It never fails. It happens every time I see “redemption” in a title somewhere. I end up with “Redemption Song” stuck in my head the rest of the day. Sometimes it’s some version from Bob Marley. Other times, Joe Strummer.
It starts with Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. His debut game with the big headset. He sets out to prove that he is not simply one of the best defensive coordinators. That the time it tood to become a head coach was because of waiting for the right opportunity, not because he was passed over at other jobs.
He can chalk up the nerves to the way it is for players and all coaches every game, but this one is different. You can talk about all the preparations, the waiting for the moment. It is still something new. It is the first time.
No where on the team is there more to prove than on the defense.
Pat Narduzzi must find a way to rebuild the defense with many of the same players, who he hopes are not beaten down by past failures.
“We’ll find out,” Narduzzi said when asked why he believes his defense will make an impact this season. “To me, it’s a no-name defense, and they haven’t got a lot of respect. It’s time for them to show up.
“Our offense was something special a year ago. Defensively, they have to man up and measure up to what we need to have.”
[Lafayette] Pitts, a senior co-captain from Woodland Hills, said spending eight months under a new coaching staff has made a difference.
“Just the way we came together, the way we run to the ball, the way we hustle, I think, is different from previous years,” he said. “A lot of guys are fighting for each other, not just themselves.”
We have convinced ourselves that an in-over-his-head defensive coordinator contributed to the defense getting worse during the season, and at least two losses. Now we start to find out what happens with a defensive-minded head coach and a DC that is considered a rising star.
Narduzzi’s decision to hire a 36-year-old defensive coordinator from a 4-8 Florida International team might have raised some eyebrows, but not when you look closer at what [Josh] Conklin did.
Despite FIU’s offensive struggles, Conklin’s defense led the nation in fumble recoveries (19) and ranked in the top 10 in defensive touchdowns (6), total takeaways (33) and turnover margin. FIU also finished 13th nationally in red zone touchdown percentage against and 10th in goal-to-go touchdown percentage against.
Conklin also knew the Cover 4 system Narduzzi used at Michigan State and had employed some of the same zone pressures at FIU.
“It was important for me to get somebody who knew what we liked to do and somebody who was willing to change and do what we’d done,” Narduzzi said. “He doesn’t know it all yet, neither do I, but he has a similar system and wants to continue to get better. He’s a very intelligent guy. He’s a great teacher, a great motivator and he’s a great secondary coach.”
Then there are the wide receivers. There is no Tyler Boyd this week. He’ll be on the sideline (I think), serving his suspension, and trying to help as he can. But not on the field. It will be up to the guys who have been in his shadow to try and emerge as legitimate players.
“I think everyone in that group – right now I can’t sit there and say one of those guys that I would rule out of playing in a game right now, I look at it that way,” Chaney said of his receiving corps after a practice last week. “I like going in a game with seven or eight receivers you can count on to put on the field. We’re trying to get to that number right now.”
The six who appear to be in the mix outside of Boyd are Dontez Ford, Zach Challingsworth, Elijah Zeise, Jester Weah and freshmen Quadree Henderson and Tre Tipton. Of that group, Ford is the only one to catch a pass in a regular-season game, finishing 2014 with three grabs for 50 yards and a touchdown. The others have all had their moments, be it in the form of praise from coaches, strong showings in scrimmages or big plays in practice – but none of those matter much come September.
“It’s kind of a chip on our shoulder, I guess you could say, because a lot of people are looking at us as inexperienced,” Zeise, a redshirt freshman, said Wednesday, “which I guess we are, but at the same time we’re going to be ready when they put us out on the field.”
For many, if not all of them, that will come early and often in the season opener Sept. 5 against Youngstown State. Boyd was suspended for that game after his offseason DUI charge, leaving the offensive cupboard very bare in terms of past production at receiver for the first game under new coach Pat Narduzzi.
“As a group, I think we’re ready. A lot of people say we’re unproven, but we don’t worry about that,” said Challingsworth, a redshirt sophomore. “We know what we can do, we know what we’re capable of as a group and individually. We can’t wait, we’re hungry, we want to go out and make plays like we know we can.”
And let’s not leave out an O-line that is replacing two guys — T.J. Clemmings and Matt Rotheram — now in the NFL. An offensive line that lost a presumed starter before camp started and may or may not have the starting center available on Saturday.
