Pitt Spring Practice #5 March 24, 2015
Breaking News: DiPaola of the Trib has an article on PITT’s AD search. The ticker-tape news is that four, count them, (4) months after firing the old AD the PITT Chancellor has started looking for a new one!!
One resounding endorsement of the recently hired DHR search firm is that “Both (DHR Reps) were consultants to Colorado State in its recently completed search for a football coach and athletic director. Oh Hell Yes! If it was good enough for mighty Colorado State with that tough media market they will kick ass for PITT. Whatever, at least the search committee from PITT members is well represented; Pitt’s search committee is chaired by acting athletic director Randy Juhl and includes track and field coach Alonzo Webb, women’s basketball coach Suzie McConnell-Serio and football player Artie Rowell.
Why do I have a weird feeling in my gut that at this point PITT might not be the blue-chip directorship position we fans want it to be? I’m just hoping the really highly qualified candidates across the country have a very short memory when it comes to PITT athletics. Either way, it will be interesting to see who gets the final nod – let the speculation begin!
DiPaola also has a nice piece about the possible new starters at LB in Grigsby and Bradley.
The position is vital to the necessary improvement of the Pitt defense after last year’s pair, Anthony Gonzalez and Todd Thomas, exhausted their eligibility after leading the team in tackles. Grigsby, a senior, and Bradley, a junior, are brothers — two of 12 siblings in a family that includes Steelers safety Will Allen and former Dayton basketball player Chris Wright. The athletic genes clearly are there. It’s the job of Narduzzi and linebackers coach Rob Harley to help Grigsby and Bradley make big plays.
“Grigsby has been really good so far, really explosive,” Narduzzi said. “We put in a package today, and it looks like he liked it.” Bradley, who is two years younger than his brother, said he has some bad habits that need to be eliminated.
The P-G has a piece on Alex Bookser wanting to practice himself into the starting wherever, he’s not picky.
Pitt offensive lineman Alex Bookser isn’t picky about what position he plays. Tackle, guard, even center, Bookser is just trying to prove he belongs on the field. A week into spring practice, Bookser likely is one of the favorites to start at right guard this fall, a position vacant because of Matt Rotheram’s graduation. Bookser hasn’t played the position extensively since high school, but the Mt. Lebanon graduate appears to have the inside track at the job.
“It’s not up to me when it comes down to it,” Bookser said. “If they want me to play tackle, I’ll play tackle. If they want me to play guard, I’ll play guard. If they want me to play center, I’ll play center. It’s just me getting on the field. It doesn’t matter where it is.”
It is pretty interesting that the P-G has pretty much backed out of trying to cover the practice sessions. They have the above article on Bookser and that is it. The Redshirt Diaries last entry was March 17th, not that I blame them.
Also, before we get too far into the discussion about the practice on Tuesday, take a look at this interesting Pitt Live Wire Feature video and see the field and defenders from WR Tyler Boyd’s POV. See spring practice through Tyler Boyd’s eyes.
Notice that he doesn’t miss any passes while wearing it, or he slipped the editor a sawbuck to lose the drops.
As a seque into the actual practice itself, take a look at how Coach Narduzzi gets the most out of this squad out on the practice field. Here it is, Narduzzi Mic’d Up, have fun
Coach Pat Narduzzi on spring practice being one week:
Video: Coach Pat Narduzzi interview
“We’re a third of the way through. We’re at practice number five today and we got some good work in. Sometimes it’ll be good or bad but that’s why we practice. We still have to pick up our tempo because it’s not good enough. We can be better. Little by little we’ll get to where we need to be.”
On cornerback Reggie Mitchell:
“We have Reggie at the free safety position and I think he’s been really good so far. He’s been a pleasant surprise. He’s athletic and he can do what you want him to do. He had a good scrimmage again today.”
On if he has learned anything new from watching the scrimmage on tape:
“It’s always different. I told the players in our team meeting before practice that sometimes when you walk off the field you think it looks good, then you watch the tape and it doesn’t look so good. Then there are days when I’ve been mad on the field then went and watched tape to realize that it wasn’t that bad. So you never really know. It was a solid scrimmage. I was happy with where we were at in scrimmage number one.”
