ACC coaches anonymously talk about Pitt & other ACC teams

[cbpitt2]

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/acc-coaches-talk-anonymously-about-conference-foes-2019

Pitt

"The division title was a great thing for Pat (Narduzzi), but it probably doesn't change much for the program. Year in and year out you always see the same thing from these guys — they reflect Narduzzi in how they're physical and disciplined and really mean working against you, but it's always a question of how far their talent can take them. It's not about a limitation of their culture or their play calling. It's really all about what kind of talent they can get. They're losing a lot of guys heading into this season, and the crowning achievement for that group was a 7–7 run. That's just the reality of the program right now."

"Right away, you notice they need to replace their backfield. Qadree Ollison is a guy they'll miss; he will likely end up on an NFL roster. Next they're going to have to find a whole new offensive line. And they really lived on pounding it, on wearing you down. When they were clicking, it was because they could beat you up running. They were a one-dimensional offense after Matt Canada left, and you can't do that without being really, really talented at that one thing."

"Mark Whipple is a really great offensive mind. They don't have a ton of talent to hand him, but the guy is coming from UMass."

"They're going to have to ugly it up with their defense to stay around .500 this year."

 

[PittCity]

Not that Narduzzi needs any motivation, but If I was him , that would fire me up.

 

[Las Panteras]

Absolutely valid assessment

Its incumbent upon narduzzi to show something more than .500 this year

 

[cease10]

I think there was a limitation of play calling and this year should tell us whether last yr offense issue was due to the QB or OC.

 

[anon_vmuicqnzlyp3u]

I think there was a limitation of play calling and this year should tell us whether last yr offense issue was due to the QB or OC.

How about the talent level limited the play calling?

 

[McKee Place]

But everyone here keeps predicting 10 wins ...

 

[cease10]

How about the talent level limited the play calling?

And that's why I said that this yr should tell us whether it was a talent or coaching issue.

 

[PanthersMBT]

They say first it was Matt Canada, and then a strong running game last year ... so this year its up to the defense (which arguably should be Narduzzi's best ) and Pickett to prove the can carry the team to wins this season.
Im positive one of the backs will prove just as good as the recent backs we have had.

 

[Jakhny]

Does anyone perceive an uptick to the talent that ACC teams have a across the board this year?

 

[RaleighPittFan]

WTH does this mean, "Mark Whipple is a really great offensive mind. They don't have a ton of talent to hand him, but the guy is coming from UMass."?

What does, "But the guy is coming from UMass" mean?

 

[Jeffburgh]

WTH does this mean, "Mark Whipple is a really great offensive mind. They don't have a ton of talent to hand him, but the guy is coming from UMass."?

What does, "But the guy is coming from UMass" mean?

He can make things with with modest talent.

 

[RingDinger]

WTH does this mean, "Mark Whipple is a really great offensive mind. They don't have a ton of talent to hand him, but the guy is coming from UMass."?

What does, "But the guy is coming from UMass" mean?

It means Pitt doesn't have a lot of talent, but if he can weave straw into gold at UMass, he may not necessarily need a lot of talent.

Although I think Mack and Ffrench could both easily be All-ACC. Obviously, the o-line remains a huge question mark, as does the running back situation. But I think it's more of an indictment on Kenny Pickett, who most objective observers do not fear.

 

[RaleighPittFan]

He can make things with with modest talent.

Okay. But, I was under the impression he had better talent at UMass, than his competition did, so I don't see that as being a plus for this year.

Maybe he will be a big help in recruiting better players for future seasons.

 

[thebadby2]

It means Pitt doesn't have a lot of talent, but if he can weave straw into gold at UMass, he may not necessarily need a lot of talent.

Although I think Mack and Ffrench could both easily be All-ACC. Obviously, the o-line remains a huge question mark, as does the running back situation. But I think it's more of an indictment on Kenny Pickett, who most objective observers do not fear.

Not sure how much gold he wove at UMASS once they became a D1 program. In fact they were God-awful when Whipple returned as HC from 2014-18, so bad they pressured him to step down.

I took that comment to mean that Pitt doesn’t have much offensive talent, but compared to what Whipple was used to at UMASS, which had none, Pitt’s players look pretty good.

 

[RingDinger]

Not sure how much gold he wove at UMASS once they became a D1 program. In fact they were God-awful when Whipple returned as HC from 2014-18, so bad they pressured him to step down.

I took that comment to mean that Pitt doesn’t have much offensive talent, but compared to what Whipple was used to at UMASS, which had none, Pitt’s players look pretty good.