More than a few groups and players looking to show something in a few days. Not to mention that team and coach on the other side.
One is overwhelming talent. The second is outstanding teaching.
Pitt has good talent rather than overwhelming talent…….. but I believe that the coaches Pitt have now are great teachers and will produce winner with skill rather than just by native talent.
Something funny going on there. Hard to imagine a couple RS Freshman jumping ahead of a 2 year starter who’s preseason all ACC. Especially when one was a TE in the Spring.
I think that would have come out..
Was there even another party with him? Can’t imagine anyone sitting in the passenger seat just letting the driver fly down the parkway at 120 mph, stoned.
Did anyone see the B1G “traditions” promo videos? Chryst is jumping up and down with that silly grin. link to youtube.com
Wasn’t Bis suspended a game last year?
Based on PN and his staff this O’Neil kid is really special. I don’t know if I every remember a head coach since I have been following Pitt that has raved so much about a kid that has played tackle for 2 months.
Maybe we hit the jackpot!
HTP and still holding to my 45-17 prediction
You’re absolutely right. You never hear a coach come out and talk like that. The kid’s never stepped on the field and Narduzzi was saying he’s on his way to the NFL.
–Why do we always seem to have some drama – in the form of players missing the game – the week of the opener.
–If we’re starting two OTs who have never played in a college game before – I think we are in trouble. CV is going to be running for his life – may need to put NP in just to give CV a break in the 90 degree weather.
–The defense better be working.
Go Pitt.
This could be a huge problem on Saturday. Two tackles that have never taken a snap in a college game. Gotta believe CV will be running for his life on passing downs.
It will be interesting to see if the to talked about freshman WR’s getting playing time on saturday, could be a tell what the coaches think of the players that have been here longer.
Bottom line, even when Boyd comes back we need another guy or two to step up this year. Until we can prove that we have another WR that can make plays, Boyd will be doubled every game…even more attention than last year.
Yes your right he did say the he was going to make it in the NFL.
I just thought it seemed a little strange. I am expecting this kid to get a pancake every down.
In all serious starting two tackles that have never played a down of D1 football along with the backup center is a big problem.
I guess we will find out what kind of O-line depth Potato Paul really left us.
FWIW, OC Jim Chaney said this on nicked-up guys today: “I’m optimistic we’ll be with everybody on the field on Saturday. That’s the goal.”
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi shares tale of working with Syracuse’s Scott Shafer at URI
Pat Narduzzi is making his head coaching debut Saturday with Pitt. From 1993-95, Narduzzi and Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer were defensive assistants together at Rhode Island, which plays Friday at Syracuse.
Given the circular nature of things, a reporter covering the Orange asked Narduzzi on Wednesday’s ACC coaches’ teleconference to share some memories of working with Shafer back at URI.
With that, we were granted the “Kiwi story.” Allow Narduzzi to take it away:
“I could tell you a kiwi story, if you really want a good story. Have you heard the kiwi story? You have not heard the kiwi story.
“OK. So we’re sitting in defensive meetings and you get to know your coaches and you become like brothers, and I feel like Scott is a brother to me. One day he’s talking about how he’s allergic to kiwi. My wife, she would always give me kiwi. We packed lunches back in the days, you didn’t have anybody bringing your lunch in. Scott’s like, ‘Hey, I’m allergic to kiwi.’ I’m like, No he’s not.
“So one day before practice I peeled off a kiwi and I rubbed it on the front of his desk and I rubbed it on his phone, because I figured he’d call someone at lunchtime. So at lunchtime he went back to his office, about 1 o’clock I come in, we’re scripting for practice, I walk in there and his eyes are swollen shut. He’s a DB coach, it’s nice to be at practice to be able to see your DBs, right? He’s like, ‘Man, something happened.’ I’m like: You are allergic to kiwi. So his wife ripped my butt that day.
“I think that’s the first time I got yelled at by a coach’s wife. She had to bring in some Benadryl. So make sure when you guys are up there you don’t bring any kiwi to the press conference.”
Noted. That’s one way to break up the monotony of practically every coach praising his respective Week 1 FCS opponent. That’s quite a teleconference debut for the first-time head coach, too.
Alex Bookser dropped two nuggets in his interview session today: 1) He is playing tackle now and, 2) He and Brian O’Neill will both be making their first career starts Saturday (at least that’s his impression).
