Game day coach

[raleighpanther]

We've not discussed this much, but let's give Narduzzi credit for being a good game day coach (yet one more thing to give him credit for). As a first year HC, and a defensive one at that, many questioned how good he would be as a game day coach, particularly in year one.

But he has done well with calling the game. No mysterious time outs, or punt decisions, etc.

And he has made gutsy decisions, which showed confidence in his players. We've all heard that he has gotten his players to believe in themselves, and I'm sure he's done several things to accomplish that. But perhaps nothing helped achieve that goal more than him showing them that he believes in them with the decisions that he's made.
Against GT, he showed confidence in the offense by going for it twice on 4th down in the final drive, and then showed confidence in both Blewitt and his defense by sending Blewitt out to take the long FG.

And he did it again today by calling the fake punt. By calling it, he was saying 'I believe you guys can execute this play.'

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

We've not discussed this much, but let's give Narduzzi credit for being a good game day coach (yet one more thing to give him credit for). As a first year HC, and a defensive one at that, many questioned how good he would be as a game day coach, particularly in year one.

But he has done well with calling the game. No mysterious time outs, or punt decisions, etc.

And he has made gutsy decisions, which showed confidence in his players. We've all heard that he has gotten his players to believe in themselves, and I'm sure he's done several things to accomplish that. But perhaps nothing helped achieve that goal more than him showing them that he believes in them with the decisions that he's made.
Against GT, he showed confidence in the offense by going for it twice on 4th down in the final drive, and then showed confidence in both Blewitt and his defense by sending Blewitt out to take the long FG.

And he did it again today by calling the fake punt. By calling it, he was saying 'I believe you guys can execute this play.'

I quite agree and will add something else to the mix in your good Post.

It is not just Pitt has found a Head Coach that can teach his System and choose great Assistants that do it too, as well as teach his Players to change, Focus, and Play with Discipline, but Coach Pat himself is learning from his mistakes and in his first year? He does not need 1 or 3 years to learn not to repeat them?

In the Iowa Game he refused to go for the First Down on 4th Down and did a time out right at the time the Iowa Kicker kicked and missed it? Unlike Chryst that would make excsues and say he didn't need a Special Teams Coach, Coach Pat took full responsibility and admitted he made a mistake. Since then, he has gone and won on those 4th Down calls?

Yet, in subsequent games he has risked the entire game by going for plays few expected. He has learned his lessons of failure already this season, not like the coaches before him that kept repeating them?

This ia something Harris, Wannstedt, Graham and Chryst seldom learned in losing close games they should have won on bad play calling, poor Special Teams teaching, and quitting on their Players when those Players needed support from them.

Another example, was how Coach Pat ran Ollison up the middle with seconds to go in the game, unlike Chryst running Voytik to the end that caused the lost of the Duke Game?

Harris, Wannstedt, Graham and Chryst could have won 8 to 9 win seasons but often barely had 6 to 7 wins, due to losing close games, blowing big leads, and not making proper Half Time Adjustments, and watched how Special Teams or the Offense, Defense lost games that should have been won?

Coach Pat & Staff seem to teach the Fundamentals of tackling, keeping the Players heads in the game, and not quitting but getting better by beating the other team near the end of games over being beaten?

Coach Pat & Staff know their Players so much more than the other coaches that came to Pitt and it shows in the coaching, executing, and learning to win near the end of the games instead of losing them?

 

[aged_wolverine]

There are a few things I don't like about Mike Dantonio. Tops being his luck vs us, and secondly that scowl that ex lax could cure. Only a constipated person stays that upset all the time.



Seriously, I don't know who all PN coached under, but I can attest to how great his D played, and how fired up he got his players. The young kids feed on raw emotion displayed by their coaches. I hope he stays with you guys for the long haul that finds you eventually in the B1G

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"aged_wolverine, post: 443408, member: 2694"]
Where have you been? Harbaugh is doing great! Love to hear your insights?

There are a few things I don't like about Mike Dantonio. Tops being his luck vs us, and secondly that scowl that ex lax could cure. Only a constipated person stays that upset all the time.
Reminds me of Belichick but he knows his Football too. He dearly wants the Ohio State job, but the longer he stays at MSU that may fade!

Seriously, I don't know who all PN coached under, but I can attest to how great his D played, and how fired up he got his players. The young kids feed on raw emotion displayed by their coaches. I hope he stays with you guys for the long haul that finds you eventually in the B1G
I think he will and always wanted to come to Pitt and loves our region Youngstown-Pittsburgh! He stayed in the dorms to get to know every Player and that does not sound like someone that will abandon his Players? He is also working on building the entire Pitt Football Program not just winning, coaching, and recruiting, but seeing boosters, fans, and calling out the students to come and stay at games?

This is a very special man not just a special coach?

 

[pbrad]

Game day coaching is underrated. We have seen our fair share of poor game day prep and coaching in the past. You can have the best players and game plan, but you have to be able to adapt and so far the Duzz has shown an uncanny ability to do so.