Against VT Narduzzi didn't change his D scheme even though even the (tv) announcers of the game suggested he should and stated they would probably win if he did so and until last week (maybe two weeks) the offense showed no life in the second half, even though Oklahoma State is the only team who led Pitt at the half. As a matter of fact at halftime Pitt has led convincingly in almost every game, but fell apart in the second half.
I know everyone wants to say it’s the DB’s and yes I admit it is the weakest spot on the field. However Narduzzi and company get paid to coach and know much more than us, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that if your opponent has bad DB’s and you need points quickly what do you do-Throw the ball !!,which is what Pitt’s opponents did. Conversely as a coach you are aware that that is how the other coach is thinking as you would be thinking that way if you were in their shoes. So what do you do-SCORE! Not go conservative. Most of Pitt’s opponents have high scoring, high powered offenses, so coaches know they are going to score points. Sometimes your best defense is a good offense.
This is a year Pitt has to score to win-period. It’s been documented that Pitt has one of the best offenses in the ACC and in the country, with a line that in the next 2 years will probably produce at least 5 NFL players, weather drafted or as a free agent, maybe even more when the backups like Jones-Smith start playing regularly. So what’s the problem with scoring? The problem is the conservative 2nd half play calling weather by Canada or Narduzzi. Case in point. VT could not stop Connor in the middle; he was getting a minimum 3 yards. But due to their speed the Jet sweep and outside runs weren’t effective. So why in a crucial series in the 4th quarter and down by 3 did Pitt start with a Connor run around the end (for a loss)? Next play was Connor up the middle, nice gain. 3rd down, broken pass play but Peterman runs down the middle for a nice gain. Pitt ends up short due to the loss of yardage (ad bad play call) on first down.
Are these the DB’s faults? No it’s the coach’s fault not making adjustments. I understand the frustration because I am a faithful fan who goes through it too. But be honest about who is losing the games. If this happens once I can see but not every week, and that is not on the players. Even cardiac hill put it on Canada, and stated his play calling was the turning point of the game.
However as I stated Pitt has lost by 11 points to 3 top 20 teams, so I think they will be all right and the season is not a lost nor is it even a bad team both of which some of you are saying. Coaches need to make the adjustments for Pitt to win this season and in the future.
I know everyone wants to say it’s the DB’s and yes I admit it is the weakest spot on the field. However Narduzzi and company get paid to coach and know much more than us, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that if your opponent has bad DB’s and you need points quickly what do you do-Throw the ball !!,which is what Pitt’s opponents did. Conversely as a coach you are aware that that is how the other coach is thinking as you would be thinking that way if you were in their shoes. So what do you do-SCORE! Not go conservative. Most of Pitt’s opponents have high scoring, high powered offenses, so coaches know they are going to score points. Sometimes your best defense is a good offense.
This is a year Pitt has to score to win-period. It’s been documented that Pitt has one of the best offenses in the ACC and in the country, with a line that in the next 2 years will probably produce at least 5 NFL players, weather drafted or as a free agent, maybe even more when the backups like Jones-Smith start playing regularly. So what’s the problem with scoring? The problem is the conservative 2nd half play calling weather by Canada or Narduzzi. Case in point. VT could not stop Connor in the middle; he was getting a minimum 3 yards. But due to their speed the Jet sweep and outside runs weren’t effective. So why in a crucial series in the 4th quarter and down by 3 did Pitt start with a Connor run around the end (for a loss)? Next play was Connor up the middle, nice gain. 3rd down, broken pass play but Peterman runs down the middle for a nice gain. Pitt ends up short due to the loss of yardage (ad bad play call) on first down.
Are these the DB’s faults? No it’s the coach’s fault not making adjustments. I understand the frustration because I am a faithful fan who goes through it too. But be honest about who is losing the games. If this happens once I can see but not every week, and that is not on the players. Even cardiac hill put it on Canada, and stated his play calling was the turning point of the game.
However as I stated Pitt has lost by 11 points to 3 top 20 teams, so I think they will be all right and the season is not a lost nor is it even a bad team both of which some of you are saying. Coaches need to make the adjustments for Pitt to win this season and in the future.
