With new 'shark's teeth,' Pitt defense hopes to thrive under familiar coaching staff

Brandon George called the process of changing the look of Pitt’s defense not unlike what happens when a shark loses a tooth.

“Replace it after one falls out,” he said.

A shark enjoys lifelong regeneration of its teeth, but a college football team only can hope to be as fortunate when players leave for the NFL or another school.

In Pitt’s case, replacing defensive ends Habakkuk Baldonado, Deslin Alexandre and John Morgan, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and safeties Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett — among others — won’t be easy.

No surprise, Pat Narduzzi says there’s depth and competition at every position. pic.twitter.com/GSA7YMUE33

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) March 21, 2023

George is a possible replacement for Dennis in the middle of the defense, and West Mifflin graduate Nahki Johnson is showing promise as a defensive end. Coach Pat Narduzzi said Johnson has played well throughout the first four practices of the spring.

The good news is the same coaches who helped defensive linemen Calijah Kancey, Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver become All-Americans over the past three seasons all reported for duty this spring.

This is only the second offseason in coach Pat Narduzzi’s eight in which he didn’t need to hire a new assistant.

Defensive coordinator Randy Bates is entering his sixth season. Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge (seven), secondary coaches Archie Collins and Cory Sanders (six each) and linebacker coach Ryan Manalac (three) have been around long enough to give Narduzzi the continuity he prefers on his staff.

On offense, assistants Andre Powell and Tim Salem have been with Narduzzi since the outset of his tenure in 2015. Offensive line coach Dave Borbely is entering his sixth season, and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. and wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood their second.

Why is that important?

“I know it’s important to my sanity,” Narduzzi said. “(Hiring coaches every year) just adds to your job as a head coach. I’m not coaching a coach.”

Bates and Narduzzi credit chancellor Patrick Gallagher and athletic director Heather Lyke with helping to keep the staff together.

“A year ago, after a championship season, Heather, the athletic department, Chancellor Gallagher stepped up,” Narduzzi said. “We got them paid better than they were. I think that helps a ton.”

“We’ve obviously been very good on defense,” said Bates, who left unsaid the fact that Pitt leads the nation in sacks (199) over the past four seasons. “And we’ve had a lot of schools wanting to poach our coaches. Heather stepped up and kept them, and coach Narduzzi has done a great job of keeping them, and that’s why we’re successful. Because now, Pitt is not a place, stepping-stone-wise. It’s a destination, coaching-wise. That’s a good thing.”

Of course, it’s the players who execute the plan coaches put together.

George, a senior, said he’s looking forward to that part of it after he missed all but four games last season with an injury. One of those was the Sun Bowl victory against UCLA when he received playing time because Dennis opted out.

He said the team loses the “knowledge” and “leadership” Dennis provided. But George pointed out, “Even our young guys settle in real quick, just because of the bond we have as a brotherhood. It definitely helps when you have guys who have been around the game.

“They know what to expect. They know how intense the playbook can be, what they have to do to prepare each and every day.”

He said there are minor tweaks to the defense, but he was reluctant to offer many details.

“A magician never reveals his secrets,” he said.

The next big thing for George is that first hit, possibly during Pitt’s scheduled scrimmage Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.

“I play linebacker. I want to hit somebody in the mouth every chance I get,” he said. “That’s the baseline of every linebacker in the country, and smile when you do it. I”m definitely grinding at the bit to get back to the game. Now, we’re back and ready to rumble.”

Johnson, a redshirt sophomore, has been waiting a long time to make a difference at Pitt after committing while a sophomore at West Mifflin.

“I always wanted to play for the University of Pittsburgh. I’m a Pittsburgh guy. Pittsburgh is my home,” he said.

Johnson’s patience has carried him to the point where he’ll compete at defensive end with Sam Okunlola, Nate Temple, Bam Brima and Dayon Hayes, a senior who has recorded eight sacks in three previous seasons.

Unlike many impatient college athletes, Johnson said he never thought of transferring.

“When I was on the sideline, there was never any thought of, ‘I’m out of here.’ I knew it was going to take some time,” he said.

Phil Jurkovec, wearing No. 5 as second week of Pitt spring drills gets started pic.twitter.com/U4KL7lUE0j

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) March 21, 2023

He said Partridge always prepared him as if he would be in the starting lineup.

“He never treated me like I was not playing. He’s always had me prepared and I, honestly, thank him for that,” Johnson said.

Last year, the young players on the line wanted to call their unit “New Era.”

“Older guys didn’t like that,” Johnson said. “I think we’re going to go by that this year.”

Note: Dorien Ford, a sophomore from Baldwin, has moved from the defensive line to offensive guard.