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John McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 09.03.20
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John McGonigal
2:00
Welcome back to the chat, folks. I have no idea the last time we’ve done one of these, but — as was the case last year — I would expect them to continue throughout the season. I’m sure you all have plenty of Pitt questions as the season opens next Saturday (!) so let’s get to it.
Jock Sutherland
2:01
Thanks for the chat John.  How big of a deal do you think Pitt’s injury losses on defense?  Obviously will hurt but how much of drop off do think with their replacements?
John McGonigal
2:04
Absolutely, it’s great to be back chatting with everyone. As much as Pitt’s defense will still be nasty and get after the quarterback, losing Jaylen Twyman and Damarri Mathis is a big deal. They hoped to be the best defense in the country before those losses, and I really don’t think they can get there without those two. And I actually think Mathis’ absence will hurt more given the lack of depth at cornerback. Danielson will be fine inside, just not the same game-wrecker as Twyman.
LTURKO
2:06
The running game has to improve from last year, right?
John McGonigal
2:08
It can’t really get much worse. Pitt ranked 100th in rushing attempts per game and 118th in rushing yards per game. They didn’t commit to it because aside from a few Wildcat touchdowns, it was really, really bad. I think it’ll improve (at least marginally) if Davis/Davis/Sibley are all healthy together and Israel Abanikanda provides some pop. But I wouldn’t expect the rushing attack to jump from 118th to 18th. If it can go from a total non-factor to, say, something that will at least keep defenses honest, I think Mark Whipple will take that.
Chris
2:10
Any hunch on the final starting-5 on the OL, particularly the right side (Kradel, Huoy, etc.)?
John McGonigal
2:13
Glad you asked. Without being able to attend practices, offensive line has been the hardest position to gauge while covering training camp through Zoom interviews. But here’s how I think the o-line will shape up: Warren, Hargrove, Morrissey, Kradel, Houy. Really that RT spot is down to Hampton transfer Keldrick Wilson and Gabe Houy, who was set to miss all of spring camp with an injury. Seems Houy is good to go, though, so I’d lean with the experience there.
Sam
2:15
I know you are the Pitt beat writer but I wish you would be more critical of Narduzzi. He isn't a good coach let's be frank. He is average at best. His in-game decision making isn't good(see PSU last season as 1 of many examples) and he can't recruit on the offensive side. What do you think?
John McGonigal
2:18
A part of my job is to be critical of Narduzzi, which I feel I have been when appropriate/necessary (see: Pitt-Penn State 2019 game story). But strictly from a record perspective, he’s been literally above average (36-29). Pitt has won a couple games it had no business winning in his tenure, and it’s lost several games it shouldn’t. So I get the frustration. From a judging Narduzzi’s tenure standpoint, it’s unfortunate we didn’t get a normal 2020 season with Twyman, the original schedule, etc. That would have said a lot about where the program is under his leadership.
Barry J
2:21
If Craig Meyer had eligibility, then would he a better placekicker than anyone that is currently on the roster?
John McGonigal
2:22
Yes. And then he would be the next Roberto Aguayo, only Craig would get drafted in the first round not the second.
Buzzard Bill
2:23
Hi John,  Among all positions, I think the linebacker position is weakest including both sides of the ball.  What kind of depth does Pitt have at linebacker, and is enough attention being given to this position when recruiting?
John McGonigal
2:26
Without Mathis, I’d say cornerback is the weakest position on the defense. As for linebacker, Phil Campbell (5.5 sacks last year) and Cam Bright (62 tackles in 2019) have experience at OLB. Wendell Davis seems to be really pushing Chase Pine at MIKE; I wouldn’t be surprised if the redshirt sophomore beats out the senior. And then young guys like SirVocea Dennis and Brandon George, who played plenty on special teams last year, will provide depth at OLB. The position isn’t as deep as last year, but it’s not in need of dire saving either.
Mike
2:28
What do you think of the new Batman movie coming out with the twilight guy?
John McGonigal
2:29
Eh. I love Batman … but three different actors playing one character in a nine-year span saturates it a little too much for me to be uber excited. Marvel hasn’t lost my interest at all, but DC has to step its game up considerably. Good cast, but DC has messed up good casts before.
