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John McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 10.02.19
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John McGonigal
2:00
Good afternoon, folks. Thanks for joining me here for the weekly Pitt football chat. The Panthers have a big one this weekend at Duke. Let’s get into the questions.
9NC
2:02
Duke has only given 1 sack all season. PITT is 2nd in the nation at 24 sacks. What gives?
John McGonigal
2:04
That’s the most intriguing thing about Saturday’s game to me. Duke gets the ball out of Quentin Harris’ hands fast, especially when in empty sets. But remember, UCF had only surrendered one sack through three games going into its game at Heinz Field, and the Panthers still got to Dillon Gabriel six times. If Dane Jackson, Damarri Mathis and company lock up their receivers early in routes, those extra couple seconds might be what Alexandre, Jones, Twyman and Watts need to get after Harris.
ARTHUR
2:06
Who will represent the ACC in the Orange Bowl? Will it be Pitt?
John McGonigal
2:08
I would lean toward Virginia or Wake Forest, giving the Demon Deacons a slightly better shot. They’re 5-0, and their schedule to close the season is favorable: Louisville, Florida State, NC State, at VA Tech, at Clemson, Duke, at Syracuse. Wake will lose to Clemson, but 10-2 is a reasonable finish. Pitt has a better chance of reaching the ACC title game than the Orange Bowl.
Exiled to the South
2:10
Two takeaways in five games. Pretty pathetic isn't it?
John McGonigal
2:13
Well, it’s not great. And it’s something the Panthers are trying to fix. Safety Damar Hamlin said forcing turnovers isn’t a luck thing. “You have to make plays happen.” And in Pitt’s only real impressive win of the season, that’s what the Panthers did.
9NC
2:15
Pitt has scored 50 or more 3 out of the last 4 games against Duke. Does Pitt score 50 or more in this game?
John McGonigal
2:17
I could see a high-scoring game, maybe somewhere in the 70s combined. But wouldn’t put any money on the Panthers scoring 50.
Jack Straw
2:18
What do think will be the biggest challenge that Duke presents for Pitt?
John McGonigal
2:21
Really think it’s the variety of offensive formations they’ll use. David Cutcliffe and offensive coordinator Zac Roper will go 5-wide empty set one possession, then triple option the next. It's pretty unique.
Jud
2:22
Wondering about 2 players,                                                                                   1-Shockey. Is he hurt or has his progression slowed?                                         2-Tallandier. I haven't seen him get too much of an opp with all these injuries and I thought maybe we would.  Any word on he is looking? I really liked him coming in.
John McGonigal
2:24
Jacques-Louis doesn’t have a catch this year, and the only action he’s seen has been on jet sweeps. But he’s playing, so wouldn’t think he’s hurt. And Tallandier isn’t a name Narduzzi has really mentioned. But look, it’s tough to earn playing time at corner when Jackson, Mathis and Pinnock — and Erick Hallett, Therran Coleman and Marquis Williams in relief — are playing well.
Eddie
2:26
frustrated with lack of running game.  Is that because coach Whipple prefers the pass or is Pitt unable to run?
John McGonigal
2:29
When asked about the running game issues today, center Jimmy Morrissey said, "That's all on us," as in the offensive line. Morrissey doesn't think the OL has had a game where everything has clicked in the running game, and he's right. But it's also scheme. Whipple leaned on the passing game at UMass, and that was to be expected here.
Stu
2:31
I believe I read that Duke was 0-9 ATS in the last 9 games they were favored, and 0-8 outright in those games. I’m curious if you think these stats are telling of a team and a good indicator for their future play, or if it’s a nonsensical statistic that won’t have any bearing on Saturday.
John McGonigal
2:32
Sometimes the relevancy of those stats are dependent on the situation/program/head coach (have schemes changed, etc.). But for the most part, I’d lean toward the latter.
Mattingly
2:34
Hey John, what has become of Jim Medure's role in the offense?  I haven't seen him, if at all?
John McGonigal
2:36
It’s hard to see where he figures in offensively. Nakia Griffin-Stewart and Will Gragg have all 19 of the tight end catches, Grant Carrigan is hanging around, and true freshman Kyi Wright received praise in fall camp. If Griffin-Stewart and/or Gragg went down, think those two would step in.
stanley
2:37
the injury situation with pickett seems rather odd... it seems like there's something about his condition that narduzzi isn't saying, like maybe he doesn't feel like pickett should have missed the game.  what gives?  should we prepare for patti again?
John McGonigal
2:39
I can’t say with 100% certainty that Pickett is playing this weekend. But if he was a game-time decision last weekend and Narduzzi thought he was going to play then… A week off should’ve done him some good. And it’s an encouraging sign that he participated in practice Tuesday.
Darnell Dickerson
2:42
Hi John. Big win for the Dukies last week - even in a down year for VT, Blacksburg is a tough place to play. Pitt needs to come ready to play - which they most certainly were not last week. What are your keys to victory in Durham?
John McGonigal
2:44
Thanks for the question, Darnell. Think it comes down to the corners locking up Duke’s receivers at the line of scrimmage and allowing those pass-rushers to do what they do best. And whoever’s at quarterback can’t turn the ball over. Pitt can’t afford to offer up short fields like it did against UVA.
GSMP
2:46
With the proliferation of sports gaming, when do the conferences (or the NCAA)  start mandating legitimate injury lists? I realize the number of bets on the Pitt game last week was minimal but Pickett nor playing would have dramatically changed the line.
John McGonigal
2:48
Wouldn’t be surprised if injury lists become a college football staple in the next few years. Sports gambling has always been around, but now that it’s been legitimized, there’s too much “clean” money involved not to. And just wait until there are betting kiosks on the concourse…
Duzzy of a Coach's Decision
2:52
This question would've been absurd a decade ago ... but is Duke the best team (toughest game) left on our scheudle?  Well, except for our annual egg-laying against UNC regardless of how good/dreadful the Tar Heels are in that particular year.
John McGonigal
2:54
I do think Duke is the toughest remaining test for Pitt, especially with the Miami game at home.
Lou
2:54
is Shocky Jacques-Louis redshirting this year?
John McGonigal
2:55
He’s already appeared in four games. So unless Pitt decides not to play him for the remainder of the season, then nope.
Duzzy of a Coach's Decision
2:56
Since Pitt didn't, who steps up to beat UVA for us, to level the playing field (so to speak)?
John McGonigal
2:57
I could see Virginia losing to Miami, Duke or North Carolina. It is the ACC Coastal, after all.
Pat in California
2:58
Why didn’t Narduzzi use the Pitt Special against Penn State?  Especially if they had it in the play book since training camp, it always worked and you are playing your arch rival with the game on the line?
John McGonigal
3:00
Pitt absolutely needed a touchdown on that drive against UCF. Perhaps from Narduzzi’s perspective, they could wait to use it and kick the field goal at PSU? Not sure. That FG call still baffles me, to be honest.
3:02
Alrighty, that’s all the time we’ve got today. But thank you as always for the questions. Catch y'all next week.
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