Alright, alright, alright… the time is now for us to put down our thoughts and predictions about our opening game against the Youngstown State University Penguins. A lot of newcomers have joined this blog since the end of last season so thanks to you guys for coming onboard and please don’t hesitate to join in.
Onto the main stage event. As I write this it’s 30 hours to game time and maybe 27 hours or so to meet up with old friends and make new ones while we talk about the present, past and future of the football program and in particular this 2015 team.
We all know about the rather dramatic changes the program and the athletic department have gone through since Dec 17th when Paul Chryst left for Wisconsin and when our new Beloved Leader, Chancellor Mark Gallagher, dropped the ax on the neck of AD Steve Pederson’s tenure at Pitt.
That has discussed over and over and now it’s time to move on to real football. With that, here is your chance to give the sporting world your Pitt vs. YSU game predictions. Please add on your thoughts on why you feel your prediction will come true and, if you feel like it, throw in some individual player’s work that you think will help make it happen.
I’m asking for your thoughts so I’ll start off with mine…
In my 2015 season prediction article I wrote about the reasons I have some trepidation regarding our new Head Coach Pat Narduzzi’s debut and how it will affect the players’ on field play and the coaching staff’s in-game coaching in determining the outcome of the match. I’m not 100% sold that Narduzzi is going to be able to go head to head this early in his career with a good, successful and well established YSU Head Coach Bo Pelini and win the game in a fashion most Pitt fans have been assuming will happen… which would be a blow-out Pitt win.
That may not be a concern for me after the Iowa game, especially if we do well in those two games. But right now there has to be a lot of wondering in the clubhouse and the coaches’ offices as to what product they will put out on the field of play tomorrow.
That said, we have talented football players, some extremely so, on offense who should be able to play through any worries they may have and through any poor in-game decisions by the staff (and there will be a few). If QB Chad Voytik takes the reins right out of the gate and shows true leadership of the offense then I’ll feel better about the outcome.
However, as our commenter “Still the One” pointed out in his comments on Wednesday; Narduzzi and Chaney are looking for a good performance from transfer QB Nate Peterman early on in the game. I don’t believe it will be a ‘wait until we are a huge lead ahead or big deficit behind to play the backup QB’ situation but that the staff has real need to see Peterman playing actual football against an opponent. We’ll discuss the outcome of that move on Sunday I’m sure.
However, the offense picking up where it left off, and actually I don’t think it will especially with the jerry-rigged offensive line and the uncertainty at WR, doesn’t guarantee us a win. The defense has to be there in even better form than the offense to get a win. I believe our defense is still in a state of instability and is going to be changing on the fly during this game and then game to game for a few weeks. As I’ve said before I think Narduzzi and Conklin’s plan for single coverage by the cornerbacks is a problem waiting to show its face, at least in this first game, which will lead to quick YSU points.
Here is what I feel will happen after reading, writing and digesting all the Pitt footballs news, notes and opinions since Pat Narduzzi signed on the dotted line:
Reed’s Take:
Pitt 27 – YSU 20
The game will close through three quarters with both teams leading at one point; Conner gets less than 100 yards but scores two TDs; passing game will be OK with more use of our TEs and Peterman will impress in his playing time; we create turnovers on defense by aggressive defensive play but give up more passing (at least one big pass play) and rushing yards than we hoped we would; Pitt pulls away in the 4th quarter to win.
Chip in with your thoughts as to what you think we’ll see and what the outcome will be. We’ll take a look at our predictions on Sunday and talk about the outcome of this important game.
NOTE: We didn’t get many responses for suggestions on a meeting place for the pre-game Pitt Blather meeting/drinking/bull throwing festivities. So I’m asking you guys to meet up at the Bettis Grill before the game. I’ll be there at around 11:30. I’ll try to get there earlier but I have a friend’s tailgate in Red 7 to visit also – he owes me $40 so I have to break his kneecap. After that I’ll go over to Bettis’ and then leave around 12:45 or so for the press box.
I can’t wait to see old friends and meet some new Blather followers. Again, check the picture out on that post… I’ll be the guy with his head above almost everyone else’s, a blue polo shirt with “Blather” on it and longer hair with a DW style mustache.
We are phantoms in our own town.
How about the Highmark Pitt Sports Hour, that would really stick it to Romoff. I kid Mr. Romoff.
How about the Google Robotics Pitt Sports Hour?
Tough sell.
Pitt 17 ysu 3. Hcpn begins a 10 year run of greatness and becomes Pitts best hc ever.
Pitt by 4 and wont cover unless we use Peterman.
H2P
Once Boyd is back the offense can open things up, and I see good things on that front.
This is a must win situation, a loss here and the season is in the dumper. If we can not overpower this team, we may finish last in the conference, but I do have high hopes that Pitt will be relevant again.
The difference will be if Voytik comes out throwing. F running if they load the box.
Conner scores 2 TD’s – one rushing and one thru the air (150 yards rushing on 15 carries, 80 yards receiving on 5 receptions)
Holtz and Orndorff each catch TD passes – one from each QB.
Blewitt has a perfect day going 4 for 4 in FG’s and PAT’s.
The D forces two fumbles (Scarpinato and Price) and two INT’s (Freeze and Whitehead).
Game ball is given to HCPN who hands it to Chris Blewitt – no dances in the locker room.
HTP!
Good job UPitt, I expect a new attitude.
