Feelings about UVA Opener

[the_insider_]

I'm usually pretty optimistic about Pitt football (more than a lot), but the more I hear national media and other coaches talk about Pitt the more it worries me. I think the 7-7 record isn't indicative of Pitt last year, playing PSU, UCF and having Morrissey out the last 3 games, plus losing to UNC. It could've easily been 9-5.

However, the more I listen to Narduzzi and Borbely, the more I think the OL will be more than fine. Think about Dintino and Herndon and how down people were on them last year. Their guards will be just as good as them. Plus, Millin and Bookser were not good tackles, they were suited to play guard, so I think having Houy, Carter, Ulizio or Van Lynn and tackle will help with the rush off the end.

I also think the addition of Whipple is going to be huge. I think he is going to utilize players and plays that help the entire team: quick passes, max protection, keeping power run scheme in place. I'm so excited for him.

I guess after typing this it's a normal year for me. I could see this team winning 7 games or 10 games.

What do you guys think?

 

[RingDinger]

The first thing that comes to mind is how little the original post has very little to do with the title of this thread, haha. But you see so many 10+ win projections by fans every year that it's hard to take them seriously anymore, because they basically entail all/most of our question marks turning into positives and other teams' question marks mostly turning into negatives. It just doesn't work that way.

Including the bowl game, I see this team finishing in the 7-6 or 8-5 range. I think you'd be pretty safe betting Pitt to win 6 - 8 game most years, and I don't see this one being a huge exception. Do I have hope for many of our first-year starters? Absolutely. Are they all going to be + players in the ACC in their first year starting? No, that's just not realistic. And, frankly, I don't think our quarterback is very good. I'll be interested to see if Whipple can create some easier throws/reads for him.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

The UVA game isn't a bad opener. They're the style of team I would prefer as the ACC opener. It's the type of team Pitt typically plays well against. Expect a a low scoring close game.

I would much rather play them than a team that can light up the scoreboard. Especially this early in the year.

 

[PittPanthers90]

I have been watching the opening line.
I have seen it go from UVA -2.5 to UVA -2 back to UVA -2.5
Been hoping to see that hit 3 or even 3.5 to put some money down on it

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

How’s Virginia’s kicker?

 

[Pantherguy4]

Pitt 24 Virginia 10

 

[lilspainishflea]

I don't get the preseason love for UVA. I went there for law school and am familiar with their history. They won 8 games last year (beating Miami and UNC plus 3 non-P5 wins and losing to Indiana, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech for like the 15th straight year) and 8 in 2011 but generally they're an ACC Coastal bottom-dweller. Team talent is usually low (since anonymous ACC coaches dig us on that) and I'd say is generally even lower than ours in most years. Mendenhall is a discipline-guy and not a tremendous recruiter or schemer so he'll get them more than Mike London's 5-6 wins but he has a low-ceiling IMO. They're also the only team that has never won the ACC Coastal. It's just crazy that they're the consensus preseason favorite. To me, they're a team that needs to prove it before getting any love.

 

[HOF Coach]

I don't get the preseason love for UVA. I went there for law school and am familiar with their history. They won 8 games last year (beating Miami and UNC plus 3 non-P5 wins and losing to Indiana, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech for like the 15th straight year) and 8 in 2011 but generally they're an ACC Coastal bottom-dweller. Team talent is usually low (since anonymous ACC coaches dig us on that) and I'd say is generally even lower than ours in most years. Mendenhall is a discipline-guy and not a tremendous recruiter or schemer so he'll get them more than Mike London's 5-6 wins but he has a low-ceiling IMO. They're also the only team that has never won the ACC Coastal. It's just crazy that they're the consensus preseason favorite. To me, they're a team that needs to prove it before getting any love.

Both Virginia and the Cleveland Browns are getting a lot of love this pre-season.

Is this a phenomenon of climate change?

