I started to watch the podcast and had to leave.
Can’t seem to find it again
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Hale suggests that if Pitt beats WVU they could be undefeated by the time........

November comes.

Got a wow! Out of me.

Its the 5 hughest ranked conference champions so lets say an ACC or B12 championship game features 2 9-3 or 8-4 type teams, the winner of that game would probably be ranked lower than if 2 G5 conferences produced 0 or 1 loss teams. I know this is unlikely but is this correct?

Probably discussed too often. Pitt’s educational endowment is pretty substantial. So there are “folks” who are willingly donating to the true business of the University.

But why is the athletic side just so small in comparison to other schools?

Each week, we've got five questions: one on the offense, one on the defense, one on that week's opponent, one on the ACC and one on recruiting. Here are this week's Five Questions.



Offense - How will Reid’s workload be managed?

This was a big topic of conversation last week, and after another rather sizable workload - 25 touches and 254 yards - we’re talking about it again. How should Desmond Reid’s workload be managed going forward?

In each of the last two seasons at Western Carolina, Reid played right around 300 snaps on offense while playing in 18 games total (10 in 2022; eight in 2023). So far this year, he’s got 103 offensive snaps in two games. So he’s on pace for a heavier workload than he has had in either of his two previous seasons - neither of which he finished. And he’s already showing some signs of wear and tear, with a pronounced limp and pretty clear discomfort late in the Cincinnati game.

At the same time, Reid is essential to Pitt’s success. Finding a balance is not going to be easy.


Defense - To blitz or not to blitz?

For a solid portion of Saturday’s game, Pitt’s defense seemed to be stuck in the in-between: the Panthers couldn’t get pressure without blitzing but they also couldn’t cover well enough to blitz.

They ended up blitzing Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby on 60.5% of his drop-backs, according to Pro Football Focus, and those pressures were kind of effective. Sorsby completed 9-of-23 passes - 39.1% - when Pitt blitzed, but three of his nine completions went for touchdowns. It was truly a feast-or-famine situation, because when Sorsby was under pressure (18 of his 43 drop-backs, per PFF), he completed 5-of-14 passes for 30 yards. But when Cincinnati’s pass protection kept him clean, he completed 70.8% of his passes - including those three touchdowns passes.

So if Pitt blitzed Sorsby and got pressure, it worked out well for the Panthers. But if the pressure didn’t get home, things went pretty poorly.


West Virginia - How much will they run?

The answer is, “Probably a lot.” West Virginia has run the ball more than it has passed in the first two games this season, with C.J. Donaldson (26 carries) and Jaheim White (18 carries) leading the way and quarterback Garrett Greene adding 17 more attempts (of which PFF says 14 were designed rushes, not scrambles or sacks).

Donaldson, in particular, has to be salivating at this matchup. In two previous games against Pitt, the former tight end has rushed for 227 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. That’s more than nine yards per carry. White didn’t carry the ball against the Panthers last season, but he had a productive year with 842 yards on 109 carries (7.7 yards per carry).

Throw in the threat of a quarterback run game and top it off with the success Cincinnati had running the ball against Pitt last week, and it’s not hard to imagine what WVU’s game plan will be.

So, again, the answer to the question above is, “Probably a lot.” For Pitt, the question is more about how the Panthers will adjust and try to stop WVU’s run game.


The ACC - What happened at SMU?

Many touted the quarterbacks in the ACC this offseason, and for good reason: the conference returned a number of productive players and added a bunch more from the transfer portal. In the former group was Preston Stone, SMU’s returning starter who threw for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to an 11-3 record in 2023.

Now, three games into the 2024 season, Stone is on the bench after SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee announced this week that the Mustangs would turn to third-year quarterback Kevin Jennings, who replaced Stone in Saturday’s loss to BYU this past weekend. It was a surprising turn, at least in comparison to the expectations, which saw Stone frequently mentioned on preseason all-conference lists and national watch lists. But his performance through two-plus games was below the line of what Lashlee wanted, apparently; Stone completed 58.1% of his passes for 336 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Jennings wasn’t much better in the loss to BYU; after he replaced Stone, Jennings threw for 140 yards and an interception on 15-of-32 passing (46.9%).

Now SMU, at one point the darling of the ACC’s offseason acquisitions, seems to be floundering in its first year in the conference (in announcing the change at quarterback, Lashlee even went so far as to imply that expects Stone to transfer). It’s a far cry from the lofty expectations the Mustangs brought with them in realignment.


