It’s astonishing to listen to a Head Football Coach make excuse after excuse for his team’s lack of discipline. To go as far as claiming officiating Bias as the reason your team is penalized to the degree that it has been is a ridiculous. Especially when you consider that Narduzzi’s teams are year in and year out ranked amongst the most penalized teams in college football.
Teams that get penalized frequently generally fall into categories, Team’s that play with a physical edge and attempt to intimidate their opponents physically and verbally. And teams that lack mental preparation. Narduzzi’s teams actually fall into both categories…his defense plays on the edge in terms of Physicality and his offense lacks mental preparation.
Since Narduzzi has been here, his defenses have developed an identity as being extremely physical. From the techniques they use in press coverage, to the tone and attitude in which they carry themselves before, during and after games. Per-game jawing, in-game post-whistle pushing & shoving, post-game jawing…it’s all part of their identity. This is by design and for the most part it’s worked in helping establish Pitt as a top-tier defense first team.
The lack of mental preparation on the offensive side of the ball is obvious. The number of false start penalties are a direct result of linemen who are unsure of their assignment, particularly when they see a defensive alignment they’re not familiar with. This comes from a lack of film study, a lack of being held accountable, and a lack of coaching.
It’s painfully obvious that Narduzzi has succeeded in building an identity as a very physical defensive oriented team, and has done so at the expense of his offense. You can accept a certain level of penalties on defense, as long as the means justify the ends. However, offensive penalties are not a product of the style of offense you play, but a result of being unprepared mentally or over matched physically. When an offense has false starts, illegal procedures and illegal formations, that’s the sign of a team that lacks mental preparation.
When Narduzzi has enough talent, his teams can usually overcome this dynamic…but when they don’t have the talent the results speak for themselves in terms of wins and losses.
Teams that get penalized frequently generally fall into categories, Team’s that play with a physical edge and attempt to intimidate their opponents physically and verbally. And teams that lack mental preparation. Narduzzi’s teams actually fall into both categories…his defense plays on the edge in terms of Physicality and his offense lacks mental preparation.
Since Narduzzi has been here, his defenses have developed an identity as being extremely physical. From the techniques they use in press coverage, to the tone and attitude in which they carry themselves before, during and after games. Per-game jawing, in-game post-whistle pushing & shoving, post-game jawing…it’s all part of their identity. This is by design and for the most part it’s worked in helping establish Pitt as a top-tier defense first team.
The lack of mental preparation on the offensive side of the ball is obvious. The number of false start penalties are a direct result of linemen who are unsure of their assignment, particularly when they see a defensive alignment they’re not familiar with. This comes from a lack of film study, a lack of being held accountable, and a lack of coaching.
It’s painfully obvious that Narduzzi has succeeded in building an identity as a very physical defensive oriented team, and has done so at the expense of his offense. You can accept a certain level of penalties on defense, as long as the means justify the ends. However, offensive penalties are not a product of the style of offense you play, but a result of being unprepared mentally or over matched physically. When an offense has false starts, illegal procedures and illegal formations, that’s the sign of a team that lacks mental preparation.
When Narduzzi has enough talent, his teams can usually overcome this dynamic…but when they don’t have the talent the results speak for themselves in terms of wins and losses.
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