Air Narduzzi at Pitt? Maybe not, but passing game undergoes transformation

When Pitt’s coach was questioned about the perceived notion of “Air Narduzzi” that is flying around spring ball, he smiled and quickly cleared up any confusion.

“Don’t believe Air Narduzzi,” Pat Narduzzi said. “We’re going to run the ball. Don’t forget that.”

Yet, it was a fair question because two pass catchers — wide receiver Aaron Mathews and tight end Will Gragg — mentioned on different days they have caught more passes this spring than in their previous time at Pitt. And Mathews, a Clairton graduate, is entering his fourth season.

“They think when you complete a couple passes (in spring practice), it’s Air Narduzzi,” said the namesake of the offense that, apparently, doesn’t exist. “I guess they’re not used to catching many passes or completing them.”

But that explains the excitement: Players who have a mandate to catch passes didn’t do it often enough last year, and they are eager to make amends.

Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s offense might give them that opportunity. Whether they take advantage of it is a story for another day.

In a school-record 14 games last year, Pitt failed to reach 2,000 passing yards (1,985) for the first time since 1996. Paul Chryst’s offense surpassed 3,000 in two of his three seasons as coach.

Were last year’s failures that cost offensive coordinator Shawn Watson his job attributable to the dearth of experience at wide receiver? Taysir Mack’s ankle injury? The presence of two 1,000-yard rushers? A total of 33 quarterback sacks by opponents? Quarterback Kenny Pickett’s first full season as a starter?

It’s a combination, and the aim is to reverse all five scenarios this season.

To that end, one of first things Whipple did after he arrived was to meet with important players to discuss ways to make the offense better.

“He’s formatted his offense to his personnel,” said Gragg, a rising senior who caught five passes for 31 yards in his first season after transferring from Arkansas. “He’s working to our strengths.”

Was that attempt missing last year?

“I wouldn’t say it was lacking,” Gragg said. “It could have been more intentional.”

The result, Gragg said, is “guys are making plays everywhere.”

“We’re throwing the ball deep down the field, making different reads. We had six or seven touchdowns (at a recent scrimmage), as opposed to last year we’d be running the ball (with Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall). We’re actually getting to spread out.”

Much of the players’ optimism stems from Whipple’s time as head coach at UMass. There, he mentored wide receiver Andy Isabella, who led the nation in receiving yards (1,698) last season.

Isabella caught nine passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns in a triple-overtime victory against Liberty and recorded 15 for 219 yards and two scores against Georgia. He also was a recent visitor to the Pittsburgh Steelers as a draft prospect.

UMass tight end Adam Breneman, a former five-star recruit who first went to Penn State, was an All-American in 2017 and finished his college career with 134 receptions, 1,572 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“I grew up watching his film,” Gragg said of Breneman. “When I was in middle school, he was in high school. It was just a coincidence that (Whipple) had him at UMass, and we’re in there watching his tape. He’s telling me things he did, little intricacies in the offense.”

Gragg said he had “multiple talks” with Narduzzi last season about his role in the offense.

“He promised me something was going to change,” Gragg said.

Narduzzi said their conversations largely involved blocking. He doesn’t want Gragg (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) to gain a reputation as a tight end whose only strength is catching the football.

“Will’s an athletic guy who can catch the ball, can run down the field, (must) be a better blocker, really,” Narduzzi said. “He’s had a nice spring so far, getting tougher in there blocking. If you’re going out there, and they know you’re going to throw it, you’re going to be in trouble.”

Tight ends coach Tim Salem said Gragg is having a spring similar to what Scott Orndoff experienced in 2016 when he finished that season with 35 catches for 579 yards and five touchdowns.

“He’s caught a lot of balls,” Salem said. “Blocking is part of football, and if you want to improve your chances of going forward, you have to put your face in there and block people. He’s given great intent to that this spring. Coach (Dave) Andrews (strength coach) in the weight room has done that kid a lot of good because he’s gotten a lot stronger just since January.

“Now, it’s get your hands dirty, put your face in there, get your face bloodied up and let’s cause some fun.”

Salem said Gragg’s one recorded drop this spring is “one too many, but at least if the ball’s in the air, he’s snatching it.”

Narduzzi always will demand a strong running game, but what if Pitt’s best mode of moving the chains will be through the air? Ollison and Hall are gone, replaced by unproven backs A.J. Davis and Todd Sibley and former cornerback V’Lique Carter.

Is there another 1,000-yard back in there somewhere? Pitt has had six of them do it 10 times since 2007, but there are no guarantees.

Pickett, a junior, is no longer a first-time starting quarterback. Whipple might remove the shackles Watson put on him because of his inexperience.

“He’s taking the shots (deep balls) he wouldn’t normally take,” Gragg said. “Throws that he would be hesitating on last year, he’s actually making them.

“He’s taken some criticism, but it wasn’t all on him. This year, you can see him really blossom.”