Recruiting - How packed will the sidelines be?

Big games are a great opportunity for recruiting, and Saturday should be no different. The sidelines will be full of prospects before the game, with a big chunk of Pitt’s 2025 recruiting class in attendance as well as a whole crop of 2026 and 2027 targets - including a bunch of guys from Western Pennsylvania.

And that’s exactly what Pitt should be going for. There aren’t many opportunities when it comes to showcasing Acrisure Stadium at its best: packed to the rafters, loud, exciting. A great environment.

I don’t know how the game will go, but I know what the crowd and the atmosphere will be like, and that’s exactly what you want to show to recruits. That’s the message you want to send:

“Come to Pitt and play in a setting like this.”

Well let's hear some predictions...last week was a very good start to the season. This week is a step up in competition but not one that shouldn't be too daunting.

I feel weirdly confident going into this game (even with the recent potential Collier news).

I think Pitt wins 41 - 30.

I think the offense looks very good again and Holstein comes out looking impressive. I think Reid has another good game too, I think Cincinnati can be run one some (I don't think Corleone will be at 100%).

Defensively they will be good enough. They will have moments where they look great and others where they are very frustrating. I think we do force two TOs (I think McMillon gets another INT) and we get 3 sacks.

Any ideas?

Damar Hamlin tied for the most tackles for the Bills in their game last night —- 10 tackles/8 solo/1 tfl. Amazing

Incredible college and pro player, probably as tough as any man to ever lace up the cleats.

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This was out of nowhere and sounds like it’s going to be made official in 30 minutes. Wonder what Cal and Stanford are thinking/will they stay?

In many countries. it's day, month then year! H2P!!!!

Our Pitt guy, Damar Hamlin. What an amazing story...him coming back from what he went through to not only live a regular life, but also to return to the NFL and work his way back to a starting position.

There is a thread on the free football board discussing. Anybody hear this ? He hasn’t been on the air this week and Starkey hasn’t mentioned his name once.

This week's Mailbag has some great questions. Have our predictions for Pitt football changed? How do these playmakers compare to playmakers in the past? And who is this Pitt team - really? All that and more in this week's Mailbag.

Is there a coach in the WPIAL similar to Terry Smith at Penn State that could help Pitt with their recruiting efforts in the WPIAL? Looks like there’s some solid players in the next few classes.

I highly recommend jumping to the 33 min mark lol

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Pat Narduzzi held his final press briefing of the week on Thursday and talked about the Backyard Brawl, stopping the run and a lot more.

Good Morning,

Through my sources, I have been told that he is the top target and priority for Pitt right now - and the directive is to "get him no matter the cost".

He is the #1 target, as he should be, and they are already making overtures. Not sure if it happens, but at least they identified their #1 guy.

Got into shovel fight last night all though not really true shovel fight because I used a yard rake.....so garden tool fight to be clearly. Wifes DINGUS one time brother in law came over thinking he knows how to lay patio stone without stake and string. NOT how I was taught buddy. I said you damn dingus take your circus else where because my stone will be straight. This is cheap stone to put shed on top but still like it to be straight. We have a garden bed out there and I like it to match up. DINGUS boy grabs a spade shovel and hits me square in the foot while I am crouched over and acts like he missed a dig. I looked back calm as a tom cat and used some colorful language I will not bother to repeat. Knew eight away what was going on. He clenched his spade like a lewyville slugger so I grabbed a close by yard rake and said I am your colorful language devil right now big boy. He tried cracking me from over the top with the spade and I cross blocked with the rake like indiana jones. Did a spin with the rake and took him out from the back side of the leg. Was prepared to go all night if I had to but he fell on his dingus rump like a bean stalk giant and decided this was a battle he would NOT win. Told me not worth it and walked back to his DINGUS truck and drove away. I stayed up all night looking out the kitchen window thinking he might return with some coors muscles but never did. Not a big coff3e drinker but boy I had some last night as well as wetting my face in the sink. This is why you do a job the right way. Now you havs two men waiting for the next move and my eyes burning like hell.

I really like this dude Good interview

I’m sure he’ll be here at least a few years but at some point teams are going to look at him as their next HC.

Liked what he said about Eli’s pocket presence. It was clear in the fist game that he has a feel for the pocket that is rare.

Not sure how good this team will be but at least the offense is now entertaining and gives them a chance to win unlike the last few years under Cigs

I think Duzz hit a home run with Bell