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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 11.28.18
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Brian Batko
2:00
Afternoon, folks. Time for a championship chat. Line forms to the right.
cp
2:00
Does the bad loss at Miami help or hurt potential recruits?
Brian Batko
2:02
Well, for what it's worth, Pitt does have another game this week. It is the ACC championship game. Losing like the Panthers did Saturday is never a good look, never encouraging, never fun for anyone, but it's not like it was particularly embarrassing or anything.

If anything, it probably just sapped a little of the buzz from Saturday night's game against Clemson. Pitt had all the momentum in the world, on a four-game roll to clinch the Coastal, and then put out a dud. We'll see if they can avoid another letdown, at least in terms of competitiveness.
Surfer Joe
2:02
How do you see the OL shaping up for next year given the loss of many of the starters?
Brian Batko
2:04
I'd say the only definite starter is Jimmy Morrissey back at center as a junior. After that, Bryce Hargrove is the oldest and most experienced, but he didn't play particularly well against Miami, and we'll see what he does the rest of this year in his extended audition. My guess right now is that Carson Van Lynn switches back over from tight end and starts at one tackle spot, Gabe Houy starts at the other, and maybe Pitt goes the grad transfer route again to fill in at guard.
Chris
2:05
Is there an even semi-realistic scenario this Saturday in which the O-Line without Morrissey (or even if Morrissey was still playing) can run block somewhat adequately against Clemson's defensive front?
Brian Batko
2:07
There is a scenario, and I think it includes Kenny Pickett doing enough with his right arm to keep Clemson honest up front. If Pitt's passing game can do something, anything, early on and maybe get in a situation where the Tigers aren't loading the box, and you can put up some double teams on that D-line, then you've got a chance. But the three highest rushing totals vs. Clemson this year have been Furman, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. The first two were complete blowouts anyway, and the third was a triple-option team. No one else has run for more than 104.
Robert B. Bottleservice
2:08
Do you think Narduzzi has a way to tire out the DL so we don’t have a repeat of last week?
Brian Batko
2:10
Clemson's DL? No. Even their fifth guy is freshman defensive end Xavier Thomas, who finished second in voting for ACC defensive rookie of the year and has 9.5 TFL and 3 sacks despite averaging fewer than 20 snaps per game. They're loaded.
RB114
2:11
What positional areas does Pitt have an advantage against Clemson.
Brian Batko
2:12
I think Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall are as good a backfield as there is in the ACC, but Clemson has the league's leading rusher and player of the year in sophomore Travis Etienne, so perhaps that's a wash, at best. Oh, here's one: Fullback.
Sluggo
2:13
When is Pitt going to stop being treated like a red-headed stepchild in the ACC? The penalty situation is getting ridiculous. Against Wake Forest, the first TEN penalties in the game were called on Pitt, and the ONLY penalty called on WF was a tackle by the face mask the everyone in the stadium saw. coincidence that WF needed a win to become bowl eligible? I’m not suggested that the penalty calls cost Pitt the game against Miami, but again, the first NINE penalties of the game were called against Pitt. Miami also need a win to become bowl eligible. Be interesting to see what happens against Clemson, since there is no way the ACC wants Pitt to be their representative in BCS Bowls.
Brian Batko
2:14
Yeah, I mean, I've said before in this chat that complaints about officiating really don't do anything for me. I think Pitt plays a pretty darn physical brand of football, so that's something that can lead to flags, for starters. Miami is now 7-5, so it did not need to win that game to make a bowl. And I'm not much for the conspiracy talk.
Jake Adonizio’s Best Friend
2:15
How was your holiday? Do you have any good lunch spots down in Charlotte you recommend from your travels?
Brian Batko
2:16
Sup, JABF. My Thanksgiving was fantastic, thanks for asking. Spent Thursday with the wife's family, Friday with mine, then flew to Florida the next morning. As for Charlotte, last time I was there, I really enjoyed lunch at 300 East in the Dilworth part of town. But my favorite neighborhood by far was Plaza-Midwood. Lots of cool places there.
playfootball43
2:16
Can you tell Coach Narduzzi if Clemsons D-line gets overly aggressive to run screens over the middle?
Brian Batko
2:17
Damn, we just had our final media briefing with him this afternoon, about two hours ago.
DougieSniffer
2:17
Do you think Pat Narduzzi was on the hot seat at any time this year when they were struggling?  I know he signed an extension, but did this late season run buy him a few more years of job security?
Brian Batko
2:18
I really don't think so, Dougie. Things were at their bleakest after the UCF game, and even then, I don't think there was any realistic scenario in which the season ended with a change in leadership. Now, had they lost out from there and finished 2-10? Then yeah, imagine the anguish that would've followed, and he probably would've been on a hot seat entering next year. But Pitt pretty much did the opposite of that, and then they made program history (by ACC Coastal standards, anyway).
Kory Parsia
2:20
Hey, Brian - I hope that you and your family had a great Thanksgiving.  What must Pitt do defensively to slow down Clemson and give us a chance to pull it out at the end?
Brian Batko
2:22
We did, thank you Kory. I think the recipe here is that, No. 1, Pitt's defense keeps doing what it's been doing. It was overshadowed as the Miami game got away from them a bit with some big runs, but the defense played really well in that one. Gave up 17 points, which is pretty much always a successful day in the ACC. But it'll be imperative to do some things that frustrate and/or throw off true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He's a prodigy, but he still only has 12 games under his belt. Make him make a mistake, perhaps a big one, and see if that can build on itself.
Oh, and Pat Narduzzi would scold me if I didn't add: Stop the run
Nathan Peterman
2:23
Does Kenny have the poise in the pocket under duress that Nate had against Clemson back in 2016? From what I’ve seen he’s very uncomfortable without a clean pocket and it’s unsettling
Brian Batko
2:25
Hello, Nathan. You missed the classic chat opportunity to both name yourself after a different person and then refer to yourself as "me" or "I" in your question.

