Analysis: Championship or bust, Pitt defense needs to give Kenny Pickett more support

After Pitt lost to Miami on Saturday, there was a tendency (not among its irritated fans, of course) to excuse the penalties, middle school tackling display and Kenny Pickett’s two interceptions with the old platitude, “Nobody’s perfect.”

Not true.

There are six teams in college football that haven’t lost, including two of the old guard — Georgia and Oklahoma — but also Wake Forest, Michigan State, Cincinnati and UTSA. (UTSA’s venture among the elite is so unexpected that we probably need to remind some of you that the initials stand for University of Texas at San Antonio.)

Truth be told, there are 18 teams (11 in the Power 5) with zero or one loss. Sorry, but with the best quarterback in the nation (there, I said it), Pitt should be among them.

Have you noticed that the only teams to beat the Panthers — Western Michigan and Miami — do not have a winning conference record? WMU lost to Ball State. By 25. At home.

It’s not just the losses, but the way Pitt has lost. Pat Narduzzi was hired as a coach who could fix the defense, but his unit failed miserably in those two games (82 points, 1,007 yards).

To be fair, Pitt was a Top 20 defense before running into Miami redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. But when the moments really mattered and the Hurricanes were backed up to within 1 yard of its goal line, they were on the 29 four plays later. Game over.

When the analytics are totaled up after eight games, Pitt’s tackling grade — per Pro Football Focus — is third-worst in the Power 5 (51.2). Only Rutgers and TCU rank lower.

“Give (Miami) credit. They have some good skill guys out there,” Narduzzi said. “We didn’t make plays on the edge in making tackles. Too many yards there.”

Narduzzi is not avoiding the problem — he’ll demand answers from defensive coaches and players this week — but he’s also not blaming his defense exclusively.

When asked about his defense not providing enough support for Pickett, Narduzzi admitted, “It’s frustrating, no doubt about it.”

But he added, “We could throw a couple more touchdown passes, as well. If it’s going to be a shootout, it’s going to be a shootout.”

For the record, Pickett has thrown three interceptions — and nine touchdown passes — in Pitt’s two defeats. He’s also accounted for 2,940 total yards this season and more career touchdowns (84) than any player in Pitt history — a history that includes Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino.

Doing what good leaders do, 25-year-old linebacker John Petrishen stood up and took responsibility for much of what occurred on defense.

“For me, it wasn’t up to my standards. I missed a couple tackles I usually don’t miss,” he said.

“We have high expectations for our defense. It’s disappointing that we tackled that way. Those are usually routine plays that we’re good at. We usually thrive in those moments.

“We’ll be much better in the future. I can promise you that.”

That’s another good point. Pitt (6-2, 3-1) remains in first place in the ACC Coastal, and can claim the division by winning the last four games of the regular season. Pitt fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 (from No. 17), but is No. 1 in Others Receiving Votes (117 points). The AFCA coaches’ poll lists the Panthers No. 25 (from No. 19).

“Championship is still on the table for us,” said Pickett, who now has thrown three interceptions in 299 attempts while averaging 344.4 yards in the air per game. “It’s the fourth quarter of the season. We have to get ready to go down and beat Duke (next Saturday).

“We’ll bounce back. We’ll get back on the practice field, back in the meetings, correct our mistakes and bring our best effort to Duke.”

He needs to be right. Quarterbacks such as Pickett don’t emerge every season, not even every decade. A good case could be made that he is Pitt’s best since Marino.

What a shame it would be to waste his hard work and brilliance on a second-place team.