Penn State Football
Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi Postgame Press Conference
vs. Pittsburgh – September 14, 2019
Q: Why did you decide to not go for it on 4th down, did you think about going for it?
A: Well we talked about it, a few times, thought too many times and wasted a timeout at one point. Going back to it we have to do a better job of communicating as coaches what we want. [We] went for the 4th and 1 in our own territory when Nakia [Griffin-Stewart] makes a huge play, so great job by the offense on designing that play and making something happen. We had some plays down there that we thought we could get into those three plays and I mean we could've gone for it there and you know not gotten it, and I thought if we kick a field goal there's going to be a two-possession game, you need two scores and a field goal is a good play to come back and score again. So I mean we can go back and question the 4th and 1, go for it not go for it. If we go for it, we don't get it then it's why didn't you kick the field goal because you need two scores to win a football game and that's what it comes down to. You need two scores and we had three plays so Kenny [Pickett] could connect it on the third down, got a little pressure off the end, we didn't slam down and block long enough before we released. We had two guys open on that third-down play and you run out of plays that you feel really good about down in those situations – we thought we had three good ones. I thought our offensive coach did a good job trying to set thing up and I don't question that call.
Q: You had four plays from the 1-yard line and only needed one score to tie the game why go for the field goal why not go for the touchdown?
A: Because you need two scores to win a football game unless you guys are playing for overtime. We're trying to win a football game so you know.
Q: Coach, what went into the decision to throw it on three of those downs and not try to run it in from 1st and less than a yard?
A: Just look at the success that we've had running the ball today on that front seven. We didn't have much success again like I said we can look back at all the calls guys, all the arm-chaired quarterbacks, you guys got that armchair desks and it's easy to make those decisions. You know throw the ball, throw for over 300 yards. We felt like we had some plays open and we'll go back and look and see what we did and make decisions off of that.
Q: So did you not want to play for overtime at that point?
A: I want to play to win the football game and it's a two-possession game. You have to score twice to win the football game and you know I don't question that decision at all really.
Q: Was ultimately that your call?
A: Yes, ultimately it is my call, yes. We make decisions, we talk about things on the sideline, but it all goes back to me. Guys, you can blame it all on me, it's my fault.
Q: The decision to for it on 4th and 2 a little earlier, what went into that as opposed to punting?
A: Well you know we kind of went back and forth and we felt like we thought a good play and we lined up and executed it. Great execution by the offense in the game. Like I said we had three plays, you know, down on the goal line.
Q: What do you feel like went into your rushing issues all game?
A: You know you've got to give them credit. You go back and watch the tape and really make decisions on what happened there. Decide what happened there but again give them credit. You need the front seven, which was pretty good. We didn't run the ball effectively early in the game, but you know we felt like we had to establish it first and try to run the football.
Q: How much of that, problems with running, went into the decision making at the end of the game?
A: They all add together when you look at your rushes and what you're rushing for. You're looking at trying to give our kids a chance to win the football game. They were throwing the ball well with a good quarterback playing darn good and I thought for throwing the ball as many times as we did, it wasn't bad.
Q: What can you say about how your punters did today?
A: Kirk Christodoulou did a heck of a job – as good a football game as he's played. Good question that we pinned him down I don't know how many times inside [the 20]. I don't know what his average was but Kirk had a heck of a game. It's great for his confidence he was a weapon today, and I'm happy for Kirk in the punt game.
Q: Were you pleased with your pass rush?
A: I was, and then in the second half I wasn't. I mean, you know, we're down a couple guys up front and you know maybe if you could rotate guys a little bit more we could've. Those are critical plays when the quarterback scrambled. I think in the end of the third, early fourth quarter about the 40-yard line, travel towards the student section, the quarterback scrambled out we got a wrong blitz path we got two guys on the C-gap I believe and we're going to have a guy come clean and you know that's going to be a big hit on the quarterback. It's going to be a sack, he had nowhere to go with the ball, and like I said guys, it's a game of inches and we lost a couple inches today.
Q: Kenny's play? He was very effective specially on that play in the second quarter.
A: Kenny, I don't know if Kenny could play any better, guys. That guy played his tail off. He made some throws that you guys have not seen him make before. He's throwing it on time, he's throwing in a rhythm, you know Kenny did a heck of a job. He started off throwing that one in the dirt early, but Kenny had a heck of a ball game.
Q: 57-yard field goal before the half, did that take the wind out of your sails? How hard was it to watch?
A: Our guys came out and fought in the second half. I don't think it took the wind out of anybody's sails. I mean that was a heck of a field goal, give that guy credit, 57-yard field goal is not easy, probably a stadium record. Who kicks 57-yard field goals?
Q: You talked on Monday that the next time we play this game you would be retired or in a coffin. We know you were joking at the time but that decision on the 4th down is that something that's going to linger a while longer?
A: It won't linger long at all guys, it is what is. You know, it's a tough, tough call. You kick a field goal there then you get a drive, score a touchdown and win by three. That's what you expect to score. You've got to win by more than 10 points to win a football game period.
Q: Does a loss hurt more knowing you're not going to get another shot at these guys?
A: No, it doesn't hurt any more. A loss is a loss, it doesn't matter who it's to. When it is, it's not a conference game and all our goals are still ahead of us and we'll continue to play. We've got a resilient football team that I love and we'll be fine. We'll be just fine, and I hope you guys are fine.