On linebackers Nicholas Grigsby and Bam Bradley:
“We need two athletic guys at outside linebacker. They both have that athletic ability. Grigsby has been really good so far and he’s explosive. We tried something new today and he seemed to like it. We still have to break some more habits out of Bam. But he does all of the right things but he has to do it with a little more intensity and emotion.”
On if he knew them as high school recruits:
“They were both good kids and we recruited both of them at Michigan State because we knew they were both good players.”
On offensive guard Alex Bookser:
“He’s a starter right now at the guard position and he’s doing a nice job. He’s aggressive and intense. Again, everyone’s trying to learn a new system. It’s all a new system. We put in a whole new front today defensively and put in a package today that put them at square one; they have never done it before. It’ll be a work in progress. It looked good today but wait until they get good at it.”
On if it’s difficult to run plays they’ve never seen before:
“It’s difficult for them but easy for me. It’s difficult but that’s what it is. If they knew exactly what to do they wouldn’t need [coaches]. The fun part is putting stuff out there and teaching them how to do it, and do it right.”
Defensive Line Coach Tom Sims on the defensive line so far this spring:
Video: Defensive line coach Tom Sims
“We have to get more consistent. We saw flashes of being a pretty solid group but then other times, not as much up to the standard that we expect. We’re working hard and trying to get better every day.”
On the unit’s performance in the first scrimmage:
“Up and down. Sometimes we looked good, other times we didn’t look good. You strive to be consistent. That’ll be our focus going in into this week.”
On the defensive ends:
“It’s going to be a battle. We have some players with explosion, some with size, and others with experience. It’s just a matter of adapting to our scheme, getting used to the way that we teach things and our standards. Hopefully we’ll continue to improve as spring practice continues.”
On defensive end Rori Blair:
“He plays hard and gives you everything he has. [Blair weighing] 225 or 235, throwing everything at you is better than 300 [pounds] going halfway. We just need to get everything we can out of him as far as his effort and focus, get him good technically then hopefully we can overcome some of those obstacles.
“I want him to eat, lift and run. In that order. Hopefully that leads to good weight gain.”
On defensive end Ejuan Price:
“I think that Ejuan Price has a considerable upside. He’ll have a chance to be a good football player around here. We’ll have to get him healthy. He seems to have a good attitude. We’ll take it as it comes, but I’m pleased with his focus.”
On leadership expectations for the defensive line:
“I expect every man to lead this group. I expect us to establish a standard and then work to surpass that standard every day. Some days we do and some days we don’t. We have to get it to a point where we do it every day.”
Linebacker Nicholas Grigsby on moving back to linebacker:
Linebacker Nicholas Grigsby Interview
“I’m really excited to play linebacker again because that’s where my heart is at. I’m excited to make some plays.”
On what he has to change to adapt to this position:
“Making sure I have good footwork and reading the backs and guards. I just have to tune in to that.”
On having to make any changes physically or lose weight:
“I feel like I’m still pretty athletic so there’s no problem.”
On taking on fullbacks and offensive linemen:
“I’m excited. I like contact so that isn’t a big step. I was on the line playing guys that were 300 pounds, so I have to hold my own, which I’m going to do.”
On new linebacker coach Rob Harley:
“He’s a good coach. He makes sure you know the material and is always in your ear encouraging us to watch film. They’re all good coaches.”
On the new defense having something to prove:
“Everyone always talks about the offense. Our offense is great. We have to make a statement on defense that we’re just as good.”
On Coach Pat Narduzzi keeping a closer eye on the defense:
“Every time you look up he’s hollering and looking at you. He’s here making sure you’re doing the right thing. I enjoy having a defensive head coach because he’s down there more often and more in to the defense.”
On spring practices now compared to last year:
“It’s pretty intense. There’s no slacking physically or mentally. We’re running around making sure you know what you’re doing at the drop of a dime.”
Cornerback Avonte Maddox on the responsibilities of the cornerbacks:
“It’s something that I’m looking forward to. The corner is a big part of this defense.”
On pressing now more so than other years:
“I like pressing. With pressing, you’re right in their face and it’s limited to certain routes.”
On the defense having something to prove:
“I really feel like that unit has something to prove. Everyone talks about the offense and the offense is great, but it’s time to make our defense great.”
