09. Would you agree?
Brian Batko
2:10
Yeah, I'll probably go ahead and agree with you there, Chris. UNC at home on a Thursday night three years ago, Pat Narduzzi's first season, proved to be the loss that kept Pitt from winning the Coastal, but we didn't know that at the time. There was still much more to happen in that season. This one certainly carries more urgency, and while there's admittedly probably not as much buzz as the past few Penn State matchups, your use of "consequential" is key. Good job by you.
Jeem
2:10
Will we see Kenny Pickett top 200 yards passing in any of the remaining 3+ games?
Brian Batko
2:12
Jeem, was that you who emailed me? No, no it wasn't. But I'm still saying yes. As I told that person who slid into my inbox, I still believe in Taysir Mack, and I think he’s healthy now. Maurice Ffrench is also hitting his stride as a playmaker, and Shocky Jacques-Louis could yet break out eventually. That’s not even taking into account Rafael Araujo-Lopes, who’s proven he can turn nothing into something and was this team’s leading pass-catcher last season. Plus, all it might take is Pitt getting down big in one of these last few games, or possibly some more overtime, though I hope not.
Sofia Lagazzi
2:13
how concerned should we be about the VT passing game, obviously the secondary has been improving but who knows when pitt gonna pitt
Brian Batko
2:15
You make a good point, Sofia. Pitt's defense has undoubtedly been fantastic two of the past three games, but there was that Duke showing in between, and that's something of a head-scratcher. I see VT QB Ryan Willis as as being solid, but probably a step down from both injured starter Josh Jackson and most of the other QBs Pitt has seen this year. That said, he does have a few legit playmakers at wideout, guys who could certainly make Pitt Pitt, to use your phrase.
JW
2:16
What is your understanding of why VaTech hasn't met preseason expectations? Overrated to begin with? Injury issues? I haven't seen them much other than the end of the ODU loss. It's hard for me to believe Pitt will be favored this week after the first few weeks' outlook.
Brian Batko
2:19
I don't claim to know a ton about the inner workings down there in Blacksburg, but the Hokies had a downright nightmarish offseason. Guys getting hurt, suspended, dismissed, transfer you name it. Some of that carried into the season, too, as evidenced by losing to Old Dominion. Remember this stretch of adversity for the Hokies next time you say "only Pitt" when something bad happens to the Panthers again, and no inside info here, but I can assure you bad things will happen again eventually.
Dumsie
2:20
how has narduzzi managed to keep the team locked in this year its been amazing to watch them play complete games with heart and toughness.
can you also shout out my friend in the army rotc program mitch wonos?
Brian Batko
2:22
Shoutout Mitch Wonos. A clear sign of Pitt doing well is me, of all people, being asked to give someone a shoutout in a chat.

Anyway, I think this is probably the good side of something people occasionally complain about with Narduzzi. Is he a raving lunatic on the sidelines at times? Yes. But does he bring that same sometimes over-the-top energy, intensity, etc., to the football facility and practice every day? Most likely, yes. Not having enough fire and passion is not one of his weaknesses.
Keith
2:23
Good afternoon Brian! What have you been hearing about attendance on Saturday? Should we see around 45,000-50,000? I remember that game against Cincinnati in 2009 and that was the first time I saw that stadium packed like that for a game that wasn't against Notre Dame, or West Virginia. I really hope the fans come out to support this team!
Brian Batko
2:25
Hi, Keith. I'm not sure, but I guess I'd be surprised if it's quite that high. Just doesn't feel like this team has captured THAT much attention, at least not the level it'd be at if this game was to actually clinch the Coastal. On the other hand, I checked StubHub early this week out of curiosity and there were a lot of those $6 tickets for the low low. When I looked yesterday, you couldn't get in for under $10, so that's a start, perhaps.
Pat Antall’s Best Friend
2:25
How do you think our passing attack changes this week? Any different from last? Or should we expect another 70 yard passing game from ken ?
Brian Batko
2:27
Pat, are you friends with Jake by chance? Maybe good friends, even? Best friends?

Anyway, to answer your question, for as good as this ground game has been, it's just hard for me to believe Pitt can keep winning this way in college football in 2018. Weather should be clear Saturday afternoon, so maybe they let Kenny Pickett take some shots early, at least. But Pat Narduzzi likes to say that a lot of bad things can happen when you throw the ball, so uh, yeah...
