Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi seeks more consistency from kicking game

Walk-on Sam Scarton was awarded the first opportunity to kick field goals and extra points, and Ben Sauls handled kickoffs in the opener. But it doesn’t appear Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi is satisfied with his kicking game.

“Ben Sauls did a good job. First one he knocks out (for a touchback),” the coach said. “I don’t know how many touchbacks he had (four, plus a fair catch).

“Wasn’t as consistent. Would like to have a little more hang time when he doesn’t kick it in the end zone.”

Still, UMass averaged only 16.8 yards per return.

Scarton was four for five on extra points and hit a 35-yard field goal. Sauls also kicked two extra points.

“Sam was good. Was he great? I wish he wouldn’t have missed an extra point,” Narduzzi said. “That will be something we have to look at. I think they both have the ability to kick field goals.”

Narduzzi said Scarton will remain the starter this week.

‘Player of the week’

Narduzzi called sophomore defensive tackle Calijah Kancey “our player of the week on defense.”

“You watch him play with good feet, lock out, shed blocks. He looked like an All-ACC performer on Saturday night. Have to do it again against an SEC opponent this week (at Tennessee).”

Kancey recorded five tackles, one for a loss, and was named to Pro Football Focus’ team of the week.

2 games in 1

Narduzzi pointed out that UMass ran only 54 plays on offense, and Tennessee ran 94 in its 38-6 victory against Bowling Green.

“We’re going to play two games this week,” he said.

With that in mind, he probably will go two or three deep at many positions, perhaps even the hybrid safety/linebacker spot John Petrishen manned in the opener while sacking the quarterback twice.

“John played fast, did some good things. John had his moments, too, from the coach’s film,” Narduzzi said. “You look at production sometimes. Production doesn’t say everything.

“John played good. I look at where he was this year in the opener compared to how he wasn’t ready a year ago from a switch from safety to linebacker. He is playing at a high level right now, and it’s great because you’re able to get him and Cam (Bright) out there at different times, keep them fresh … this week with the tempo. We’ll need substitutes.”

Room for improvement

At free safety, Narduzzi said Rashad Battle played “OK,” when he replaced starter Erick Hallett.

“Got a lot of confidence in Brandon Hill (strong safety), Erick Hallett. Rashad Battle played OK, not as well as he wants to. That’s his first game. I talked about the improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. Some of those guys haven’t been in that situation. Is it going to be 5%, 10% better having that game experience under the belt, on the hash?”

More time for Zubovic

Narduzzi said backup left guard Blake Zubovic (Belle Vernon) will get more snaps at Tennessee. He was limited to 27 in the opener while starter Marcus Minor had 55, the coach said.

”Blake didn’t get as many because of the different fronts (UMass employed),” Narduzzi said. “We were busy adjusting during the series.”

Alexandre ‘getting closer’?

Defensive end Deslin Alexandre did not play against UMass, presumably because of injury, but Narduzzi wasn’t clear on the timing of his return. “I think he’s getting closer. We’ll see. Might be a week out. I don’t know.”

Starting ends Habakkuk Baldonado and John Morgan, who replaced Alexandre, combined for three tackles and three quarterback hurries.

“I think there was a lot of thinking,” the coach said. “Maybe they didn’t play as fast as we needed them to play. They have all these things on their menu, things to worry about. We’ll get them playing a little bit faster this week.”

Dennis: The middle man

SirVocea Dennis is listed as a middle and outside linebacker. He started in the middle, and Narduzzi said 75% of his practice snaps are there. Dennis totaled five tackles, sharing one TFL with defensive end Dayon Hayes.