PSU recruiting
- Thread starter pbrad
- Start date
I want wins on the field. I don't care where the kids come from. Some on here take this WAY TOO PERSONAL
Completely destroyed because a couple of kids flipped late when Pitt's staff has about 3 minutes to get in the game? C'mon. Losing kids sucks, no question, and we need all the help we can get on defense but the sky isn't falling.
Jimmy Two-Face will be smiling ear to ear Wednesday, but it's a long battle ahead.
Jimmy Two-Face will be smiling ear to ear Wednesday, but it's a long battle ahead.
Do these kids or parents have any type of commitment? Franklin is offering $$$ no big secret, he will leave a mess there in 2-3 years chalk it down! A creep who covered up rape at Vandy? What a great man of character and integrity.......he and that cesspool deserve each other.
Franklin was hired closer to signing day than Narduzzi and still had a top 25 class. Narduzzi needs to step it up if he wants to compete with ND, OSU, PSU, and Michigan for recruits in the area.
Yes, but what kind of class did Franklin inherit from BOB? Seriously asking because I do not know.
I'm OK with everything Narduzzi is doing. He kept the class in the 40s-50s, no easy feat when he came in with a month to spare. As for the confidence he is displaying, I am glad to see it. I want to see him rattle some cages and rile people up. It makes us relevant again and rekindles passion and excitement. Sure, he needs to follow it up with performance on the field but I am 100% confident he will be able to do just that.
I'm OK with everything Narduzzi is doing. He kept the class in the 40s-50s, no easy feat when he came in with a month to spare. As for the confidence he is displaying, I am glad to see it. I want to see him rattle some cages and rile people up. It makes us relevant again and rekindles passion and excitement. Sure, he needs to follow it up with performance on the field but I am 100% confident he will be able to do just that.
The class he inherited was decent with guys like Godwin, Thompkins, Gesicki and Reeder. That being said, he flipped Blacknall from Rutgers and also brought 4-5 of his Vandy kids. We lost Thomas Holley when O'Brien and LJ left though. All in all, I think Franklin made the class better but he had some type of relationship with many of the kids he flipped at the last minute.
I'm not happy about losing Givens -- from everything I hear he can be a heck of a player and I wish we had him. But for whatever reason he did not seem to be a priority for the new staff. I believe he was one of the last Chryst commits that the new staff contacted. I remember being surprised when I read on this site that HCPN finally spoke with Givens. So I'm thinking Givens wasn't feeling the love. Certainly something Franklin could have played on.
But good lord, talk about overreaction by this board. Our staff had no relationship with Bowers or Givens until they got here. Let them recruit for an entire cycle, and then you can worry if they're losing guys at the last minute. Get a grip. H2P
But good lord, talk about overreaction by this board. Our staff had no relationship with Bowers or Givens until they got here. Let them recruit for an entire cycle, and then you can worry if they're losing guys at the last minute. Get a grip. H2P
Yeah, he and his staff are salesmen. And, right now, impressionable young guys believe in what they say. Well, the future will be a telling story. PSU better win big or they will lose credibility fast with the 'powerhouse' recruiting they are doing. And, they had better kill Pitt, who is lowly in their eyes, because if they don't, it will be an embarrassment big time for them. We need to bide our time and win some games on the field, then the recruits will trust in the staff. I just think of my daughters, who would I trust, Franklin or Narduzzi? Think of what Mich St has done, and what Penn St has done. A no brainer for me. But, it will take some time to convince young men who don't know better. Bowers, Petishen, and Givens got wooed by the snake oil, we'll see what happens done the line.
It's one year of recruiting, big deal. PSU has ALWAYS recruited well, yet have not been nationally relevant since the mid 90's. Franklin is selling totally on potential right now. If PSU doesn't significantly improve in 2015, kids aren't stupid and will see through the sales pitch.
Let's be realistic. Narduzzi wasn't going to clean up in recruiting in his first year, especially with Pitt being average on the field last year (or apparently "Great" by PSU's standards.) Franklin also got flips from 2 guys who favored PSU from Day 1. I'd have much more concern if I hear Jordan Whitehead sent his LOI to PSU tomorrow.