On feeling comfortable on the field after gaining experience last year:
“I feel really comfortable. My confidence has gone up since last year. When I first came in, I was confident but I wasn’t really there yet. I was still trying to learn. This year I feel like I can get out there and play.”
On how the corners did in the scrimmage:
“We did alright. We still have a lot to work on. Personally, I need to work on my feet and staying inside my box. Other than that, I feel like we did a good job and we have a lot to work on still.”
On the new coaching staff being more intense:
“They run with us so it’s not just us running. They’re running around with us.”
On having a head coach in Pat Narduzzi with a defensive background:
“I do like that. He’s not always on the offensive side, he’s on our side. He’s making us better.”
Linebacker Bam Bradley on the practices being more intense:
Video: Linebacker Bam Bradley
“Practice is practice, but I feel like we over-emphasize running to the ball more and making sure we get eleven guys to the ball and sprinting everywhere.”
On new linebackers coach Rob Harley:
“He’s real cool and a younger guy. He played at Ohio State with my brother. I feel like he can relate to us as players.”
On working to become a starting linebacker this year:
“I just have to get rid of some old bad habits as far as myself and my game. I definitely feel like that’s what I’m working towards and that’s the goal not only for [the team] but I need to make myself better to get where I need to get.”
On spring practices now compared to last year:
“It’s definitely different. I was with that staff for three years so everyone knew what to expect from them and they had seen everyone come in and grow as players. With the new staff, all they have is film from last year. Coming in now, it’s like a first impression so you have to make your first impression on these new coaches.”
On what was learned after the first scrimmage on Saturday:
“We’re going to compete on both sides of the ball, but we still have a lot of work to do to get to where the coaches want us to be. We know their system wins so there’s no way around it. We know we have to get up to the level they expect us to be at.”
If you want to see what they actually said here are the transcripts: Coach and Player Transcripts.
Here is an interesting tidbit from the Trib’s PITT blog in reference to the sidelines during practice. Of course the player’s parents and HS coaches are important for recruiting but it isn’t as if a total blackout is going on.
Don’t forget to add PITT Live Wire to your bookmarks. The Athletic Media Dept does a good job of archiving all the media pieces so we fans can see and read them at any time.
has had, end of the fiscal year.
He could be waiting out a buddy’s contract,
waiting for someone to become available.
I think it will be an excellent hire when the time comes.
Where is the yellow zone where the mac and cheese comes out of the pot?
I was thinking the same thing… that article contains zero new information, right?
Wake me up when some candidates are leaked… or you know, someone is actually interviewed.
Is HCPC leading this operation?
On Coach Duzz “Mic’d Up” — He said “Put your foot in the ground” several times. Why is this a lost skill among so many of today’s players? TB is so good because he’s great at changing direction. Seems to me so many running backs don’t learn this skill because they don’t need it in high school where they just outrun everyone or out bully everyone. Shady, Graham, and Lewis were great because they could change direction without losing speed — their skill stood out because it’s rare now. TD was an elite at doing that.
–I was somewhat troubled by the quotes by Coach Sims about the DEs and about Rori Blair: “I want him to eat, lift and run. In that order. Hopefully that leads to good weight gain.” Sounds like we could still be in a heap of trouble at the DE position.
–The current AD seems to be doing just fine…
Go Pitt.
wbb – I’m sure we can, but just like any PITT face who has been through the ups and downs and the Boogie Man – Mike Haywood, Todd Graham, Matt House, etc. hiding under the bed waiting to pounce I can’t help but think some weird twist is going to happen. (Just kidding Matt, and yes, I’ll call you later to explain why all the PITT fans are smiling). I do agree that there is no rush on this – it seems good things have been happening in series without an AD in place (except that media @ practice thing we aren’t talking about anymore).
As to the hire itself, I do hope they consider looking in-house if they get applications from there. I can think of two good candidates and I’m sure there are others who would do the university well. Hell, if the job entailed only fund raising and good will then Coach Bob Junko would be perfect. Everyone loves the guy it seems. I understand fans wanting someone with no ties to the previous regime but I think, and have said before, that SP was on an island at PITT and didn’t really influence the others much.