 

[freddietee511]

I have a feeling we gonna do alot of jet sweepage this year but actually succeed w it. Ffrench, shocky and carter is a 3 headed sweep monster

 

[cashisking884]

I don’t see how we score on UVA.

But I also don’t think they light us up.

Turnover luck probably decides this game.

 

[McKee Place]

I don't get the preseason love for UVA. I went there for law school and am familiar with their history. They won 8 games last year (beating Miami and UNC plus 3 non-P5 wins and losing to Indiana, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech for like the 15th straight year) and 8 in 2011 but generally they're an ACC Coastal bottom-dweller. Team talent is usually low (since anonymous ACC coaches dig us on that) and I'd say is generally even lower than ours in most years. Mendenhall is a discipline-guy and not a tremendous recruiter or schemer so he'll get them more than Mike London's 5-6 wins but he has a low-ceiling IMO. They're also the only team that has never won the ACC Coastal. It's just crazy that they're the consensus preseason favorite. To me, they're a team that needs to prove it before getting any love.

Almost all is likely due to perception of good QB. As is much of the pessimism of our prospects.

 

[the_insider_]

I'm pretty sure there will be no more jet sweeps.

 

[PittPanthers90]

With Weaver going down, UVA is still only -2.5
Hate to say this, but that might be a good deal right now

 

[FIVE4PITT]

The thing is to beat UVA have a strong physical run game and competent pass game. Plus bringing Coach Whipple to mix in the run and the pass UVA will not be sure of which offense PItt will throw at them in the opener. They are probably watching Pitt and UMASS tape all summer. This should give Pitt an edge. H2P!

 

[cashisking884]

The thing is to beat UVA have a strong physical run game and competent pass game. Plus bringing Coach Whipple to mix in the run and the pass UVA will not be sure of which offense PItt will throw at them in the opener. They are probably watching Pitt and UMASS tape all summer. This should give Pitt an edge. H2P!

Whipple has been calling plays for like 30 years. He’s not exactly the biggest mystery in the world.

 

[Joe Magarac]

With Weaver going down, UVA is still only -2.5
Hate to say this, but that might be a good deal right now

How tenuous must we think the Pitt team is if winning or losing depends upon one player ( other than the staring QB).
Depth is the one strength that this team supposedly has.
Narduzzi seemed visibly shaken when he gave the bad news to the press this morning.
I understand that you feel bad for the kid and that is natural. Narduzzi looked like he had just seen a ghost; Or maybe his tenure as the head coach, fly out the window. I had hoped that the head coach would show a more positive spin on a bad situation.
Perhaps he needs to have a more forward thinking demeanor; sorta like Randy Bates’ press interview this morning. If you didn’t know better, you’d think Randy and not Pat was the head coach. Who knows, maybe he should be the head coach. Pitt May be better off in the long run.

 

[daminals76]

Narduzzi seemed visibly shaken when he gave the bad news to the press this morning.
I understand that you feel bad for the kid and that is natural. Narduzzi looked like he had just seen a ghost; Or maybe his tenure as the head coach, fly out the window. I had hoped that the head coach would show a more positive spin on a bad situation.
.

I completely agree... last year he talked a big game now this year he's all doom and gloom.

He's generally not good with anything media related.

 

[BFo8]

With Weaver going down, UVA is still only -2.5
Hate to say this, but that might be a good deal right now

Other than a superstar QB being out losing one player, especially on the defensive end, has an extremely negligible effect on the pointspread.

 

[Wadester47]

Both Virginia and the Cleveland Browns are getting a lot of love this pre-season.

Is this a phenomenon of climate change?

