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John McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 08.14.19
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John McGonigal
2:00
What's up, everyone? After today's morning session, Pitt is through 11 practices with 9 to go before game week. Football is almost here, so let's get into the questions...
Bruegg
2:02
Each year, the coaches offer mainly optimistic view points of the upcoming season in public.  However, with you being around camp, can you sense a different feeling or do you the coaches are truly confident that Pitt may turn the corner this year in terms of win/loss record?
John McGonigal
2:03
That's an interesting question, Bruegg. Funny timing, too. In the preseason, coaches tend to exude confidence because they don't have a reason not to. No one's played a game yet, and until the Panthers do, Pitt's coaches won't have too much to get upset about. However, Narduzzi wasn't pleased with yesterday's practice, saying he was "a little disappointed in the focus" following Saturday's scrimmage. So not everything is going to be uber positive, as expected in the middle of camp.
GregBrownsToupee
2:04
Do you think Pitt will use Aaron Matthews as a passing TE in some formations?  Thinking he could be used similar to Dorin Dickerson back in the day.
John McGonigal
2:05
I haven't seen Mathews at tight end at all during the practice sessions open to the media. But Pitt wide receivers coach Chris Beatty actually said today that Mathews can be used "in tighter alignments." Becoming a true TE might not be in his future, but that 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame would be helpful over the middle, fending off linebackers.
Ty
2:07
Happy to have you on the beat, John. I was curious how you think Pitt matches up against their week 1 opponent now with Weaver out. Do you have them capturing the W on the 31st, or does his injury change your prediction?
John McGonigal
2:08
Happy to be here. Now, I didn't have a prediction for that game prior to Weaver's injury. But Pitt's chances to win definitely weren't helped by Weaver going down. Going against dual-threat QB Bryce Perkins is a tough first test for Weaver's replacement, Deslin Alexandre, in Week 1. The early line looks like UVA -3, and I think that's fair given the circumstances.
Ryan
2:10
Who has been the biggest positive surprise to you from what you’ve been able to see in camp thus far?
John McGonigal
2:11
Ryan, someone I've noticed is defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman. And I'm not the only one either, as Narduzzi praised his efforts in the film room this morning. Today alone, Twyman was eager to get from drill to drill, and he's been quick to get off the ball all camp. I'll have a story on his push to start later in the day, so keep an eye out for that.
ZH2P
2:13
Question: if you had to pick one, would you say Pitt wins 10+ games or <5 games this year? Are you more confident in the ceiling for this team or potential for a down year?
John McGonigal
2:14
Hoo boy, that's tough because I don't expect either to happen. But the opening stretch of games isn't easy with UVA, Ohio (a tricky team), Penn State and UCF. I'd lean <5 as opposed to 10+ simply because the Panthers could realistically emerge from that four-game start with a 1-3 record. But like I said, I don't think Pitt is finishing with fewer than five wins or more than 10.
Adam
2:16
Season record prediction
John McGonigal
2:16
I don't have a season record prediction yet...but Craig Meyer and I are recording a Pitt camp update / preview podcast tomorrow afternoon. That will have our season predictions, as well as further breakdown of training camp. Should be dropping on Friday, so make sure you subscribe and download and all that good stuff: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-north-shore-drive/id14744023...
Darnell Dickerson
2:19
Hi John. After a rather surprising finish to the 2018 season, there's a significant buzz surrounding UVA coming into the season. Other than the dynamic QB Bryce Perkins - who's a legit game-changer - what insight are you hearing from inside the PITT camp about the Cavaliers' strengths & weaknesses?
John McGonigal
2:20
At this point in camp, Pitt isn't really addressing UVA specifically. They're still in the "focusing on our ourselves" mode. But the offensive gameplan is already installed for Week 1. Defensively, outside of Perkins, Joe Reed is a guy I'm interested in. 1,000-yard WR Olamide Zaccheaus is gone, and Reed averaged 18.6 yards per catch in 2018. He's a big play waiting to happen.
SaltyRon
2:23
Have any of the graduate transfers made their way up Pitt's depth chart?  As you noted earlier, many of the graduate transfers were listed lower on the original depth charts.
John McGonigal
2:24
Michigan grad transfer Nolan Ulizio — from Day 1 of camp — has manned the starting right tackle spot. Expect that to be the case come Aug. 31. Former Rutgers tight end Nakia Griffin-Stewart is working alongside Will Gragg and Grant Carrigan; those three should all get a chance this fall to earn targets. And Kylan Johnson is mostly working in at Money linebacker. Last I saw though, the starting three at LB was Phil Campbell III at Star, Saleem Brightwell at Mike and Chase Pine at Money.