Jock Sutherland
2:30
What is the ACCs plan for championship game if not every team gets to play full ACC schedule?     Say NC goes 8 and 0 in conference but can’t play ND and Miami.  Should they get to go over a 8 and 2 team with no head to head with NC (like Pitt perhaps)?
John McGonigal
2:33
The two teams with the best *conference winning percentage* make the title game, according to the ACC. And I think the ACC worded that for a reason, with COVID cancellations possible. So in that scenario, an 8-0 North Carolina team would be ahead of an 8-2 Pitt team in the ACCCG pecking order. Is it fair? Probably not. But the conference can’t keep pushing games back to ensure every team plays its full slate.
H2P man
2:36
When can we expect an official 2 deep? Who wins out at MLB? Heirs apparent at safety? Thanks!
John McGonigal
2:38
Last season, we received the first official two-deep on the Monday of game week, when the weekly game notes came out. I’m expecting the same this year.
Ryan
2:40
Impact freshman not named Jordan Addison?
John McGonigal
2:42
The easy answer here is Israel Abanikanda. The running back situation seems wide open, and the coaching staff holds him in high regard. A sleeper, though, I’d say is Rashad Battle. A four-star kid who should get time without Mathis in the picture.
Wendy Bell
2:43
Who is most likely to be Kenny's favorite target this year? Krull, Addison, Shocky, or Mack?
John McGonigal
2:45
Hmmm, that’s a good question. Most catches I’ll go Taysir Mack, but *favorite target* I’m going to say Lucas Krull. When I look back on what Mark Whipple did with former UMass tight end Adam Breneman (64 catches, 764 yards in 2017) I think Krull has at least the potential to put up 45 and 500. You’re not going to see someone with 96 catches like Maurice Ffrench last year. But expect Pickett to look Krull’s way in the red zone.
GSMP
2:47
Any idea about what a bowl season may look like? I assume the smaller, ESPN owned games are not going to be played. But what about games like the Sun Bowl, Gator Bowl, Citrus Bowl, etc.?
John McGonigal
2:49
I’m just trying to get to Week 2. But that’s a valid question that I don’t think anyone has the answer to right now.
Jimmy the Greek
2:50
You point to the running backs to improve the running game, but the offensive line was truly "offensive". How much of a jump can that group and given that most of the starters return, is that necessarily a good thing?
John McGonigal
2:52
Yeah, the offensive line wasn’t great. A part of that was Michigan transfer right tackle Nolan Ulizio, who disappointed. And 2019 was also Bryce Hargrove and Carter Warren’s first as full-time starters. I think improvements on the left with Morrissey in the middle will be noticeable.
Guest
2:53
How are the TE's looking ?
John McGonigal
2:55
Touched on Krull a little earlier, but walk-on turned scholarship player Jake Zilinskas has impressed coaches and teammates in camp. Krull said JUCO transfer Daniel Moraga is coming along, and so is Kyi Wright. Would still expect a heavy Krull workload.
Doug in Erie
2:57
Any changes this year in that ridiculous targeting rule?
John McGonigal
2:58
The actual on-field rule is the same. The only difference now is if you’re ejected for targeting, you don’t have to leave the sidelines.
James from Greenfield
2:58
John, thanks for the great Pitt football coverage. How can Pitt generate more turnovers than they did last year? They seemed to get a lot of disruption with the D-Line, but it resulted in less than expected turnovers.
John McGonigal
2:59
Appreciate that, James. And you’re right, Pitt didn’t generate enough turnovers. The Panthers’ 14 on the season ranked 107th nationally, and they had only two in their first five games. The defense’s third-down conversion rate allowed (33.3%, 23rd in the country) was good enough to get Pitt off the field. But they’ve got to take advantage of their takeaway opportunities. There were a handful of dropped interceptions that can’t happen.
Jimmy the Greek
3:00
What would it take for Narduzzi to be on the hot seat this season, and given the situation, is that even a possibility?
John McGonigal
3:00
Maybe if Pitt somehow went 2-9? I don’t know, I think he’s really safe. Similar to this being a free year for the players, I don’t foresee many coaches across the country getting the axe.
3:02
That’s all the time we’ve got today, but want to thank everyone for joining and sending over their questions. If there’s anything I didn’t answer, hit me up on Twitter @jmcgonigal9.
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