After 11 months of practice, games, Pitt still working to master tackling fundamentals

Pitt’s coaches and strength staff began preparing players for this season not long after Ben Sauls’ field goal sailed through the uprights Dec. 30 in El Paso, Texas, to give the Panthers a victory in the Sun Bowl.

There were the early-morning winter workouts in January, adherance to basic fundamentals in the spring (blocking and tackling among them), players working on their own all summer, August training camp and regular practices and meetings over the past 2 1/2 months. Plus, the experience gained in 10 games.

One would think the mechanics of playing defense wouldn’t be a topic of discussion during coach Pat Narduzzi’s 11th Monday news conference of this season.

But when a team is 2-8 and it allowed 382 yards on the ground to a mediocre (at best) Syracuse team, everything is scrutinized.

When he was asked if players need to get more physical in time for Thursday’s game against Boston College at Acrisure Stadium, Narduzzi said the leaky defense might be a case of defenders failing to secure leverage on the ball carrier. In other words, be where the ball is and be there with a purpose. Basic stuff.

“I like to go take shots. That’s what our guys are taught to do is run through (the ball carriers), and if you’re going to miss, know where you’re going to miss. I don’t like stuttering down. Don’t give that guy a chance to make you miss. You see some of that.

“We take it on high and then (the ball carrier) makes a cutoff. It’s some physical things where we have to go be reckless, I guess, to take care of some of those runs. Defensively, they’re about as physical as you can get.”

At that point, he steered the conversation toward the players’ effort, something he didn’t question last Saturday in the Syracuse game. “It was outstanding all the way to the last drive,” he said.

Narduzzi also made the point that the struggling offense that already has sent two starting quarterbacks to the bench needs to offer more help to their defensive brothers.

“Time of possession, keeping our offense on the field and sustaining drives has been an issue and continues to be an issue,” he said. “We have to continue to work and muster up yards and move the sticks, keep our defense off the field.”

Syracuse won the time of possession stat (37 minutes, 26 seconds to 22:34) thanks in large part to some sloppy fundamentals. Quarterback Christian Veilleux lost two fumbles on handoffs and also threw an interception — his eighth of the season — and this one was returned for a touchdown.

With a minus-seven turnover differential for the season, Pitt maintains possession for less than half the game (27:42). That ranks 117th of 130 schools nationally (13th of 14 in the ACC).

“Turnovers will get you every time,” Narduzzi said. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Notes: Pitt’s last game of the season Nov. 25 at Duke will begin at noon or 3:30 p.m. The ACC will make the determination after Saturday’s games. Pitt hasn’t had a noon start time all season. … Under the ACC’s new scheduling model that takes effect next year, Pitt will play BC every year through 2026, but the teams have met only three times in 10 previous seasons as ACC members.