ACC coaches anonymously talk about Pitt & other ACC teams

[HOF Coach]

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.

Here is how these "direct stakeholders" candidly assesed Pitt in 2018.

I prefer to wait to the season starts. Seems like some differing opinions. Here is what coaches thought last year. Some thought Kenny was going to have a big year, and others thought we couldn't be physical enough to run the ball.

Pittsburgh (FROM 2018 PreSeason)

"Pat (Narduzzi) is one of my favorite guys in the business. A tough guy, a fair guy, a fun guy. That team plays exactly to his personality — and I mean that in a good way."



"They really started playing well on defense near the end of the season, and you really saw what they could do in the Miami game. They’re going to be very good on defense this year. That front seven is filthy. They look a lot like those Michigan State defenses he had that were the foundation of that program becoming elite."



"Hindsight is 20/20, but I think if you ask Pat, he’ll tell you he should’ve played QB Kenny Pickett a lot sooner. He played really well the last two games of the season against Virginia Tech and Miami, and in difficult spots. You watch the tape of those two games, and he’s a difference maker. When you’re completing 60 percent in your first two starts, that’s a big deal."



"They’re just average on the offensive line, and that was part of the problem early on last year. They have to get better. They’re not nearly as physical as they were in Pat’s first year, and they don’t have the players at tailback like they did."



"As good as Pickett can be, they have to find some pieces around him both in the run game and on the outside. Darrin Hall is a serviceable guy at tailback, but he’s not the elite that they’ve had their in the past. They don’t have that pile pusher, that guy that can get those third and short gains to move the sticks. That puts a lot of pressure on a young quarterback to be perfect."

"Hindsight is 20/20, but I think if you ask Pat, he’ll tell you he should’ve played QB Kenny Pickett a lot sooner. He played really well the last two games of the season against Virginia Tech and Miami, and in difficult spots. You watch the tape of those two games, and he’s a difference maker. When you’re completing 60 percent in your first two starts, that’s a big deal."

"As good as Pickett can be, they have to find some pieces around him both in the run game and on the outside. Darrin Hall is a serviceable guy at tailback, but he’s not the elite that they’ve had their in the past. They don’t have that pile pusher, that guy that can get those third and short gains to move the sticks. That puts a lot of pressure on a young quarterback to be perfect."
My candid assesment is that they don't know their azz from a hole in the ground.

 

[thebadby2]

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

I don't think anyone can say with a straight face at this point that Narduzzi has proven to be a good overall head coach. That is reflected in his record and results. He has done a lot of head scratching things and made a lot of mistakes in his time at Pitt, and his sideline has looked like a clown show on more than a few game days including some last year--his 4th year in the program. Sure he could use better talent, so could pretty much every team not annually ranked in the top 10-15. But like others have said, he's responsible for the talent level as well. Maybe he hasn't hired the best assistants, but that's also a key part of his job. Now pretty much every coach has failed to bring in top 20 talent since Gottfried and the Golden Panthers (Wanny did modestly better than the others), so then you have to wonder if the problem is Pitt, or the way the college football and recruiting landscape has changed over the past 30 years, or something else, or all of the above.

 

[McKee Place]

Here is how these "direct stakeholders" candidly assesed Pitt in 2018.

"Hindsight is 20/20, but I think if you ask Pat, he’ll tell you he should’ve played QB Kenny Pickett a lot sooner. He played really well the last two games of the season against Virginia Tech and Miami, and in difficult spots. You watch the tape of those two games, and he’s a difference maker. When you’re completing 60 percent in your first two starts, that’s a big deal."

"As good as Pickett can be, they have to find some pieces around him both in the run game and on the outside. Darrin Hall is a serviceable guy at tailback, but he’s not the elite that they’ve had their in the past. They don’t have that pile pusher, that guy that can get those third and short gains to move the sticks. That puts a lot of pressure on a young quarterback to be perfect."
My candid assesment is that they don't know their azz from a hole in the ground.

So you're betting on the 10 win season then?

 

[HOF Coach]

So you're betting on the 10 win season then?

I'm just saying to don't take what they say as Gospel.

 

[FireballZ]

How did these genius coaches assess Pitt coming into last season? Fifth in the Coastal? How'd that work out?

However, it's always fun to see the normal board trolls flooding this thread and "keeping it real".

The predictions I post on this board are typically pretty spot-on; Pitt will win 8 or more games this season.