3* DE Elijah Daniels; 6’3″ 250; #2 in state, #8 in nation. Mississippi, Auburn, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, Miami (FL) Michigan St., Minnesota, Mississippi St., Missouri, Ohio St., Oklahoma, Purdue, South Florida, Syracuse, Tennessee
3* DE Avery Moss, 6’4″, 245, 12th in AZ; Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona St., Washington, Washington State, Boise State, Purdue, Stanford
3* Ath Jaylen Powell, 6’1″, 185; 23rd in the state of Ohio. Signed early with MSU and recruited by… Pat Narduzzi
Tossing – Narduzzi and Chaney both have said earlier that Peterman was going to get some substantial playing time in this game… and that it would be early on.
I keep telling you guys that this staff has absolutely no allegiance to Chad Voytik other than the fact that he is the incumbent starter, the “incumbent” part which btw Chaney mentions almost every time he talks about Voytik. Here is his exact quote from the ACC Teleconference:
“…I think we had two scholarship quarterbacks in spring ball, and then we were able to go out and I guess get a free agent in Nathan Peterman from the University of Tennessee, so it was a good signee, and Nathan will be our backup right now, and I think as a staff we feel comfortable with him as a starter or a backup. You know, we want to get him in early in the Youngstown game this weekend and get his feet wet and see what he’ll do under pressure.
I also wrote about some of the conversations I have had with guys closely associated with the program who are raving about Peterman, especially his physical talents and his passing skills which are great in the deep game. I also believe Chaney would have no problem inserting Peterman late in a close game to get the ball down field quickly, which CV isn’t very good at especially without Boyd’s YAC.
I honestly think that Narduzzi and Chaney are going to observe both QBs in an playing time audition these first three games and then decide the one who will go into ACC play as the starter. Voytik is the starter, and will probably stay the starter, but Petermen is right there with him if he stumbles.
1. You aren’t good enough to play FBS.
2. You aren’t athletic enough to play FBS.
3. You can’t qualify and therefore are not smart enough to play FBS.
4. You couldn’t hack it in FBS, and had to transfer, for whatever reason… Grades, couldn’t see the field, kicked off the team for being scum, new coach think you stink.
Pitt should not lose to a team like that ever. That they did 3 years ago is yet another indightment against the previous staff ability to motivate, execute, and adapt.
And FWIW, I’m sure the FCS and JUCO circuits are littered with once highly thought of prospects that couldn’t hack it, never panned out, or got kicked out… But you don’t end up there by accident, that’s for damn sure. If college football coaches have proven anything, if you have talent, you will get dozens of opportunities to stick in the FBS at a P5 school.
Feet under them. Dominating second half. 41-13 final.
Starting player’s on both sides of the ball have the same looking recruiting stars, so the measurables aren’t that different.
If you say so.
Buy a chromecast for $35. Plug into TV. Poof. ESPN3 on big screen in HD. Or plug it into you video input on your surround sound receiver and poof HD and surround sound.
I will be sitting on the beach with my iPad watching the game.
—-And I look for Pitt to try to run up inside the YSU DEs…
But I’m nervous — been nervous all week…
Go Pitt.
Tedspen – text me.
I do think Foster has nice numbers tomorrow night and Potato Sack Sloppy Sweats gets smoked.
GC – she looks like that girl in the black on your link. European woman ( she moved here at 16) are very sweet and love to make there partner/spouse happy. It is really nice. If any of your guys are single get a Humble and Hot European girl.
We will win it in second half. Voytik will play like shit and Petermen will be QB by week 2
PITT 24 – YSU 20.
HAIL TO PITT !
55-14
H2P
I listened to a commentary on the Mich. Utah game today. The commentator’s main concern with the Mich. qb was that he didn’t loft the ball enough and drop it in so his receivers could make plays on the long passes. He says young kid qbs have qb coaches/tutors who stress throwing the ball hard but not touch and this is a problem that frequently shows up in the college game. Those of you who have watched Peterman, does he look like one of these, does he suffer from this malady with the long ball? Reed, I have say this. With that stash and the uniform you look like a British Colonel in one of those WW2 movies. A good look for one of our Blather leaders to have!
Ok let’s beat the snot out of the Penguins tomorrow! H2P!
That said, kids This age that are that big need to grow in to their body and get man muscles and move a lot better.
Too early to judge the big uglies at 17 or18.
This is the Team that Chryst and his Staff had been working to build, the Team that Chryst had been waiting for, the Team that would have finally made it look like all along Paul Chryst actually knew what he was doing.
Make no mistake about… this is a GOOD Football Team.
There’s little doubt in my mind that Chryst and Co. would have won 9 Games with this Team (OK, I give you the fact that another redux on the Matt “OUTHOUSE” Defense would DRAMATICALLY increased the “Degree of Difficulty”).
But, compared to the past three Pitt Teams that Chryst coached, this Team has 9 Wins written all over it.
The Question is “Can Narduzzi win 9 Games with this Team?”
Frankly speaking , if Narduzzi is “HALF AS GOOD” as the Kool-Aid Drinkers on this Blog think… 9 Wins will be EASY!
Beating Youngstown State by TWO TOUCHDOWNS will be EASY too!!
But I do like Miller Lite.
Youngstown State — 14
Why wasn’t there an hour Pitt Football preview show? Spend some money on marketing, not just ads to sell tickets. If you want to compete with the big boys you need to act and spend like one. It can’t just be social media.
On TV it is all SEC and B1G. Why not at least have a weekly hour. I expect there will be something, but have not heard about it yet, and it needs to be more than questions and answers with Hillgrove and Narduzzi.
Dress up the freaking front porch. White Christmas lights, at least.