Pat Narduzzi seeks balance in all 3 phases as Pitt prepares to host N.C. State

In Pat Narduzzi’s three-phase evaluation of Pitt’s 30-13 win over Syracuse, there wasn’t much room for debate.

The Panthers were stout defensively, allowing only two touchdowns, intercepting Orange quarterback Rickie Collins three times and almost totally shutting down the run.

On special teams, Kenny Johnson’s 66-yard punt return was arguably the biggest highlight of the day. But offensively, Pitt was sluggish.

With eyes ahead to N.C. State (4-3, 1-2 ACC) visiting Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, Narduzzi is hoping for a more complete effort in game No. 8 for Pitt (5-2, 3-1).

“To beat this North Carolina State football team, which is the most talented football team that we will have played to date — I can guarantee you that, that they are the most talented, they’re well-coached — we’ll have to play a complete game,” Narduzzi said Monday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Narduzzi noted that two weeks ago, it was Pitt’s offense that propelled the team to an upset win on the road vs. Florida State, with the defense not having its best showing.

But against the Orange, Pitt’s short-handed defense gave up just 212 yards of total offense.

Versus the Wolfpack, balance will be the goal, as Pitt looks to stretch its winning streak to four and keep pace in a tight battle for ACC positional jockeying.

“The week before, Florida State, (the) defense didn’t play very good (but the) offense played really well,” he said. “You flip it to the Syracuse game, defense played really well, offense didn’t play very good. If that happens Saturday, one of those (games where the) offense or defense doesn’t play good, it will not be a good Saturday afternoon.”

Quarterback Mason Heintschel — not done any favors by his offensive line, which allowed a season-high seven sacks Saturday — wasn’t as sharp as his prior two starts, when he burst onto the collegiate scene having replaced Eli Holstein.

Still, Heintschel once again led the offense to a solid start, as Pitt scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the third straight game, a trend that corresponds to the 18-year-old taking over behind center.

Heintschel also led opening touchdown drives against Boston College and Florida State before Pitt embarked on a short-field drive that Heintschel capped with a 36-yard scramble for six points.

Granted, as Narduzzi noted, Holstein looked in line to lead Pitt to an opening touchdown Sept. 27 vs. Louisville, but the Panthers instead settled for a field goal due to a costly drop by tight end Malachi Thomas.

“We’ve started hot offensively the last four games,” Narduzzi said. “If you go back to Louisville, we went right down the field (and) ended up kicking a field goal, so the last four games we’ve got touchdowns. … If you go back, rewind and go to that Louisville game and look at the first drive, Malachi drops a pass in the right flat on our sideline that’s going to be a touchdown. We (should have) scored on that drive on third down.”

As the season continues, Pitt’s reputation as being stingy against the run is solidifying.

Syracuse managed just 76 yards on 32 carries, while Boston College had only 27 yards on the ground and Louisville managed 53.

Granted, West Virginia put up 174 and Florida State ran for 170. But on the whole, Pitt’s average rushing yards allowed per game of 82.4 ranks fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Saturday will present a good test on that front, as N.C. State brings the ACC’s leading rusher, Hollywood Smothers (averaging 105.6 yards per game, 6.6 yards per carry), to town.

“If we can stop Hollywood and stay in the top 10, that would be nice,” Narduzzi said. “But I think our defense is built to stop the run. That’s what we pride ourselves on. I know some people go crazy when we don’t stop a pass, but to try to make (opposing teams) one-dimensional if they don’t have a running game … regardless of who we’re playing with in that front seven, we’re going to find a way to stop the run.”

The front seven that Narduzzi will deploy Saturday remains to be seen.

All-American linebacker Kyle Louis left the Syracuse game with an injury in the first quarter and did not return, while position mate Rasheem Biles didn’t suit up.

Up front, the Panthers played without defensive end Blaine Spires, leaving the rotation at that position down to five players with Jaeden Moore still out and Zach Crothers lost for the year.

Historically tight-lipped about all things injuries, save for season-ending occurrences, Narduzzi simply said no one injured at Syracuse was out for the rest of the season.

“That’s the good news,” he said.