There’s a lot of trash in the media these days.....listen to your feelings..ooh Virginia oooh Cleveland . Pittsburgh collectively will take care of both.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

How tenuous must we think the Pitt team is if winning or losing depends upon one player ( other than the staring QB).
Depth is the one strength that this team supposedly has.
Narduzzi seemed visibly shaken when he gave the bad news to the press this morning.
I understand that you feel bad for the kid and that is natural. Narduzzi looked like he had just seen a ghost; Or maybe his tenure as the head coach, fly out the window. I had hoped that the head coach would show a more positive spin on a bad situation.
Perhaps he needs to have a more forward thinking demeanor; sorta like Randy Bates’ press interview this morning. If you didn’t know better, you’d think Randy and not Pat was the head coach. Who knows, maybe he should be the head coach. Pitt May be better off in the long run.

Well, I took it as he really likes the kid and felt terrible. I actually appreciated his demeanor. To each his own I guess.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

• The Coastal probably weakest ever
• Virginia is improved but still in the 40s
• Much more interesting opener than fcs
• Still not sold on Pitt D(even with Weaver)
• Still not sold on Pitt QB(even w Whipple)
• Virginia by 1

 

[Jeffburgh]

How tenuous must we think the Pitt team is if winning or losing depends upon one player ( other than the staring QB).
Depth is the one strength that this team supposedly has.
Narduzzi seemed visibly shaken when he gave the bad news to the press this morning.
I understand that you feel bad for the kid and that is natural. Narduzzi looked like he had just seen a ghost; Or maybe his tenure as the head coach, fly out the window. I had hoped that the head coach would show a more positive spin on a bad situation.
Perhaps he needs to have a more forward thinking demeanor; sorta like Randy Bates’ press interview this morning. If you didn’t know better, you’d think Randy and not Pat was the head coach. Who knows, maybe he should be the head coach. Pitt May be better off in the long run.

He genuinely loves his players.

My take was he was hurting for Weaver.

 

[Joe Magarac]

He genuinely loves his players.

My take was he was hurting for Weaver.

Agreed, as noted in my post.
A head coach needs to have empathy. Narduzzi does have it.
A head coach also needs to display confidence in his team’s backups and the “next man up” philosophy. Narduzzi did not display that confidence. On the contrary, he displayed a sense of desperation.
Look at Randy Bates interview on the same morning on the same subject. He displayed confidence in the rest of the team to not only fill the void but to excel in doing so.
My point is, that in any line of endeavor and at all times, the leader must lead and show confidence in his followers. Narduzzi clearly did not display the qualities of leadership in that instance. Ask yourself.... is this just a one time instance or is it part of his leadership style.
Hail to Pitt.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Agreed, as noted in my post.
A head coach needs to have empathy. Narduzzi does have it.
A head coach also needs to display confidence in his team’s backups and the “next man up” philosophy. Narduzzi did not display that confidence. On the contrary, he displayed a sense of desperation.
Look at Randy Bates interview on the same morning on the same subject. He displayed confidence in the rest of the team to not only fill the void but to excel in doing so.
My point is, that in any line of endeavor and at all times, the leader must lead and show confidence in his followers. Narduzzi clearly did not display the qualities of leadership in that instance. Ask yourself.... is this just a one time instance or is it part of his leadership style.
Hail to Pitt.

This is dumb.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

How’s Virginia’s kicker?

Good?

This is a "toss em up" "pick up" and will come down to who makes the least number of mistakes.

 

[h2p_5150]

I have a feeling we gonna do alot of jet sweepage this year but actually succeed w it. Ffrench, shocky and carter is a 3 headed sweep monster

Virginia runs a 3-4 which is typically harder to run outside against. Don't think we will see many jet sweeps against them

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Virginia runs a 3-4 which is typically harder to run outside against. Don't think we will see many jet sweeps against them

I'm a PITT fan what's a Jet Sweep????????????????

 

[McKee Place]

• The Coastal probably weakest ever
• Virginia is improved but still in the 40s
• Much more interesting opener than fcs
• Still not sold on Pitt D(even with Weaver)
• Still not sold on Pitt QB(even w Whipple)
• Virginia by 1

Sums it up well.