Narduzzi's golden eye

[raleighpanther]

PN is recruiting well, which is critical to building a winner. What’s under-appreciated is how successful he has been in seeing specific elements of talent in guys that others didn’t see, and knowing what to do with it. Look at the success he’s had with moving/placing guys in the right spot.

1) Brian O’Neill: TE recruit from Delaware, buried on the depth chart behind veteran TEs. When JJS got injured two years ago, he moves him to OT, presumably for depth. He grabs the starting spot immediately, has had two excellent seasons, grading out better than Biz or DJ this past year. Should be All-ACC and a high draft pick at the end of the year.

2) Q. Henderson: Another modestly recruited kid from DE. Speedy but undersized WR. While he develops his route running and pass catching skills, PN ignored his short stature and put the ball directly in his hands on jet sweeps and kick returns. All-American in his true sophomore season.

3) George Aston: Kid was a walk-on LB. After a quick look at him in camp, PN told him he was a FB. Aston said he didn’t like the move, but did it for the team. Fantastic blocker, who scored 10 TDs in his true soph season. If they gave out All-American awards to FB, he would’ve been under consideration. Again, a walk-on in just his second season.

If the Sabans and Meyers of the world had seen what these three were capable of in the roles in which PN placed them, they would've recruited the hell out of them.

4) Aaron Mathews: committed to PSU to play D, where most schools wanted him to play. He really wanted to be a WR, and PN saw the ability. Did a great job as the gunner on punts, and was a fantastic blocker at WR. I think the receptions will come.

5) Shakir Soto: moved him from DE to DT for his senior season. Wasn’t great, but was more effective than he ever was at DE, and it filled a hole at DT.

I expect moving Whitehead to FS will have a very positive result as well. Like many, I would’ve liked to see Pugh stay at LB, but I gotta trust PN on his decision to move him to DE, because of the track record.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Recruiting with a golden eye as Raleigh says is key to moving from 8 wins to 9,10,11,12 dare I say 13. We don't have the luxury of recruiting all 4 /5 *s as enough of them will work out to field a good team ( Yankees being the exception here ).

Coach Duzz does have an eye on player ability!

 

[wbrpanther]

PN is recruiting well, which is critical to building a winner. What’s under-appreciated is how successful he has been in seeing specific elements of talent in guys that others didn’t see, and knowing what to do with it. Look at the success he’s had with moving/placing guys in the right spot.

1) Brian O’Neill: TE recruit from Delaware, buried on the depth chart behind veteran TEs. When JJS got injured two years ago, he moves him to OT, presumably for depth. He grabs the starting spot immediately, has had two excellent seasons, grading out better than Biz or DJ this past year. Should be All-ACC and a high draft pick at the end of the year.

2) Q. Henderson: Another modestly recruited kid from DE. Speedy but undersized WR. While he develops his route running and pass catching skills, PN ignored his short stature and put the ball directly in his hands on jet sweeps and kick returns. All-American in his true sophomore season.

3) George Aston: Kid was a walk-on LB. After a quick look at him in camp, PN told him he was a FB. Aston said he didn’t like the move, but did it for the team. Fantastic blocker, who scored 10 TDs in his true soph season. If they gave out All-American awards to FB, he would’ve been under consideration. Again, a walk-on in just his second season.

If the Sabans and Meyers of the world had seen what these three were capable of in the roles in which PN placed them, they would've recruited the hell out of them.

4) Aaron Mathews: committed to PSU to play D, where most schools wanted him to play. He really wanted to be a WR, and PN saw the ability. Did a great job as the gunner on punts, and was a fantastic blocker at WR. I think the receptions will come.

5) Shakir Soto: moved him from DE to DT for his senior season. Wasn’t great, but was more effective than he ever was at DE, and it filled a hole at DT.

I expect moving Whitehead to FS will have a very positive result as well. Like many, I would’ve liked to see Pugh stay at LB, but I gotta trust PN on his decision to move him to DE, because of the track record.

To some extent this is exactly how he built such great defenses in Lansing. He didn't do it with all 4 and 5 star recruits. He did it with somewhat under the radar players who were still very talented. And he fit them into his defenses where he saw them fitting in. I'd love to see 4 and 5 star players start flocking to Pitt, which I think will happen if and when Pitt starts winning 10 or more games a year. But I will never write off a 3 star kid that Duzz thinks will fit in..

 

[Gary77]

To some extent this is exactly how he built such great defenses in Lansing. He didn't do it with all 4 and 5 star recruits. He did it with somewhat under the radar players who were still very talented. And he fit them into his defenses where he saw them fitting in. I'd love to see 4 and 5 star players start flocking to Pitt, which I think will happen if and when Pitt starts winning 10 or more games a year. But I will never write off a 3 star kid that Duzz thinks will fit in..

