I had posted before the game I expected them to lose, this was consistent with the majority of the board in the prediction thread. As much as I like Nards, I had a mix of being sure they were going to lose and feeling bad about Nards because this was a game they SHOULD have won. This was a very dinged up Stanford team, and it was not a spread passing game. They actually had a speed advantage defensively against Stanford.
But, Pitt being Pitt, can't take advantage of a golden moment, and the chance to take a step forward, because while it would be modest 8-6 record overall, they could have pointed to winning the Coastal AND winning a mid level bowl against a solid national name school. That is a good sell, and something to feel good about.
But, again, I was VERY sure they were going to find a way to lose, which they did. Which pains me for Nards. Acknowledging the mid season run to win the Coastal, his tenure is marked by the divergence from those first two seasons, when he had a nice mix of having the team fairly buttoned up on game day (few penalties, fairly sharp in getting the team lined up, etc AND being a bit of a gambler with STs fake kicks, etc.) vs the last two years with too many penalties, and not playing aggressively on game day.
While the defense has improved from being boat raced the first two years to being reasonably solid (not great or dominant) now, the regression offensively has greatly damaged the positive start to Nards' tenure.
Someone else posted yesterday, this season they scored 6, 14, 14, 3, 10, 13 against PSU, UCF, ND, Miami, Clemson and Stanford this year.
I have mostly stuck up for Watson during his two years at Pitt, but after the Miami and Clemson debacles did agree that Stanford game was very possibly Watson playing for his job.
NOW, my take on the press conference. When he opened, he did speak about evaluating everything and seemed to linger a bit on the penalties and generally on the offense. When he was asked specifically about Watson, IMO, he got defensive/emotional, the line about how does Stanford feel about their OC popped out.
I suspect he is not happy about where things are with Watson - not just the "play calling," but getting the plays in, the overall sharpness of the offense, not to mention Pickett's development, over two years is not good enough to win the Coastal consistently or win the ACC, his stated goals.
He has to know that. BUT, left to his own devices, chances are better than even he defaults into staying the course.
SO, I agree with the general sentiment that ADHL may have to give him the nudge to do what needs to be done. I don't agree with the idea that it would be "career suicide" for her to do so, that just runs counter to what actually happens at this level generally.
But, the extension actually gives her good leverage on this issue - she can say, and it is backed up by the extension, that she believes in Nards, and is committed to him, while having a sincere and honest discussion and evaluation with him. It does not have to be, and likely will not be, some big confrontation.
The math is the math, and like Conklin he needs yo make a business decision. While the schedule eases up a bit next year, and they return a lot on defense, the turnover on offense is such that it is hard to see how Watson can reset it enough to do any real damage. And, the fan base issue has to be a factor - this is a mini Stallings type situation with Watson.
But, Pitt being Pitt, can't take advantage of a golden moment, and the chance to take a step forward, because while it would be modest 8-6 record overall, they could have pointed to winning the Coastal AND winning a mid level bowl against a solid national name school. That is a good sell, and something to feel good about.
But, again, I was VERY sure they were going to find a way to lose, which they did. Which pains me for Nards. Acknowledging the mid season run to win the Coastal, his tenure is marked by the divergence from those first two seasons, when he had a nice mix of having the team fairly buttoned up on game day (few penalties, fairly sharp in getting the team lined up, etc AND being a bit of a gambler with STs fake kicks, etc.) vs the last two years with too many penalties, and not playing aggressively on game day.
While the defense has improved from being boat raced the first two years to being reasonably solid (not great or dominant) now, the regression offensively has greatly damaged the positive start to Nards' tenure.
Someone else posted yesterday, this season they scored 6, 14, 14, 3, 10, 13 against PSU, UCF, ND, Miami, Clemson and Stanford this year.
I have mostly stuck up for Watson during his two years at Pitt, but after the Miami and Clemson debacles did agree that Stanford game was very possibly Watson playing for his job.
NOW, my take on the press conference. When he opened, he did speak about evaluating everything and seemed to linger a bit on the penalties and generally on the offense. When he was asked specifically about Watson, IMO, he got defensive/emotional, the line about how does Stanford feel about their OC popped out.
I suspect he is not happy about where things are with Watson - not just the "play calling," but getting the plays in, the overall sharpness of the offense, not to mention Pickett's development, over two years is not good enough to win the Coastal consistently or win the ACC, his stated goals.
He has to know that. BUT, left to his own devices, chances are better than even he defaults into staying the course.
SO, I agree with the general sentiment that ADHL may have to give him the nudge to do what needs to be done. I don't agree with the idea that it would be "career suicide" for her to do so, that just runs counter to what actually happens at this level generally.
But, the extension actually gives her good leverage on this issue - she can say, and it is backed up by the extension, that she believes in Nards, and is committed to him, while having a sincere and honest discussion and evaluation with him. It does not have to be, and likely will not be, some big confrontation.
The math is the math, and like Conklin he needs yo make a business decision. While the schedule eases up a bit next year, and they return a lot on defense, the turnover on offense is such that it is hard to see how Watson can reset it enough to do any real damage. And, the fan base issue has to be a factor - this is a mini Stallings type situation with Watson.
