State of Pitt football...

[cpc247]

I really think when HCPN came to Pitt he had a pretty nice roster to work with. With that said I think Narduzzi has recruited better and more athletic kids in all phases of the game. My opinion is that this football team is slightly more talented on offense with the exception of Boyd and the defense has significantly more play makers in the making then when HCPN first got here. With that said the major difference is that there will not be a "Gap" in recruiting classes from coaching changes. If Pitt has a chance to make the top 25 and get some high end recruits the next 3 years are its chance. If we do not see a major increase in that time period then I don't know that Pitt will achieve that anytime soon. I think HCPN is doing an outstanding job with what he has, but my only concern is getting a consistent offensive system that seems practical (not a gimmick, or repeat of someone else, etc).

Lastly, I will be first to go on record and say that this recruiting class will be the class that CARRIES this Pitt program into the top 20. Lots of talented linemen, Quality Mike LB, DE, and *QB (with time to develop)

H2P

 

[joeydavid]

It's really all about the schedule at this point. The roster is still young and developing but they are all HCPN's recruits. As you mentioned, having some continuity helps but next year's schedule is a win total killer.

My guess is 2019 will be their 10 win season due to a softer schedule.

 

[Saboteur]

I really think when HCPN came to Pitt he had a pretty nice roster to work with. With that said I think Narduzzi has recruited better and more athletic kids in all phases of the game. My opinion is that this football team is slightly more talented on offense with the exception of Boyd and the defense has significantly more play makers in the making then when HCPN first got here. With that said the major difference is that there will not be a "Gap" in recruiting classes from coaching changes. If Pitt has a chance to make the top 25 and get some high end recruits the next 3 years are its chance. If we do not see a major increase in that time period then I don't know that Pitt will achieve that anytime soon. I think HCPN is doing an outstanding job with what he has, but my only concern is getting a consistent offensive system that seems practical (not a gimmick, or repeat of someone else, etc).

Lastly, I will be first to go on record and say that this recruiting class will be the class that CARRIES this Pitt program into the top 20. Lots of talented linemen, Quality Mike LB, DE, and *QB (with time to develop)

H2P

I can't ignore that we have a very tough schedule next year. if Pitt cracks the top 20, then my prediction is we crack the top 12 because with our schedule, we can list some signature W's.

 

[raleighpanther]

Recruiting for PN is a bit of a reverse from Chryst, but not so extreme.
Chryst recruited very well on offense (except for QB), but not well at all on D.

Narduzzi has brought in his kind of guys on D, the kind he had and were successful at Mich. St. I think it's a very solid group, with depth and talent, and the unit will have a good 2018.

But on offense, it remains to be seen. He got the QB (Pickett) that Chryst never got, but how good the guys at the other skill positions are is still up in the air. And we can only hope that PN's OL guys are as good as Chryst's. Some look very promising (including the 2018 recruits), but only time will tell.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Don'r forget Chryst had Hornibrook (current Wisconsin QB) coming to Pitt until Chryst returned to Wisconsin and Hornibrook followed..

 

[Delpanther]

I don't think that what Narduzzi inherited in the way of defensive personnel was good at all. As a matter of fact, it was downright poor at just about every position. On D we're now just getting to the point of having decent players and depth at all defensive positions.

 

[joeydavid]

Hornibrook is at best a game manager who throws a ton of picks.

Don'r forget Chryst had Hornibrook (current Wisconsin QB) coming to Pitt until Chryst returned to Wisconsin and Hornibrook followed..

 

[Nationalchamps1]

Hornibrook is at best a game manager who throws a ton of picks.

Yep - he managed to lead Wisconsin to 13 this year.

 

[Pittx9]

I don't think that what Narduzzi inherited in the way of defensive personnel was good at all. As a matter of fact, it was downright poor at just about every position. On D we're now just getting to the point of having decent players and depth at all defensive positions.

Yeah our defense was really bad in 2016 and everyone starting looking around wondering how this happened under narduzzi. They forget the defense was just as awful in 2014 under chryst and we had very good offenses both years. Other than Maddox I don't think he inherited much. Guys like galambos that made it to the NFL weren't big recruits and weren't all that talented but they left it all out on the field and I gotta give narduzzi some credit for coaching them up.