BTW – has PITT advertised the job publicly as required by a public institution yet? They have to do that by PA law right? Someone correct me if I’m wrong but if they do then I’m applying for it and I urge you all, especially Upittbaseball, to do the same. Can you imagine how big the new baseball stadium would be with him as the AD? Hell, we’d be playing in PNC Park just like big brother football is in Heinz.
Why not, I’ve had 33 years experience of giving orders and having people refuse to follow them… just like Pederson and Wannstedt! You guys would vote for me if I push a suit against the University for not awarding Veteran’s preference points in hiring, just like the Feds do, wouldn’t you?.
Remember – even with all the medical stuff earlier Blair played as a true FR last year and had five sacks.
PS: As AD, I hope you will still cover the Panthers for the Blather. And please invite Jerry DiPaola (and Abby Way) to practices.
Go Pitt.
A track stadium would not be something on the AD’s plate in the first year anyway.
That is being totally negative.
Ever think there are tons of candidates to sift through and they want to be thorough picking someone to fill such an important position.
I am OK with you being AD. But, I still like my earlier idea that you walk-on with a GoPro in your helmet (like the Tyler Boyd segment). I see you as a special teams guy.
I am surprised that you did not highlight or comment on this quote from Bookser in the Werner article—“I think that’s one thing that I might say our last staff didn’t do a great job at was encouraging competition everyday, and this one is,” he said. “Everybody’s going out, and nobody — except maybe a few guys like the superstars — knows they have a job this upcoming year.”
H2P
My name is “Savannah”, and I have a problem: I have to have my Blather Fix every day. If my source dries up,I’ll have to resort to another dealer. With my luck I’d probably get a dealer who cuts his product. NO GOOD. I have to main line on the pure stuff – that beautiful white powder – Blather! ! Shaken, not stirred (oops- mixed metaphor??)
Any info. on Jamie’s recruiting budget or assistant changes?
I honestly don’t care if they wait until FY2017 to hire someone if they feel like it, that just gives more time to write stuff about the search.
As to the hiring of Narduzzi, we fans have no real idea if he’s actually a “good” hire or not at this point. All we really have seen from him, factual concrete stuff, is the pretty decent recruiting he did in that short time he had to do it and that certainly isn’t anything overwhelming. When he starts to coach football games then we’ll know if he’s a good hire or not, until then everything has been smoke, mirrors, twitter and soundbites.
That said, I think he’ll do well here, better than the last two HCs we had who actually coached a game I think. But right now he’s another college coordinator who is in his first HC job. Everything else is speculation and while that is what we do on here, it doesn’t mean anything until results come rolling in.
A great Pitt man with as strong a background as one could possibly have. He has done a sensational job at Yale and was a very strong asst. AD at Stanford.
Beckett was a great athlete at Pitt and played 5 years of minor league baseball.
I wish he was not 10, but 15 years younger so we could have him for a long time!
@Comment by Reed 03.25.15 @ 3:11 pm
True… but he was an excellent defensive coordinator. The very best, in fact, if the people who hand out the Broyles Award know anything.
And by all accounts he’s put together a tremendous staff, with fast risers he will mentor on the defensive side. We know the guy can coach a defense. Just like we knew HCPC could coach an offense.
The difference is Narduzzi has 100+ years of experience leading the offense…
He didn’t put a greenhorn in charge. Didn’t turn a high school coach into a major college position coach. And didn’t hire an inexperienced coach with a checkered job history to coach his line.
So, like you, I think he will do well here… and it’s not going to take very long.
H2P!!!
>—-goes back to lurking
I’ve got this funny feeling that Tom is somehow involved in the selection process.
link to mywebtimes.com
Dr Tom – nice pick up on the passes to Tyler! I, like you, think our QB play this year will be a strength. It’s exciting to think how the O will do, especially with the D giving them MORE series!
Reed – is there any way to compare number of D stops this season to last? Or, conversely, the number of O possessions? I’m thinking that these two stats will show a nice improvement.
I agree about Rori Blair. Remember watching a video from winter work-outs where he and Quadre Ollison were going at it at tug-o-war and Ollison dominated him. Running back dragging a defensive end like a rag doll through the mud.
