Pat Narduzzi short on details while Kedon Slovis, Nick Patti compete for Pitt QB job

If Jordan Addison eludes defensive backs as effectively as Pat Narduzzi deflects questions about his quarterbacks, Pitt will have a back-to-back winner of the Biletnikoff Trophy.

Reporters tried different variations of queries Tuesday, hoping to get an idea of how the competition between Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti is evolving.

Narduzzi wasn’t biting.

Asked if either quarterback has done anything specific to catch his eye through 13 spring practices, he was predictably evasive.

“The big thing is just operating with all the offense,” he said.

Narduzzi said he has been impressed with the volume of offense installed so far by new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.

“We have twice the offense we had a year ago,” he said. “We have a lot of different stuff in, and we have a lot of the same stuff. I’ve never seen so much offense. They keep adding to it. I say, ‘You can’t do more.’ (They say), ‘Yes, we’re doing more.’

“I sit in the offensive meetings sometimes, and I say, ‘How do you guys remember all this stuff?’ We’re not smart enough on defense to know everything that’s going on like that.

“(Slovis and Patti) do a great job that way. Both quarterbacks have done a great job, and I’m probably not going to give you a lot (of information).”

OK, that apparently settles one question.

When Narduzzi was asked if he plans to name a starter by the end of spring drills Saturday, he gave a long-winded “maybe” that ultimately didn’t sound like he had any plans to do so.

“You can say maybe. I don’t know,” he said. “We haven’t even talked about it. We’re just coaching each day.

“You could (name one at the end of spring), but then it’s still a battle in the fall. You could be the starting Mike (linebacker) at the end of spring ball. But are you the starter at the end of fall camp? It comes down to that.”

Actually, what it “comes down to” is how each quarterback practices, how the football comes out of his hand, how teammates follow their lead and what Narduzzi and Cignetti see now and project to happen five months from now.

This season is an outlier compared to most of Narduzzi’s time at Pitt. In six of his previous seven seasons, he had no problem choosing a quarterback to start the season.

A tricky decision did emerge in his first season (2015). After inheriting Chad Voytik from former coach Paul Chryst, Narduzzi signed transfer Nathan Peterman from Tennessee. He used both players through the first two games — victories against Youngstown State and Akron — before Peterman won the job and started the next game, a 27-24 loss at Iowa. Over the final 10 games, Voytik attempted only one more pass.

In 2017, Narduzzi found another transfer quarterback — Max Browne from USC — but a shoulder injury in the sixth game ended his season in October. Ben DiNucci replaced Browne before Kenny Pickett took over for the final two games. Narduzzi was off the hook — until now.

Pitt relied on three quarterbacks in 2017, and Narduzzi hopes to keep a backup ready and able this season, too. Which might be one reason for his secrecy.

With Pickett moving on, Narduzzi went back to USC to find Slovis, who threw for 7,576 yards, 58 touchdowns and 24 interceptions while completing 68% of his passes in three seasons. While bowl preparations were going on, Narduzzi handled Slovis’ recruitment personally.

Patti has been committed to Pitt for nearly five years after giving a verbal pledge to join the class of 2018 on May 10, 2017.

He was Pitt’s No. 1 backup most of the past four seasons and was the obvious choice to start the Peach Bowl against Michigan State on Dec. 30 when Pickett opted out. He always has been popular with his teammates, but he won praise, respect and admiration when he dived into a pylon for a first-quarter touchdown. He broke his collarbone in the process, however, and was forced to miss the rest of the game.

When senior offensive left tackle Carter Warren was asked specifically about Patti on Tuesday, he said, “It’s been pretty cool to see him grow up. Once Kenny left, he knew he had to step up and lead this team and he’s been doing a really good job.”

Narduzzi said the scrimmage Saturday was marred by some unforced errors, including offside penalties.

“(Slovis and Patti) are doing a good job operating the offense,” the coach said, smiling. “They didn’t jump offsides, not one time.”