Obviously, "gold" is a relative term here, and we're only talking about the offense--not the program as a whole. They were in the top half of D1 in total offense each the last two years, which is punching above one's weight class for UMass. He did turn a lowly Andy Isabella into the nation's leader in receiving yards, which isn't too shabby. I don't think anyone thinks they were the '99 Rams, but I think he did a pretty good job with what he had to work with.

 

[thebadby2]

Obviously, "gold" is a relative term here, and we're only talking about the offense--not the program as a whole. They were in the top half of D1 in total offense each the last two years, which is punching above one's weight class for UMass. He did turn a lowly Andy Isabella into the nation's leader in receiving yards, which isn't too shabby. I don't think anyone thinks they were the '99 Rams, but I think he did a pretty good job with what he had to work with.

Well he has his work cut out for him at Pitt, thats for sure.

 

[21Guns.]

And that's why I said that this yr should tell us whether it was a talent or coaching issue.

Who is responsible for the talent level? If the talent is not up to par after 5 years it still means you have a coaching problem. It the coaches responsibility to bring in talent.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

100% spot on. Narduzzi is a good coach but he needs better talent

 

[bwh05]

Who is responsible for the talent level? If the talent is not up to par after 5 years it still means you have a coaching problem. It the coaches responsibility to bring in talent.

I agree, but some places are harder than others to attract talent. You can definitely be a good coach & still lose because you’re a victim of circumstances

 

[Las Panteras]

Although I think Mack and Ffrench could both easily be all ACC

Idiotic

 

[RingDinger]

Idiotic

Lo siento, Las Pantera. Alas, however; I didn't say they would be first team All-ACC. You don't think they could each be one of the top nine (or 12ish, if we're counting honorable mentions) receivers in the conference? Well I'm no homer, but I certainly do.

 

[21Guns.]

I agree, but some places are harder than others to attract talent than others. You can definitely be a good coach & still lose because you’re a victim of circumstances

I agree that it harder to win at some places but do you think winning more than 8 games is unrealistic expectations? Will you be satisfied with another 7-6 type of season?

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

How come the coach didn't mention the tough nonconference schedule when referencing the 7-7 record? Oh because no one is impressed nor cares about who you play?

 

[lilspainishflea]

How come the coach didn't mention the tough nonconference schedule when referencing the 7-7 record? Oh because no one is impressed nor cares about who you play?

Just further proof that we need to abandon our idiotic scheduling. No one will be objective when assessing our program and say "well, Syracuse probably would have gone 0-4 or at best 1-3 against PSU, @UCF, @Notre Dame and Clemson" too. Yeah, we lost to UNC and Stanford and kept ourselves from having a historic season. But the schedule gave us razor-thin margins.

Anyway, we should play 1 of PSU and WVU every year and 2 cupcakes. We need to rack up 9 win seasons for a few years in a row.

 

[21Guns.]

How come the coach didn't mention the tough nonconference schedule when referencing the 7-7 record? Oh because no one is impressed nor cares about who you play?

Probably because the rest of the schedule was pretty weak. Pitt played 9 unranked teams. Pitt could have won 9 games without beating a single ranked team.

 

[RingDinger]

Just further proof that we need to abandon our idiotic scheduling. No one will be objective when assessing our program and say "well, Syracuse probably would have gone 0-4 or at best 1-3 against PSU, @UCF, @Notre Dame and Clemson" too. Yeah, we lost to UNC and Stanford and kept ourselves from having a historic season. But the schedule gave us razor-thin margins.

Anyway, we should play 1 of PSU and WVU every year and 2 cupcakes. We need to rack up 9 win seasons for a few years in a row.

If WVU was on the schedule every year, we would still have the Notre Dame years. But, while I think last year's non-con schedule was excessively difficult (due, in large part, to an unanticipated run by UCF), no one ever made a law against actually winning a few of these games. I think the Coastal and our Atlantic crossover are weak enough where the AD shouldn't be the one responsible for us having a half-decent record.

That said, if people - both casual fans and national pundits alike - are going to be too lazy to peel back a few layers and take the quality of your opponents into account, then yeah - you might as well cupcake it up.

 

[upj87]

Not that Narduzzi needs any motivation, but If I was him , that would fire me up.

what is that old saying, oh yeah, "the truth fires you up"

 

[PittCity]

what is that old saying, oh yeah, "the truth fires you up"

I honestly think they have talent on the offensive side of the ball, it's just unproven and with these prediction and outlook discussions from people and coaches that is always the #1 point. You have to prove it on the field for people to believe.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Probably because the rest of the schedule was pretty weak. Pitt played 9 unranked teams. Pitt could have won 9 games without beating a single ranked team.

You'd be surprised how many teams across college football feast on beating unranked teams or beating teams with losing records. So Pitt should apologize for beating these teams, but we'll kiss other teams' asses for taking care of business?