If Pitt goes out and wins 9+ games and contends or maybe even wins the Coastal and PSU ends up with a similar 7 win season, I guarantee things will change on the recruiting front vs PSU. Pitt has as good of a chance as anyone in the Coastal to win it in 2015 w/ what we have back. PSU is significantly worse than OSU or MSU and Michigan isn't getting any worse either. They are not playing for a B1G title any time soon. Also, Pitt's weakness was D and we addressed that with a great defensive mind as our coach. PSU sucked on offensive and they didn't do anything to address that with their coaching staff. That's not going magically fix itself when you have inept coaching.
Win on the field in 2015 and beat PSU in 2016. Let actual on-field results do the talking rather than tweets with no substance behind them.
I also think there's something to the fact that PSU coaches are so interested in what's going on at Pitt. To me that is a good sign we made the right hire. Narduzzi and staff obviously have PSU's attention. So much so, they are basing their offers on spite towards Pitt now apparently.
Let's be realistic. Narduzzi wasn't going to clean up in recruiting in his first year, especially with Pitt being average on the field last year (or apparently "Great" by PSU's standards.) Franklin also got flips from 2 guys who favored PSU from Day 1. I'd have much more concern if I hear Jordan Whitehead sent his LOI to PSU tomorrow.
If Pitt goes out and wins 9+ games and contends or maybe even wins the Coastal and PSU ends up with a similar 7 win season, I guarantee things will change on the recruiting front vs PSU. Pitt has as good of a chance as anyone in the Coastal to win it in 2015 w/ what we have back. PSU is significantly worse than OSU or MSU and Michigan isn't getting any worse either. They are not playing for a B1G title any time soon. Also, Pitt's weakness was D and we addressed that with a great defensive mind as our coach. PSU sucked on offensive and they didn't do anything to address that with their coaching staff. That's not going magically fix itself when you have inept coaching.
Win on the field in 2015 and beat PSU in 2016. Let actual on-field results do the talking rather than tweets with no substance behind them.
I also think there's something to the fact that PSU coaches are so interested in what's going on at Pitt. To me that is a good sign we made the right hire. Narduzzi and staff obviously have PSU's attention. So much so, they are basing their offers on spite towards Pitt now apparently.
Ohio--Agree. Bowers and Givens were going to flip in any event if if Chryst and staff were still here. Pitt was always plan B for both kids. In the future, Pitt should not accept a verbal from any kid who is known to have PSU #1 and is waiting for them to offer and is only making Pitt their safe Plan B. Recruit them, yes, but don't accept a commitment until their LOI is received on the fax machine--if we have room at that point.
Murph, agree 100% with you on this--except the 100% confidence about what happens on the field. I've been a Pitt fan way to long to have that kind of optimism, and Narduzzi has never been a head coach. It's a much different job and a much bigger leap than many seem to understand. I like him but he has a tall order ahead of him, the past 30 years speak for themselves on that. At least he has some offensive talent to work with, and most importantly a solid O-line.
I need to see the success with my own 2 eyes. I'm not buying into the lip service.
Otherwise, I'm with you.
I need to see the success with my own 2 eyes. I'm not buying into the lip service.
Otherwise, I'm with you.
My hope was that PSU would be a T25 football team this past year and T20 team in 2015. That would allow us to potentially become a T10 team in 2016. Many PSU posters felt I was crazy and being a little bit too optimistic.
PSU needs to be at least a T25 team this year and possibly T20. If so, I'll be happy.
PSU needs to be at least a T25 team this year and possibly T20. If so, I'll be happy.
Re: Penn State's Franklin Is Doing What He Needs To Do....
Franklin is selling his program and taking the players that are buying into it as part of that sell and if you ever meet him, he is impressive and doing what he said he would do by coming to Penn State.
