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John McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 09.30.20
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John McGonigal
2:00
What's up, everyone? Welcome to the weekly Pitt football live chat. Let's get it going.
Chipper
2:01
Any bowl projections yet?  I have seen Pinstripe and Independence as  possibilities.
John McGonigal
2:03
I was looking around, and some of the bigger outlets that do them predicted only the CFP and New Year’s Six games, which Pitt didn’t crack. But Jerry Palm from CBS Sports, who’s pretty good at bowl and March Madness projections, has Pitt right now in the Holiday Bowl against Utah. I think it’s too early for bowl projections considering two Power 5 haven’t even played yet. But I’d take a bowl game in San Diego.
Paul Brown
2:05
Regarding the future, any Panther frosh/walk ons showing out during practice????
John McGonigal
2:08
Unfortunately haven’t been to practice since March because of COVID, but I think there are plenty of young guys showing out in games who aren’t getting enough recognition. Calijah Kancey is getting pub from Jaylen Twyman on Twitter and some coaches, but he’s really impressed me through three games. Buddy Mack’s getting good reps on special teams. And Aliquippa redshirt freshman WR Will Gipson received praise last week for his work as the quarterback on scout team, imitating Malik Cunningham well. Oftentimes those scout team players end up developing into contributors down the line, so he’s someone to watch in a year or two.
JR
2:10
John: any updates on recruiting? Do you expect Pitt to add to the current list of committments?
John McGonigal
2:14
Narduzzi and his staff have 20 players right now in the 2021 class, and I don’t think the NCAA’s blanket waiver / potential of players coming back will affect their pursuit of adding a few more players. Pitt already has its quarterback in Nate Yarnell and two running backs (Malik Newton, Rodney Hammond) which is a positive. But I’d like to see them add another defensive lineman to go with Elliot Donald, Nahki Johnson and Dorien Ford.
Dave
2:15
What's your favorite James Franco movie?
John McGonigal
2:16
Spider-Man 3, of course. Just kidding. I’d say This Is The End.
Dave W
2:17
Update on record prediction?
John McGonigal
2:20
Before the season, I leaned 7-4 over 8-3. But after Pitt got past Louisville, I’d update that to 8-3. Won’t get credit for it at the end of the year, but that’s where I’m at right now. Clemson is a loss. And I think the offense needs to take a step over the next two weeks to avoid losses against Miami and Notre Dame. The defense can give the Panthers a chance in any game. But at some point, the offense will have to reciprocate. I think they have the talent on that side of the ball, but I’m skeptical of the consistency.
Zman
2:22
John, I still see minimum 3 losses for Pitt. Defense is great but offense is still the same, no explosiveness, and I just don’t see them scoring enough to beat the tougher competition coming up. What say you? And IF Narduzzi’s best team in six years ends up “only” 8-3, then don’t you have to question if this is the ceiling for his coaching/recruiting abilities?
John McGonigal
2:24
I agree that the offense can’t be the way it is and do any better than 8-3. But it’s tough for me to knock an 8-3 record. They got stuck with Clemson, which is basically adding a loss to your record. And having at Miami and vs. Notre Dame in back-to-back weeks is brutal. The original schedule had an off week in between those two games.
Kirk
2:25
Assuming Clemson makes the title game and a title game actually happens, how would you handicap the race for the other spot?
John McGonigal
2:28
Hmmm, so I had Notre Dame, Louisville, Pitt and North Carolina at 2, 3, 4, 5 in my predicted order of finish before the year. I knew Miami had potential with D’Eriq King; I did not expect this kind of offensive output. But I’d say at this point, if the ACC title game happens and Clemson gets there, North Carolina is right now my leader in the clubhouse to face the Tigers just because its schedule. The Tar Heels don’t have to face Clemson and get Notre Dame and Miami in the final two weeks. Not counting Pitt out, but that Miami-Notre Dame back-to-back looks more daunting now than it did a month ago.
Rick Allen’s Left Arm
2:30
After an opening game where Whipple let Pickett use his legs to create space and pick up yards, it seems like Pitt has reverted to the same old bubble screens and conservative play calling. Why not more play actions and deep throws the last two weeks?
John McGonigal
2:34
In the Syracuse game, I think they went more conservative in the second half because they knew the Orange weren’t going to do anything on offense. Limit potential turnovers, ride your defense, don’t screw up a win. Against Louisville, though, there were some opportunities in the passing game that Pitt messed up, whether it was Pickett missing high or guys dropping passes. They can probably get by being conservative against N.C. State. But the following three games can’t be the same way.
