Pitt Coach Pat Narduzzi Discusses Oklahoma State, Calls Gundy ‘Heck of a Coach’

Second-year Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi has been a defensive specialist at Cincinnati and Michigan State for most of the last decade. His last job was as the defensive coordinator at Sparty before heading for Pitt last year to take over for Paul Chryst.

He spoke earlier this week on what Pitt is in for this weekend in its trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma.

On OSU’s offensive weapons

“There are a bunch of different coverage adjustments we’re going to have to make. They are fast and their wideouts can play. Quarterback Mason Rudolph runs the show and their two wideouts Jalen McCleskey and James Washington are blazers. There are some different things we need to do coverage-wise to eliminate the big plays.

“They like to chuck it deep, so we will be ready for that. They get into some max splits where they are really spreading you out. At the same time, we need to try to stop the run because they like to run the ball. It will be a challenge. They score a lot of points; they like to score points.”

Well sort of. Against FCS teams anyway.

On Pitt staying high after a win over Penn State

“They only give us 12 opportunities, so we need to do it. I think that would be tough in basketball, playing 30 games. We only get 12 of them. We don’t have to play Tuesday night and then get back up for a Friday night game. We have 10 guaranteed opportunities left and our job as coaches is to make sure that we are all up for the game. We’re going to treat it just like we did last week. I told the team last night this is a big game because it’s our next game. We’re going to be excited for this one.”

On Whether OSU Reminds Him of Baylor

“They have some similarities; the Big 12 is like that. The Big 12 likes to throw the ball around. They are finesse-but-physical football teams. They all are in that league. The Big 12 has a lot of great football players and teams.”

On how OSU will respond after CMU

“I’m not worried about their mindset; I only worry about our mindset. I would guess they are going to be pretty upset and angry. I would imagine we’re going to be walking into an angry stadium on Saturday. I’m sure Coach Mike Gundy will have them ready to go like he always does. He’s a heck of a football coach. He is an emotional guy and he will have those guys cranked up and ready to go.”

I like Narduzzi. Actually Pitt as a whole seems very likable. And they run solid schemes and good plays. This weekend is going to be really tough for Oklahoma State, and it needs a win in the worst way after last week’s complete debacle.