Pitt's Pat Narduzzi seeks, expects improvement on offense

If you want to start an argument with Pat Narduzzi (OK, maybe just a polite disagreement), question Pitt’s offensive line and how it performed in 2020.

He is a bit sensitive to criticism of the unit that might be more important to Pitt’s hopes for an ACC Coastal championship than any other position group.

“Our offensive line has got to be good, but I don’t think our offensive line was bad last year,” he said. “We win two, one-point games (losses to Boston College and N.C. State), maybe everybody’s looking at it a little bit different. You’re talking about a fraction.

“I was happy with the offensive line last year. I’m going to be even happier with the offensive line this year.”

Attempts to make up that fraction officially begins Thursday when Pitt players report to training camp. Drills are scheduled to start Friday.

Narduzzi is correct about the close losses. Pitt might have defeated:

• Boston College, if kicker Alex Kessman didn’t miss an extra point that would have sent the game into a second overtime.

• N.C. State, if wide receiver Taysir Mack didn’t drop a 2-point conversion.

Can’t blame the offensive line. And, yes, 8-3 sounds much better than the 6-5 record Pitt eventually carved out of last season’s covid disruptions.

Here are two numbers that tell a better story of 2020, and two more that might boost Pitt’s hopes for 2021:

• 119.9, average rushing yards per game (13th among 15 ACC teams, 111th nationally and a precipitous fall from the 227.9 of 2018).

A better overall ground attack might have prevented those games from being decided by two split-second mistakes

• 26, sacks allowed (sixth in the ACC) in an 11-game schedule that included Clemson and Notre Dame. Not bad, but giving quarterback Kenny Pickett an even cleaner pocket is probably the biggest key to a successful season.

• Six, the number of offensive linemen who return with starting experience.

• A 92% vaccination rate among players, reported last month by Narduzzi, after covid complications disrupted parts of last season.

All-ACC center Jimmy Morrissey is gone, leaving a huge leadership void. But there is plenty of experience among fifth-year senior tackles Carter Warren and Gabe Houy (Upper St. Clair) and right guard Jake Kradel (Butler). Warren has started 21 games; Houy and Kradel 15 each. Left guard Marcus Minor transferred from Maryland, where he started 17 games, and redshirt sophomore Matt Goncalves, who started three games at left tackle last season, will push for even more playing time. Owen Drexel assumes Morrissey’s spot at center but with only one start in his past.

With eight super seniors on offense among a total of 13 — thanks to the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA — Pitt has more depth than it typically expects.

“We got depth almost at every position,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t remember having depth like we have, guys who can actually go in the game and help us win football games and keep guys fresh.”

Yet, with all that experience, Pitt was picked to finish fourth in the ACC Coastal in the preseason media poll — a lack of respect Narduzzi noted when appearing Tuesday on the ACC Network.

Is it an insult? Or a reflection of Pitt losing at least five games per season 11 years in a row?

“I guess (experience) really means absolutely nothing, based on where we got ranked,” Narduzzi said.

Pitt’s fortunes rest on its ability to keep Pickett healthy and upright.

He missed the Miami and Notre Dame games last season with an ankle injury, and Pitt lost both by a combined score of 76-22. Joey Yellen, a transfer from Arizona State, completed only 44.9% of his passes with three interceptions (all against the Irish).

A running threat supports the passing game, and Narduzzi said the ground game will improve. Was Pitt onto something when Vincent Davis ran for 247 yards against Georgia Tech in the finale.

“We did a better job as a coaching staff of doing what they do best, and we have to make sure we’re going into the season doing the same things,” the coach said. “Sometimes, you have a disconnect on what you’re doing and why you’re doing what you’re doing. Just have to blend it together.”

Davis and sophomore Izzy Abanikanda are expected to be the lead backs. Narduzzi goes back and forth on the identity of his lead back.

“The beginning of spring ball I said it was Vince. At the end of spring ball, I said it was Izzy,” he said. “Izzy clearly goes in as the starting tailback in fall camp, in my opinion. We’ll see how that goes.”

When Pickett decided to return for his fifth season, instead of trying his luck in the NFL Draft, Pitt fans felt like they won the lottery.

In a strong season for quarterback talent in the ACC, Pickett leads the conference in starts (36, 21-15). He also is climbing the all-time Pitt lists in passing yards (7,984, fifth), total offense (8,552, third), 300-yard games (eight, tied for third) and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (15, second).

“Kenny Pickett’s going to be a year better, a year stronger, a year smarter,” Narduzzi said.

He also has two targets who weren’t available last season — 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end Lucas Krull and Hawaii transfer Melquise Stovall. Krull was hurt and Stovall caught 49 passes for 480 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons.

They are in addition to freshman All-American Jordan Addison (60/666/4), Shocky Jacques-Louis, Mack and Jared Wayne, all of whom caught at least 21 balls last season.

“I’m not sure I’ve seen (Addison) drop a ball in a practice,” Narduzzi said, “not many in a game and certainly Kenny’s favorite target.”