 

[McKee Place]

No

How did these genius coaches assess Pitt coming into last season? Fifth in the Coastal? How'd that work out?

However, it's always fun to see the normal board trolls flooding this thread and "keeping it real".

The predictions I post on this board are typically pretty spot-on; Pitt will win 8 or more games this season.

Tsk.. so angry.

In the context of this thread, it comes down to the value placed in the commentary.

I place value in it based on the corroboration with other objective observations of the most important aspect of the team, which is talent. Seen via rankings, which is certainly subjective, but also results, which are not.

You and others have expressed that you place less value on it. Based on, well, that you are not trolls, it seems. Actual factual basis seems... not so much.

We'll all see soon enough.

 

[joeydavid]

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.

Most teams play 10 unranked and 2 others.

 

[CJsE]

Leading ACC Returners in YPC. (Minimum 25 receptions)

1. Taysir Mack - 22.3
2. Justyn Ross - 21.7
3. Tamorrian Terry - 21.3
4. Tre Turner - 20.6 pic.twitter.com/ulIoCggbOA

— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) June 24, 2019

Good stats to back up your argument.

Hey...remember in 2016 when Jester Weah led the ACC in YPC and was 3rd in the ACC in touchdowns and was voted to the All-ACC team? And that the ACC #2 in YPC also made the team that year?

or the top 2 YPC leaders in 2015?

or 2017 when the top 2 ACC leaders in YPC made the All-ACC roster?

or last year's YPC leader?

Actually none of the last 4 ACC leaders in YPC made the All-ACC team, and only 1 of the last 8 top 2 leaders made the team and it was as honorable mention. Could it be that no one gives a shit about that stat unless they are also leaders in catches and yards?

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

Read their write up on NC St. and their 9 wins. Their OOC last year consisted of:

James Madison
Georgia St
Marshall
East Carolina

Pitt wins 10 games last year with that OOC, even with a one dimensional offense. Nobody cares who you beat, they only remember the record.

We played 5 common opponents and Pitt was 3-2 against them, NC St 2-3.

 

[joeydavid]

I don't think anyone can say with a straight face at this point that Narduzzi has proven to be a good overall head coach. That is reflected in his record and results. He has done a lot of head scratching things and made a lot of mistakes in his time at Pitt, and his sideline has looked like a clown show on more than a few game days including some last year--his 4th year in the program. Sure he could use better talent, so could pretty much every team not annually ranked in the top 10-15. But like others have said, he's responsible for the talent level as well. Maybe he hasn't hired the best assistants, but that's also a key part of his job. Now pretty much every coach has failed to bring in top 20 talent since Gottfried and the Golden Panthers (Wanny did modestly better than the others), so then you have to wonder if the problem is Pitt, or the way the college football and recruiting landscape has changed over the past 30 years, or something else, or all of the above.

Yet somehow Pitt has the 3rd best record in the ACC over the last 5 year.

 

[joeydavid]

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.

According to recruiting rankings, Pitt had the 34th most talent.

When accessing talent there's 4 general quadrants. Here's my stab at Pitt 2019. QB is a big question mark.

Talent/Experience- DB, DL, WR, K

Talent/Inexperience - RB, OL, LB, QB

Untalented/Experience - TE

Untalented/ Inexperience - P

 

[pittdan77]

The assessment that Pitt lacks talent is very fair in the broader context. There are some good players but not nearly enough.

 

[Rayz5089]

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.

100% agree

 

[Rayz5089]

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.

.
So if he’s a good coach and his players like him then what accounts for the lack or better recruiting? In your opinion is it a Pitt problem or a Narduzzi problem?

 

[redbyrds]

But everyone here keeps predicting 10 wins ...

LOL...

 

[lilspainishflea]

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

I think we're tied with Miami for 2nd or 3rd in ACC wins since joining the conference. So we "don't have the talent" according to other ACC coaches yet we're mostly cleaning up within the conference. But don't let the truth get in the way of a good time!

 

[anon_vmuicqnzlyp3u]

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.

What was our record? 7-7 that equals mediocre at best as stated by others. That's the truth. Please don't make the coastal as the toughest conference in College Football. It will make you look silly

 

[anon_vmuicqnzlyp3u]

I think we're tied with Miami for 2nd or 3rd in ACC wins since joining the conference. So we "don't have the talent" according to other ACC coaches yet we're mostly cleaning up within the conference. But don't let the truth get in the way of a good time!

