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Johnny McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 11.04.21
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Johnny McGonigal
11:01
Folks, welcome to this week's live chat. We have Pitt-Miami to rehash, a Duke team to preview, College Football Playoff rankings out ... lot to get to in the next hour.
Matt from LA
11:03
Please explain how a head coach, whose specialty and reputation is built on defense, allow his team to give up over 80 points to two teams that he was heavily favored to beat?
Johnny McGonigal
11:06
You’re not going to like the answer. But the first loss to Western Michigan was a schematic disaster. And the second was mostly bad tackling and missed assignments across the board. The Jaylan Knighton 40-yard touchdown run shouldn’t have happened. The 57-yard reverse pass to Will Mallory shouldn’t have happened. Everything ultimately comes back to the coaches. But defensively, the Miami loss was about poor execution.
runthewildcat
11:06
How does PN sleep at night knowing that they lose games because of his defensive scheme which is totally outdated by atleast 10 years?  Any good quarterback shreds this defense on a regular basis and this has been the case since day 1 of the narduzzi era.  In regards to my point, do you think there is any chance we hold UNC or UVA under 40? Thanks!
Johnny McGonigal
11:09
I actually think Pitt will hold North Carolina under 40 points for one main reason: the Tar Heels’ offensive line. North Carolina has allowed 31 sacks this year, most by any Power Five team and sixth-most nationally. Pitt’s pass-rush hasn’t been as nasty as past seasons, but it can still disrupt Sam Howell, who is still having a really good season. Now, Virginia? If Brennan Armstrong isn’t seriously hurt from the rib injury he sustained at BYU, I think Virginia scores 40+ in a few weeks.
NY Panther
11:11
Hi Johnny- How can Pitt run Narduzzi's pass coverage scheme and hope to be successful? Pitt doesn't just get beat....they get scorched. And it would be worse this year if teams (UT, Clemson) connected on wide open receivers. He has changed up a bit since Bates, but is he too stubborn to recognize that he doesn't have a Revis Island? And why can teams stop our bubble and we can't stop theirs? Miami ran it three times in a row!
Johnny McGonigal
11:15
Pitt’s bubble screens haven’t worked all year. The only reason they’re called is to keep defenses honest and not allow them to sit back on the deep throws. Defensively, that was pretty damning against Miami. But at the same time, guys were there to make stops, and they just whiffed. I think coaches always deserve some of the blame. They’re getting paid a lot of money to teach these players. But at some point, someone has to make a tackle.
GhostOf'76
11:15
Johnny, given Izzy's concussion situation and the emergence of Rodney Hammond, it looks like we're back to the RB carousel. It would be great if Narduzzi could pick one workhorse RB and stick with him. Delco dining question: ever been to the Towne House in Media? We used to go in the summertime when it was still D'Ignazios. Great Italian food!
Johnny McGonigal
11:18
In my opinion, Pitt should get its running backs 40 touches (carries + catches) per game. Of those, Abanikanda should get 20 and Hammond/Vincent Davis should split the rest. That would keep all three fresh and bring different skillsets to the table while still feeding your best back.
And I love all the Delco dining talk. Don’t recall if I ever went when it was D’Ignazios. But since their rebrand, I’ve been to the Towne House quite a bit when I’m back in the area. It’s now several restaurants in one. The Shebeen inside is amazing.
Don
11:18
Narduzzi defensive scheme ok vs B level qb’s or lower, but historically for years including this year, gives up huge yards and points against B+ or higher level quarterbacks—- does duke throw 45 times this week
Johnny McGonigal
11:20
Duke has attempted more than 30 passes only three times this year, and one was a 48-point blowout loss to Virginia. I do think Duke will try to throw, and the Blue Devils run a little RPO. But running back Mataeo Durant is their workhorse, so I’d expect much of the offense to go through him.
Matt from LA
11:20
Although it is impossible to fault Kenny for anything and acknowledging the possibility of miscommunication, Addison was wide open for a TD on that last interception! That said, I am not sure that our D would have stopped the Hurricanes anyway?
James from Greenfield
11:20
John, great job covering Pitt this year. What's your take on Pickett's 4th quarter interception against Miami? A miscommunication or was the throw just behind Addison? Looked like Addison was running into an open section of coverage
Johnny McGonigal
11:24
Both Pickett and Addison said it was a miscommunication. Pickett called it a “route read,” which means the receiver can do one of two things based on the coverage. Addison said he should have turned his head sooner in the route to look for the ball. If he had stopped between the two DBs, it’s a big gain. It’s always tough to identify who’s at fault when you’re not looking at the playbook yourself. But I tend to side with the quarterback who’s learned the scheme for 3 years. But mistakes happen.