There is nothing wrong in Pitt fans to understand this type of passion and being forthright, gracious and magnanimous. It is Coach Pat Narduzzi & Staff challenge to prepare, develop, and make Pitt Players into complete Team capable of performing at a high level as they did at Michigan State on defense under his presence and passion.
There are two categories of recruits in college football. We got your prime 5 and 4 star recruits that get all the stars and expect to play right away, and one has the Player-Knockers that show up, listen to the coaching, and just learn to perform and become pretty good parts of a complete team.
Penn State not only has a dynamic coach that impresses players and parents, but also the resources to go after and compete with any school not just Pitt.
This is no different than what Dantonio and Narduzzi faced at MSU against Michigan and we do not know how Narduzzi will adjust to becoming a Head Coach and will be another Dantonio?
At the same time, Franklin has without a doubt shows he can compete with any coach on recruiting and will have the talent to turn them into pretty good teams and has to prove that too?
This is the challenge for both to prove and Franklin & Staff will have far more talent at Penn State based on his last 2 years recruiting than Pitt. Narduzzi & Staff have to work that much harder to develop his own recruits and players to perform, form, and become complete Teams.
I have no problem in respecting Franklin and Penn State or Holgorsen & WVU, and predicted a while ago, it is going to be a challenge every day, week, month, and year for Pitt to increase its competitive balance against not just these Teams, Coaches, and Schools, but all in the ACC too.
I still say, Chancellor Pat Gallagher Vision for Pitt Football is just starting and got rid of the burden holding back Pitt in the Athletic Department. Gallagher's Vision is what Pitt is implementing now. It will not happen in one year, but it will grow after the Athletic Director is selected.
Pitt can embark on turning Gallagher's Vision into a reality, and part of that challenge is for Coach Pat Narduzzi & Staff to prove they are up to it. Anyone expecting Coach Narduzzi to make a Pitt a Top 25 Team, Recruiter, and Program in one year is high expectations much like what is expected at PSU & WVU right now.
Coach Narduzzi & Staff & New AD will need time to build Pitt into complete Teams on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. There results will determine Pitt Football Program today and in the future. Pitt has so much to build and so much farther to go to get it done. The same challenge is there for Penn State in the Big-10 and WVU in the Big-12 and does not play Pitt until 2016?
I would love to see Pitt win the ACC, WVU win the Big-12 and Penn State win the Big-10 and play each other every year, if not in Bowl Games too!
There is room for all 3 Programs to return to Excellence in all 3 Conferences. The challenge there is not just not recruiting, but beating Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, MSU, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, TCU, Michigan, Virginia Tech, and Baylor, Wisconsin, FSU, Clemson when those game come up. Until we all play each other again in the future.
I can wait, relax, sit back, and enjoy watching how all the Head Coaches, Programs & Staffs show up on the GridIron the next few years.
This post was edited on 2/3 5:48 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
Franklin is selling his program and taking the players that are buying into it as part of that sell and if you ever meet him, he is impressive and doing what he said he would do by coming to Penn State.
There is nothing wrong in Pitt fans to understand this type of passion and being forthright, gracious and magnanimous. It is Coach Pat Narduzzi & Staff challenge to prepare, develop, and make Pitt Players into complete Team capable of performing at a high level as they did at Michigan State on defense under his presence and passion.
There are two categories of recruits in college football. We got your prime 5 and 4 star recruits that get all the stars and expect to play right away, and one has the Player-Knockers that show up, listen to the coaching, and just learn to perform and become pretty good parts of a complete team.
Penn State not only has a dynamic coach that impresses players and parents, but also the resources to go after and compete with any school not just Pitt.
This is no different than what Dantonio and Narduzzi faced at MSU against Michigan and we do not know how Narduzzi will adjust to becoming a Head Coach and will be another Dantonio?
At the same time, Franklin has without a doubt shows he can compete with any coach on recruiting and will have the talent to turn them into pretty good teams and has to prove that too?
This is the challenge for both to prove and Franklin & Staff will have far more talent at Penn State based on his last 2 years recruiting than Pitt. Narduzzi & Staff have to work that much harder to develop his own recruits and players to perform, form, and become complete Teams.