Anyway, no, Kenny Pickett does not have that just yet. He's a true sophomore. Peterman at that point was a fifth-year senior who'd been through some stuff, seen a lot of football. That's a huge part of the growth process for Pickett, and a big reason why Pitt's passing game hasn't been all that impressive this year.
9NC
2:26
How much do you think playing Miami last week and their front 4 will help in preparing for Clemson's front 4?
Brian Batko
2:27
It's probably good in the sense that going from Wake Forest to Miami's front proved, um, not great. Imagine going from Wake or a 3-4 defense like Virginia to Clemson? Would be a tough adjustment. This is kind of like warming up in the batting circle with a donut on, but instead of taking it off before you go to the plate, you just put on a heavier one.
Dana Phone
2:27
Will Heather Lyke announce any additional OOC opponents for 2021 and 2022 in the near future?  The schedule this year was insanely hard, I would think 1 Power 5 opponent and 3 Power 6 opponents would suffice.
Brian Batko
2:28
Thanks for joining, Dana. That kind of stuff is usually released sometime after the season. Pitt announced its home-and-home with UCF in January 2017. I do agree with you that they might schedule a bit lighter, given the way this year turned out.
2:29
Your Charlotte prediction, please?
Clemson covers 24.5 (37.5% | 18 votes)
 
Pitt plus the points (47.9% | 23 votes)
 
Pitt wins strrrrrrrraight-up (14.6% | 7 votes)
 
Total Votes: 48
Morty Smith
2:30
Who is Pitt's highest rated recruit going into next year?
Brian Batko
2:31
Brandon Mack, a DE from Alabama who also has an LSU offer and is reportedly going to start looking around. But the guy I heard the best stuff about back in June when that commitment binge popped off was another Brandon, DB Brandon Hill from Orlando area. Projects as potentially a perfect strong safety for Pat Narduzzi's scheme, maybe even linebacker if he bulks up.
Smooth Operator
2:32
How many years are remaining on Heather Lyke's contract?  Does Pitt plan to extend her contract given her recent success with the program?
Brian Batko
2:34
Still six more after this one. She just got an extension in April of this year. Unsure, but it is certainly a nice stretch here for her department. Men's basketball looking as if it has some life again. Football playing in the title game this weekend. Women's volleyball still dominating, and playing host to NCAA tournament games Friday and Saturday. Not sure if you really need to give even more security, but she's overseen some real progress here, it seems.
Chip Cache
2:35
I meant PItt plus the points, not PItt to cover
Brian Batko
2:35
I think that's the same thing, Chip.
First Place Fan
2:35
What bowl game do you think Pitt will end up in? My prediction is the Birmingham Bowl vs South Florida
Brian Batko
2:35
Get out
Chevon Troutman
2:35
Assuming a loss Saturday, what’s your bowl projection/preference? And who will Pitt play against?
Brian Batko
2:38
Yeah, Pitt's gonna have a real weird resume if it doesn't beat Clemson. A division champ, but 7-6. ACC record of 6-2, but with a loss to UNC. Five losses to ranked teams, but two of those (so far, at least) were real bad.

I'll take a wild guess and say they still end up in Music City in Nashville, and plays hometown team Vanderbilt, which also is probably my preference! I'm a glass half-full kinda guy.
Doug in Erie
2:39
So, barring an upset, is it Pitt vs Gannon in the Pinstripe Bowl?
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