BizzeeB
11:24
Is the Nardog going to need to promote Charlie Partridge to DC next year?
Johnny McGonigal
11:24
In a vacuum, I don’t even know if Partridge would want to be a play-caller (at Pitt or elsewhere). He’s so good with defensive linemen, why mess with that?
Matt from LA
11:25
Although I hate to blame refs or one call for a loss, is it me or are ACC officials really bad? I cam to watch a football game on Saturday not refs throwing and picking up yellow flags!
Johnny McGonigal
11:26
I don’t think it’s you. I think the ACC refs I’ve seen are pretty bad. But in my experience covering the Big Ten, those refs were pretty bad, too. Think it’s just a college football thing.
11:27
Looks like we have some CFP questions coming up …
Jonathan
11:27
Is this the year a 2 loss team sneaks into the CFP? OSU Bama Oregon Michigan ND all already have 1. MSU also has OSU left plus a potential B1G championship.
Johnny McGonigal
11:30
I don’t think a 2-loss team makes it. As it stands right now, I think Georgia, Oklahoma and Cincinnati run the table and finish undefeated. Those three teams should be in at that point. I think Oregon wins out, but the Big Ten will have a 2-loss champion and the conference gets left out. The Big Ten East looks poised to cannibalize itself out of the playoff.
Sandy
11:30
Oregon and OSU win out. One playoff spot. Who should/ would get in?
Johnny McGonigal
11:32
In that scenario, Oregon should get in … but I think the committee would talk itself into Ohio State. Right now, the Ducks are ahead of the Buckeyes. Ohio State, though, still has games against Michigan State and Michigan. If it finishes 12-1, the committee will say the resume is overwhelmingly better. Which would be dumb.
Que
11:32
why is Michigan state 5 spots higher than Oklahoma? And will they finish better than 10-2?
Johnny McGonigal
11:34
The committee did Cincinnati and Oklahoma dirty. Michigan State has a nice win over Michigan, but nothing else. Why there’s such a gap there makes little sense to me.
Coach o
11:34
Is bama the second best team in the country?
Johnny McGonigal
11:37
Nope. If you looked at Alabama’s resume blind, they’d be outside the top six. But because it’s Nick Saban and Alabama, they’re given the benefit of the doubt.
Bearcats 4 life
11:38
Does cincy stand a chance in the playoffs ?
Johnny McGonigal
11:40
It’s going to be difficult for the Bearcats to make it at this point. But if they reach the playoff, I think they have a shot to beat anyone but Georgia. And to be fair, I don’t think anyone’s beating Georgia this year.
Lahey
11:40
wEstern Michigan gave up 3 TDs to a guy named pimpleton. How is Pitt ranked?
Johnny McGonigal
11:41
Having one of the best quarterbacks in the country has a lot to do with it. My bigger question: how are Mississippi State, Minnesota and Wisconsin ranked?
Joseph
11:42
Who would win Pitt or penn state with a healthy cliff ?
Johnny McGonigal
11:43
We saw a Kenny Pickett-Sean Clifford duel two years ago. But Pickett and Pitt’s offense is operating on a totally different level than they were in State College in 2019. Jordan Addison vs. Jahan Dotson would be a fun matchup of top receivers. Everyone healthy, I’d take Pitt by a touchdown.
Narddddog
11:43
Which loss was worse western Michigan or Miami? And can we expect more heartbreak?
Johnny McGonigal
11:44
I still think Western Michigan. Mentally and schematically, Pitt just wasn’t ready for that game.
Keith
11:44
Last week was a slip up, but this team still has a lot to play for. Sometimes these type of losses can suck the energy right out the team, how was the mood on the southside all week?
Johnny McGonigal
11:46
Everything we’ve heard from the players is they’re focused. They know the margin for error is pretty much zero now if they want to win the Coastal and have a shot at the ACC title. It’s a mature team. I think they’ll bounce back big this weekend and get the focus shifted to UNC.
Sunner in Orlando
11:46
Any reasons for the 2 players entering the transfer portal other than their playing time was reduced?
Doug in Erie
11:46
A few players transferring out. A.J. I can understand, but Wendell makes me wonder if something bad is brewing with team chemistry. Any insights?
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