Hope Blair lifts and eats, eats and lifts. Cause our options are limited.
And uniting a fractured fan base.
And assessing Coach Dixon.
And making sure our Olympic sports programs are not a joke in a far more competitive conference.
And raising money. I did say that.
BTW, Bobby Lewis managed the Pitt baseball team for 36 seasons (1955 to 1990)!!.
Go Pitt.
It is a great point though and I’m not surprised as I felt, as did many other observers and fans, that the last staff became complacent as to replacing starters in the third year. But don’t be fooled into thinking it was that was in PC;s first two years. We had a huge influx of FR and SOs who won positions in the two deep. Of course some of that was by attrition generated by Chryst himself based on poor attitudes including a lack of competitive nature.
@ Boston – As to Pat Narduzzi in comparison to other new HCs I get what you are saying – but again, every new coach brings talent with him and this staff, while more experienced then some, is still a new staff with no track record at PITT or even coaching together – a serious point overlooked by fans too much.
I have been reading comments about the differences between this spring camp and the others and I like that the kids are excited as well they should be, but in reality we are seeing pretty much the same thing in 2015 that we saw in spring of 2012 with the past new staff.
You can go back to any spring drills and read what players and coaches have been saying about the new staff, the players, level of competition, etc… It is almost interchangeable and really means nothing at all. Here are some examples of 1st year Spring practices under ‘laid-back’ HCPC:
“Even though the Panthers won’t put on full gear until Sunday’s workout, the 11-on-11 drills this morning had a physical intensity to it. Coach PC was asked about his feelings on scuffles in practice.
“I understand it and am no stranger to it, but our job is to teach,” Chryst said. “There are teachable moments and you can’t let your emotions get ahead of the team. If you fight in a game then you put yourself and the team at a risk if you can’t play in it. So there are teachable moments but yet you understand the physical nature of it and the toughness.”
“Just 15 minutes into practice, Chryst put the Panthers into 11-on-11 drills. It was offense vs. defense in a best-of-five competition based on first downs. Following each sequence, the losing team had to do 10 “up downs.”
“Everything is about competition, whether it’s competing with yourself or competing against someone else,” Chryst said. “Each time there’s a winner and a loser. If you won, what did you do well? And if they gave you a chance to win and you didn’t then what can you do better to give yourself a chance.”
“Everything is about competition, whether it’s competing with yourself or competing against someone else,” Chryst said. “Each time there’s a winner and a loser. If you won, what did you do well? And if they gave you a chance to win and you didn’t then what can you do better to give yourself a chance.”
“We have some great competition going on and it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out over spring, summer and fall camp. This time of year in college football everybody is trying to master their schemes and also develop their own fundamentals and just be able to play faster…”
Saddler: “Definitely, we have so much more fun and it’s so much more competitive. There is a lot more trash talk going on (during practice), but we all know we’re still a team. “I feel like Coach Chryst is doing a great job of making guys believe. I thought it was going to be hard, but it really isn’t. We all love him (Coach Chryst).”
On and on and on… You can look at any school with a any new HC and read the exact same stuff.
One last point – Narduzzi came in with a great defensive reputation just as Chryst had a great offense one. However, PITT’s first two years of offense under Chryst wasn’t really anything to write home about at 24.2 ppg and 26.6 ppg. It was when he had his offense in place and his own kids in it in his 3rd year that it blossomed up to 31.8. The 3rd year. It is quite possible the same thing could happen with Narduzzi and his defense. It will be better I think but I’m not betting on earth shaking changes in production from our 26.3 ppg given up in 2104.
I really am not ‘down’ on Narduzzi and staff at all but am trying to look at the 360 degrees of the team; new staff, new O & D systems, the existing roster players he is inheriting and those FR coming in and lastly, just how overall poorly this program has produced over the last four years, and I truly wonder if we are going to see the big jump some fans expect. It is ‘show me’ in my case.
Great read on the Canadian kicker, thanks!
Now we will have Pitt fans in Ottawa and maybe even some new Blatherites north of the border… Ah?
Go down to gate 24 near the recruit entrance and hang some Pitt gear on the fence!! I always wear the colors to let the visitors see something other than scarlet and grey.