I have no problem in respecting Franklin and Penn State or Holgorsen & WVU, and predicted a while ago, it is going to be a challenge every day, week, month, and year for Pitt to increase its competitive balance against not just these Teams, Coaches, and Schools, but all in the ACC too.
I still say, Chancellor Pat Gallagher Vision for Pitt Football is just starting and got rid of the burden holding back Pitt in the Athletic Department. Gallagher's Vision is what Pitt is implementing now. It will not happen in one year, but it will grow after the Athletic Director is selected.
Pitt can embark on turning Gallagher's Vision into a reality, and part of that challenge is for Coach Pat Narduzzi & Staff to prove they are up to it. Anyone expecting Coach Narduzzi to make a Pitt a Top 25 Team, Recruiter, and Program in one year is high expectations much like what is expected at PSU & WVU right now.
Coach Narduzzi & Staff & New AD will need time to build Pitt into complete Teams on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. There results will determine Pitt Football Program today and in the future. Pitt has so much to build and so much farther to go to get it done. The same challenge is there for Penn State in the Big-10 and WVU in the Big-12 and does not play Pitt until 2016?
I would love to see Pitt win the ACC, WVU win the Big-12 and Penn State win the Big-10 and play each other every year, if not in Bowl Games too!
There is room for all 3 Programs to return to Excellence in all 3 Conferences. The challenge there is not just not recruiting, but beating Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, MSU, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, TCU, Michigan, Virginia Tech, and Baylor, Wisconsin, FSU, Clemson when those game come up. Until we all play each other again in the future.
I can wait, relax, sit back, and enjoy watching how all the Head Coaches, Programs & Staffs show up on the GridIron the next few years.
This post was edited on 2/3 5:48 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
Pitt is also getting called out too
https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2208&tid=210004682&mid=210004682&sid=880&style=2
https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2208&tid=210004682&mid=210004682&sid=880&style=2
Re: Penn State's Franklin Is Doing What He Needs To Do....
2015 PSU still has some issues from sanctions, but back to at least 85% strength. 2014 was the worst for depth of team. Offensive line should be better in 2015, but still not good. 2016 should have the players ready to go. 2015 out of conference should be 4-0, but at Temple could surprise. Only Ohio State and Michigan State will be favored. Conference record should end up between 4-4 and 6-2. 2016 will have the players to make a run at top 10. Then we'll see if Franklin has the right stuff. Pitt actually might be hitting PSU at a tough time in 2016, when PSU should be good. We'll see. You never know. If Hack actually comes back for his Senior season, 2016 could be top 5. Kind of hard to believe PSU won 8, 7, and 7 games in those tough sanction years. I expected 4 a year. It was important that PSU paid to keep the defensive coach.
Franklin won't have any excuses about depth or talent in 2016.
This post was edited on 2/3 3:30 PM by Dunc1
2015 PSU still has some issues from sanctions, but back to at least 85% strength. 2014 was the worst for depth of team. Offensive line should be better in 2015, but still not good. 2016 should have the players ready to go. 2015 out of conference should be 4-0, but at Temple could surprise. Only Ohio State and Michigan State will be favored. Conference record should end up between 4-4 and 6-2. 2016 will have the players to make a run at top 10. Then we'll see if Franklin has the right stuff. Pitt actually might be hitting PSU at a tough time in 2016, when PSU should be good. We'll see. You never know. If Hack actually comes back for his Senior season, 2016 could be top 5. Kind of hard to believe PSU won 8, 7, and 7 games in those tough sanction years. I expected 4 a year. It was important that PSU paid to keep the defensive coach.
Franklin won't have any excuses about depth or talent in 2016.
This post was edited on 2/3 3:30 PM by Dunc1
Yes, I agree. But, Michigan does against Mich St too, and we all know what the results have been there lately.
Bucky,
Relax with that sig page, boss. Some of us need to hop onto this guy during work. Not exactly a good luck when someone walks by the comp and there's a half dozen Asian teens flopping around the monitor.
