with a new quarterback, what is realistic?
more than 8 wins? ACC title game? ACC champ? or just "same old pitt"?
more than 8 wins? ACC title game? ACC champ? or just "same old pitt"?
what are the expectations for this season?
- Thread starter BradlyPitt
- Start date
Funny you say. I see this as the "same old Pitt" this year as far as record is concerned. But that doesn't mean it is that bad of a thing. Pitt is about a 7-5, 8-4 program. Some bad luck, injuries, 7-5 or 6-6. Some good luck and bounces, 9-3.
I think this is a bit of a transitional season, and a really tough schedule. 8-4 is nothing to be embarrassed about this year. Though I am predicting 7-5, which again is not a disaster considering the transition between Narduzzi guys and Chryst guys.
I think this is a bit of a transitional season, and a really tough schedule. 8-4 is nothing to be embarrassed about this year. Though I am predicting 7-5, which again is not a disaster considering the transition between Narduzzi guys and Chryst guys.
I predict 8 wins and wins over the Enablers, GT, VT, YSU, Rice, Cuse, Duke, VA. 8 wins will not put us in the ACC Champ game. We have a good schedule and will make progress on D.
8-5 this year. If we keep everything in tact, then we will finally be a solid program that can make a legit run at a top tier bowl every 4-5 years.
With the loss of a lot on offense and the difficult schedule I expect the team to work very hard to get to 7-5. Make no mistake about it Narduzzi is building something special and the overall talent and depth continues to rise, but there are too many question marks.
This is the year as Pitt fans to make a difference, commit to attending the games regardless of wins and losses and enjoy the season for what it is, as getting back to an annual top 20 team after 35 years will take time and perseverance. Do all you can to get through the next year with all the support you can generate.
This is the year as Pitt fans to make a difference, commit to attending the games regardless of wins and losses and enjoy the season for what it is, as getting back to an annual top 20 team after 35 years will take time and perseverance. Do all you can to get through the next year with all the support you can generate.
I don't know...
I have a funny feeling this might be the year.
First Penn State goes from the wanting to the wanted. And they seem to be thinking they are going to smack us and I'm just not so sure.
Ok State at Noon we can win that to.
Rest of the games beside Miami will be favored or slight underdogs.
We took some chances on some guys like carter and Hodges's that I don't think you take unless you think you're a piece or two away.
I think Shawn Watson is the biggest question mark but then again so is Browne. This is the most nervous I've been for a season because I think this team can challenge for the ACC.
I have a funny feeling this might be the year.
First Penn State goes from the wanting to the wanted. And they seem to be thinking they are going to smack us and I'm just not so sure.
Ok State at Noon we can win that to.
Rest of the games beside Miami will be favored or slight underdogs.
We took some chances on some guys like carter and Hodges's that I don't think you take unless you think you're a piece or two away.
I think Shawn Watson is the biggest question mark but then again so is Browne. This is the most nervous I've been for a season because I think this team can challenge for the ACC.
I don't want to say that I don't care if they win their out-of-conference games, but I'd rather see Pitt make some noise in conference. Initial thoughts are 8 wins with a 9th in the bowl game.
Agree Bob! This team can challenge for the ACC, but, we need Paris Ford here, and on the field. I know he is just a true freshman, but his ability, instincts, and leadership are qualities that our defense cannot do without. Remember how well Whitehead played as a freshman, Ford can be a similar player, if not a star. I think the offense should be solid again, we have to improve a ton on defense to compete for an ACC title, but it can be done.
9 wins. And I do see a potential, though I don't predict it, upset of psu. Barkley is a beast but injury prone. Last year Franklin didn't give him the ball at all. Mcsorley throws tons of jump balls. Their defense is suspect. But again, I think the nits win
Part of me agrees with what bobfree said. I think we can challenge for the Coastal Division title. I also like the fact that with the direction this team is headed, we have a chance to win every single game on the schedule.
Ultimately, I have to side with recruitsreadtheseboards and go with a 7-5/8-4 type season. We lost a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and with adjustments to a new OC and the secondary still progressing, I don't think we're there just yet. It's kind of like Dantonio's tenure @ Sparty. Big strides in his first two years, an average season in his 3rd while reloading, and then three straight double-digit win season after that.
