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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 8.8.18
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Brian Batko
1:59
Hello, everyone. It is 2 p.m. and so the chat should begin. Welcome to the first of, like, 15 this Pitt football season. There are a lot of options out there on the Internet, so I thank you for choosing this one.
2:00
Drat, foiled by my own chat clock. Apparently, it was 1:59 when I sent that. NOW it's 2 p.m. ... maybe? We'll see.
Todd R
2:00
Pitt always looks great in August until the season starts. Will the O-line be as bad as people think?
Brian Batko
2:01
Well Todd, Pitt always looks great in August because Pitt controls what anyone can see in August. I'm not sure how bad people THINK the O-line will be, but I'm not convinced it will be good. To me, the biggest question mark is new left tackle Stefano Millin. Yes, he has plenty of experience starting in college football, but Kent State and the MAC is not the ACC, despite what Pat Narduzzi might say. Millin's play will be key.
CNP
2:02
o/u 5.5 wins for the football team
Brian Batko
2:02
Over, I guess, but probably not by much.
Smitty
2:02
Rushing Totals end of year in order 1-5
Brian Batko
2:04
I like this question, Smitty. How's this:

1. Darrin Hall
2. Qadree Ollison
3. Mychale Salahuddin
4. AJ Davis
5. Kenny Pickett
Pierre93
2:05
Brian, what are your thoughts on the current recruiting class?  Granted, the amount of stars are not always a guarantee for success, BUT the offer lists of these commits are VERY underwhelming.  Pitt beating Robert Morris for a commit?!?!?!  Narduzzi is fumbling the ball with recruiting and getting worse each year instead of better.
Brian Batko
2:07
It certainly doesn't jump off the page at me, Pierre. I think it has some very serviceable players at the top, if not potential stars, but the staff better hope they found some diamonds in the rough. Because "hidden gem" and "under the radar" are just euphemisms for "reach" right?
Optimist
2:07
What game on Pitt's schedule do you see could be the Pitt big upset for 2018?
Brian Batko
2:08
Same answer as I gave this time last year, Optimist. I still think it's Penn State. Granted, Pitt's performance in Happy Valley last September didn't make me look all that smart there, but with this game being at Heinz Field, with Pitt being especially fired up and playing to the revenge factor, it wouldn't shock me to see an upset of the Nittany Lions, even if they're the superior team on paper.
Lenn Sakata
2:09
My yearly "who is getting drafted in the 2019 draft" question
Brian Batko
2:11
Lenn, I'm not sure Pitt has a ton of NFL talent on this team - I think it's more deep than star-studded - but Alex Bookser could really help himself if he plays well for a full season at right tackle. His versatility on the OL should be appealing to pro teams. If there's a non-senior who could really blow up this season to put himself in that conversation, it's probably RSSO DE Rashad Weaver.
Aspinwall Joe
2:12
Why is Narduzzi accepting some of these lower rated kids SO early in the recruiting cycle?  Shouldn't he take on some of these lower kids in January to fill the class at that time?  I am very concerned about Pitt's future with recruiting getting worse each year.
Brian Batko
2:13
I think that's a fair concern, but we don't truly know if it's getting worse yet. From the outside, it might seem that way, but you have to give prospects time to pan out (or pan ... in). And keep in mind that if it's star ratings you're after, Pitt did some of its best work on and around signing day the past two years, not in August.
"Fraud" Graham
2:13
Famous blog pittpov.com says that you and the other mainstream Pittsburgh media are lying about the Pitt football team to prop up the failed Narduzzi regime. True or False?
Brian Batko
2:14
False, and I reject the premise. I don't think there are any famous blogs that cover Pitt.
2:15
(or any famous "mainstream" reporters, for that matter)
Pitt Meister
2:15
Will Pitt consider tarping games this season besides Penn State?  The stadium should be full for that game but I think after that it will be alot of yellow seats which is NOT a good look for Pitt on TV.
Brian Batko
2:16
AD Heather Lyke said in February on the radio that Pitt will not do that, but I suppose she has the right to change her mind if things look particularly bleak.
