Pitt expecting usual challenge from Louisville 'QB whisperer' Jeff Brohm

A few weeks ago, as Pitt prepared to host Central Michigan, Chippewas coach Matt Drinkall was effusive in his praise of Pat Narduzzi.

Narduzzi, Drinkall said, has set the standard for defensive football in college for multiple decades.

This week, with Pitt (2-1) preparing to host Louisville (3-0), Narduzzi was the one offering praise to his upcoming adversary, Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm.

“He’s an excellent football coach,” Narduzzi said. “He’s had success wherever he was: Western Kentucky, Purdue, back at Louisville. He had great results when he was with (Bobby) Petrino at Louisville years ago when we played them.

“I just think he has a system that he believes in, and I think it works. He does a great job with quarterbacks. He’s a quarterback whisperer, and I’ve got a ton of respect for what he does on offense.”

Brohm, a Louisville native who played quarterback for the Cardinals (1989-93) before embarking on a seven-year NFL career, went on to coach at his alma mater as an assistant from 2003-08.

As Narduzzi pointed out, head coaching stops at Western Kentucky (2014-16) and Purdue (2017-22) further solidified Brohm’s reputation as an elite developer of quarterbacks.

Saturday at Acrisure Stadium will mark the third meeting between Pitt and Louisville since Brohm took the helm.

Miller Moss will be the latest Brohm quarterback whom Pitt will try to contain.

Moss, a fifth-year player who spent the past four seasons at Southern Cal, threw two interceptions in his Louisville debut before bouncing back the next week vs. James Madison.

Most recently, against Bowling Green, he went 23 of 32 (71.9%) through the air for 316 yards and no scores or picks.

Whether or not Moss’ stats on the year (690 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) have been up to snuff in Brohm’s eyes, Narduzzi is getting his defense ready for a quarterback who has been around the block.

“I think he’s an accurate passer,” Narduzzi said. “He’s relaxed. He’s a veteran guy who’s played a lot of football. That’s what stands out. An away game’s not going to surprise him.”

Louisville also boasts a dynamic tailback in Isaac Brown, but like Pitt’s Desmond Reid, he’s listed as questionable to participate Saturday because of injury.

Reid played the majority of the first quarter Sept. 13 vs. West Virginia before departing the game for good, and Brown was limited to only two snaps against Bowling Green.

When Pitt and Louisville submitted player availability reports to the ACC Thursday evening — the first of three reports that will be issued by league members ahead of every weekly conference game — fellow Cardinals tailback Duke Watson also was listed as questionable.

Watson was unable to play against the Falcons.

Minus those two playmakers, Louisville didn’t have much trouble cruising to a 40-17 win, with Keyjuan Brown rushing for 84 yards on 12 carries with a pair of touchdowns.

Regardless of the Cardinals’ personnel situation, Pitt is preparing as if Isaac Brown, who ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns vs. Pitt last year, will be suiting up.

“You better be gang-tackling, you better be disciplined and not take a step off because this guy can change the game in a heartbeat,” defensive line coach Tim Daoust said.

At wideout, Narduzzi made note of Louisville’s Chris Bell (13 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD) and Caullin Lacy (14/171), the Cardinals’ two top pass-catching targets through three weeks.

A year ago, Pitt was challenged by Louisville’s offense, then featuring Tyler Shough at quarterback, as the Panthers allowed 37 points in their most lopsided defeat of the season.

But in 2023, a struggling Pitt team kept then-No. 14 Louisville in check en route to a 38-21 victory.

Regardless of the circumstances and who is playing Louisville, Narduzzi knows a challenge awaits in shutting down Brohm’s offense.

“They’re explosive on offense, really explosive on offense,” Narduzzi said. “We’ll have our hands full like we had the last two years defending Jeff Brohm.”