Ultimately, I have to side with recruitsreadtheseboards and go with a 7-5/8-4 type season. We lost a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and with adjustments to a new OC and the secondary still progressing, I don't think we're there just yet. It's kind of like Dantonio's tenure @ Sparty. Big strides in his first two years, an average season in his 3rd while reloading, and then three straight double-digit win season after that.
It all comes down to how this team gels through the season and grows. The 3 teams we're likely fighting with in the coastal are the last 3 games. It wasn't like that last 2 years.
FWIW, Duzz was 2-1 in 2015 and 3-0 last year in the last 3 games of the season. If they can go 3-0 they'll win the coastal.
Good point, didn't think of it that way. It seems like under Duzz we start out hot, have a lull around mid season, and then finish up strong.
End of October and early November have not been kind.
The offense can only get worse and the defense can only get better. So, somewhere between 4-8 and 10-2. Bold, I know.
If Pitt doesn't drop off in QB play and OC, and if they have vast improvements in the defensive backfield (everyone involved, including coaches), 10 wins is not out of the question.
There are other holes to fill, but no more than any other college team.
There are other holes to fill, but no more than any other college team.
I see about 7 wins. One more win or loss off that 7 number wouldn't surprise me. I can see the offense having a bigger drop off than most on this board are expecting and I don't see our current D improving enough to carry the torch.
Recruiting last few years, we have not seen many difference makers make their presence known early on.
Every single spring we have posters saying that IF this happens or IF this happens we can win 10 games. Remind me, how many times have those IF's happened and we actually won ten games? We have been to one major bowl game in 25 years and we got trounced. We have a lot of work to do to start getting some national respect.
Hopefully some of these transfers don't turn into a cancer in the locker room.
Recruiting last few years, we have not seen many difference makers make their presence known early on.
Every single spring we have posters saying that IF this happens or IF this happens we can win 10 games. Remind me, how many times have those IF's happened and we actually won ten games? We have been to one major bowl game in 25 years and we got trounced. We have a lot of work to do to start getting some national respect.
Hopefully some of these transfers don't turn into a cancer in the locker room.
I'm not sure what you mean by this; Barkley carried the ball 20 times against PITT last year, to go along with 2 receptions. James Conner only had 22 carries with 4 receptions.
Agree with the rest of what you wrote, but this statement struck me as odd.
I think he means being a workhorse game in game out. Only 15 carries against the MI when they were blown out and only 12 against OSU. He is a talent but not necessarily a workhorse. IMO
Wins: YSU, OK State, GT, Rice, Syracuse, NCSU, Duke, UVA, UNC
Losses: PSU, VT, and Miami
The games at PSU and VT are going to be difficult to overcome, although PITT has done pretty well against VT at home or away. PSU is an unknown at this point, but they have more returning players at key positions than PITT does, so I'll give them a slight edge.
Losses: PSU, VT, and Miami
The games at PSU and VT are going to be difficult to overcome, although PITT has done pretty well against VT at home or away. PSU is an unknown at this point, but they have more returning players at key positions than PITT does, so I'll give them a slight edge.
To be fair, PSU was getting destroyed 28-0 at the half. Any coach worth their paycheck realizes they have to throw the ball in order to score quick points and get back into the game. Barkley ran the ball 8 times in the first half, netting a total of 19 yards. Michigan sold out to stop the run, with an excellent LB corps and secondary to pick up the PSU receivers. The result was limited Barkley and forcing McSorley to run for his life most of the game.
The OSU game was really strange. The coaching staff seemed to take the ball out of Barkley's hands even though he was productive, instead relying on McSorely to make plays through the air and on the ground.
With all of that said, he is not a player who the staff appears to be comfortable with running 30 times in a game. There's a noticeable difference in the decline in carries for Barkley as the game progresses. Lat year, he carried the ball 31 less times (almost 30% less) in the second half when compared with the first half.
Browne.....
The Unknown: how will he perform at Pitt?
The Known: He actually threw for 62% completion at USC last year, and against some good defenses (Alabama/Stanford).
I know, he did not show much in Spring game. But he will have more time to jell with WR's in off season. He has a stronger arm than Peterman, and if his Completion % stays at 60% or more, and he stays away from the INT's, I think we will be pleasantly surprised.
