Dammit Narduzzi. I was done. I had made my points about depth being at certain positions, but questions about the talent ceiling. Hell, I felt like I was over doing it. Like I didn’t have anything else to harp upon.
Then you had to go and tell me I’m kinda right.
No one in the secondary — OK, almost no one — has stepped up and been noticed.
Asked about the secondary Thursday, Narduzzi said, “We’re good. I guess I’m looking for the guy who’s just going to be a beast.
“Usually, there are two guys who stand out. Now, there are four or five guys (at cornerback), and I don’t care which one is in.
“Just throw them out there. Who cares? Shake them up in your hat and throw them out. Which is a good thing because we have depth back there, but I just wish there was a totally dominant guy.
“I don’t know if that’s a problem. We’ll find out.”
Like my ego needs this kind of bonus.
He even admitted to the similar issue at receiver. Though, this is where his defensive coordinator roots show, because this issue on offense isn’t as much a concern.
Now, switch your focus to the wide receivers, where Pickett mentioned as many as eight pass catchers who could make an impact this season. In that case, it’s OK with Narduzzi because, ideally, more wide receivers than cornerbacks will get in the game.
“What I see out there I hope I see Saturday,” the coach said of his pass catchers. “We have some guys with elite speed. We have some guys who are making tough catches.
“I like our receiving corps as much as I’ve liked any receiving corps (in his time at Pitt). I like Tyler Boyd, and I like Jester Weah, but I like this receiving corps.”
Emphasis on the word corps.
“At receiver, you’re going to rotate those guys,” he said. “At corner, you’d like to have (two) guys out there and ‘let’s go.’ ”
I’m sure more then a few people scratched their heads there. Especially when you think about the number of programs running a spread or using a lot of elements of the spread. Or the air raid. Where there are multiple receivers running, and you sure better have more then a couple corners out there for those plays.
At least now I know my concerns aren’t completely unfounded.
Briefly on PSU scheduling a 2-game set with Temple (and Villanova and Delaware).
When asked if he had any response to it, he chortled and said, “Figures. That’s all I got for you.”
Same.
Answer… fewer every day.
I know he said he was going to play with all his new toys this week, but trust me, it’ll be 5 yards and a cloud of dust all day. Probably the same on D. The only lopsided scoring will be on time of possession. He will not tip his hand to “Jame from State College”!