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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 9.19.18
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Brian Batko
2:00
It's go time, people. North Carolina (0-2) playing host to your Pitt Panthers (2-1) this weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. I'll be touchdown down there Friday afternoon. But first, questions.
Touching down there, of course. Wow, off to a great start.
Phil
2:00
Will the recent hurricane that passed through NC have any effect on the game this Saturday regarding start time and field conditions?
Brian Batko
2:02
Happy Hump Day, Phil. In a physical sense, I don't think so, although my iPhone weather app does tell me we might have thunderstorms Saturday. If there's a lightning delay, so help me lord. But from an intangible standpoint, the hurricane did cancel UNC's game last week, so in theory, they've had more time to prepare for Pitt. But then again, their coach Larry Fedora said this morning on the ACC conference call that he sent his players home last Wednesday, and they only returned to practice Monday, so that might be much ado about nothing. Still on for a 12:20 p.m. start, as far as I know.
Keith
2:03
Are Pitt's struggles in the 2nd halves of football games more to do with coaching rather than execution? Seems like our coaching staff is getting out coached in the 2nd half as opposing coaching staffs make adjustments and Pitt's do not.
Brian Batko
2:04
I think that's the million dollar question, Keith. Obviously, Narduzzi talked quite a bit about that after the Georgia Tech win Saturday and then again on Monday, when I also wrote about it. He seems to be placing that blame more at his players' feet, but most of the feedback I'm getting from fans and readers? Not so much.
JT
2:04
Brian, my wife left me. I need to get her back. Please help.
Brian Batko
2:05
Well JT, I'm sorry to hear that, but funny you should ask. We talked to Pitt senior safety Dennis Briggs today on the South Side, the only married player on the team. As such, he said he often gives his teammates relationship tips, and his No. 1 pointer is: "Serve your girlfriend or serve your wife. Don't look for what she can do for you, try to do all you can do for her."
2:06
Perhaps it's too late for you, JT. If it's help to win her back that you're looking for, I would recommend subscribing to the Post-Gazette. Maybe then she'll come back home.
PhillyPittFan
2:06
Do you see Hall getting equal carries to Ollison this week?
Brian Batko
2:09
Not if it's a close game, which I expect it to be. Darrin Hall has just 18 carries through three games, which obviously is because Qadree Ollison has been a beast so far, but running backs coach Andre Powell did say yesterday that he needs to start getting Hall more carries. You might raise an eyebrow at that somewhat, given how Ollison has played, but keep in mind what Hall flashed at times last year. He almost certainly has more breakaway speed than Ollison, which could come in handy.
Larry
2:09
Why haven't they fired Watson yet? My 12 year old calls a better game on NCAA football 14.
Brian Batko
2:10
Larry, tell your kid to pick up the sticks and come see me on Madden 11 for PS2. I'll smoke him or her.
SOMD Panther
2:10
After years in the ACC Coastal, Pitt finally figured out the triple option (for the most part). Should I take that as a good omen that Pitt can also exorcise their UNC demons? In other words, is it possible that 2 good things could happen to Pitt in a row?
Brian Batko
2:12
What, you're trying to say that Year 4 is when Pat Narduzzi magically figures out the opposing teams he's been seeing for three years? Well OK, I suppose that's possible. But if Pitt exorcises those UNC demons, I think it will be more because Pitt's just a better team in 2018 than the Tar Heels, who got trounced by East Carolina two weeks ago, 41-19. East Carolina! Also, that reminds me that "trounced" is one of the few words if its ilk that I didn't  use to describe the Pitt-Penn State game two weeks back. That was a trouncing.
Chris
2:13
Brian: am I crazy for thinking the secondary can still be pretty good? Tell me I’m not crazy.
Brian Batko
2:14
You're crazy, Chris. And it has nothing to do with your thoughts on Pitt's secondary, which has potential. It's because you pull your toilet paper from under, not over, and you put way too much sugar in your coffee.
