Pitt running backs don't mind trying to clear high hurdles

The names Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall still resonate loudly throughout the halls and fields of Pitt’s practice facility.

And, really, Todd Sibley Jr. doesn’t mind.

“We know those two guys are really, really good,” said Pitt’s sophomore running back. “It’s hard to replace two 1,000-yard rushers.”

But Sibley believes it will be fun trying.

The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 when Pitt opens its season against ACC Coastal Division favorite Virginia at Heinz Field. It’s Pitt’s first opener against an ACC opponent since 2013, its first year in the conference.

Ollison, who is with the Atlanta Falcons, and Hall, who was released by the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, combined for 48 percent of Pitt’s offense (2,489 of 5,176 yards) last season. That’s a massive amount of offense to replace.

But the way Sibley sees it, why not set the bar high and try to clear it?

“We challenged ourselves as a group,” he said. “We told ourselves we weren’t going to fill their shoes. We’re going to try to be better.”

One of the keys will be how much progress a rebuilt offensive line has made. Yes, the line might be more athletic, but it’s also younger. And what’s better: Inexperienced linemen who can move, or slower linemen who know where they’re going and why they’re going there?

Those are some of the questions facing Pitt at the start of coach Pat Narduzzi’s fifth season.

Narduzzi grew up the son of a coach. Bill Narduzzi’s career dates all the way back to 1962 when he was a freshman line coach at Pitt. The son is as old school as the dad, which means he won’t allow his quarterback to throw 60 times a game or his offensive coordinator to overstock the game plan with gadget plays. Crisp handoffs, solid blocks., make the linebacker miss — that’s Narduzzi’s game.

But he can’t do it without the right parts, and that’s what he has spent most of the days this year seeking.

The run game isn’t going anywhere without confidence, and that is best verbalized by Sibley.

“We’re more versatile. We have a lot of different things in the room,” he said.

Sibley and A.J. Davis will handle the power plays. “Coach puts me in, and I put my head down and go get it,” Sibley said.

Freshman Vincent Davis and sophomore V’Lique Carter provide the breakaway ability. Mychale Salahuddin will be in the mix, too, but coaches will monitor his recovery from a knee injury.

Vincent Davis could be a game-breaker few were thinking about at the outset of camp.

“That guy can run fast,” Sibley said. “He makes people miss. He’s all over the field. One minute, he’s in the hole. The next minute, he’s outside. “I think he will be a big addition to the offense this year.”

The backs will be only as good as their blockers, however, and four new faces will join holdover center Jimmy Morrissey. Tackles Carter Warren and Nolan Ulizio and guards Bryce Hargrove and Gabe Houy must mesh quickly. Offensive line coach Dave Borbely won’t hesitate to make changes, if necessary.

There’s no time to let problems linger. The schedule starts with Virginia and moves on to a home game against Ohio, the Mid-American Conference favorite. Then, it veers north and east to preseason No. 15 Penn State before No. 17 Central Florida visits Heinz Field on Sept. 21.

The line needs to grow up in a hurry and protect quarterback Kenny Pickett better than it did in the last three games of 2018. In those three losses, Pickett was sacked 10 times and chased out of the pocket on several other occasions.

Meanwhile, Pickett must improve upon his 58.1 percent completion percentage that was 77th among 113 FBS quarterbacks last season.

That’s why Mark Whipple was hired as Narduzzi’s fourth offensive coordinator. Whipple has impressed players with his imagination.

“With coach Whipple, you have to be ready for anything,” Sibley said. “He’s constantly coming up with new schemes, new plays. He’ll have you lined up in the slot one moment. He’ll have you in the backfield. He’ll motion you out one play.

“Knowing your plays and being on top of things is the biggest thing with coach Whipple because you never know what you’re going to get with him.”

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