10 THOUGHTS 10 DAYS OUT
Pitt is less than 10 days from its season getting started. The Panthers — off the back of a 6-5 season rearranged by COVID
19 — are wrapping up a normal training camp. They have a few more practices to sort out position battles ahead of game week.
Then, Pitt faces Massachusetts next Saturday at Heinz Field before a trip to SEC country for a non-conference game at Tennessee.
Here are 10 thoughts on this year’s Panthers …
1) If there was any doubt, it’s going to be the Israel Abanikanda show in the backfield.
Vincent Davis, last year’s leading rusher, has given Pat Narduzzi and his staff something to think about, pushing the up-and-coming sophomore in camp. Freshman Rodney Hammond has also garnered praise recently. But asked on Tuesday if there’s separation in the backfield, Narduzzi made one thing clear.
“I’d still say Izzy is the guy you trust the most,” Narduzzi said. “It comes down to trust right now. Every single day, who is that guy? And he’s just been [steady] every day.”
2) Earlier in Tuesday’s media window, Narduzzi made a promise in regards to defensive tackle Keyshon Camp: “He’s not going to get hurt this year.”
At least, they hope that’s the case. It’s easy to forget how effective Camp was against Virginia in the 2019 opener. He logged six pressures on only 19 snaps before suffering a season-ending knee injury — his second season-ending injury in as many years. In 2020, Camp played in only six of 11 games.
Now, the super senior is shining. Narduzzi named Camp one of the team’s standout performers from last weekend’s
scrimmage and called him “a force.” If Calijah Kancey maximizes his potential and Camp stays healthy, that’s a dangerous duo inside.
3) The kicker situation isn’t in a great place.
Narduzzi is “still waiting” for Ben Sauls or Sam Scarton to separate themselves and fill Alex Kessman’s kicking boots. Sauls was “a lot better a year ago” when he was trying to keep up with Kessman, the program’s all-time leader in field goals. But now?
“They’re both above average,” Narduzzi said. “You’d wish one of them would just take the thing over.”
4) Maybe this kicker conundrum will be a blessing in disguise for the red-zone offense.
Narduzzi said in July that the Panthers won’t be settling for field goals within 20 yards. An emphasis has been placed on improving their red-zone touchdown rate, which at 51.2% in ACC play last year ranked fourth worst in the conference. Perhaps Pitt will attempt more red-zone fourth downs if it doesn’t have a reliable kicker.
5) A lot is expected out of safety Brandon Hill.
While Erick Hallett and Rashad Battle fight over Damar Hamlin’s old spot, Hill is considered a starter and one of the defense’s leaders. He opened eyes in place of Paris Ford last year, nabbing a pick-six at Florida State. Since then, Hill has matured on the field and used his infectious personality to the secondary’s benefit.
6) That being said, there’s a lot of pressure on Hill, Hallett, Battle and the corners.
The way the defense is constructed — press quarters coverage on the outside and selling out to create havoc at and behind the line of scrimmage — lends itself to being burned from time to time. Last year, the Panthers allowed 22 passing plays of 30-plus yards. Only four Power Five teams
gave up more, and that was with Hamlin and Ford at safety and fifth-round draft pick Jason Pinnock at corner.
Whether or not this mostly new group of defensive backs can hold their own could decide games against teams that push the ball downfield.
7) Defensive coordinator Randy Bates believes what made SirVocea Dennis so successful last season was that he “bought into the concept of making the big play.” Basically, Dennis wasn’t afraid to make mistakes in practice or try new things in an effort to fine-tune his ability to generate chaos on gameday.
Dennis started only two games last year but earned first-team reps en route to 14.5 tackles for loss (eighth nationally).
Now, he’s working at all three linebacker positions as Bates and his staff look to find the ideal spot for him. Regardless of where he is, Dennis could put up AllAmerican numbers if he improves on what he did in 2020.
8) Last year, Jordan Addison broke out as a freshman with 60 catches. It’s unlikely that Pitt will have a first-year player play that big of a role again this fall. But keep an eye out for cornerback Noah Biglow.
Biglow, a summer enrollee, earned a “winning grade” in last weekend’s scrimmage after hauling in an interception. He was also one of five newcomers — including Hammond, tight end Gavin Bartholomew and defensive backs Tamarion Crumpley and P.J. O’Brien — who Narduzzi said hasn’t hit the proverbial freshman wall.
With Damarri Mathis, Marquis Williams, M. J. Devonshire and A.J. Woods, the Panthers are deep at corner. But he could be an injury or two away from real snaps.
9) The three-way battle between Matt Goncalves, Gabe Houy and Carter Warren will seemingly continue up until kickoff. Narduzzi said earlier in camp that Kenny Pickett “likes” Warren as his blindside blocker. So if Warren stays healthy and performs, the right tackle spot would likely come down to Goncalves and Houy.
Goncalves said he feels as if
he has done enough to earn a starting job this camp, and his three starts as a redshirt freshman last year were impressive. Narduzzi, meanwhile, didn’t bite on naming any starters when asked this week.
Goncalves, who has up to four years of eligibility remaining, offers more value to the program in the long-term than Warren or Houy. But will that matter?
10) The anticipation and confidence around Pitt’s 2021 season lies in Pickett’s surprise return, so it’s only fitting that our final thought is on No. 8.
How much will he improve? And how far can he carry this team?
Drops, running game woes and blocking concerns have hampered this offense for the past two seasons. But for someone who has thrown only 26 touchdown passes in 21 starts in Mark Whipple’s pass-happy offense, more will be expected out of Pickett.
This isn’t meant to question whether he’s capable of carrying Pitt to its first ninewin season since 2009. It’s an acknowledgement that as the Panthers attempt to break the mold of mediocrity, Pickett has to be the one to lead the charge. He knows that’s the pressure he assumed by returning.