To me, that says that Adam Bisnowaty’s status is up in the air, presumably due to injury. If Bisnowaty and Rowell are both out, I would expect Gabe Roberts to be the next lineman up. That means a starting offensive line (left to right) of O’Neill-Johnson-Roberts-Officer-Bookser.
Now, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said he expects to have everyone available for Saturday (though he didn’t say how much). It’s possible Bisnowaty and Rowell are both healthy enough to play, but maybe not start.
You Tube link on PC is a hit ….. Only
because it was more entertaining than
a press conference.
He has already been a CEO…HC of the MSU defense. He is now CEO of larger company….the Pitt Football Team.
Don’t fool yourselves. YSU is going to be a tough football game. And maybe close. I make the line Pitt -7.5. Too many intangibles for a blow out. Character of Pitt will win out in the end.
New bottle of J&B ready to go. Soon, a bottle of Chivas from Dr.Tom!
If it doesn’t come directly from the Head Coach, it will come from one of his Loyal Assistants or maybe even a Team Captain.
But make no mistake about it, if… and that’s a BIG “IF”… Pitt somehow fails to capitalize on the emotion that will be flowing BIG TIME… this will be a FAR GREATER LOSS than a few years back.
The Pitt Team taking the field Saturday is LIGHT YEARS ahead TALENT WISE and EVERY OTHER WAY from the Team that took field back then.
The fans!
Meanwhile ….. same old, same old
Pitt BB schedule is out and first true road game is Jan 21 at ND …. some neutral court games
Nothing less
Hail to Pitt!
Heard a bunch of college HCs on Sirius today talking about possible upsets and YSU over Pitt was the only one they went in depth with… saying Pelini and staff and their transfer players will make the difference… their words not mine.
Again I would be lying if I wasn’t worried.
The reason? A Facebook post Schuetz made last November that criticized Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman and the school’s handling of the firing of former coach Bo Pelini.
“They were correct to do it,” Schuetz told the AP. “I own it. It should be a lesson to everybody: be very careful what you say on social media.”
A Nebraska statement Tuesday called the post “highly critical of university leadership” and said Schuetz “was extremely apologetic and agreed with our decision that he cannot represent the university in such a public capacity.”
“Harvey Perlman is as [sic] disgrace,” the (now-deleted) post read, according to the AP. “Remember this was the guy who extended [former Huskers athletic director] Steve Pederson’s contract only to fire him a few months later. When will he be held to account.”
… and stealing just a bit from a premium article… ” From last year’s team, Youngstown State returns their top passer (Hunter Wells), top rusher (Martin Ruiz), top receiver (Andrew Williams), top tackler (Dubem Nwadiogbu), sack leader (Derek Rivers) and interception leader (Tre’ Moore).”
The Trib’s take on the game:
the P-G’s latest on the OL…
Also Sam Werner’s Football Chat…
…and please, if any Pitt fan thinks that Narduzzi is going to ‘hold out’ any starters or players that could help him win this game both you and the HC are crazy.
Also, IMHO, The Pitt players aren’t going to give one crap about what happened to Narduzzi’s father 30 or however many years ago and Narduzzi is making a big mistake if he makes this game personal in in any way front of those kids.
In doing so if we lose that makes the players feel like they not only let Narduzzi down on the field but in his personal life also.
C’mon guys, these players have know Narduzzi for basically 6 months, from Spring Practice to the end of Fall Camp and they are not ‘in love with the ol’ ball coach’ or any such thing. Right now they are doing the exact same thing we Pitt fans are – waiting to see if HCPN and his staff can coach the team to a win. Next year? Maybe a bit, then but these kids, no matter how young, know it is a business and if they forget that all we have to do is mention Wannstedt, Haywood, Graham, and Chryst to remind them.
Narduzzi has to be here more than six months before he becomes “The Father” of the football program… try 2-3 years.
Prediction article up in the morning… get your think caps on.
I’m a little concerned. These 1st 3 games are huge. I really don’t think Pitt bests Va Tech in Blacksburg. They absolutely have to win at least 2 of the first 3. Preferably all 3. If they are 1-3 for homecoming against the Hoo’s, it’s a complete disaster. It would completely kill all the goodwill and momentum built up since December.
