After the change under center, Pitt's aerial game still seeks further improvement

On the three days each week that Pitt conducts full-blown morning practices, Konata Mumpfield’s routine never changes.

“I make sure I get up an hour early,” the junior wide receiver said. “I go to the hot tub, make sure I stretch, get my hamstrings rolled out.”

Then, he gathers up some teammates and several tennis balls and runs through a drill designed to keep reflexes sharp. The idea being that if you can catch tennis balls, a much bigger, oval-shaped football won’t look as daunting when it comes your way.

All of this occurs before the approximately two-hour practice begins.

“He’s treating himself like a pro now,” wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood said.

Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. and Underwood have been working all season with Mumpfield, fellow receivers Bub Means, Daejon Reynolds and Kenny Johnson along with the quarterbacks, trying to make Pitt’s aerial game a threat.

The 2-4 record and the 13th-ranked passing game in the ACC (an average of 193.8 yards) suggest there is more work to do. Remember the 2021 team with Kenny Pickett? No. 2 in the conference (337.4).

The victory against Louisville offered evidence that, perhaps, the change in quarterbacks to Christian Veilleux is a good first step.

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Veilleux, the designated starter for less than three weeks, has kept up the relationship former starter Phil Jurkovec built with his pass catchers, often dropping into the wide receiver meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The difference? Nothing other than Veilleux is 1-0 as a starter.

“He ran things well, got the ball out quick and we trusted the plan,” Mumpfield said. “We can just talk to him. He’s really one of us. He comes in and talks things out and makes things easier.

“If he’s not in coach Cig’s office, he’s in the receiver room. He’s watching tape. They’re looking over stuff. You can feel that relationship, that bond, pour over onto the field.

“I think the more we can throw together, the rhythm, the timing that coach Cig talks about all the time, that will show on game day. At the end of the day, we all have to see the pass game through the lens of the quarterback. So we want to make sure we’re on the same page with that guy.”

Underwood learned that lesson long ago after his one season (2011) as a wide receiver with the New England Patriots.

“I played with Tom (Brady), and you had to be on the same page with Tom,” Underwood said, “and if you weren’t, you weren’t going to be playing.”

Underwood said he understands Veilleux didn’t play a perfect game while completing only 12 of 26 passes against Louisville. For the season, he is 24 of 53 (45.3%) for 345 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

“He knows he can be even better. There are some throws he probably would want back,” Underwood said. “There are some (attempted) catches the receivers want back. We have to fix those things in practice.”

“It all comes down to execution. You’re not always going to have the perfect call. But sometimes, a player can bail you out by making a fantastic play. As coaches, we try to pick the proper call. We play the percentages based on down and distance situation. After that, players have to make a play.”

It will be interesting to see how the wide receiver pecking order evolves — if at all — over the final six games. Mumpfield (23 receptions, 279 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Means (11/217/2, with a 19.7 yard average per catch) are the veterans.

“Very steady,” Underwood said of Mumpfield. “For me, I feel like the more opportunities he gets, the more he’ll be able to show what he can do. He’s been very patient. He’s working his behind off for moments like (his touchdown catch against Louisville).”

Coaches may take a longer look at Johnson, a freshman who has four catches for an average of 16.5 yards.

“He’s mature, strong,” Mumpfield said. “He’s a playmaker.”

Underwood is bringing Johnson along slowly to ease his transition into major-college football. After all, he has been on campus for only about four months. Mumpfield said his advice to Johnson is to “relax.”

“At the end of the day, it’s football,” he said. “Don’t worry about the outside noise. Don’t worry about being nervous. We’ve been playing football for a long time. It’s something we enjoy. You know what you’re capable of, be confident in it.”

Added Underwood: “(Johnson) has been consistent on and off the field. Anytime the ball comes his way, more times than not, he’s going to come down with it and something good happens. He just has to keep his head down, keep working and I believe he has a very, very bright future.”

The future for Johnson and many young Pitt players probably will arrive before 2024.

“The more reps these young kids can get, the better off we’ll be in the future,” Underwood said. “Sometimes, you’re going to take your lumps early, but it will be better for them in the back end, for sure.”