7-7 equals mediocre, 5-7 equals less than mediocre, the first two years were not all of Narduzzi's recruits. In year three of his tenure, with primarily his recruits we are 12-14. What would you define that to be?

 

[pittdan77]

.
So if he’s a good coach and his players like him then what accounts for the lack or better recruiting? In your opinion is it a Pitt problem or a Narduzzi problem?

He's convinced that everyone cheats. Pitt just doesn't cheat enough.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

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.

Maybe it was the same anonymous source that said that said that Josh Bell couldn't play and didn't have the ability to get any better.

Sometimes anonymous sources give you the straight info. And sometimes the reason they want to remain anonymous is that they have an ax to grind but don't want anyone to know it's them making the comments.

You should take all anonymous comments with a huge grain of salt, whether the comments are about sports or politics or anything else. If someone really thinks that way they ought to have the balls to put their name on their comments so people can assess their biases.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

How did these genius coaches assess Pitt coming into last season? Fifth in the Coastal? How'd that work out?

However, it's always fun to see the normal board trolls flooding this thread and "keeping it real".

The predictions I post on this board are typically pretty spot-on; Pitt will win 8 or more games this season.

We lost 7 games for the second season in a row.

Our entire offense is a question mark, and frankly the defense has underwhelmed the last 3 seasons.

Other than that- we should be great

 

[thebadby2]

We lost 7 games for the second season in a row.

Our entire offense is a question mark, and frankly the defense has underwhelmed the last 3 seasons.

Other than that- we should be great

Hey man-show a little respect—When this guy makes predictions on this board, they’re usually spot-on. He said so himself.

Those anonymous ACC head coaches have nuthin on him.

 

[mike412]

It is a scary assessment. I trust coaches as talent evaluators far more than I trust stars or website class rankings. And, the paramount theme of these comments appears to be that we don’t have a lot of talent. That is an indictment of our recruiting, both insofar as evaluating talent and landing it.

I can see coaches commenting that our talent isn’t on the level of Clemson, FSU or Miami. But, presumably these coaches also were asked their opinions of Duke, Virginia, Syracuse, BC, etc. I haven’t seen their comments on those other teams, but if they singled out Pitt as lacking a lot of talent, that is very troublesome.

 

[PittPoker]

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

Good coach? What on earth makes you believe that? I would argue he has shown himself to be a mediocre coach at best.

 

[HOF Coach]

Good coach? What on earth makes you believe that? I would argue he has shown himself to be a mediocre coach at best.

No other Coastal Division team has won more ACC games in the past 5 years than HCPN?

Pitt is the reigning ACC Coastal Division CHAMPION?

Do you mean besides that?

 

[McKee Place]

He's convinced that everyone cheats. Pitt just doesn't cheat enough.

Yep.

 

[PittMiamiRivalry]

Absolutely valid assessment

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

Agreed. Too many unrealistic expectations i

 

[steelcurtain55.]

What college coaches have hit it out of the park immediately at the P5 level with no previous head coaching experience?

 

[PittMiamiRivalry]

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?

Maybe because Pitt was blown out by Penn State and UCF, lost to the worst team in the ACC, and lost the bowl game to an inferior Stanford team.

 

[pittdan77]

It is a scary assessment. I trust coaches as talent evaluators far more than I trust stars or website class rankings. And, the paramount theme of these comments appears to be that we don’t have a lot of talent. That is an indictment of our recruiting, both insofar as evaluating talent and landing it.

I can see coaches commenting that our talent isn’t on the level of Clemson, FSU or Miami. But, presumably these coaches also were asked their opinions of Duke, Virginia, Syracuse, BC, etc. I haven’t seen their comments on those other teams, but if they singled out Pitt as lacking a lot of talent, that is very troublesome.

I don't know why anyone would accuse Pitt of having a ton of talent. It's a fair and reasonable statement. Pitt lacked talent at a number of positions last year but won six conference games.

My read on what other coaches think of Pitt is that there are a lot of good things and still enough bad things to explain the program but that almost nobody thinks that the program isn't progressing. I don't think you write Narduzzi off yet by a long shot. It's difficult to complain about recruiting so far this year but the entire ACC is doing better. Until the program proves it can do 9 or better wins with consistent, quality OOC showings, you don't get to expect anything more from other coaches.