SDWC
2:35
Do you think we have seen the peak of Kenny Pickett's ability?  I'm not sure if he has another level of growth.
John McGonigal
2:39
I think he’s better than his stats indicate. He needs to take better care of the ball, but Pickett has been seriously hurt by drops over the last 16 games. Last year, Pitt had 44 drops, the most in the country. And this year, Pitt has 12 … also the most in the country. Catch those 12 passes, and Pickett’s completion percentage is 78% not 66%. A lot of this year’s drops have come on third down or first/second-and-long situations. Those mistakes kill rhythm.
Mike Bleach
2:41
How does NCST compare to Syracuse from a talent perspective? I know have similar defensive philosophies, but are they much better in talent top to bottom?
John McGonigal
2:44
Eh, NC State doesn’t have a Bradley Chubb rushing the passer like it did in 2017. And it doesn’t have an Andre Cisco patrolling the secondary like Syracuse. Virginia Tech hung 45 points and 495 yards on the Wolfpack this past weekend while missing its starting quarterback and a whole host of other players due to COVID. I don’t think Pitt should have much trouble scoring early. But would’t be surprised if the Panthers get a lead and sit on it in the second half.
jake
2:47
more  than any other year, you really need that vocal leader on defense to get the guys going, who would you say they rely on to get everyone energized during the game?
John McGonigal
2:49
You’ve gotta start with Damar Hamlin, who probably could’ve been a captain last year. You see him leading the team when they break it down in the end zone pregame, and it’s on him and Paris Ford to set up the defense in front of them. Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones II are leaders on the front-four, and redshirt sophomore Wendell Davis is a notable voice as the starting middle linebacker. He’s hurt right now, but he won the job in August because of his leadership and communication skills. So I don’t know if there’s just one guy. It’s an experienced defense with a handful of respected voices.
Barry J
2:49
Does Pitt need a coach that dedicates 100% of his time to special teams?
John McGonigal
2:51
Even before covering Pitt, I’ve always been in favor of that. It just seems difficult to dedicate your time to a position group *and* one of three units. But Alex Kessman’s rough start notwithstanding, Pitt’s special teams have been solid through three games.
Matt
2:51
How much of a concern is the inconsistency on offense?
John McGonigal
2:51
It’s a significant concern. I think it’s the biggest issue Pitt faces after three games.
SDWC
2:52
Why are Narduzzi/Whipple so enamored with running V. Davis up the middle like he's a power back?  He belongs in a change of pace or third down role to me.
John McGonigal
2:54
I get the concern, and I think Izzy Abanikanda gets more work. But I will say, some of the failed runs up the middle with Davis were not his fault. A few times he was getting hit in the backfield because Louisville packed the box, and the O-line was overrun. I think a balance between Vincent Davis and Abanikanda will be good for Pitt once the true freshman gets fully acclimated to the college game.
Chris
2:55
Fans or no fans this Saturday?
John McGonigal
2:56
Nothing new on that front. But going off of what Heather Lyke said on The Fan on Tuesday morning, my gut tells me parents in the stands (and maybe some donors in the suites) this weekend with actual attendance in play for the Notre Dame game.
Greg
2:57
BC with Phil Jurkovec at QB looks good - game is at Boston College.  Could be tough..if not a L - what do you think?
John McGonigal
2:58
Jurkovec looked good against Duke and scored a few times last weekend against Texas State. But I think that needs to be kept in perspective. The gap between Duke and Texas State’s defenses and Pitt’s defense is massive. Weirder things have happened and it might be tight, but I see Pitt winning at BC.
Jock Sutherland
2:58
in the last pandemic shorten college season, Pitt won a national championship...do you think Pitt has some pandemic magic in store for us this season?
John McGonigal
2:59
Well, I don’t think Pitt will be winning a national championship. But hey, the biggest game in 1919 was Pitt-Georgia Tech. And the Panthers play the Yellow Jackets this year. So there’s that.
3:01
That’s all the time we’ve got today, folks, but thanks as always for joining. Any questions that weren’t answered today, don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter. And be sure to listen to the North Shore Drive podcast. Recorded with Craig Meyer and Nubyjas Wilborn and broke down the Louisville game and looked ahead to NC State. Give it a listen: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/the-north-shore-drive-sports-...
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