The job right now is to get the D good enough to win the close games.
Narduzzi has consistently encouraged more effort being shown by his players, across the board with comments such as, “is that all you got”? or, is that how you’re going to play in the 4th quarter”? He has challenged this squad with comments in press interviews already, explaining that the team is performing here, (his hand held at shoulder level) we need them to be playing here, (his hand held high above his head) “I’m not sure they realize how to get there yet but that’s our jobs as coaches to get them there”.
So although I’m in agreement with you that the player feedback about the staff should be taken with a grain of salt, I’m pretty certain that Narduzzi has drawn a line in the sand in challenging this team to step it up and he is unaccepting of any “loafing” going on in the way this team practices.
I’m absolutely convinced that this team made a huge impression on Nard Dog during his “in person” debute of observing their bowl game at the Armed Forces Bowl. It wasn’t a good impression for sure, especially considering fresh in his mind the defensive beat down handed out to Baylor by his MSU charges still fresh in his mind.
Can you imagine his thoughts on watching that defensive train wreck while the Panthers self destructed at the end before his very eyes? Yeah, that was “show me” time and the team demonstrated in a no uncertain manner their innate ability to “PITT” and it looked & smelled like $hit.
Narduzzi’s version of Pitt football is far from being unveiled, but I’m pretty sure that one thing we’ll see from him is a team that will be better prepared to take it to their opponents in the 4th quarter. You play like you practice and I’m convinced that is why Narduzzi is consistently preaching much more intensity in practice. His “show me” time comes September 5th, I’ll wait till then as well before I ordain this staff as the rebirth of Major’s Pitt Football version 1.0. But Nard dog knows what it takes to be a winner, and right now he thinks Pitt needs to stock up on more of those supplies. Never forget Houston! H2P!
In fact, I know MAC alums who wear OSU stuff.
What I like about this staff over the previous one is that it just seems to be better qualifed overall. There are some young coaches here on each side of the ball but they are surrounded by more qualfied ones.
I think the new coach not only has a larger budget but certainly feels more comfortable in bringing in people he does not know. For example, he didn’t know the new OC at all but knew Chaney was well qualified and trusted his references.
Enthusiasm wanes in all relationshsips but respect does not if is earned.
Across the board, this football program has to “earn” respect. Glimpses of Pitt’s potential showed up in victories over BC, VT and Miami. But the SOP always seemed to reappear as the standard starting with the unacceptable loss to Akron at home and many tuff loses in games we should have won like Duke, UNC and Houston.
Taking this program to the next level will involve getting this squad to believe that they will win every game that they play in. This will be accomplished, not with hype, false bravado, or self imposed swagger. It will be earned by what is going on right now in the weight room and the practice field.
Pitt squandered last year’s schedule. It was perfectly set up for a solid run at a great winning season. That team could have been 10-3 with just a little bit of luck and a whole lot more “want to”.
This year, not so much. Narduzzi has the opportunity to provide some Pitt payback with games against YSU and Akron to start off the season but the road gets a lot bumpier from there on out. But this coming season is “the season” for him to prove what he has to offer as a HC. Weapons like Conner and Boyd will likely be gone after 2015. Plus this team is the Coach Chryst’s product that was predicted by many to blossom in 2015, now coached by Narduzzi.
So there is a lot of respect to be “earned” this season, not only by the players but also by this newly assembled coaching staff. Their honeymoon with the Pitt Faithful will be over as soon as the Panthers show their ingrained SOP colors in some terrible performance that produces an ugly Pitt loss.
I’m waiting for Narduzzi & Co. To “show me” that they can eradicate that SOP reputation from the program. That is his prime directive. If he can accomplish that feat, during this coming season, then he will have “earned” my respect straight away.
@ Dr Tom – I see your points above and will raise you one thought. You say:
“I’m absolutely convinced that this team made a huge impression on Nard Dog during his “in person” debut of observing their bowl game at the Armed Forces Bowl. It wasn’t a good impression for sure, especially considering fresh in his mind the defensive beat down handed out to Baylor by his MSU charges still fresh in his mind.”
