You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
John McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 01.03.2020
powered byJotCast
John McGonigal
2:00
Good afternoon, folks. Hope the holidays and the early stages of the offseason have treated everyone well so far. Haven’t had a chat in a few weeks, so figured we'd fire it up on a Friday. Ask away.
CNP
2:03
Assuming Hamlin isn't back for another year, who would you say has the best chance at taking his starting job
John McGonigal
2:06
Assuming Hamlin won’t be back next year would be the safe bet,  I think. In terms of who’d replace him, Damar was actually asked that before senior day. His pick was either Erick Hallett or Brandon Hill, and I’d agree with him. Hallett played meaningful snaps when Ford was out due to targeting, and Hill is a promising prospect who’s garnered praise throughout the season. Hallett probably has the best chance to start Week 1 because of that experience. But expect Hill to play a role in 2020, too.
El Turko
2:08
How good are Damar Hamlin's odds at getting a 5th year?  Considering he played in 3 games as a freshman, does he have a case?
John McGonigal
2:09
I don’t think the odds are great. But the NCAA is inconsistent with these kinds of multi-layered situations, so there’s a chance.
JR
2:12
Any chance Kenny could get another yr of eligibility beyond next season?
John McGonigal
2:15
I really don’t see that happening unless the NCAA makes a rule change that allows retroactive redshirts (unlikely imo). The case with Damar is tricky because he was injured as a true freshman. Expect Pickett to be gone after next season, setting up a QB competition in spring/fall 2021.
Kukuyouno
2:17
The ol-line will be better.   Experience and another year to grow stronger, smarter.   With the defense looking solid, and a better offensive line, should Pitt be considered one of the top Coastal teams next year?
John McGonigal
2:19
Pitt should be among the favorites to reach Charlotte in the preseason thanks to its defense alone. But as you all know, the Coastal is weird as hell, and trying to predict it so early seems silly. Virginia loses Bryce Perkins, but UNC’s Sam Howell is legit, so is VT’s Hendon Hooker, and who knows what Miami will be in 2020? Don’t think the Cavaliers repeat as Coastal champs, fwiw.
Darnell Dickerson
2:22
Hello, John. Kudos on outstanding coverage all season long - you deserve a New Year's bowl invite! After a rather "meh" season, PITT should be better next year, with many returning stars on D, a senior QB, a more experienced O-line & RBs. What buzz are you hearing from the South Side about the 2020 season - either with recruits, younger players ready to take the next step, or specific units of the team?
John McGonigal
2:27
I appreciate that, Darnell. Not to take away from any buzz surrounding other units on the team, but Pitt got a huge boost with Jaylen Twyman and Patrick Jones announcing their decisions to stay. Pitt’s starting 2020 d-line of Twyman and Keyshon Camp in the interior, Jones and Rashad Weaver off the edge, and then guys like Deslin Alexandre, Haba Baldonado, Tyler Bentley and Devin Danielson as rotational pieces … that’s something to look forward to. Twyman said after the Quick Lane Bowl that the group could be "special" and I tend to agree with him.
Steve
2:29
Do you or the coaching staff think that sharing facilities with the steelers may contribute to the lack of focus that pitt consistently displays when they lose or play poorly to lesser opponents?  If I remember correctly, Todd Graham didn't  like sharing facilities with the steelers when he was here.
John McGonigal
2:31
Uh, no. A little peek behind the curtain: They don’t actually share the same cafeteria and meeting rooms and all that. It’s one building split in half essentially. Don’t think that has anything to do with it. If anything, Narduzzi and his staff view the constant access / interaction with the Steelers as a positive and as a pitch in recruiting.
Pat Narduzzi
2:33
Just look at me hoist that Quick Lane Bowl trophy. Just look at those swole arms. Do I have the best biceps of any head coach in the ACC? If not, who does?
John McGonigal
2:34
Hmm, Dave Doeren? Geoff Collins? There’s some competition.
Mark
2:36
Hey John.  I'm kind of torn on whether I want the QB transfer from ASU to be eligible in 2020.  If he is eligible, it could push Pickett to play better, if he is not eligible, you get him for three years after Pickett.  Where do you stand?
John McGonigal
2:39
Be happy his eligibility starts in 2021. If Yellen enrolls Monday as expected, he’ll have two spring camps, two summers and two fall camps to learn and (ideally for Pitt) thrive in the offense. Pickett’s consistency should improve in Year 2 under Whipple. And if it’s Yellen or Beville who win the 2021 competition (my bet is on one of them over Patti) they’ll have three years of eligibility to grow into the offense. It’s a pretty solid plan at the team’s most important position, imo.
Tom Flynn
2:42
How much coaching turnover will there be?   Seems like continuity would be a welcome change if it can happen.
John McGonigal
2:46
Well, Heather Lyke told us ahead of the bowl game that she wasn’t expecting any staff changes, and Narduzzi echoed the same sentiment in his postgame press conference. Typically, one or two guys will leave on their own or get dismissed, but that doesn’t seem like it’ll happen this offseason.
JD
2:47
Does is matter that Pitt will be good or bad when we are all about to be wiped off the face of the earth? Happy New Year!
John McGonigal
2:47
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
Ed
2:49
what does the O line look like for next year?
John McGonigal
2:52
My guess…

LT: Carter Warren
LG: Bryce Hargrove
C: Jimmy Morrissey
RG: Jake Kradel
RT: Carson Van Lynn

Coin flip between Van Lynn and Gabe Houy at this point.
bill
2:54
Playing in an unusually mediocre conference with barely a .500 average, and almost losing to a sub-500 lesser opponent in a bowl game, how can AD Lyke keep Coach Narduzzi on the payroll?
John McGonigal
2:55
Stability, stability, stability.
JR
2:55
Pitt needs a big RB. What say you?
John McGonigal
2:57
Big as in burly? I don’t know. I liked what Vincent Davis flashed in Detroit, and V’Lique Carter’s slashing style (and underrated toughness between the tackles) works for Whipple’s shotgun zone handoffs. Sibley could be that short-yardage bruiser when necessary.
BelkOrBust
2:59
What's the forecast next year?  8 wins?
John McGonigal
3:02
If we’re including the bowl game, 9 wins should be a reasonable expectation. Again, not to get too far ahead of ourselves here in January without knowing what might change in spring/summer/fall … but the schedule lightens up in 2020. No Penn State. Notre Dame at home. On the road at Miami/Florida State/UNC/UVA is rough, and we don’t know how Pitt’s schedule shakes out on travel, timing, bye weeks and all that (which is maddening). But after getting to 8 wins this year — with a couple head-scratching losses to Miami and BC — I think the Panthers themselves would be disappointed with anything less than 9 in 2020.
Okiedoke y'all, that’s all the time we’ve got for today. As always I appreciate the questions. Not sure when we’ll have another one of these chats. But if you have any questions I didn’t get to or want to know something in the coming weeks, my Twitter DMs are open: @jmcgonigal9. And be sure to follow all things Pitt football and basketball at post-gazette.com/sports/pitt. Craig Meyer is bossing coverage of Jeff Capel’s squad as expected, so check that out. Have a great weekend!
Connecting…