Perhaps he suspected the worst but didn't want to talk about it.
Maybe his hopes were raised like they were for so many Pitt fans by the 6-1 start to the season.
But reality struck coach Pat Narduzzi over the past two games when Pitt lost to nationally ranked North Carolina (unranked at the time, No. 17 this week) and Notre Dame (now No. 6).
“We have a little losing streak going,” Narduzzi said at the outset of his weekly news conference Monday. Before the losses, he said the past two games would be gauges upon which to asscess his team.
“I told you last week we'll find out if we measure up (to the best teams in the nation),” he said. “Obviously, we don't. We saw some deficiencies in spots where we need to get better at. We'll address that in recruiting.”
Meanwhile, Pitt can salvage this season by winning two or all three of its remaining regular-season games, starting Saturday at Duke and continuing at Heinz Field against Louisville and Miami.
But Narduzzi has a warning for his players: “Our kids have to play a lot better than they did last week to go on the road and beat Duke.”(AGREE, UP TO PLAYERS NOT TO DROP PASSES, BLOCK BETTER, AND EXECUTE, THE COACHES GAME PLANS ARE FINE!)
The hopes of winning the ACC Coastal Division championship are alive, but barely. North Carolina (8-1, 5-0) can clinch Saturday if it defeats Miami and Pitt loses to Duke. The Tar Heels, who have won eight in a row, must lose two of their last three to open the door for Pitt (6-3, 4-1).
The lack of elite talent was evident the past two weeks when Pitt couldn't keep up with the North Carolina and Notre Dame athletes. Total yardage allowed in both games: 881.
Pitt's talent level, perhaps damaged by years of coaching upheaval, is far short of those teams. (PEDERSON POISON STILL IN PITT PROGRAM SYSTEM!) Only two Pitt players are ranked among the top five in the ACC in any statistical category.
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd leads in per-game receptions and yardage (8.2, 82.8) and running back Qadree Ollison is fifth in rushing (83.1 yards).
But Ollison has been benched while totaling only 22 carries the past two games and is listed as a co-starter with Chris James and Darrin Hall.
“We watched the highlight tape of some of the great plays that Pitt has had against Notre Dame through the years,” Narduzzi said. “The thing I kept seeing was tailbacks making plays and making people miss.
“You have to have a guy back there who can be a playmaker.”
Narduzzi reached for such a playmaker when he inserted strong safety Jordan Whitehead at running back and was rewarded with two rushing touchdowns against Notre Dame. (UNC GAME SHOULD HAVE DEBUT WHITEHEAD BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!)
“When you watch what Jordan did,” he said, “it's not some of the power game that he has, but more the speed and agility where he can hit a small hole and get vertical and get in the end zone.
“Those are the things we need.”
The quest for playmakers and sound play is happening on both sides of the ball.
Narduzzi said Notre Dame's one-on-one plays that appeared to victimize cornerback Avonte Maddox were more closely tied to fundamental mistakes — footwork and leverage — than strategy or talent.
“Even when you watch the plays Avonte got beat on, I'd do it all over again,” Narduzzi said. “I wouldn't change a thing. You just have to play a better technique.”
Fair or not, Narduzzi's first season — indeed, everything he has done since he was hired Dec. 26 — will be judged on what happens in the final three games. (YEP, SAID IT ALL YEAR AND EVERY GAME EXCEPT ND IS A TOSS UP! UP TO THE PLAYERS TO FOLLOW THROUGH NOW)
“Is it fair?” he said. “You guys (reporters) can judge any way you want. We evaluate ourselves every Sunday when we sit in a staff meeting and figure out, 'Hey, where are we? What are we doing? What can we do better to get there.'
“Ultimately, you're going to be judged on the last game you have.”
Asked if he is pleased or displeased, he said, “About right in the middle.”(EXACTLY, CAN BE 6-6, 6-7, 7-6, 8-5, 9-4, OR 10-3!)