Very Sherrill-like!

 

[Pitt1992]

Would be nice to see a few more kids committed tbh,I'd be ok with ditching the wpial all together,just seems like a lost cause regardless of pitt does

 

[vegasgreed]

Outside the wpial who are our top targets that we have a legit shot with? And I'm not talking someone like the kid from Georgia we offered this week and he already holds close to 40 offers.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

He has a challenge. Lost his mastermind on O as well as his accomplished QB and the heart of the team in Conner and two key OL. And a new kicker is always a wildcard. So lets face it, even the most hopeful would be challenged to argue that the O won't fall back this year, perhaps quite a bit at first. Can the defense, possibly the worst in America last year, improve enough to compensate? And oh by the way, not just to have a winning season, but to win more games than last year? Fair or not these are the expectations.

 

[perchance]

Man, you can escape from that cellar if you really, really try. There is sunshine and fresh air above ground outside. Real people exist out there. Someday, you may even meet some female(?) who may not immediately reject you. Mom will not live forever, and then, who will feed you? Conquer your fears; join humanity. We're all pulling for you. Best of luck.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Simply remarkable is how you can lead a normal life while obsessing on a PITT board. No lawsuits or court dates this week in creepy valley?

 

[PittPanther44]

I think it's more doing the right thing with the guys once they are here. I don't think anyone told Aston "wow come play fullback or O'Neill "you're going to be a great lineman"

So they weren't recruited (esp Aston) with that in mind.

But they were used in remarkable ways. Otherwise, one might be a LB that was frustrating us with lack of speed, while the other might have just been a lumbering TE that eventually got to play as an upperclassmen

Instead we are talking about them now and having a great time watching them play.

Henderson is a little different. Can't teach speed

 

[NC Panther]

Henderson is a little different. Can't teach speed

Or wiggle...he has the most moves while running easily since McCoy.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

I think it's more doing the right thing with the guys once they are here. I don't think anyone told Aston "wow come play fullback or O'Neill "you're going to be a great lineman"

So they weren't recruited (esp Aston) with that in mind.

But they were used in remarkable ways. Otherwise, one might be a LB that was frustrating us with lack of speed, while the other might have just been a lumbering TE that eventually got to play as an upperclassmen

Instead we are talking about them now and having a great time watching them play.

Henderson is a little different. Can't teach speed

Offensively you couldn't be more thrilled with the innovation shown last year. I don't wanna vilify Chryst, I met him, liked him, think he's fine in his element at Wisc ... but (given he was OC as well as HC), he would have made next to zero use of Henderson. Pegged him as too small and (given his rather casual protection of the football) only worthy of one or two token gadget plays a season at best. Even if he had Henderson at KR, he likely would have instructed him to run into a pile on kickoffs. Need long patient drives to win TOP, after all.

And I doubt Aston would have done more than collect towels after practice.

Again, not to vilify Chryst; most every coach would be similar. Heaven knows most of our previous as well. Imagine Wanny (or his OC's) embracing this? His idea of radical was one reverse a season to Aundre Wright. Greg Cross scored a TD off a wildcat play and his reward was to never play again. Even Walt, who liked to throw, but was no great innovator. He had a similar weapon to Henderson with Marcus Furman. He had him throw an option pass ... once.

This is both what to rejoice and to fear ... was all of that innovation solely due to Canada? Did Narduzzi only go along with it with gritting teeth? Will the new guy truly keep it going or even close to it?

 

[raleighpanther]

I think it's more doing the right thing with the guys once they are here. I don't think anyone told Aston "wow come play fullback or O'Neill "you're going to be a great lineman"

So they weren't recruited (esp Aston) with that in mind.

But they were used in remarkable ways. Otherwise, one might be a LB that was frustrating us with lack of speed, while the other might have just been a lumbering TE that eventually got to play as an upperclassmen

Instead we are talking about them now and having a great time watching them play.

Henderson is a little different. Can't teach speed

I was making the same point with most of these guys. Aston wasn't recruited to play FB, he came as a linebacker. But PN saw the FB potential AFTER he got into camp, and moved him. For that, and other position switches, I attribute his 'golden eye'. BTW, in Aston's case, he actually was told to switch to FB by PN -- I heard Aston say that in an interview, and heard him say he wasn't that happy about it at first.

The one who is different is Mathews, who was a QB his senior year. Most programs recruiting him wanted him on defense. PN saw his potential at WR and recruited him to play that position; fortunately, its the one he preferred, which helped us land him.