Back Up QB

[9nationalchampionships]

It appears DiNucci is the back up right now.

Is this due to him beating out T Mac or do you think Watson/Narduzzi are using this to motivate T Mac?

I am leaning towards the later.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

It appears DiNucci is the back up right now. Is this due to him beating out T Mac or do you think Watson/Narduzzi are using this to motivate T Mac? I am leaning towards the later.

Everything read and posted so far was mixed at first about how Spring ball won't decide a Starter and that will be in August for sure according to Coach Pat! Yet,lately, it looks like OC Watson has Browne as his favorite now and Coach PN is still saying we shall see?
Big Max?! (Watson Favorite!)
Big Ben D?? (Still in Hunt?)
Big Mac??? (Wait & See?)
Pickett On The Fence In Between? (Surprise So Far!)

The Guns Of QB Arms & Smarts & Experience Will Be Decided In August!

 

[Swervin27]

Duzzi was on the fan this morning, he sounds genuinely excited mentioning dinucci and said that TMac is "competing" then ended it with very complimentary words about Pickett.

I don't think it's a mind game, I think it's exactly what it sounds like. 3 out of 4 of our qbs are practicing very well in spring camp.


But it's early, TMac is a redshirt freshman, in his first spring camp (I think) and as we all know, he doesn't even have a full season of high school football, he only started his sr year and missed a few games due to injury.

Think it was a tad naive that a lot of us expected him to be ready to be a starter this early, I include myself in on this.

 

[Farnox]

After years of neglect, it's so refreshing to have more than one competent QB. A real bullet was
dodged in that no major QB injuries occurred when the backups were a real drop off in talent.

 

[thebadby2]

After years of neglect, it's so refreshing to have more than one competent QB. A real bullet was
dodged in that no major QB injuries occurred when the backups were a real drop off in talent.

QB competency will be determined when we start playing games in September. Until then we don't know what we have, and to some extent, neither do the coaches.

 

[Farnox]

QB competency will be determined when we start playing games in September. Until then we don't know what we have, and to some extent, neither do the coaches.

True, but as a collective whole, they are much better than what we have had before.

 

[Swervin27]

we all (Pitt fans) really need serious help in getting better at not giving up on kids who are redshirt freshmen and not earning daily praise from the coaches.. Maybe we can all pitch in a buck or two, rent out a fire hall and talk @ksquared33 into doing a lecture on upper classmen and their production to a football program..

I think the issue is, we've grown accustomed to not having any legit depth on our teams that any 1/2 decent Freshman has gotten PT because there is no one else. We aren't used to having a talented freshman still being the 3rd best option due to upper classmen, those upper classmen haven't existed on a pitt team in the last 25 years..

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

I think all of you are overrating MacVittie. He played a few HS games in his career, was a modestly recruited player (besides LSU coming in late) and everyone thinks he's Marino. He sounds more like Mark Myers. In fact, he may fall behind Kenny Pickett soon as Narduzzi said that Pickett is the best young QB they've had (which obviously includes MacVittie).

Agreed. He could well turn out good, he certainly had some other legit schools interested in him, but some were making this sound like the football equivalent of Kithcart in basketball...wanting so badly for a guy to be good in a position that's critical, but in reality he hadn't really done much of anything to warrant such faith. Fortunately the football staff realized the risk of that and went out in the off season and hustled up viable alternative(s) rather than face what happened in basketball.

 

[PhPanther1]

I'm torn here. I've always liked DiNucci but thought he had a weird throwing motion....not as bad as Bostick's, but not natural. I was surprised in the bowl game to see his passes not float as much and be relatively accurate for first game experience. I root for hard for the kid because he's a local Italian!

However the flip side, our resident expert talent evaluator SteelCurtain has told me that MacVittie was good enough to start last year and is a superstar in the making...so I assume he'll shine through eventually.

 

[Swervin27]

I'm torn here. I've always liked DiNucci but thought he had a weird throwing motion....not as bad as Bostick's, but not natural. I was surprised in the bowl game to see his passes not float as much and be relatively accurate for first game experience. I root for hard for the kid because he's a local Italian!

However the flip side, our resident expert talent evaluator SteelCurtain has told me that MacVittie was good enough to start last year and is a superstar in the making...so I assume he'll shine through eventually.

Darnell Dinkins called it.. sounds like he was working hard in off season, fixing that throwing motion and it's paying off.

 

[vegasgreed]

i really hope we don't have to rely on Dinucchi during the season. He cannot make all the necessary throws that is needed to win games at this level.

Where is Steel at? he's been slobbering all over Tmac for a long time now, maybe he can provide a update.

Max was given the starter gig before ever throwing his first ever ball in practice. Time will tell what we get out of him this year.

 

[Chescat]

IMO, if Dinucci is the number two QB this year, we just might be looking for another grad transfer for the 2018 season. I'm hoping TMac closes the gap
and is the backup this year, starter in 2018 with Pickett becoming the backup

 

[PantherO]

I thought Dinucci had the "IT" factor when he came onto the field at the bowl game. And that you can't teach. The kid is a winner.

Regardless, it is really nice to have competition at the QB spot. Now if we can just keep an OC more than 1 year, we could be on to something.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

I thought Dinucci had the "IT" factor when he came onto the field at the bowl game. And that you can't teach. The kid is a winner.

Regardless, it is really nice to have competition at the QB spot. Now if we can just keep an OC more than 1 year, we could be on to something.

Agreed. He looked ready and not overwhelmed by any means. Other guys let him down by failing to execute. His body type likely limits him ast the top level but he has been a proven winner in the past in major high school football so it should not be a surprise he can compete.

