Veteran coaches tasked with assembling Pitt's offensive 'smorgasbord'

To steal tight ends coach Tim Salem’s word describing Pitt’s offense, spring football has offered a “smorgasbord” of experiences for players and staff on that side of the ball.

What else would you expect from a unit that includes four veteran assistants who total 146 years of blowing a whistle, shouting instructions, watching video, devising game plans and demanding respect?

Frank Cignetti Jr. has assumed the title of offensive coordinator after Mark Whipple and quarterback Kenny Pickett moved on to Nebraska and the NFL Draft process.

“When he wants to talk about a play,” said Salem, who’s been college football for the past 37 years, “(coaches can say), I ran that play in 1994. I did that play in 2001. What he says, what he discusses, we have experienced.”

Salem said it also is intriguing when Cignetti leaks out a bit of his NFL knowledge — he’s spent 11 of his 33-year career on six pro teams — in staff and player meetings.

“You get to hear an NFL story,” Salem said. “You get to hear something that Eli Manning didn’t like. ‘Aaron Rodgers can do this.’ You’re hearing his insight to what he’s experienced. Understanding the history of football, the history of the plays we’re installing.”

It’s probably more important than at any time in the past four seasons for Pitt to have a good mix of offensive coaches, including running backs coach Andre Powell (35 years), offensive line coach Dave Borbely (42) and first-year wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood.

Without Pickett, the best quarterback Pitt has produced since Dan Marino, pulling the trigger, there’s been talk about greater adherence to the ground game.

Salem, however, points out an important similarity.

“We’re still playing with 11 guys on offense. It’s not like we’re playing 13,” he said. “In football, a lot of the plays are all the same. So, for some of our plays, we might have called it ABC last year and now it’s XYZ.”

Salem gave away no secrets while chatting with reporters Thursday, but it sounded like a warning to opposing defenses to expect anything.

“In the red zone, there are plays for every position,” he said. “In the open field, there are plays for every position, based on game plans, coverage and matchups. It’s been a smorgasbord of offense.”

And it’s not finished. So far this spring, 80% of the offense has been installed, coach Pat Narduzzi said.

Similar to last season, tight ends will be big part of it.

Whipple and Pickett generated enough opportunity in 2021 for Lucas Krull and Gavin Bartholomew to catch 66 passes for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns. This season, Bartholomew, still only a sophomore, assumes the lead role while redshirt freshman Jake Renda has stepped up as the No. 1 backup.

Bartholomew showed plenty of promise last season, but his responsibilities change this season.

“He played a lot of fullback and didn’t play as much tight end as people had realized,” Salem said. “He’s playing truly more point-of-attack tight end (now). He’s getting a lot more reps at a position he really didn’t play as much last fall. Every day for him, it’s something new.

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s new. He’s a nice, new guy to work with, big and strong and fast and a lot of energy.”

Renda is an interesting prospect after playing quarterback and hybrid tight end/wide receiver in high school at 210 pounds. Hard work in the weight room and lots of eating put him at a solid 250 this spring.

“Pretty much just came down to eating anything and everything,” he said.

He adopted a weight-gain strategy employed by former Pitt offensive lineman Brian O’Neill during summer camp in 2015 when he was transitioning from tight end to tackle.

O’Neill set his alarm for 3:30 a.m., got up, ate two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, went back to sleep and later that morning ate a regular breakfast. It worked for O’Neill, who became a second-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract last year.

“Shakes, PB and J, chicken breast,” Renda said. “Wake up and eat it.”

He also puts tuna fish in his backpack and nibbles in class.

“It wasn’t easy, but whatever works,” he said. “I feel good. I feel better than I thought I would. You’re blocking guys who are 260 and up; 250 helps a lot.”

Despite the weight gain, his speed and athleticism remain intact.

“Renda gets down the field very fast,” Salem said.

That’s nice, but what Salem really wants to see is Renda getting after Pitt defensive ends Habakkuk Baldonado, Deslin Alexandre, John Morgan Dayon Hayes in practice.

“We face really good defensive ends every day in practice, real defensive ends,” Salem said. “If we can block these guys in practice, that’s going to make blocking that schedule of ours next fall a lot easier.

“He’s not afraid to put his face in there. That’s kind of a bonus.”