Relax with that sig page, boss. Some of us need to hop onto this guy during work. Not exactly a good luck when someone walks by the comp and there's a half dozen Asian teens flopping around the monitor.
Yes, I thought Givens might be a good player too, but let's relax. Both him and Bowers were 3-star guys, for those of you who look for stars.
PSU's staff was recruiting these guys for a year; Narduzzi called to introduce himself 3 weeks ago. And while the new staff seemed to like Bowers, they appeared to be lukewarm on Givens. It would appear that Narduzzi isn't very upset with the loss. Its another open ship for next year that he can use on a guy that HE really likes. And with the small number of ships we are likely to have next year, that's important.
PSU's staff was recruiting these guys for a year; Narduzzi called to introduce himself 3 weeks ago. And while the new staff seemed to like Bowers, they appeared to be lukewarm on Givens. It would appear that Narduzzi isn't very upset with the loss. Its another open ship for next year that he can use on a guy that HE really likes. And with the small number of ships we are likely to have next year, that's important.
Michigan's record against MSU has just as much to do with Michigan's failures as it does MSU's success. Narduzzi is going to come into Pitt with the same plan they had at MSU, but many on here are acting as if Narduzzi was the only piece to that puzzle. So far he has basically done what has been expected of him. He put together a solid but not spectacular coaching staff and he has put together an average recruiting class. But it's not realistic to expect anything more right now. I believe it generally takes at least 2 years before you have any real idea how good of a coach you have.
agree, but
the 2016 schedule is laughably easy. anything less than 9-3 should be considered a failure. But the media loving PSU, along with the cult members, would eat that up and proclaim the season a raging success.
the 2016 schedule is laughably easy. anything less than 9-3 should be considered a failure. But the media loving PSU, along with the cult members, would eat that up and proclaim the season a raging success.
Re: Dunc1!
I agree the OL needs time to rebuild, in the NFL Mock Draft PSU has 3 OL and 1 TE listed as potential draft picks. This shows they are losing the OL they had this year and need to replace. It takes 1 to 2 Year to develop OL.
I like Barkley at Running Back as contributing this year like PSU Poster pointed out, most PSU RB's were not the meant to be RBs but Slot Backs, but the OL makes it all go by opening holes and protecting the QB. Once the OL comes together, then you will really see some great football on Offense with the talent PSU has at QB and WRs so long as Hack does not get hurt?
No matter how great the talent is, it takes time to build your body up, adapt to increasing your speed, and most importantly just gain experience and learn not to make mistakes. Recruits will talent will adapt quicker if they play more, but it is still a growing process.
Penn State best strength will be its Defense again. Losing Hull will hurt but that can happen with the talent they have on the Roster.
Although Hack will want to come back for 2016 and may well do it, I still see O'Brien taking him in the Draft if Houston can grab him. Yet, Hack will become even a bigger Hero if he stays at PSU all 4 years. It is may do well for his College Legacy but it could hurt or help his NFL Career based on what happens. USC's Barkley really hurt income and draft status by staying that extra year?
Franklin's bigger challenge is not recruiting well or developing his players into Complete Teams, but the superb coaching of OSU Meyers, MSU Dantonio, and Michigan's Harbaugh that will do wonders at Ann Arbor this year is my prediction. Any Coach facing those coaches would have the same problem by the way.
I am disappointed in losing Given, Miller, and Bowers tp PSU because I think all could have contributed to Pitt faster than they will at PSU. But I wish them well and success too!
Narduzzi challenge is just adapting to becoming Head Coach with his New Staff and we will see if he can handle it right away. The Pitt OL is very good and the Offense has in place a very good unit of talent, experience, and skills. The Defense needs lots of help and talent and that does not happen learning a new system in one year as Narduzzi expects them to fly around and do what he built at MSU. It took them 3 years to do that at MSU, so my expectations will not be that high for Pitt Defense and I hope I am surprised.
