Pat Narduzzi makes no promises about his team in April, but it’s safe to say he’s looking for improvement in Pitt’s running game and among those trying to stop it.

Asked to gauge his backs’ progress through the 12 practices since March 6, he said, “It depends on who they were running against.”

“The 1 defense only gave up 2½-3 yards per carry (in the scrimmage Saturday), which is good,” he said. “But when the 2 defense was out there, it wasn’t as good. Our depth needs to improve. Our tackling needs to improve.”

The other issue is trying to replicate what 1,000-yard rushers Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall did last year. Narduzzi wants to see his running game give the No. 1 defense trouble, too.

“They gave us big steps on what to do (this season),” said junior A.J. Davis, the team’s most experienced back but still with only 48 career carries. “They were role models for us.”

Todd Sibley, a sophomore with only one collegiate carry, is sharing snaps this spring with Davis and sophomore V’Lique Carter while redshirt freshman Mychale Salahuddin recovers from a leg injury. Sibley said the burden is on the running game to balance the offense.

“We’ve established that we can throw it (in the spring), but I think the big question everyone wants to know is, ‘Will Pitt be able to run the ball?’ ” Sibley said. “We’re trying to answer that question. We’ve taken that to heart. Coach (Andre) Powell (running backs coach) has taken that to heart, too. …

“It was big for me and A.J. to step up and take control of the room. We’re just trying to replace what they brought and bring our own little style to it.”

Davis (6-foot, 215 pounds) came from Lakeland (Fla.) High School as one of the most highly touted backs in the nation, ranked 14th by ESPN and Rivals. In the same 2017 recruiting class, Sibley (5-9, 220) of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, who committed to Ohio State as a junior, changed his mind and pledged to Pitt a year later.

They are similar in many ways.

“A.J. turns a 2-yard run into 12,” Narduzzi said, “and Sibley is a physical dude. They’re both good in pass protection. They both know what they’re doing.”

Davis said he gains those bonus yards by doing what Powell tells him to do.

“We have to move our feet after contact,” he said. “Finish plays, break through tackles, don’t give up, keep fighting.”

Davis admits to a bit of impatience while waiting behind Ollison and Hall for his opportunity.

“I had to realize this is a different level,” he said. “I had to learn to pick up blitzes.”

Under first-year offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, the backs may do more than block in the passing game. They also can line up as wide receivers and catch passes. Which would be a change from last year when Hall, Ollison and fullback George Aston averaged less than 5 yards per reception and scored just once.

“Coach Whipple is using us all over the field,” Sibley said. “We’re lined up at wideout. We’re lined up in the slot. He has doing things that we weren’t normally doing last year. We add plays every day. He’s really trying to get everyone the ball.”

If the passing game improves like the vibe from the Pitt wide receivers seem to indicate, the running game would benefit.

“It spreads the defense out,” Sibley said. “They can’t pack the box. They can’t fill in eight, nine guys because they have to worry about our deep threats.

“Having those deep threats really opens up the run game. It makes blocking a lot easier and the makes the offense overall better.”

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