Pitt Take 5: With Syracuse, ACC title game looming, curious Pat Narduzzi tweet surfaces

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi often talks about grabbing an early advantage in games to make managing the second half easier. It’s even more important Saturday at the Carrier Dome.

If Pitt (9-2, 6-1) can build a sizable lead against Syracuse (5-6, 2-5), it will give Narduzzi confidence to put some starters on the sideline, free from injury.

Narduzzi wants to win 10 games in the regular season. It hasn’t been done at Pitt in 40 years. A loss to Syracuse would be hard to swallow, but Narduzzi also is smart enough to know that a 10-3 ACC champion is still an ACC champion.

1. Narduzzi’s national profile

With Pitt on the brink of the program’s most important 10-day period in many, many years, a tweet came suddenly and randomly Thanksgiving morning from CBS’ Dennis Dodd, one of the most respected college football reporters in the U.S., speculating Narduzzi could be a candidate for open coaching positions.

IF -- big IF -- Pat Narduzzi goes elsewhere hearing he will stay throughout the ACC champ game.

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 25, 2021

Yes, this is the season for such things.

There are nine job vacancies in college football at the moment, and Penn State’s James Franklin and Michigan State’s Mel Tucker just signed 10-year contracts. Tucker’s deal is worth $95 million, and Franklin can earn $7.5 million annually.

The dollars make those deals significant, but you’ll also notice — if you follow recruiting — that Franklin, Tucker and Narduzzi often are chasing the same recruits. Not always, but often enough.

Narduzzi is having his best season and has shepherded Pitt into its second ACC championship game since 2018. There are only three seasons left on the seven-year deal he signed in 2017 and pays him a reported $4.81 million annually. That’s better than most ACC coaches are doing but far below Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s 10-year, $93 million contract. And Narduzzi has defeated him twice.

Under terms of Narduzzi’s deal, any recruit who signs with Pitt next month can’t be sure the head coach will be there through his four- or five-year career.

Will Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher and athletic director Heather Lyke feel compelled to offer Narduzzi the kind of recruiting boost and job security he received in 2017 when he was rewarded with a new contract after a 5-7 season?

2. Brandon Hill’s replacement

Pitt must play the first half against Syracuse without strong safety Brandon Hill, who was ejected late in the Virginia game last week for targeting.

That’s a big loss because Hill leads the Panthers in tackles (72) and is second in pass breakups (six), with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Narduzzi said junior Judson Tallandier was expected to get the first opportunity at strong safety in practice this week.

Tallandier played 37 snaps against Duke and replaced Hill for the last six plays in the Virginia game.

Safeties coach Cory Sanders noticed.

“On fourth and 2 (at the Pitt 14), he challenged that tight end, sat in there and had a good breakup for us to finish that game,” Sanders said.

Sanders classified Tallandier’s play on special teams as “phenomenal.”

3. Another mobile quarterback

Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader was second among ACC quarterbacks before Friday with 783 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, but that’s just how the college game is evolving in 2021. Pitt adapted well against North Carolina’s Sam Howell.

“We’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks who can move,” Sanders said. “Anytime you have a guy who can scramble and extend a play, you have to make sure you do a good job of not getting lazy downfield, knowing that ball can come at you at any moment. And staying locked in on guys.”

Howell rushed for 825 this season, including 98 against N.C. State on Friday night, but his net mobility was limited by Pitt to 28.

4. Pickett’s upward mobility

While assaulting the Pitt record book, quarterback Kenny Pickett also is climbing three important ACC categories.

With 11,841 passing yards, he needs 64 to pass Clemson’s Tajh Boyd for second place. He will need 1,644 in three games to pass the leader, N.C. State’s Philip Rivers.

Rivers wasn’t a mobile quarterback, so Pickett (12,626) is 956 behind him in total offense. On the way to Rivers are Boyd (13,069) and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (13,175).

Pickett’s climb could be hindered if he doesn’t play the entire game against Syracuse.

He needs three completions to become the second ACC quarterback with 1,000. Rivers might be uncatchable at 1,087.

5. Almost everyone could go bowling

Syracuse is one of three ACC teams seeking a sixth victory and bowl eligibility Saturday. Virginia Tech must defeat Virginia, and Florida State must defeat Florida. If all three win, the ACC will have 12 of its 14 teams eligible to accept bowl invitations. The record is 11 set in 2016 and ‘18.