I will gage Coach Pat & Staff on how he develops and how the Special Teams perform. Pitt ahs been horrible under Chryst & Staff in this area. Yet, this is where young players and back-ups learn to play and adjust to coaching. Great coaching here can prove to be a window for coaching to come, in my opinion.
I am also looking forward to seeing Jordan Whitehead to be evaluated right away but on Offense where I think he has the talent to contribute right away. On Defense that takes some time even though he is needed there ASAP.
To me, this is what will portends if Narduzzi is going to be a great Head Coach and first years always show that usually but we shall see? Harris and Wannstedt needed 3 years to prove they were good coaches but not grat coaches. Chryst is still proving he can be a good Head Coach as far as I am concern. Wisky's Alvarez Program will give him the opportunity to prove it this year, but he proved he could build an Offense at Pitt, but failed on Defense and Special Teams.
The real pressure won't be on Franklin or Narduzzi this year, but on Holgorsen that has bragged his team is enar being a Top Ten Team?
Good luck to you!
This post was edited on 2/3 3:59 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
I agree the OL needs time to rebuild, in the NFL Mock Draft PSU has 3 OL and 1 TE listed as potential draft picks. This shows they are losing the OL they had this year and need to replace. It takes 1 to 2 Year to develop OL.
I like Barkley at Running Back as contributing this year like PSU Poster pointed out, most PSU RB's were not the meant to be RBs but Slot Backs, but the OL makes it all go by opening holes and protecting the QB. Once the OL comes together, then you will really see some great football on Offense with the talent PSU has at QB and WRs so long as Hack does not get hurt?
No matter how great the talent is, it takes time to build your body up, adapt to increasing your speed, and most importantly just gain experience and learn not to make mistakes. Recruits will talent will adapt quicker if they play more, but it is still a growing process.
Penn State best strength will be its Defense again. Losing Hull will hurt but that can happen with the talent they have on the Roster.
Although Hack will want to come back for 2016 and may well do it, I still see O'Brien taking him in the Draft if Houston can grab him. Yet, Hack will become even a bigger Hero if he stays at PSU all 4 years. It is may do well for his College Legacy but it could hurt or help his NFL Career based on what happens. USC's Barkley really hurt income and draft status by staying that extra year?
Franklin's bigger challenge is not recruiting well or developing his players into Complete Teams, but the superb coaching of OSU Meyers, MSU Dantonio, and Michigan's Harbaugh that will do wonders at Ann Arbor this year is my prediction. Any Coach facing those coaches would have the same problem by the way.
I am disappointed in losing Given, Miller, and Bowers tp PSU because I think all could have contributed to Pitt faster than they will at PSU. But I wish them well and success too!
Narduzzi challenge is just adapting to becoming Head Coach with his New Staff and we will see if he can handle it right away. The Pitt OL is very good and the Offense has in place a very good unit of talent, experience, and skills. The Defense needs lots of help and talent and that does not happen learning a new system in one year as Narduzzi expects them to fly around and do what he built at MSU. It took them 3 years to do that at MSU, so my expectations will not be that high for Pitt Defense and I hope I am surprised.
I will gage Coach Pat & Staff on how he develops and how the Special Teams perform. Pitt ahs been horrible under Chryst & Staff in this area. Yet, this is where young players and back-ups learn to play and adjust to coaching. Great coaching here can prove to be a window for coaching to come, in my opinion.
I am also looking forward to seeing Jordan Whitehead to be evaluated right away but on Offense where I think he has the talent to contribute right away. On Defense that takes some time even though he is needed there ASAP.
To me, this is what will portends if Narduzzi is going to be a great Head Coach and first years always show that usually but we shall see? Harris and Wannstedt needed 3 years to prove they were good coaches but not grat coaches. Chryst is still proving he can be a good Head Coach as far as I am concern. Wisky's Alvarez Program will give him the opportunity to prove it this year, but he proved he could build an Offense at Pitt, but failed on Defense and Special Teams.
The real pressure won't be on Franklin or Narduzzi this year, but on Holgorsen that has bragged his team is enar being a Top Ten Team?
