Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi eager for Saturday, the summer’s 1st scrimmage
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Preseason games such as what will occur Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks aren’t part of the college football landscape.
It’s probably because no one thought of it many, many years ago when schools first planned their preseason camps. Old habits are hard to break in college football, and at this point coaches might be reluctant because of the increased possibility of injuries.
But actual games against another team — as opposed to colliding with teammates and friends every day — might offer a more realistic glimpse of how a team is progressing.
Pat Narduzzi, eagerly awaiting Saturday pic.twitter.com/VZkmGmot5I
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 11, 2022
Such a dramatic shift in thinking is little more than a passing thought, however. So Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi will put his players through the next-best thing: A live scrimmage Saturday afternoon on the South Side.
The Steelers game Saturday night prevents Pitt from using the newly named stadium this week, but the Panthers may get there at some point before the opener Sept. 1.
In any case, Narduzzi is eagerly awaiting Saturday.
“We have a really good scrimmage planned for Saturday, which is going to be an important one, probably the most important of the year,” he said. “Looking forward to seeing what we have there.
“I feel like we’ve been in camp forever (since Aug. 1, actually) and we haven’t had a scrimmage yet. I like to do it on a Saturday, make it like a game day.
“It’s a chance to go out there and do it live and really get it going. I wish we had one probably three days ago, to be honest with you.”
Narduzzi said the team is ahead of its installation schedule — to the point that offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. has been able to make a few changes.
“We have a ton of football in right now,” Narduzzi said. “Maybe the biggest install we’ve had in as far as the complete stuff. Coach Cignetti does a great job of tweaking stuff, kind of like what we do defensively. Not total change, but just tweaking stuff. They have a different flavor every day. One little thing makes a big difference.
“It’s been impressive, really, the way they put it all together. The kids have done a great job of picking it all up.”
After nearly two weeks of drills, Narduzzi feels good about his team, but he knows it’s only practice.
“If you go out there and don’t do it the right way and you choke up, then it’s a different thing,” he said. “But right now, I feel good where we are in practice.”