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Maybe his hopes were raised like they were for so many Pitt fans by the 6-1 start to the season.
But reality struck coach Pat Narduzzi over the past two games when Pitt lost to nationally ranked North Carolina (unranked at the time, No. 17 this week) and Notre Dame (now No. 6).
“We have a little losing streak going,” Narduzzi said at the outset of his weekly news conference Monday. Before the losses, he said the past two games would be gauges upon which to asscess his team.
“I told you last week we'll find out if we measure up (to the best teams in the nation),” he said. “Obviously, we don't. We saw some deficiencies in spots where we need to get better at. We'll address that in recruiting.”
Meanwhile, Pitt can salvage this season by winning two or all three of its remaining regular-season games, starting Saturday at Duke and continuing at Heinz Field against Louisville and Miami.
But Narduzzi has a warning for his players: “Our kids have to play a lot better than they did last week to go on the road and beat Duke.”(AGREE, UP TO PLAYERS NOT TO DROP PASSES, BLOCK BETTER, AND EXECUTE, THE COACHES GAME PLANS ARE FINE!)
The hopes of winning the ACC Coastal Division championship are alive, but barely. North Carolina (8-1, 5-0) can clinch Saturday if it defeats Miami and Pitt loses to Duke. The Tar Heels, who have won eight in a row, must lose two of their last three to open the door for Pitt (6-3, 4-1).
The lack of elite talent was evident the past two weeks when Pitt couldn't keep up with the North Carolina and Notre Dame athletes. Total yardage allowed in both games: 881.
Pitt's talent level, perhaps damaged by years of coaching upheaval, is far short of those teams. (PEDERSON POISON STILL IN PITT PROGRAM SYSTEM!) Only two Pitt players are ranked among the top five in the ACC in any statistical category.
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd leads in per-game receptions and yardage (8.2, 82.8) and running back Qadree Ollison is fifth in rushing (83.1 yards).
But Ollison has been benched while totaling only 22 carries the past two games and is listed as a co-starter with Chris James and Darrin Hall.
“We watched the highlight tape of some of the great plays that Pitt has had against Notre Dame through the years,” Narduzzi said. “The thing I kept seeing was tailbacks making plays and making people miss.
“You have to have a guy back there who can be a playmaker.”
Narduzzi reached for such a playmaker when he inserted strong safety Jordan Whitehead at running back and was rewarded with two rushing touchdowns against Notre Dame. (UNC GAME SHOULD HAVE DEBUT WHITEHEAD BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!)
“When you watch what Jordan did,” he said, “it's not some of the power game that he has, but more the speed and agility where he can hit a small hole and get vertical and get in the end zone.
“Those are the things we need.”
The quest for playmakers and sound play is happening on both sides of the ball.
Narduzzi said Notre Dame's one-on-one plays that appeared to victimize cornerback Avonte Maddox were more closely tied to fundamental mistakes — footwork and leverage — than strategy or talent.
“Even when you watch the plays Avonte got beat on, I'd do it all over again,” Narduzzi said. “I wouldn't change a thing. You just have to play a better technique.”
Fair or not, Narduzzi's first season — indeed, everything he has done since he was hired Dec. 26 — will be judged on what happens in the final three games. (YEP, SAID IT ALL YEAR AND EVERY GAME EXCEPT ND IS A TOSS UP! UP TO THE PLAYERS TO FOLLOW THROUGH NOW)
“Is it fair?” he said. “You guys (reporters) can judge any way you want. We evaluate ourselves every Sunday when we sit in a staff meeting and figure out, 'Hey, where are we? What are we doing? What can we do better to get there.'
“Ultimately, you're going to be judged on the last game you have.”
Asked if he is pleased or displeased, he said, “About right in the middle.”(EXACTLY, CAN BE 6-6, 6-7, 7-6, 8-5, 9-4, OR 10-3!)
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
