PITT With Chance For Statement Win Against N.C State

You want to talk about two teams that are in two different emotional states right now, just look at the matchup at Heinz Field on Saturday between N.C State and PITT.  The Wolfpack come into the game with a record of 5-1 (3-0 in the ACC) and in a tie for 1st with Clemson in the ACC Atlantic.  They have also won 5 straight games since their season opening last second loss against South Carolina.

So, if N.C State is coming into this game with all the confidence in the world.  How is PITT feeling after a loss to Syracuse?  Are they angry? Frustrated? Discouraged? Annoyed?  Any of these answers could be correct and I’m sure you could come up with even more adjectives to describe the state of this PITT team right now.  The Panthers are 2-4 overall (0-2 in the ACC Coastal), which puts them in 6th place in the division ahead of North Carolina.

It’s time for PITT players to put their foot down and say enough is enough with the mistakes they’ve made thru 6 games so far.  They have looked sloppy in some games and in key moments of other games.  This game on Saturday against N.C State is a chance for PITT to say enough is enough and maybe build some momentum the rest of the season.

But first, Since coaching is the topic of the week in Pittsburgh and across the country for that matter, let’s start there when looking at this matchup.  N.C State Coach Dave Doeren is in his 5th season as Coach of the Wolfpack and here are his records in each season.  In 2013 (Year 1), the Wolfpack finished 3-9 Overall (0-8 in the ACC).  In 2014, the Wolfpack finished 8-5 (3-5 in the ACC) and won the St. Petersburg Bowl.  In 2015, the Wolfpack finished 7-6 (3-5 in the ACC) and lost the Belk Bowl.  In 2016, the Wolfpack finished 7-6 (3-5 in the ACC) and won the Independence Bowl.  And so far in 2017, the Wolfpack are 5-1 (3-0 in the ACC) and look like true contenders to represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship.

So, now let’s take a look at PITT Coach Pat Narduzzi, who is in his 3rd year as PITT Coach and what he has done in the first 2 and so far this season.  In 2015 (Year 1), the Panthers went 8-5 (6-2 in the ACC) and lost in the Military Bowl.  In 2016, the Panthers went 8-5 (5-3 in the ACC) and lost in the Pinstripe Bowl.  And so far in 2017, the Panthers are 2-4 (0-2 in the ACC).

Let’s compare the two, Dave Doeren is in his 5th year at N.C State and has the Wolfpack near the top of the ACC after a minority of N.C State fans were calling for his job in year’s 2 and 3.  And Pat Narduzzi is in his 3rd year at PITT and a minority of PITT fans are calling for his job already.  Wait, did I really just type that?  Are people really that impatient now a days?  If so, that’s not a good thing because that just shows that people can’t enjoy things anymore and expect their team to instantly be good.

Could the records in Narduzzi’s first 2 seasons hurt him when saying that he’s trying to build a program that will consistently be at the top of the conference and in the Top 25?  Yes, it’s possible, but let’s just put it this way. The players that Narduzzi has recruited are still mainly Freshman and Sophomores right now, with a few Juniors scattered in there.  So, this is a really young team that is molding an identity right now.  PITT had experienced players in key positions the last 2 years and that helped them overcome youth mistakes and finish with a record of 8-5 the past two years.

Pat Narduzzi is the coach for PITT, just be patient and if the team is struggling in 3 years, than we can all open this conversation back up.  But, I don’t think it will be.

Now, let’s actually get into previewing this Saturday’s game at Heinz Field against the Wolfpack.  And Narduzzi opened up his weekly press conference saying, “We just got to make plays. It’s what it comes down to, when you have opportunities you got to make them.”

His first comments about the Wolfpack were, “I’ve been voting for them (USA Today Coaches Top 25) since Week 1 because I’ve watched what they’ve done since the summer. They’re a physical football team and a veteran football team.”

After Max Browne was knocked out of the Syracuse game with an injury, PITT is turning to Ben Dinucci at Quarterback and Narduzzi says, “We have faith in Ben and Kenny Pickett will be his backup.”

He said that Pickett is mentally ahead of any freshman he has seen in college and he’s way ahead of where Dinucci was last season and a little bit ahead of MacVittie (mentally) right now.

And Narduzzi eluded to the fact that they burned Pickett’s redshirt and he said that you can’t worry about that because you are always one injury away from being a backup even if the coaches want to red-shirt you.  You can’t worry about burning a red-shirt, if you burn a red-shirt, there is a reason why you had to.

When talking about how solid the Wolfpack defensive front is, Narduzzi said, “They (our offensive line) need to play like they did against Penn State and we got to be able to rush the football.” Narduzzi also said, “They got to play good. The Quarterback’s got to play good, the running back’s got to play better and the receiver’s got to make blocks and catch the ball.”

Narduzzi weighed in on the consistency that N.C State has had with Dave Doeren and the administration and fans bought in and showed patience and they are being rewarded for that right now.  And I agree with this,  we just need to show patience this season because this is the middle ground year where they will struggle to get 6-7 wins and a bowl berth.  The first 2 seasons like I said you had the veterans that Chryst recruited playing and now this year most have graduated by now and you have the young guys that Narduzzi recruited stepping in, learning on the fly and creating their own swagger.  Once these first recruits establish themselves, PITT will be able to just rotate in new guys to replace the players that graduate and the system should run like a well oiled machine offensively, defensively and on special teams.

This season has not gone as many fans would hope and now we have fans looking at the record and are worried that this team will miss out on a bowl game and the extra practice time that comes with it.  PITT is 2-4 right now in the beginning of October and yeah I guess you can start to worry about that, but I just say right now you have to take it 1 game at a time and call it a 1 game season.  Now every week with a game, that game is the most important game on the schedule.

Now, onto the all important game prediction, on paper you would think that N.C State would win this one by 1 or 2 touchdowns.  And Vegas has the line at -11 in favor of N.C State.  But, I think it being PITT’s homecoming will have an effect or at least I hope it does with a very good crowd in attendance.

That’s another thing, it is time for PITT fans to show up to games and make it a great atmosphere.  I would love to know why if you don’t go to games, why don’t you? Tweet me @MattyIcePGH or tweet directly to Dream Backfield @IntoPITT.  It is time for PITT fans to bring the noise, pack the stands and make Heinz Field one of the toughest places to play in the conference starting with “Thunderstruck” pregame.  I think that PITT fans could definitely make “Thunderstruck” just as awesome at “Enter Sandman” is at Virginia Tech or at least make it respectable.  And also here’s the most important thing, no leaving the game early.  The college football fan atmosphere is one of the greatest aspects of sports and I want PITT to be just like all the school’s in the SEC and ACC.  LET’S GO!!

I’m not confident with how any of my picks have gone in college and professional football so far this season, so I will just say if PITT is going to win this game, the final score will be something like 34-30.

What are your game score predictions? Keys to the game? Tweet them to me @MattyIcePGH or directly to Dream Backfield (@IntoPITT).