 

[joeydavid]

...while only playing a couple of competive teams.

Have you taken a look at UW's schedule this year? Other than beating a depleted Miami team with turnovers they had a couple average wins and bunch of cakewalk wins.

Yay. Good to know that they schedule so a even bad QB play doesn't affect the win total. Pitt should take notes here.

Yep - he managed to lead Wisconsin to 13 this year.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Can't say Wisconsin definitively kicks our ass. Maybe that statement is true in September but all bets are off at this point. They'd be favored but I tend to think we play them far better than Miami did.

 

[joeydavid]

The last 2 seasons Pitt and Wisconsin have played 2 in common opponents.

Care to guess the outcomes of those games?

I'll give you a clue- Pitt has the better record.

Wisconsin strength of schedule #14 https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other

or #6 https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...otball-strength-of-schedule-rankings-2017-sos

Sagarin has them in the 40's, but he also ranks PSU as the #4 team in the country overall, so if you believe one of those rankings you need to believe both. Or disbelieve both. Take your pick.

Point is, Wisconsin's schedule is not the Division II level schedule that some here fiercely wish to believe. Wisconsin would kick Pitt's ass, definitively.

 

[Pittski]

Honest question. At what point do we stop relying on the excuse that it’s a “young team”?

HCPN is entering his 4th season as HC.

Pitt doesn’t face any unique challenges that every other power five team doesn’t have.

Coaches are paid to prepare players to play and compete.

This team is Pat’s team. After 3 years coaching kids, they are all your kids. If you had 3 seasons to over recruit or replace a guy and you didn’t it’s on the coaches.

 

[joeydavid]

In Pitt's case- When you stop losing players do to coaching turnover. That's will be the case next season.

Having a dip in your 3rd year isn't uncommon. This one was partly the schedule and partly player turnover.

Honest question. At what point do we stop relying on the excuse that it’s a “young team”?

HCPN is entering his 4th season as HC.

Pitt doesn’t face any unique challenges that every other power five team doesn’t have.

Coaches are paid to prepare players to play and compete.

This team is Pat’s team. After 3 years coaching kids, they are all your kids. If you had 3 seasons to over recruit or replace a guy and you didn’t it’s on the coaches.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Honest question. At what point do we stop relying on the excuse that it’s a “young team”?

His first two seasons it was not a young team. Anyone making that excuse would have been inaccurate. This past season was a young team. One of the youngest in the country. Next year projects to be more in the middle and two years out, assuming not some crazy amount of turnover, a more veteran team.

 

[Delpanther]

Honest question. At what point do we stop relying on the excuse that it’s a “young team”?

HCPN is entering his 4th season as HC.

Pitt doesn’t face any unique challenges that every other power five team doesn’t have.

Coaches are paid to prepare players to play and compete.

This team is Pat’s team. After 3 years coaching kids, they are all your kids. If you had 3 seasons to over recruit or replace a guy and you didn’t it’s on the coaches.

Realistically, 2019. I think that’s fair because in 2019 most of Duz’s Guy will then be upper classes.

 

[joeydavid]

Proving that your comment below isn't supported by like opponents.

Wisconsin would kick Pitt's ass, definitively.

Proving what? Wisconsin is going to be ranked 5th or 6th when it's all said and done. They will likely be ranked in the top ten, or near there, in the preseason polls. They are a damned good team.

Are you telling me that you wouldn't gladly have Pitt trade places with Wisconsin right now? This business of constantly belittling their schedule and their division is stupid.

 

[passedout]

Anyone could see marked improvement in the secondary and DL. QB is promising, but our playmakers at WR are questionable. There's talent at WR, RB and OL, but who's going to step up not only as starters but playmakers? Recruiting has remained strong and balanced and we continue to attract talented coaches. I look for 8 wins next year even with our tough schedule.

 

[pierre93]

Realistically, 2019. I think that’s fair because in 2019 most of Duz’s Guy will then be upper classes.

