It’s unsurprising that Pitt’s collapse in the Backyard Brawl is being viewed by fans as a harbinger of more poor results to follow.

The Panthers’ 31-24 defeat to their hated rival was doubtless deflating, while the manner in which Pitt lost did much to erode confidence in the team’s long-term potential.

That said, Saturday’s loss in Morgantown was one game. Nine remain, starting Sept. 27 at home against Louisville in the ACC opener.

As the Panthers navigate their bye week, here are some thoughts on the team in all three phases.

Defense

Pitt’s defensive coaches and players had been hungry for more turnovers entering the Backyard Brawl, having posted only one, a fumble recovery, entering the game.

The Panthers got what they were after against West Virginia, as linebackers Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace recorded their team’s first two interceptions, picking off Scotty Fox in the third quarter.

However, those interceptions were overshadowed by the defense’s overall performance, having allowed 434 total yards to a WVU offense which was without its star tailback in Jaheim White and a key wideout in Jaden Bray.

Tye Edwards had no issue rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns, and WVU’s receivers made grabs of 56, 34, 20, 18 and 15 yards over the course of the game.

Most concerning for Pitt on defense was how the fourth quarter and overtime played out.

With Pitt ahead 24-14, West Virginia got the ball back at its 25-yard line and a bit more than nine minutes to play.

The Mountaineers’ ensuing drive featured gains of 9, 11, 14, 13 and 15, resulting in a field goal that made things 24-17 with 5:13 left in regulation.

The defense then surrendered a tying touchdown drive of 87 yards, as WVU tied the score 24-24 with only 11 seconds left.

In overtime, the Mountaineers imposed their will, rushing the ball on seven of eight plays before the scoring winning touchdown.

That drive also featured a fourth-down conversion of 1 yard from the Pitt 4-yard line.

Coach Pat Narduzzi admitted the defense fell short of expectations.

“We didn’t stop them,” Narduzzi said. “They did a good job running the ball. They have a good scheme. (WVU coach) Rich Rodriguez does a great job. Give them credit for making plays and keeping us off-balance a little bit on defense.

“We have to make tackles, and we have to get a stop somehow, some way.”

Offense

Tailback Desmond Reid is among the players Pitt would suffer the most by losing, and Saturday in Morgantown, the Panthers had to play the majority of the game without him.

ESPN’s broadcast described Reid as having suffered a lower-body injury, but Narduzzi didn’t offer any color on the subject postgame.

Reid didn’t play after the first quarter. In his place, Juelz Goff emerged as the go-to running back, and though he rushed eight times for 38 yards, Pitt’s run game suffered mightily.

Scrutiny of Pitt’s offensive line is now warranted.

For starters, it allowed quarterback Eli Holstein to be sacked six times, contributing to a lack of fluidity on offense and Holstein’s slow overall day.

Narduzzi even admitted after the loss that the Panthers “(need) to get more push up front.”

To date, the Panthers have rolled out the same five starting offensive linemen in (from left to right) Jeff Persi, Keith Gouveia, Lyndon Cooper, BJ Williams and Ryan Baer.

The next men up include Kendall Stanley, Jackson Brown, Torian Chester and Ryan Carretta.

Narduzzi could use the bye week to weigh alterations up front.

Special teams

Each week, Narduzzi is finding out a bit more about walk-on freshman kicker Trey Butkowski.

In Week 1, Butkowski proved he was ready to kick on the collegiate stage by hitting his first two attempts, both from 27 yards.

Versus Central Michigan, Butkowski displayed some range, hitting a 43-yard field goal.

Narduzzi knew Butkowski faced a challenge last weekend in kicking in front of a hostile West Virginia crowd.

Though Butkowski missed his first kick of the day from 43 yards, he responded nicely, making his final three tries from 23, 46 (setting a career high) and 36 yards.

On the year, he’s 6 of 7.

Punter Caleb Junko, playing his final season of college football, has been satisfactory but not spectacular.

Through three games, he’s averaging 44.1 yards on 12 punts, compared to 43.7 yards last year on 58.

With Reid out, Pitt had to shuffle the deck at returner.

Kenny Johnson, who normally returns kicks, was replaced by Deuce Spann, with Johnson taking Reid’s place on punt return.

Spann had a kick return of 20 yards, and Johnson took a punt back for 23.

Reid returning punts and Johnson taking kicks seems to provide Pitt with the best opportunity for flipping the field on special teams.

But Spann seems capable enough on kick return, and Johnson can continue to fill in on punt return, if needed.

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