When it comes to head coaches, Pittsburgh in recent years has become less Steel City and more Stale City. The Mike Tomlin era mercifully ended last year after 19 seasons, and Mike Sullivan of the Penguins was finally shown the door after a half dozen years of showing convincingly that he may be the most over-rated NHL head coach ever.
However, the third member of the troika continues on, and on, and on. Pat Narduzzi, like Tomlin and Sullivan, symbolizes staleness and mediocrity. Now entering his 12th season as Pitt’s head coach and signed through 2030, Narduzzi has a career 80-61 record with two bowl victories – the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl whatever the hell that is, and the 2022 Sun Bowl.
More pertinently, Narduzzi has continued Pitt’s tradition of not recruiting White WRs, RBs, and defensive players from Western Pennsylvania despite an annual wealth of talent at those positions.
Since 2005 Pitt has started 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 10, 9, 7, 8, 6, 10, 4, 6, 6, 5, 7, 5 and 6 Whites. Just 5 this season according to the current OurLads depth chart. So 4, 6, 6, 5, 7, 5, 6 and 5 the past eight years. What could be more predictable, more stale than a Pat Narduzzi coached team?
Sophomore Mason Heintschel starts at QB. He started 9 games last year and went 6-3, throwing for 2,354 yards with 16 TDs and 2 rushing scores. He’s 6’2” and 215 pounds. Fun fact: Heintschel is the first true freshman since Jameis Winston (2013) to record at least three TD passes and 300 yards in three of his first six career games.
Ryan Carretta starts at center and senior Ryan Baer is the right tackle. Senior Carson Kent is the starting tight end after transferring from Oklahoma, but has just 22 career catches to this point.
Sean Fitzsimmons holds down one of the two defensive tackle spots. The only other White defensive player on the two deep is end Zach Crothers.
On offense, guard Keith Gouveia, TE Elijah Lagg and QB Holden Geriner are the only White backups. Nine Whites total out of 44 on the two deep. A disappointing squad to be sure but not unexpected.
QB: Mason Heintschel, Holden Geriner
G: Keith Gouveia
C: Ryan Carretta
RT: Ryan Baer
TE: Carson Kent, Elijah Lagg
DT: Sean Fitzsimmons
DE: Zach Crothers
However, the third member of the troika continues on, and on, and on. Pat Narduzzi, like Tomlin and Sullivan, symbolizes staleness and mediocrity. Now entering his 12th season as Pitt’s head coach and signed through 2030, Narduzzi has a career 80-61 record with two bowl victories – the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl whatever the hell that is, and the 2022 Sun Bowl.
More pertinently, Narduzzi has continued Pitt’s tradition of not recruiting White WRs, RBs, and defensive players from Western Pennsylvania despite an annual wealth of talent at those positions.
Since 2005 Pitt has started 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 10, 9, 7, 8, 6, 10, 4, 6, 6, 5, 7, 5 and 6 Whites. Just 5 this season according to the current OurLads depth chart. So 4, 6, 6, 5, 7, 5, 6 and 5 the past eight years. What could be more predictable, more stale than a Pat Narduzzi coached team?
Sophomore Mason Heintschel starts at QB. He started 9 games last year and went 6-3, throwing for 2,354 yards with 16 TDs and 2 rushing scores. He’s 6’2” and 215 pounds. Fun fact: Heintschel is the first true freshman since Jameis Winston (2013) to record at least three TD passes and 300 yards in three of his first six career games.
Ryan Carretta starts at center and senior Ryan Baer is the right tackle. Senior Carson Kent is the starting tight end after transferring from Oklahoma, but has just 22 career catches to this point.
Sean Fitzsimmons holds down one of the two defensive tackle spots. The only other White defensive player on the two deep is end Zach Crothers.
On offense, guard Keith Gouveia, TE Elijah Lagg and QB Holden Geriner are the only White backups. Nine Whites total out of 44 on the two deep. A disappointing squad to be sure but not unexpected.
QB: Mason Heintschel, Holden Geriner
G: Keith Gouveia
C: Ryan Carretta
RT: Ryan Baer
TE: Carson Kent, Elijah Lagg
DT: Sean Fitzsimmons
DE: Zach Crothers