JR
2:14
Brian: enjoy your chats and coverage of Pitt FB. How will the loss of players due to suspension effect Carolina?? Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:18
Thank you, JR. That's very kind of you to say. I think it's obviously going to continue to hurt the Heels, as it has already. Chazz Surratt may well be a better quarterback than Nathan Elliott, but hasn't had a chance to show it in game action so far in 2018. Then on defense, pass-rushing force Malik Carney had a team-high 5.5 sacks last season, so that's one potential headache Pitt's OL won't have to deal with. Wideout Beau Corrales also had a couple catches last year at Pitt, and he's out, too.
Shalerboy
2:18
Hi Brian, Bigg fan I go to Shaler and yu are best writter ever. Yu are my roll mudle. I want to be a writter like yu. Do yu thinks I cans do it? Wills yu menttor me? Go PITT!
Brian Batko
2:19
Hello, Shaler boy. I appreciate that. You do seem to have a bright future ahead of you in this industry, and if you'd like I can take you under my wing. Please email me at bbatko@post-gazette.com for my hourly rate.
RickTrocano
2:20
How’s Pickett’s knee? Look mobile in practice?
Brian Batko
2:20
Looked fine in the 20-30 minutes of practice we got to see yesterday morning, but as usual, that included nothing resembling a real football game.
Jonathan
2:22
I know that UNC has staggered some of their suspensions. Do we know of any key players that may not be playing on Saturday?
Brian Batko
2:22
Yes, there are some staggered suspensions, but Malik Carney is the most notable of the dozen or so guys who got punished and he's definitely out against Pitt, from everything I've seen.
Q
2:22
Do you expect to see a change in play calling in the second half to try and spark the offense, or do you just expect the coaches to drill "finishing" and "focusing" into the players all week and expect them to execute better in the second half?
Brian Batko
2:23
I hope we see even more wild and crazy plays like that QB reverse pass out of the wildcat that led to an interception Saturday. Those are fun to watch.
2:24
But in all seriousness, I don't get the sense that Pat Narduzzi is unhappy with his schemes or play calls, so execution is at the top of the to-do list.
Keith
2:24
From the pictures of practice looks like they are going to be wearing the blue helmets with whatever uniform combo. The uniform combo last week looks terrible! When if at all is the University going to go with the old colors?
Brian Batko
2:26
For the record, Keith, I wholeheartedly agree that the "Throwback" uniforms and colors are far superior. I'm sure we'll see them eventually, both home and road versions. You'll be able to knock me over with a feather* if Pitt doesn't wear the home retros for homecoming Oct. 6 against Syracuse

*I am not a large person
Neal
2:26
Why is Aaron Mathews getting more snaps then Taysir Mack? Also why no tre Tipon last game?
Brian Batko
2:27
He might be getting more snaps, but obviously Mack is drawing more targets and thus more receptions. Keep in mind that Mathews' best trait is probably his size, physicality and run-blocking, so he does serve a purpose on this run-oriented team. But the coaching staff knows what it has in Mack. I wouldn't worry about this.
RickTrocano
2:28
Pickett’s health?
Brian Batko
2:28
Clean. Bill.
JW
2:28
What do you think is the biggest reason Pitt's passing game is struggling? Seems like several causes -- in particular, O-Line's pass blocking, and receivers unable to separate. How much do you see the scheme/play-calling tying in to this, too?
Brian Batko
2:31
I think it's a combination of all those things. The OL had a much better day against GT than PSU, in pass and run blocking. But I'm still not seeing much separation from those wideouts, and I believe Kenny Pickett's relative inexperience is continues to show at times. A major question is whether that's handcuffing the play-calling or vice versa, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him light up a UNC secondary that gave up 290 yards passing to ECU.
longsufferingpittfan
2:31
Is my suffering ever going to end?
Brian Batko
2:32
All of our suffering will end someday, in death.
Q
2:33
Wondering if we might see some adjustments this week to defend the RPO game? Possibly some nickel or multiple fronts to try and slow it down. Seems that is the last big hump this defense needs to get over.
Brian Batko
2:34
Pitt is still going to focus on stopping the run first, and I think the coaches are concerned about UNC's two-headed ground game of Antonio Williams and Jordon Brown. If anything, I think that's more a strength of the Tar Heels offense than the quarterback play thus far, but containing Anthony Ratliff-Williams will be big, too. You might remember him from scoring 19 touchdowns last season against Pitt at Heinz Field.
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