Offense may be in line for some tweaks
Few head coaches would say or do much to throw one of their coordinators under the bus, Narduzzi included, but he took some measures to get his point across to any natives who are restless when it comes to Watson’s offense in his second season. Narduzzi pointed to the Notre Dame game when wide receiver Maurice Ffrench drew a pass-interference call on the third play of the fourth quarter, a 15yard penalty that gave the Panthers a first down at Notre Dame’s 23.
That doesn’t help quarterback Kenny Pickett’s box score line of 19 for 28, 126 yards and no touchdowns, but it’s still an effect caused by a shot down the field for an offense that rarely does much of that.
“We don’t even get those [penalties enough] because we don’t take those [chances],” Narduzzi admitted. “Very conservative. But it’s also what you do, and what Kenny feels comfortable doing, too. So, it’s a little bit of everything, period. It’s 11 guys out there. It’s protection, it’s feeling comfortable, it’s who’s in the game at receiver. Are they making plays? Are they getting open? Are they on time? It’s a lot.”
But that all starts with the game plan. It’s likely no coincidence that Pickett’s two highest yardage totals of the season came against Georgia Tech (197) and North Carolina (174) and correlated with No. 1 wideout Taysir Mack healthy for his two best games of the season (four receptions for 95 yards and two for 76).
Narduzzi said “I’m not sure whether he’ll be back” about Mack, who has missed the past two games after being injured at Central Florida, but the offense has had a week off to reassess moving parts before facing Duke at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Blue Devils (5-2, 1-2) opened the week as a 2½point favorite, despite falling at home to Virginia, 28-14, over the weekend. Perhaps, that’s just another indication of how Pitt’s low-ceiling offensive attack doesn’t exactly strike fear into opponents. Even by his standards, Narduzzi was guarded about what he might’ve tweaked in lieu of playing a game this past Saturday.
“Opportunity for our coaches to evaluate, really, what we’re doing well, what we need work on, where do we make improvements. I won’t really get into that. You guys probably know before me,” Narduzzi said of the break, then added later: “Obviously, you’re going to find stuff offensively, defensively, even special teams — fake punt execution — coaching. But there’s going to be something on offense and defense. Not going to get into the details of that. There’s always stuff you have time to look at and selfevaluate what we’re doing as a football team, coaching staff, how can we make things better.”
So, maybe the Panthers can come out of their open date and open up the offense? That’s not necessarily just about chucking the ball deep more often but could entail using the middle of the field more — which proved successful at times against Notre Dame — or involving a tight-end group that has offered little more than some extra blocking.
Redshirt freshman Grant Carrigan is listed as the starter there after Tyler Sear elected to transfer. Arkansas graduate transfer Will Gragg was brought in to help as a receiver, but he has been all but invisible with four catches through seven games. Again, Narduzzi was mum on whether he used the off week to figure out ways to use the tight ends more.
“I don’t know. Maybe,” he said, with a smile. “Maybe we did. Maybe we didn’t. I wish I could tell you, but I’m not.”
Not even the vaguest of hints, apparently, for Duke coach David Cutcliffe. Whatever an unbalanced offense can do to keep a defense off balance.
“The first thing is, we’re going to stand on the run. That’s what we do well right now,” Narduzzi said. “We’re going to run the football and set the pass up with the run. That’s Pittsburgh football, to begin with. That’s tough football. But we’ve certainly got to throw the ball better than we are. Period.”