Good luck to you!
This post was edited on 2/3 3:59 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
Re: Dunc1!
You might want to check your facts. PSU is really only losing 1-2 OL. Donovan Smith and Miles Diefenbach and both were hurt this year. Diefenbach missed about 9 or 10 games so PSU already had guys that were playing in his place. The PSU line will be in great shape moving forward. PSU only had 5 scholarship OL last spring. They will have 12 this spring and 14 by summer.
You might want to check your facts. PSU is really only losing 1-2 OL. Donovan Smith and Miles Diefenbach and both were hurt this year. Diefenbach missed about 9 or 10 games so PSU already had guys that were playing in his place. The PSU line will be in great shape moving forward. PSU only had 5 scholarship OL last spring. They will have 12 this spring and 14 by summer.
Originally posted by CaptainSidneyReilly:
I agree the OL needs time to rebuild, in the NFL Mock Draft PSU has 3 OL and 1 TE listed as potential draft picks. This shows they are losing the OL they had this year and need to replace. It takes 1 to 2 Year to develop OL.
I like Barkley at Running Back as contributing this year like PSU Poster pointed out, most PSU RB's were not the meant to be RBs but Slot Backs, but the OL makes it all go by opening holes and protecting the QB. Once the OL comes together, then you will really see some great football on Offense with the talent PSU has at QB and WRs so long as Hack does not get hurt?
No matter how great the talent is, it takes time to build your body up, adapt to increasing your speed, and most importantly just gain experience and learn not to make mistakes. Recruits will talent will adapt quicker if they play more, but it is still a growing process.
Penn State best strength will be its Defense again. Losing Hull will hurt but that can happen with the talent they have on the Roster.
Although Hack will want to come back for 2016 and may well do it, I still see O'Brien taking him in the Draft if Houston can grab him. Yet, Hack will become even a bigger Hero if he stays at PSU all 4 years. It is may do well for his College Legacy but it could hurt or help his NFL Career based on what happens. USC's Barkley really hurt income and draft status by staying that extra year?
Franklin's bigger challenge is not recruiting well or developing his players into Complete Teams, but the superb coaching of OSU Meyers, MSU Dantonio, and Michigan's Harbaugh that will do wonders at Ann Arbor this year is my prediction. Any Coach facing those coaches would have the same problem by the way.
I am disappointed in losing Given, Miller, and Bowers tp PSU because I think all could have contributed to Pitt faster than they will at PSU. But I wish them well and success too!
Narduzzi challenge is just adapting to becoming Head Coach with his New Staff and we will see if he can handle it right away. The Pitt OL is very good and the Offense has in place a very good unit of talent, experience, and skills. The Defense needs lots of help and talent and that does not happen learning a new system in one year as Narduzzi expects them to fly around and do what he built at MSU. It took them 3 years to do that at MSU, so my expectations will not be that high for Pitt Defense and I hope I am surprised.
I will gage Coach Pat & Staff on how he develops and how the Special Teams perform. Pitt ahs been horrible under Chryst & Staff in this area. Yet, this is where young players and back-ups learn to play and adjust to coaching. Great coaching here can prove to be a window for coaching to come, in my opinion.
I am also looking forward to seeing Jordan Whitehead to be evaluated right away but on Offense where I think he has the talent to contribute right away. On Defense that takes some time even though he is needed there ASAP.
To me, this is what will portends if Narduzzi is going to be a great Head Coach and first years always show that usually but we shall see? Harris and Wannstedt needed 3 years to prove they were good coaches but not grat coaches. Chryst is still proving he can be a good Head Coach as far as I am concern. Wisky's Alvarez Program will give him the opportunity to prove it this year, but he proved he could build an Offense at Pitt, but failed on Defense and Special Teams.
The real pressure won't be on Franklin or Narduzzi this year, but on Holgorsen that has bragged his team is enar being a Top Ten Team?
Good luck to you!