… and I could say “You mean the day after watching his ‘great’ defense get their collective teeth kicked in for 41 points in three quarters?” Yes, as fans we look at that MSU bowl game and think Baylor had that great offense and MSU gave them nothing in the 4th quarter and that would be correct, it was a winning 4th quarter… But as a DC he very well could have looked at that and seen a defense that fell flat on their face for a long time in a major bowl and gave up 603 yards passing.
If we are talking about only what happened on the field to win or lose those bowl games let’s not forget that we had seven (7!) straight incomplete passes on our last drive that would have won the game even with a FG. Four of those incompletions were when we were sitting on the 50 yard line needing only 15 yards for that FG attempt. We got the ball on our 27 yard line and produced only eight yards of offense.
I truly don’t take the blame off the defense at all for that Houston loss – they were the exact opposite of what MSU did but in any game there are many facets that lead to a win or a loss, that’s why I mentioned the offense. One defense finished out strong, one finished out weak. It is what wins games. But again, in my opinion what happened last year with Narduzzi MSU has zero bearing on what is going to happen at PITT this season.
If anything his body of work and experience will be a big plus but he’s not going to be the DC and even though he’ll have input and oversight he’ll not be making the defense call in-game… not if he wants to be a successful HC.
Our defense will be better but I don’t think we’ll see gangbusters all of a sudden.
Grigsby has been really good so far and he’s explosive.
We have Reggie at the free safety position and I think he’s been really good so far. He’s been a pleasant surprise.
The Grigsby news is big. “Explosive” is what they need at all the LB spots.
Mitchell at safety is equally important. Pitt needs speed all over the field.
From the media guide…
Competing with Grigsby will be a pair of walk-ons, sophomore Nico Elms and redshirt freshman Nico Lodovico.
One the other side, the back ups are a redshirt freshman and two walk ons.
Yikes!
Yes, the offense contributed to the defeat as well. That last well thrown ball right in the mitts of Boyd that he dropped could have given Blewitt an opportunity at the end. However that “opportunity” just as well could have resulted in a MISS,just like the one that would have won the Duke game, which could have been an even more perfect end to the Pitt death spiral in the waning minutes of that loss.
My point is that Pitt lost many games in the fourth quarter last season. Iowa, Duke, UNC and Houston, all lost after Pitt had the upper hand earlier on.
This team needs to learn how to kill an opponent when they smell blood. During the Chryst Era they ended up being the killee rather than the killer, way to often.
I just want Narduzzi to teach this team that how to ingrain that “step on their throat” intangible winning attitude that was demonstrated by that MSU defense at the end of their bowl game. As you say, having a defense rise up after, “getting their collective teeth kicked in” for most of the game to come back and shutout Baylor’s high powered offense in the fourth quarter, permitting MSU to win the game sure leaves a totally different taste in a fan’s mouth than winning a game for 55 minutes only to hand it over to the opposition on a silver platter with your own inept play at the end, AKA “Pitting”.
I rest my case.
Both of those RS Freshmen better not be complacent either, because come fall camp, both Anthony McKee and Saleem Brightwell show up for their auditions with this new coaching staff.
Make no doubt about it, if need be, either of these true freshmen can be pressed into action if the injury report at the LB position dictates it as the season unfolds, although red shirting both of them would be the preferred route to go.
There are few excuses this year. Time to win some football games and become competitive in a not so tuff ACC Coastal Division. The only question is about whether this staff can work with what Coach Chryst has assembled, adding their own special ingredients to the recipe to get the job done, this season! The redudant Pitt mantra of, “wait until next year” has expired.
“Give your kids MacVittie for lunch, they’ll thank you for it”!
Also, what are the multiple “Pitt is It” Twitter feeds from coach Duzzi? Who is signing or what is he denoting? Any insight?
We have seen flashes of that play in 2007 against WVU with the 13-9 game and maybe once or twice more but ever since I have been really seriously following PITT football in 1999 we haven’t had that. Maybe in two or three years we’ll start to see that come in… I think when the majority of kids are Narduzzi recruits is when the stage will be set for MSU-like numbers on defense.
I tell my co-workers here in Cleveland that Pitt is the master of ‘snatching defeat from the jaws of victory’
I see no reason why an accomplsihed AD from a mid-major or assistant AD from a larger school wouldn’t be interested.