Dean
2:25
Do you think Pitt will be the #1 seed in the playoffs or only like a #2 or 3?
John McGonigal
2:26
......
Michael Siggins
2:26
I am very impressed with your coverage!  What do you see different with the offense with Mark Whipple this year compared to Shawn Watson’s offense last year?
John McGonigal
2:29
Thanks, Michael! Everyone from safety Damar Hamlin to tight end Will Gragg has raved about how multiple Whipple's offense is in camp. And that makes sense. Speaking to a former UMass skill player last week, he called Whipple "a genius" for the way he changed the offense around week by week to attack each individual defense differently. That's different than Shawn Watson's unwavering focus on running the ball. And I think the Panthers will be better off for it.
Costanza's Wallet
2:31
Excellent work on the beat so far John. Really enjoying your stuff. What is your impression of the size and athletic ability on Pitt's d-line?
John McGonigal
2:34
Look at you, you're on a slant...Love the reference. Anyway, touched on Twyman earlier. Think he's in for a good 2019 campaign. DL coach Charlie Partridge said last week that Amir Watts is the best version of himself this camp, so that's a positive. The question just comes down to depth at DE. It's not even just Alexandre. Can Kaymar Mimes and Habakkuk Baldonado step up? The athleticism is there, but the experience isn't.
Mark
2:36
Hi John.  Who is the backup QB at this point and who are the starting wide receivers?  Thanks.
John McGonigal
2:38
Narduzzi has yet to name a backup quarterback, between Jeff George Jr. and redshirt freshman Nick Patti. At WR, Taysir Mack and Maurice Ffrench ought to be considered sure-fire starters. Dontavius Butler-Jenkins is having a good camp, but don't sleep on Mathews or Tre Tipton. That third spot could still be wide-open in terms of reps come Aug. 31.
GSMP
2:39
I'm not dismissing the loss of Weaver but to me the key for the defense has to be better consistent play from the defensive backfield. Your thoughts?
John McGonigal
2:42
When I asked a bunch of those defensive backs on Aug. 2 — before Weaver's injury — about possibly being the backbone of the defense, even they pointed to the fact that "everything starts up front." You can have the most talented secondary in the conference, but if the pass-rush doesn't do its job, it won't really matter.
SaltyRon
2:43
How do you expect the running back situation to shake-out between A.J. Davis, Shipley, and the freshman recruits?
John McGonigal
2:45
Sounds like the Panthers will roll with Davis, Sibley and Mychale Salahuddin in 2019. Salahuddin still isn't 100% full-go in practice, protecting that knee he injured last year. As far as the true freshmen, expect Vincent Davis and Daniel Carter to play four games and keep their redshirt.
Costanza's Wallet
2:45
How's Jimmy Morrissey running around after the injury?
John McGonigal
2:46
He's looked a-okay throughout camp.
I love PVASS
2:48
Do you feel like Kenny Pickett will bounce back this year.  I know that 8 yard passing performance was rough.  My boss who is a PSU fan always reminds me of this.  Do you think there will be tangible improvement from Kenny Football this year?
John McGonigal
2:49
In three years as Mark Whipple's starting QB at UMass, Andrew Ford had one game throwing for fewer than 100 yards. Think you'll be safe from your boss' ridicule this season.
All Academic All the Time
2:52
Do you think the D line is deep enough to get the job done?  I have concerns after the Weaver injury.
John McGonigal
2:52
It's fair to be concerned. Weaver had ACC DPOY aspirations. We'll find out a lot about the DE depth in those first four weeks...
High Tops “we are” Templeton
2:55
I am enjoying the coverage!  What do you think of the TIght End sitygoing into this year?  Does Tim Salem have more talent to work with?
John McGonigal
2:57
Thanks! He certainly has a better offensive scheme to work with. Salem called Whipple a "smart guy that knows if there are 11 guys out there on offense, let's make use of all 11." His position group was pretty much ignored last season with tight ends making only 11 catches. The tight ends might have as many catches in Week 1.
Joe Flacco
2:58
What grade would you give Pitt's secondary entering the year? They seem pretty decent from Hamlin, Ford, and Jackson, but not sure I can go higher than a B+
John McGonigal
2:59
It's hard to grade guys before the season even starts, so I'll stay away from that. But Pitt is confident in not only the starters but also those third options like corner Damarri Mathis and safety Jazzee Stocker.
3:01
Alright, that's all the time we've got today. Thank you all for asking questions. Again, be sure to subscribe and download the P-G's new sports podcast. We'll have a Pitt football episode dropping on Friday: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-north-shore-drive/id14744023...
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