The Unknown: how will he perform at Pitt?
The Known: He actually threw for 62% completion at USC last year, and against some good defenses (Alabama/Stanford).
I know, he did not show much in Spring game. But he will have more time to jell with WR's in off season. He has a stronger arm than Peterman, and if his Completion % stays at 60% or more, and he stays away from the INT's, I think we will be pleasantly surprised.
It will be interesting thats for sure! On one hand we lost a lot. Need to replace a couple stud OL, stud RB, very good QB and TE. On D they lost the best part which was the DL. Now a pessimist would say thats way to much to replace and they will be 4-8, a optimist would say we have veteran OL back, lots of 4 star RB's, a 5 star senior QB who started for USC and a 5 star TE to replace those guys. Add in a few 4 star DL.
I don't know where I come in as I haven't really looked at our opponents and who they lost. I think the OOC schedule is really tough with PSU and OSU looking to be top 10 type teams. But I expect NC and VT to struggle to replace what they lost. So we could make up a game or two there. Early guess would be 8-5 after the bowl game. I would be fine with that as it wouldn't cause PN to lose much momentum and it is a transition year between his guys and PC's.
I expect 8-4. Anything more is gravy. Anything less than 7-5 is a huge step back.
If you look at the big picture, then the last 3 games could be huge. If Pitt is 6-3 or 7-2, then those last 3 will determine the winner of the division. Hopefully this fickle fanbase realizes that we still have a lot to play for even if we start the year 2-2.
I believe it was 2 or 3 in the first quarter. They were down multiple TD's then
Again, I believe Barkley is a special talent. But he is not a workhorse back in the mold of 25+ carries consistently. And that is no disrespect to him. Facts are he gets banged up with little nicks. Additionally, last year Penn State was horrible in the first half and was down in many games where they needed mcsorley to throw more to come back. I do not see that happening for them this year. If psu goes to the playoff (which I think they can) they need a healthy running game and less comebacks
6-6
Way way too many question marks.
Especially the big one QB....if Max isn't up to it could be worse.
Frankie didn't take Pitt seriously last year imo and won't make that mistake again.
State College wins that game and it might not be close.
In typical SOP fashion we lose our top recruit and one of the best returning OLine.
Seven is the outside max and that's going to need a lot of things break positively.
That's not a good bet to count on w Pitt usually
Way way too many question marks.
Especially the big one QB....if Max isn't up to it could be worse.
Frankie didn't take Pitt seriously last year imo and won't make that mistake again.
State College wins that game and it might not be close.
In typical SOP fashion we lose our top recruit and one of the best returning OLine.
Seven is the outside max and that's going to need a lot of things break positively.
That's not a good bet to count on w Pitt usually
Well, they had 4 possessions in the first quarter:
One of those resulted in a fumble on the first play by McSorley. Another resulting in a TD in one play from the 3 after Reid returned a punt to the 15 followed by a 12 yard PI penalty on Maddox to put the ball at the 3; Barkley ran the ball in for a TD on the only non-penalized play of the drive.
I see two distinct possibilities: our year falls the way Penn State's did last year and we end up 10-2 before a New Years bowl or everything seems to go kabluey and we end up 6-6...let's hope for the former versus the latter.
We are both in agreement regarding the "workhorse back" identification. My last paragraph stated exactly that, providing some statistics that show he was not depended on as much in the second half.
You can't be serious. Franklin took that game as seriously as every other game outside of possibly the Michigan and Ohio State games. As much as their fanbase and coaches downplay the games against PITT, especially when they lose the game, you can bet their players and coaches really wanted that game.
Unfortunately for them, they came out and made some major mistakes on the offensive side of the ball with costly fumbles from McSorley.
I'm not sure what you're referencing with the loss of the top recruit. Is there something we don't know about Ford? Has anything definitive been said on the situation with Bookser?
I think our record will come down to one variable; how much can our defense improve from last year. I think we'll put points on the board (probably not as much as last year, but enough to win most games).
If the defense is the same as last year, I'll go with 7-5
If the defense is slightly better, I'll go 8-4
Defense much better 9-3
If the defense is the same as last year, I'll go with 7-5
If the defense is slightly better, I'll go 8-4
Defense much better 9-3
If you are basing it on 1 variable, then it is clearly QB play.