Spot on Del 2019 is a 10+ win season. It's shaping up and hope to land some of these 4 stars to round out this years class. H2P!

 

[sappycrease]

Does anyone truly believe we will win 10 games in '19? C'mon people, enough with these completely unrealistic expectations.

Let's focus on getting back to .500 next season before jumping the gun to 2019.

 

[pierre93]

Does anyone truly believe we will win 10 games in '19? C'mon people, enough with these completely unrealistic expectations.

Let's focus on getting back to .500 next season before jumping the gun to 2019.

OK debbie

 

[DiehardPanther]

16 or more wins the next 2 years = we are on the right path

17 or more wins over that span = very excited about the progress

18 or more wins = this program is in its best shape since Sherrill

 

[pierre93]

Thx 4 playing recruits

 

[pierre93]

I'm glad some people miss jr-hs and need attention. Keep hiding behind your keyboard.

 

[joeydavid]

They won 8 the previous 2 years without anything resembling a defense so yeah. Getting to 10 in 2019 is very realistic

Does anyone truly believe we will win 10 games in '19? C'mon people, enough with these completely unrealistic expectations.

Let's focus on getting back to .500 next season before jumping the gun to 2019.

 

[jbenedict]

I really think when HCPN came to Pitt he had a pretty nice roster to work with. With that said I think Narduzzi has recruited better and more athletic kids in all phases of the game. My opinion is that this football team is slightly more talented on offense with the exception of Boyd and the defense has significantly more play makers in the making then when HCPN first got here. With that said the major difference is that there will not be a "Gap" in recruiting classes from coaching changes. If Pitt has a chance to make the top 25 and get some high end recruits the next 3 years are its chance. If we do not see a major increase in that time period then I don't know that Pitt will achieve that anytime soon. I think HCPN is doing an outstanding job with what he has, but my only concern is getting a consistent offensive system that seems practical (not a gimmick, or repeat of someone else, etc).

Lastly, I will be first to go on record and say that this recruiting class will be the class that CARRIES this Pitt program into the top 20. Lots of talented linemen, Quality Mike LB, DE, and *QB (with time to develop)

H2P

Your kidding me.

 

[Saboteur]

Yep - he managed to lead Wisconsin to 13 this year.

The NCAA has a great website that allows you to assess the strength of schedule as of a certain point in the season.
At the end of the season, Wisconsin ended up with the 14th most difficult schedule.
Pitt 46.
At the end of November, Pitt had the 41st most difficult and Wisconsin the 61st.
Because Wisconsin played TOSU and Miami in the last two games, their SOS jumped dramatically.
Pitt did not play so it was going to rise or fall based on what others did.
Wisconsin was 1-1 in its last two games against TOSU and U.
Pitt would have been 1-1 too.
The fact is irrefutable. Wisconsin builds it's resume on a regular season of soft OCC and a weak division. Then they roll the dice and frankly do so without the battle scars other teams carry.

 

[joeydavid]

C'mon, this is a message board and facts have no place here.

But since you went all factual... Wisconsin is middle of playing just 2 power 5 teams OOC over 5 seasons. That's 3 of 5 years without a competitive OOC games. The 2nd best team in the B1G West was manhandled by Coastal's 6th place team (a team Pitt beat on the road without a functional QB).

The overarching problem with SOS in college football is a small sample size and not enough P5 teams playing other P5 teams from other conferences. You need to look at how many competitive games that you play. Other than beating an injury depleted Miami team their next best win is over an 8-5 Michigan team.

Would UW beat Pitt early this year no doubt. Were they better than Pitt the 2 seasons before, that's doubtful.

The NCAA has a great website that allows you to assess the strength of schedule as of a certain point in the season.
At the end of the season, Wisconsin ended up with the 14th most difficult schedule.
Pitt 46.
At the end of November, Pitt had the 41st most difficult and Wisconsin the 61st.
Because Wisconsin played TOSU and Miami in the last two games, their SOS jumped dramatically.
Pitt did not play so it was going to rise or fall based on what others did.
Wisconsin was 1-1 in its last two games against TOSU and U.
Pitt would have been 1-1 too.
The fact is irrefutable. Wisconsin builds it's resume on a regular season of soft OCC and a weak division. Then they roll the dice and frankly do so without the battle scars other teams carry.