 

[Swervin27]

kid was the PA player of the year and he is quite an athlete. his high school film was sick, he'd drop back and one of the very few high school QBs that wouldn't do that nervous hop but literally just stand there, buying time. it looked almost like he was "too relaxed" just standing there and he'd buy himself some time too, not just automatically taking off like most high school QBs do when they don't have their primary option open..

I know high school is what it is but love his athleticism. throwing style is odd no doubt but he is obviously working on that, think he worked with Dinkins in off season fixing his mechanics. he's not drew Bledsoe with the quick release but I don't see his arm as weak..

Im not calling for him to get starting job but glad he turned into a capable P5-caliber backup option if and when something bad happens to the starter..

 

[Saboteur]

I thought Dinucci had the "IT" factor when he came onto the field at the bowl game. And that you can't teach. The kid is a winner.

Regardless, it is really nice to have competition at the QB spot. Now if we can just keep an OC more than 1 year, we could be on to something.

I agree...he actually reminded me of Bernie Kosar in his U days.

 

[Swervin27]

I agree...he actually reminded me of Bernie Kosar in his U days.

here is an up close look. this was probably in high school so not sure how much it's changed..

 

[pittdan77]

Darnell Dinkins called it.. sounds like he was working hard in off season, fixing that throwing motion and it's paying off.

Dinkins is an absolute treasure for local kids that want to improve.

 

[vegasgreed]

what counts is what college coaches think. all those high school records and he got next to nothing in terms of offers coming out of high school.

kid was the PA player of the year and he is quite an athlete. his high school film was sick, he'd drop back and one of the very few high school QBs that wouldn't do that nervous hop but literally just stand there, buying time. it looked almost like he was "too relaxed" just standing there and he'd buy himself some time too, not just automatically taking off like most high school QBs do when they don't have their primary option open..

I know high school is what it is but love his athleticism. throwing style is odd no doubt but he is obviously working on that, think he worked with Dinkins in off season fixing his mechanics. he's not drew Bledsoe with the quick release but I don't see his arm as weak..

Im not calling for him to get starting job but glad he turned into a capable P5-caliber backup option if and when something bad happens to the starter..

 

[Swervin27]

what counts is what college coaches think. all those high school records and he got next to nothing in terms of offers coming out of high school.

what counts is what Watson and Narduzzi think and according to their quotes, it sounds like they think very highly of him.. not sure how is offer list matters..

 

[WiseAndGlorious]

I liked TMac and I'm rooting for the kid. But some Pitt fans regard him the way Pirates fans do prospects in the minors. The Pirates were “holding back” Polanco, Bell, Glasnow until they reached the majors and all struggled. Each may turn out to be a great player, but it is clear that they weren’t finished products upon arrival.

Fans develop a view of a can’t-miss player based upon second-hand news and their own desperate hope for a savior. Then cognitive dissonance spins any evaluation to the contrary (even from those who might actually know) as some ulterior motive.

 

[new2pa]

From watching DiNucci in high school, he's the kind of player that you want to say "Noooooo" on some of the stuff he would do - running around, throwing sidearm, etc., but there is no doubt he made big plays in the big games. Hopefully, he'll continue to compete and get his shot.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I liked TMac and I'm rooting for the kid. But some Pitt fans regard him the way Pirates fans do prospects in the minors. The Pirates were “holding back” Polanco, Bell, Glasnow until they reached the majors and all struggled. Each may turn out to be a great player, but it is clear that they weren’t finished products upon arrival.

Fans develop a view of a can’t-miss player based upon second-hand news and their own desperate hope for a savior. Then cognitive dissonance spins any evaluation to the contrary (even from those who might actually know) as some ulterior motive.

The QB Round in the draft was as follows:

1. DiNucci
2. Pickett
3. MacVittie

 

[WiseAndGlorious]

The QB Round in the draft was as follows:

1. DiNucci
2. Pickett
3. MacVittie

Yes, I would say that qualifies as an evaluation from “those who know”.

 

[HOF Coach]

True, but as a collective whole, they are much better than what we have had before.

It appears that way. But since none of the 4 QB's have ever played 1 full game in a Panther uniform, I'll withhold judgment for now until I can see this potential realized in actual games.

 

[HOF Coach]

I agree...he actually reminded me of Bernie Kosar in his U days.

Ah, Bernie Kosar...talking about weird throwing motions...yet he got the job done.

 

[Swervin27]

Ah, Bernie Kosar...talking about weird throwing motions...yet he got the job done.

did anyone see the 30-30 on The U? It was weird, Kosar was on there and he looked wasted. Like sweaty and drunk.. like how I'd look after drinking all day in the sun at a concert or something. it was weird..

I hope it wasn't football/concussion related, i'll feel bad. but he looked rough, hopefully he just likes the sauce and his melon is in tact..

 

[Hailpitt]

Cocaine can mess you up bad

 

[Swervin27]

Cocaine can mess you up bad

oh, is that what it was? OK, well then that's cool. good for him

 

[joeydavid]

If you watched him in high school, beyond the throwing motion he also tended to lift his back foot off of the ground before throwing a pass. Often he would throw solely off of his front foot. Mechanically he was mess but somehow always put the ball on his receivers hands.

Hopefully he improved his release and more importantly his footwork. I look forward to see him throw again.

here is an up close look. this was probably in high school so not sure how much it's changed..

View embedded media

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The QB Round in the draft was as follows:

1. DiNucci
2. Pickett
3. MacVittie

Yes, I would say that qualifies as an evaluation from “those who know”.

Yea, these drafts tell you everything you need to know about who is better than who. Pickett may be the QB of the future.

 

[PhPanther1]

Steel,
How has T-Mac's spring gone?