Ryan
2:17
Will Pitt actually win anything in the next, say, 10 years? Or is this like rooting for a mid table epl team where a “good” year is one marquee upset win?
Brian Batko
2:18
Ryan, I must admit I don't follow soccer and thus terms such as "mid table" are somewhat lost on me. But as far as whether Pitt will win "anything," if the ACC Coastal Division counts, I think that's entirely possible. It's the half of the conference with much more parity, and on a year-to-year basis, some pretty non-traditional powers have won it. To wit: Duke, Georgia Tech and UNC won in consecutive seasons, so no, there's no reason to think Pitt is incapable of having that kind of year.
Blawnox Panther
2:19
Are there any 4-star recruits on the horizon that have a really good chance of committing to Pitt and salvaging this recruiting class?
Brian Batko
2:21
Not sure he has a really good chance, but North Allegheny cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is a four-star recruit, as is Aliquippa cornerback MJ Devonshire. I wouldn't say Pitt is out of the running for either one, but also, one player generally doesn't make or break a class.
SOMD Panther
2:21
It's been such a long wait for the chat! A few questions I had prepared for earlier in the summer: How does Chuck Reeves look at TE? Predict the opening camp 2 deep at OT. Over/Under on #12's on the roster 2.5.
Brian Batko
2:24
Wow, thanks for noticing. [looks at calendar] I guess it has been a while. I can only assume that Reeves looks much the same at Youngstown State as he would've at Pitt, very large.
Jeem
2:24
The new redshirt rules mean it's likely we see more true freshmen play this year. To me Shocky Jacques-Louis & Mychale Salahuddin especially look like good bets to get playing time this year. Which other freshmen do you think have a good chance getting significant playing time? And do you think any true freshmen play more than the 4 game threshold to burn their redshirt?
Brian Batko
2:27
Hey, Jeem. Shocky is a good bet to not redshirt both for his standing in the receiving corps and potential in the return game. Salahuddin, if you read above, I think will continue to rise up the tailback hierarchy this year. There's no one else who immediately stands out as someone particularly likely to play.
JayScazzer
2:27
Brian, did you ever hear WHY Ox REALLY left the Pitt program?  I know some recent former Pitt football players think Ox got a raw deal from Narduzzi and were NOT happy.  This was NOT a good look for Narduzzi and Pitt.
Brian Batko
2:30
You're talking about Tim "Ox" Enright, the longtime equipment manager who resigned late last month. I've heard some things, as have many others, but my take is this: For whatever reason, Ox was ready to move on. Those Pitt alumni you speak of would rather that not have been the case. Pat Narduzzi has gone out of his way multiple times to wish him well, and I don't expect someone who loves the school and the program as much as Ox to ever air any "dirty laundry" that might negatively impact it, if there even is any such laundry.
Pitt Fan
2:30
How is Dane Jackson building off of his spring game performance?
Brian Batko
2:32
He didn't seem to be in the top two cornerbacks yesterday when we watched some 7-on-7 drills, which was surprising to me. I suspect sophomore Jason Pinnock might be Pitt's No. 1 corner at this point, despite seeing only limited action last season.
Pope
2:32
When will Pitt start beating Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, etc. for recruits instead of Eastern Kentucky, Robert Morris, Bowling Green, Old Dominion, Connecticut, Buffalo and Toledo that we "won" over with the last 3 recruits?
Brian Batko
2:33
Probably when Pitt starts consistently winning at the level of Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan.
Foge Fanatic
2:33
generally, does the media like Duzzi? he doesn't seem that personable or forthcoming, which is a turn off for reporters
Brian Batko
2:34
I wouldn't say that's a "turn off" if a coach is like that. Of course it's nice to come across anyone personable in life, but we're there to do a job regardless. For what it's worth, though, Narduzzi is much more personable than he is forthcoming. I think some media like him and some media don't, which is fine.
HopefullFan
2:34
The clear answer to who gets drafted is George Aston. How many confirmed kills does he have this year? I say 11.
Brian Batko
2:35
That's less than one per game. Might need to up that number.
Neal
2:35
Does Paris Ford have a legit chance to start opposite of Dane Jackson starting the season?
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