 

[cpc247]

Honest question. At what point do we stop relying on the excuse that it’s a “young team”?

HCPN is entering his 4th season as HC.

Pitt doesn’t face any unique challenges that every other power five team doesn’t have.

Coaches are paid to prepare players to play and compete.

This team is Pat’s team. After 3 years coaching kids, they are all your kids. If you had 3 seasons to over recruit or replace a guy and you didn’t it’s on the coaches.

Missing the most important point. College football is about having a bunch of 22 year old RSSR who beat up on 19 year old RSFR ... we are in the process of going from one to the other. Every time that a coach changes you get closer to the RSFR ever time a coach is in place you get closer to the RSSR status.
With that said not all RSSR classes are the same talent hence up and down years, but to say that we had 3 years to over recruit that is a joke in terms of building a mature roster full of older kids that can play at a high college level.

 

[pittbb80]

Fact - We were 5-7
Fact- we lost to a horrific UNC TEAM
Fact- We struggled to beat a Horrific YSU Team..

Need any more facts joey

Gotta love "Pitt Fans" who go out of their way to trash the program. Almost as amusing as losers from other teams who make up Pitt handles to talk trash on the Pitt message board. What ever floats your boat I guess

 

[gary2]

In Pitt's case- When you stop losing players do to coaching turnover. That's will be the case next season.

Having a dip in your 3rd year isn't uncommon. This one was partly the schedule and partly player turnover.

Complete agreement with this

 

[gary2]

Missing the most important point. College football is about having a bunch of 22 year old RSSR who beat up on 19 year old RSFR ... we are in the process of going from one to the other. Every time that a coach changes you get closer to the RSFR ever time a coach is in place you get closer to the RSSR status.
With that said not all RSSR classes are the same talent hence up and down years, but to say that we had 3 years to over recruit that is a joke in terms of building a mature roster full of older kids that can play at a high college level.

Wish more on the basketball board understood this

 

[President Stache]

I really think when HCPN came to Pitt he had a pretty nice roster to work with. With that said I think Narduzzi has recruited better and more athletic kids in all phases of the game. My opinion is that this football team is slightly more talented on offense with the exception of Boyd and the defense has significantly more play makers in the making then when HCPN first got here. With that said the major difference is that there will not be a "Gap" in recruiting classes from coaching changes. If Pitt has a chance to make the top 25 and get some high end recruits the next 3 years are its chance. If we do not see a major increase in that time period then I don't know that Pitt will achieve that anytime soon. I think HCPN is doing an outstanding job with what he has, but my only concern is getting a consistent offensive system that seems practical (not a gimmick, or repeat of someone else, etc).

Lastly, I will be first to go on record and say that this recruiting class will be the class that CARRIES this Pitt program into the top 20. Lots of talented linemen, Quality Mike LB, DE, and *QB (with time to develop)

H2P

Totally agree. Plus Narduzzi looks far more capable of recruiting top guys and doing the extra work necessary to find the diamonds.

I like the play on the field, this year we had several games that were a hair off wins

 

[Pittski]

Missing the most important point. College football is about having a bunch of 22 year old RSSR who beat up on 19 year old RSFR ... we are in the process of going from one to the other. Every time that a coach changes you get closer to the RSFR ever time a coach is in place you get closer to the RSSR status.
With that said not all RSSR classes are the same talent hence up and down years, but to say that we had 3 years to over recruit that is a joke in terms of building a mature roster full of older kids that can play at a high college level.

Respectfully, we’re entering year 4. If there are kids that can’t play those kids belong to this staff now. Year 4 isn’t about excuses, it’s about results. This is the first look at what we’re really going to see.

 

[SempleFest06]

Totally agree. Plus Narduzzi looks far more capable of recruiting top guys and doing the extra work necessary to find the diamonds.

I like the play on the field, this year we had several games that were a hair off wins

Certainly can't complain about the play on the field. Great season. Just a Hair away from making a bowl game.