There are three reasons why Pitt needs improved play from its offensive line:

• Coach Pat Narduzzi wants a strong running game, simply because he believes a team can’t win consistently without one.

• He realizes the passing game’s effectiveness is tied to a good ground attack.

• And, perhaps, the most important reason is the need to keep quarterback Kenny Pickett, the team’s most important player, upright and healthy. Run the ball and slow down the pass rush.

Pitt’s running game has been nothing special this season, with no back gaining more yards in a game than the 66 Vincent Davis accumulated against Syracuse.

The line has protected Pickett well, lifting Pitt to fourth in the ACC in average sacks allowed per game (two). But the running game is 12th (130.5 yards).

Narduzzi told reporters Thursday, “I don’t think the offensive line is as bad as you guys think it is.

“You have to keep working it and hitting it and hitting it, and, eventually, things will pop.”

That brings this discussion to Pitt’s Dave Borbely, one of the most respected and experienced offensive line coaches in college football. He hasn’t missed a season as a full-time coach since 1985, and before that he was a graduate assistant under Johnny Majors at Tennessee.

“Two things happen on good teams,” he said. “Players tend to blame themselves. Coaches tend to blame themselves. I think both parties are correct.”

Borbely’s players already have shouldered much of the blame for the loss to N.C. State last week.

Center Jimmy Morrissey said he was embarrassed. Left guard Bryce Hargrove went a step further. “We’re taking responsibility for everything that happened last Saturday,” he said.

After coming away with no points, despite first-and-goal from the 1, Pitt rallied later to score twice on 1-yard quarterback sneaks. Pickett barely made it across the goal line, running into an N.C. State front that Borbely described as “the Chinese Army.”

“Once we called the sneak,” Hargrove said, “we came with a completely different mindset (than when) we called the other plays, and it shouldn’t be like that. We should have the same mindset every play.”

Borbely also took on much of the blame himself, saying he had a play in mind to run from the 1, but he didn’t convey it quickly enough to offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.

“I regret that decision because had we run the other play, it probably would have walked in (for a touchdown),” he said. “In that case, Choice B would have been better. I didn’t spit it out quickly enough. We have to do a better job that way.”

Borbely said he believes the players are determined to get better.

“(Morrissey) comes up here every Tuesday and Wednesday night (to watch extra video),” he said. “It used to be just him in the past two years. Now, he has the whole entourage with him.”

“I have a pretty mature group in there. I’ve had those kids for a while now. They get that message.”

Note: Narduzzi declined to offer updates on Pitt’s list of injured players that was populated Saturday by at least seven starters or important contributors, including wide receivers Jordan Addison and Jared Wayne, tight end Lucas Krull, running back A.J. Davis, defensive tackle Keyshon Camp and linebackers Wendell Davis and Cam Bright. “It will be a game-time decision for everybody, even me,” Narduzzi said. “My calf was a little sore last Sunday.” Narduzzi said none of the injuries are season-ending. “Not even close to that.”

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