This post was edited on 2/3 3:59 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
In fairness, the kids planning to go to Vandy in 2014 were going there to be coached by Franklin and his staff. MSU's 2015 recruits are going to MSU to be part of DAntonio's program.
If the entire MSU coaching staff, including the Head Coach, were coming to Pitt, do you think a few of those MSU commits might follow them?
If the entire MSU coaching staff, including the Head Coach, were coming to Pitt, do you think a few of those MSU commits might follow them?
Re: Sputnick3
This post was edited on 2/3 4:59 PM by CaptainSidneyReillyOriginally posted by sputnick3:
You might want to check your facts. PSU is really only losing 1-2 OL. Donovan Smith and Miles Diefenbach and both were hurt this year. Diefenbach missed about 9 or 10 games so PSU already had guys that were playing in his place. The PSU line will be in great shape moving forward. PSU only had 5 scholarship OL last spring. They will have 12 this spring and 14 by summer.
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I know my facts, Penn State had a terrible OL all of last year even in the Bowl Game, just like Pitt Defense and Special Teams did not improve all year long and lost their Bowl Game.
I realize that they had low numbers and had this discussion with KJB last week. The fact remains during the entire year, PSU OL was horrible and really showed little improvement all year long. As you say, they had little numbers for OL and the freshmen and sophomores just couldn't get it done.
ESPN Blog talked about it was there greatest need and good to see a few coming back, but even if they increased the numbers as they did, these positions take time to learn. The thing to look forward to is to see how they get better as the year goes along.
If Hack has a OL and Barkley Runs as I expect the Wideouts will have a field day with a Running Game and Passing Game. if they don't and struggle again, it will take more time to win with all that talent and try and beat MSU, OSU, and Big Blue!
Penn State will be happy if they can make the Top 25 this or next year. Then with all the expectations they will be want to see a Top 15 Team and then Top 10 by 2018. Franklin has a Top 25 Class and Top 10-12 Recruiting Classes and already has some great ones in waiting for 2016. Now he has to show he can coach on the top 25 and Top 10 levels too.
As I see it, Franklin won at Vanderbilt with far less talent he has at Penn State now and that should portend he will win at a much higher level at Penn State.
If not, Franklin will be gone and Jay Paterno will be named the next Head Coach. This is true goal of the Paternos anyway!
We shall see?
VERY well said....
Many PSU fans could say the same exact thing about Urban Meyer and tOSU. They FORCE you to improve in all areas of your program....including recruiting, facilities, coaching staff, gameplan, game-time adjustments, graduating players, etc, etc, etc. If Pitt improves in these areas, then everyone else will have to respond on their own...otherwise, the gap is closed and everything becomes more difficult. Great recruiting only continues if you win. So we will have to wait and see if Franklin's staff can get it done. But I will say this: When you have a few top 15 recruiting classes in a row, the only result that's acceptable is B1G championships....and then BCS playoffs...then MNC's. Lofty goals, but that's what the expectation is.....
Many PSU fans could say the same exact thing about Urban Meyer and tOSU. They FORCE you to improve in all areas of your program....including recruiting, facilities, coaching staff, gameplan, game-time adjustments, graduating players, etc, etc, etc. If Pitt improves in these areas, then everyone else will have to respond on their own...otherwise, the gap is closed and everything becomes more difficult. Great recruiting only continues if you win. So we will have to wait and see if Franklin's staff can get it done. But I will say this: When you have a few top 15 recruiting classes in a row, the only result that's acceptable is B1G championships....and then BCS playoffs...then MNC's. Lofty goals, but that's what the expectation is.....
Re: Dunc1!
we have FOUR 4-star OL kids coming in this incoming class. We had 2 in the last 4 years. It IS improving, but will take a few years to get them ready to play.
we have FOUR 4-star OL kids coming in this incoming class. We had 2 in the last 4 years. It IS improving, but will take a few years to get them ready to play.
Re: Senatedon!
Not if you know Sue???
I can wait and see as you think silly about why their Lawsuit continues?
Not if you know Sue???
I can wait and see as you think silly about why their Lawsuit continues?
