A few days of practices have taken place. It’s hard to be sure about the actual situations. Not simply because pads only came on today.
In this age of high-paranoia from coaches throughout college football, practices are closed other then an early stretching period before-hand. There’s highlights the programs release as they choose. There are the post practice interviews where you hope the coaches and players are not just blowing smoke.
Okay, I’ve gotten my annual bitching about the stupidity of closed practices out of the way. On to what we have.
Just about every major preseason publication; along with the ACC Media Poll think defending Coastal champ, Pitt will finish fourth (still don’t know who the two lunatic trolls in that group that put a vote each for UNC and GT to win the division).
The two picks to win the Coastal are Miami and Virginia. VT is generally placed a step behind at 2 or 3 on the polls. And I get the top two choices.
Miami has the talent. No one knows if they have a QB, but they have a great defense; and if they actually play close to their recruiting rankings throughout the depth chart, they can be very good. Everyone seems exceptionally high on Manny Diaz as head coach, for reasons that boil down to being a good DC and he’s a native of Miami. Hey, did you know his dad was Mayor of Miami? Hope you are braced to hear that astounding factoid every quarter of every game Miami plays this season.
Virginia simply has been rebuilding. They are a little ahead of (my) expectations, but Bronco Mendenhall is a good coach with an eye for recognizing and developing talent. They are strong along the lines and Bryce Perkins is at worst a slightly above average quarterback that fits what Virginia wants to do on offense.
What has surprised me about the expectations regarding Virginia is the lack of any talk about their season opener. You would think that a team that is a trendy — not even dark horse — pick to win the Coastal Chaotic would at least get some more discussion about finding out about them when they start at Pitt.
In case you have forgotten, the ACC Network launches in less then 3 weeks. As part of the incentivizing more carriers to pull the trigger on deals, The ACC and ESPN are putting a 3.5 ACC conference games on the season opening slate (counting ND-Louisville as 0.5).
Virginia appeared to be on the cusp of breaking through last year until Pitt broke them in Charlottesville. They dropped their final two ACC games — in OT for both — before regrouping and beating the Belk out of South Carolina in the bowl game.
Even if you legitimately think Pitt is the 4th best team in the Coastal, there are factors that should give pause. Like the fact that Virginia is on the road and facing a Pitt team that has only lost to them once since joining the ACC.
You can bet that Pat Narduzzi will use the ACC snubs as motivation for the team. Especially in conference games. But in the USA Today Coaches Poll, Pitt didn’t even receive votes. Yet, somehow, Duke did. And Steve Spurrier has been retired for a while now.
And let’s be clear. I wouldn’t have put Pitt in any top-25 ranking to start the season. But somehow Duke got 10 points? Are there really that many lazy/stupid SIDs at other schools? Wait, what am I saying. WVU got 24 points.
But I’ve digressed.
Let me get back to you after I take a break for some beer.
This home opener will be a pivotal game for the Panthers right out of the gates for repeating as the ACC Coastal Champs. I think that Narduzzi will have them mentally focused for the Hoos & I expect a hard fought win for the Panthers. The next week will show our hand however. A letdown loss in week two will demonstrate that this team is still not comprehending what it takes to be a consistent winner. Will see, soon enough.
Short and to the point–If Pitt develops a decent
oline and a line backing corps that avoids getting
smoked we might be on our way to an 8-9 game winning season. I am beyond tired of hearing same old Pitt.
I think when the voters have no clue who will win the Coastal, they will always default to the U.
You know that I’ve been following you from the beginning, too. So all criticisms aside, welcome back to the fold.
I’m excited to hear more from you.
Never mind the crickets, as you’ll be seeing a mass return if you’re consistently putting out content. Namely because the diehards will always want more; most of us have you tabbed already.
Wait for the influx, is what I’m telling you.
With all due respect here Duzz hasn’t made too many mistakes with FCS foes. He never lost to Toledo, nor a Youngstown State. So just try to kool it, friend. (And when I call you “friend,” it’s not remotely condescending; there are are many folks I disagree with on all the boards, but in the end we are all tied together through Pitt athletics. Which means that if I met you in person then i’m sure we’d have a good beer together and find a heckuva lot more in common than my disagreeing that this Pitt football team ain’t losing to Ohio (without the TM “THE.”
Wannstedt did us the misfortune and so did Walt Harris, as did our favorite Whisky Cheese Head, Paul.
Pat Narduzzi hasn’t done this yet. So I do not feel like he’ll be over looking Ohio Univ.
What I mean to say, in sum, is that, sure, we may bleed out to some programs we should be competitive with — Top 20 teams like UCF & PSU. (I’d like to win one of two of these contests but I am not pulling out a 2nd mortgage on OHIO UNIV.
This season could yield 6 wins. I doubt it does worse, bud.
You will know exactly who this Pitt team is by the end of the 1st Half vs UVA.
Pitt Wins 35 – 28
VA 35 Pitt 24
I don’t put much faith in preseason predictions. I doubt any of the voters journey to each city to interview coaches and/or conduct interview persons in the know. Besides, the bulk of ACC voters are Tobacco Road Homer’s. Before the 1st game, we have as good a chance as anyone. Let’s see where we are after uva and psux. Then we’ll have some details to discuss.
As for your (and every other Pitt writer) dis-interest in closed practices – I get it.
But I, for one am delighted that Narduzzi won’t let news out about the whats and wherefores of our team. I don’t want to give that info out to opposing teams. Let them dig thru game film after the season starts for that info.