Phil
2:28
In your opinion, what is the most realistic, but partially optimistic, ending to this season for Pitt? Are we looking at a decent bowl game vs Texas or Wisconsin, or should we expect to be back in Shreveport come December?
Brian Batko
2:29
Hmmm, by that premise, I guess running the table in the regular season and finishing 8-4, then losing to Clemson in the championship is optimistic but also not that unrealistic at this point. If that happens, yeah, I'd think bowl games would be pretty intrigued by Pitt and you'd get a late-December bowl rather than something before or right after Christmas. And if the locale is better than Shreveport, you could've done worse (from what I hear).
Lenn Sakata
2:30
If we only win one game what bowl do we go to?  And if we somehow win out, including beating Clemson, where we going?
Brian Batko
2:32
Well Lenn, one win in these final three puts Pitt at 6-6, and you're probably looking at that Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit or maybe Independence in Shreveport. People will be mad. But if you get greedy and win four more in a row, then you're guaranteed a spot in a New Year's Six as ACC champion, the Fiesta or Peach Bowl, I believe. Can you imagine?
alex
2:33
If Pitt gets a division title and finishes the regular season ranked, do you think that would affect the next year's recruiting class in a positive way? (Still irked that Joey Porter Jr. committed to PSU)
Brian Batko
2:34
Maybe, but that stuff can be kind of tough to predict. It'll be a nice feather in the cap for Pat Narduzzi to visit kids, or have them on campus and tell them they won the Coastal, just as he predicted they would, in Year 4 of his tenure. Still, there's just no denying that Pitt will continue fighting an uphill battle against more national brands in the region such as OSU, Notre Dame, Michigan and, yes, Penn State. Golly, Pitt beat Penn State AND Clemson in the same season two years ago, and last I checked not much changed on the recruiting front.
Maximus
2:35
Who do you think might possibly be all-ACC? Kessman, Hamlin?? Anyone else have a shot?
Brian Batko
2:38
Good question, Maximus. Thing is, Clemson is going to dominate that first-team ballot until proven otherwise. No one from Pitt has stats that really jump off the page (or screen, obvi) and like it or not, that's often what determines these things. But maybe one of the OL will get a nod, given how dominant this run game has been. Alex Kessman is a far cry for the kicker from Syracuse, Andre Smyzymzyzyt. Maybe an outside chance for Damar Hamlin if he makes a whole heap of tackles the rest of the way.
Dude Love
2:39
Talk me off the ledge....anytime in recent memory when Pitt has a big game on national TV we lay an egg....I so want to go to a good bowl game.  Tell me it can happen!?!?!?!?
Brian Batko
2:39
I wish you would step back from that ledge, Dude Love.
John Michelolsen
2:40
Do what got you there. Run, run, run. Save one pass for when you need it.  Like GT, right.
Brian Batko
2:41
Yes, like GT, but Pitt is not GT. Powerful as this ground attack is right now ,it's not the triple-option. Probably gonna need a little more balance here, and soon. But your comment is well taken.
JR
2:41
Brian: why can’t Pitt’s receivers seem get open down field?
Brian Batko
2:43
They're probably open more often than the stats would indicate, JR, but Kenny Pickett doesn't always have time to find them. For as much as we've rightfully praised the OL (and George Aston, who should probably be mentioned as more than just "and George Aston" more often) for their work in the rushing game, they've been brutal at times pass-blocking. Not quite as brutal as early this year, but Pickett is still running from the pocket with regularity, which is not ideal for him or his pass-catchers.
G-Star
2:45
What is your best guess on the crowd size Saturday at Heinz Field----no rain but flurries in the forecast and 38 degrees. Weather shouldn't be a factor for crowd. Huge game for both teams. Pitt needs a big effort to hopefully bring some trust back in the fans. Follow-up: will you shave your beard if they win the Coastal?
Brian Batko
2:45
My best guess is 43,118, thanks for asking. I'm not attached to the beard at this time in my life. Was even considering shaving it before the game Saturday. Might give it a trim regardless. Thanks for asking.
Owen Sprau
2:46
Good afternoon Mr. Batko. I think Tommy Carcetti would make an exceptional candidate for President in 2020. Anyways, how much practice have you seen this week/What’s the outlook on Taysir Mack? Aaron Matthews’ progression, the emergence of Carter, with Ffrench could be a crazy combo with Mack if he can play like he did earlier this season.
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