I agree HTP123..the fans need to step it up. I’m really hoping for a nice turnout. I want to be in my seat and cheering as Duzz leads the troops onto the field. Is it Saturday yet?
I guess the old time football speech in the locker room will not work?
Hate to say it but an O-line that is still juggling guys three days before the opener is a recipe for disaster. Especially when you rely on a running game that takes coordination and timing. May be able to get by YSU and Akron but they better be ready for Iowa, and on the road with crowd noise. Va Tech’s defense could absolutely destroy them.
What is up with Bisno who is their best guy? He had back problems as a freshman, hope that is not the problem.
Pride in themselves, pride in their teammates and pride in the university. “All I’m going to do felows is lead you out there and let you great kids win this game for yourselves…”
Some good stuff, mostly hedging
I hate to play the woe is us card but seriously, why it is always something with this program? I feel like I’ve seen this movie before. This staff is going to earn their stripes right from the get go.
“Hiding” the gameplan is certainly some of it, but Narduzzi also said he doesn’t want players getting written about and judged based off every individual practice. It’s more about the whole month and, ultimately, what they do on Saturdays.”
While PN won’t ever ask the team to win one for his dad, he won’t have to. That’s something every kid on the team will be out to do on Saturday. The loss from 2012 is the motivational tactic that won’t work. Kids don’t care what happened yesterday let alone 3 years ago. PN’s dad may have died 30 plus years ago but PN’s redemption is tangible.
Passion is part of sports. If you have something to play for, you generally play better. Not sure why you wouldn’t think that would factor into the game Reed. The kids aren’t robots. The entire theme of the offseason and camp was family. They’re a brotherhood now and they’ll absolutely get this done for their coach. Leaders inspire … and it doesn’t take years. True leaders grab your attention from day 1.
Leave the “business” for the pro’s. College sports are about passion. If the kids are playing as though it’s business we’ll get the same uninspired play we’ve been getting.
The over the top energy we’re getting from this team is exactly what has been missing. We need a team to play inspired.
that said….htp!!!!
YSU will throw out a top 50 DE transfer from Nebraska, a transfer from Miami, FL, two transfers from Northern Illinois, One from App St and two from Michigan St. and that is just on the defense. Offensively, they have a big OL that has played together for at least a year.
I am thinking this is a special teams game with the advantage going to Blewitt and the Panthers. I have said for months that we are not good enough to look past our first opponent. This game boils down to how the PLAYERS worked and focused in the off season. If the 2cnd and third stringers slacked off, it will show now. It is too late to dial it up now. But I think we still win. Crossing fingers…and legs! No wonder I still wet the bed! It’s never easy.
HTP and please, no more suspensions!
I think emotion is a huge part of the game… and can also be the most dangerous thing in sports… especially for Pitt football.
You have to have a coach that builds emotional maturity into his players so they don’t run out of the locker room like screaming banshees only to crash back down to earth after the opponents get a TD or two scored against them. That seem to happen to Pitt teams all the time… most famously being the famous 48-14 PSU-Pitt game. But we have notoriously played poorly when behind at halftime and it is because a certain cynicism takes hold. It is Narduzzi’s job the get that confidence back to finish out the game in those circumstances.
I’ll say this – if behind at half, or in any situation where your players, employees, shipmates have to ‘come from behind’ screaming at them and saying bullshit things is seen through right away… yes, even by 18-22 year olds. Fake emotion. But if the leader is 100% confident and shows it the kids will be also and most often, with leadership adjustments, get back into the game and win.
This YSU game is all about getting those players to execute the new schemes, players at new positions and newcomers to the two-deep knowing their roles and responsibilities and getting things right… and getting a win. This is the bellwether game in a lot of ways in those respects.
That passion and emotion Narduzzi instills, and I think the will be there in the team, will be secondary to all the new crap that has to be digested, remember in a true competition and actually done out on the field.
That said, I expect we’ll see a lot more of the TRUE passion – and by that I mean total confidence in the players themselves,their teammates and the coach and all wanting to get on the field and get a win… not the jumping and screaming crap that means nothing… after this game and after an Akron win.
Then the players and staff will know what they are about and what they can do well and not so well, and will have found themselves in the bigger picture of “team first” mentality.
As always, Hail to Pitt.
Welcome to HC at Pitt HCPN.