 

[anon_vmuicqnzlyp3u]

Probably because the rest of the schedule was pretty weak. Pitt played 9 unranked teams. Pitt could have won 9 games without beating a single ranked team.

You'd be surprised how many teams across college football feast on beating unranked teams or beating teams with losing records. So Pitt should apologize for beating these teams, but we'll kiss other teams' asses for taking care of business?

21Guns Is correct and balls on accurate. Homers want to blame the OOC but the fact of the matter is we don’t have the talent and other ACC coaches know it and realize it. You can try and spin it any way you want but a 7-7 record and 5-7 the prior tend to prove those right

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

21Guns Is correct and balls on accurate. Homers want to blame the OOC but the fact of the matter is we don’t have the talent and other ACC coaches know it and realize it. You can try and spin it any way you want but a 7-7 record and 5-7 the prior tend to prove those right

Sounds like sour grapes then if these coaches blast our talent and cannot beat Pitt on the field. I guess Pitt should apologize for beating these teams despite the lesser talent.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

Probably because the rest of the schedule was pretty weak. Pitt played 9 unranked teams. Pitt could have won 9 games without beating a single ranked team.

Pitt played the 3rd toughest schedule in the country if you look at Sagarin. If they had an OC worth anything they win 9 games. They didn't, so they didn't.

If things don't improve under Whipple then blame talent.

 

[21Guns.]

You'd be surprised how many teams across college football feast on beating unranked teams or beating teams with losing records. So Pitt should apologize for beating these teams, but we'll kiss other teams' asses for taking care of business?

You missed my point entirely. If they took care of business against the unranked teams they would have finished 10-4 record...however they didn't take care of business and ended up 7-7. No one is asking anyone to apologize. It all about taking care of business and winning games. Reality is the difference between Pitt finishing ranked with a 10 win season was not the OOC schedule it was not winning winnable games.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Why are you on the Pitt site? Honest question

You missed my point entirely. If they took care of business against the unranked teams they would have finished 10-4 record...however they didn't take care of business and ended up 7-7. No one is asking anyone to apologize. It all about taking care of business and winning games. Reality is the difference between Pitt finishing ranked with a 10 win season was not the OOC schedule it was not winning winnable games.

 

[HOF Coach]

Idiotic

 

[anon_vmuicqnzlyp3u]

Sounds like sour grapes then if these coaches blast our talent and cannot beat Pitt on the field. I guess Pitt should apologize for beating these teams despite the lesser talent.

I don't think its sour grapes at all. Its an accurate description of our talent and program. It is just the facts.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Truth hurts my ass. Only three teams in the ACC went 6-2 or better last year. Pitt was one of them. Hoping for a similar ACC record and another win in the OOC for 8-4.

 

[Farnox]

This year will be the litmus test. Year 5, HCPN has been learning to be a HC. No longer hiring old buddies as assistants but people who can recruit and coach. Also, letting assistants tweek his defense to suit the current game.
If it's going to happen under Narduzzi, then it will be from this point going forward.

 

[McKee Place]

This is the closest to getting really candid assessments from direct stakeholders who through anonymity aren't either looking to puff us up or denigrate us excessively to make them look better, or a parallel conference opponent who might have lost to us look worse.

There seems no reason for them to bullshit, in other words.

So it is a particular biting commentary.

It corroborates what some such as myself say frequently... Narduzzi is a good coach. His players play hard and they like him.

It should logically follow he should be able to recruit better, if all else was equal with other programs.

But as this totally objective commentary, by those who would know better than any pundit or fan shows, our talent aka recruiting is viewed as subpar.

So clearly other things are NOT equal for recruiting with other programs.

What can be done. Other than basically go .500 each and every year and see attendance and interest generally continue to erode.

But ACC money will continue, and it'll keep paying for lacrosse and the like, and for this school that's all that matters.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

If we finish this next class with a good OT or 2 & another good DT , then I will consider this a good recruiting class.

This is the closest to getting really candid assessments from direct stakeholders who through anonymity aren't either looking to puff us up or denigrate us excessively to make them look better, or a parallel conference opponent who might have lost to us look worse.

There seems no reason for them to bullshit, in other words.

So it is a particular biting commentary.

It corroborates what some such as myself say frequently... Narduzzi is a good coach. His players play hard and they like him.

It should logically follow he should be able to recruit better, if all else was equal with other programs.

But as this totally objective commentary, by those who would know better than any pundit or fan shows, our talent aka recruiting is viewed as subpar.

So clearly other things are NOT equal for recruiting with other programs.

What can be done. Other than basically go .500 each and every year and see attendance and interest generally continue to erode.

But ACC money will continue, and it'll keep paying for lacrosse and the like, and for this school that's all that matters.