Analysis: Quarterback stands above many roster issues confronting Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi
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Pat Narduzzi has a quarterback problem, and this time there is no one left to blame.
After at least two swings and misses in the transfer portal, where Pitt’s 10-year head coach found Kedon Slovis and Phil Jurkovec not to his liking, he has waded into this offseason burdened by a 3-9 record, the program’s worst in 24 years.
And he doesn’t know if he has his next quarterback.
Is he fearful of missing out on a good one, with the 2023-24 transfer portal teeming with quarterbacks eager to find new homes?
Or does he walk down the hall to his quarterback room where Nate Yarnell, Christian Veilleux and Ty Dieffenbach remain on scholarship?
Meanwhile, did the 2022 season teach him that, perhaps, it’s best to leave well enough alone? After all, Nick Patti led the Sun Bowl victory against UCLA after Slovis started 11 times that season but transferred before the game.
Narduzzi said this season he leaned heavily on former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. Cignetti hitched the past two years of his long and respected career to Jurkovec, and he ended up out of a job.
Narduzzi fired Cignetti after an unproductive season in which Pitt used three starting quarterbacks for the second year in a row and finished last in the ACC (114th in the nation) in total offense.
After Jurkovec threw three interceptions at West Virginia and came home with a three-game completion percentage of 46.6, Narduzzi put the offensive struggles at the door of Cignetti’s office.
He said he counted on Cignetti and the offensive staff “to make decisions at every position.”
“Those guys know it better,” he said. “I don’t sit in (meetings). I spend 85% of my time in the defensive side of the room.”
Narduzzi still hasn’t named a new OC, but his sixth in 10 seasons needs to be at least his second-best play-caller (after Mark Whipple, who stands alone among Narduzzi’s best hires on that side of the ball).
In limited opportunities, Yarnell has shown the ability to lead teammates and protect the football, throwing five touchdown passes and one interception while completing 67.1% of his passes. But has he proven himself after only 76 pass attempts and three starts?
Publicly, Narduzzi has been supportive of all of his returning quarterbacks. But to what degree will he take that loyalty?
“Mentally, Nate is as talented as anybody in that room, probably the most talented guy mentally,” Narduzzi said late in the season. “Like I said a year ago when we took him off that scout field, he wasn’t sitting in a room being quiet, not paying attention, and all of a sudden, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s my turn.’ He was prepared, and that’s who he is.”
That’s a nice endorsement but no guarantee for the future.
Is Narduzzi comfortable allowing Yarnell and Veilleux to compete for the job next year? Perhaps not, but does he have the backing of enough NIL dollars from Alliance 412 to lure a quarterback and still fix problems elsewhere on his roster? Nebraska coach Matt Rhule told The Athletic that a good quarterback costs between $1 million and $2 million in NIL resources. Is Pitt willing to pay the price, with three quarterbacks already on scholarship?
Which leads to the other offseason developments.
It has been only two weeks since Pitt concluded its season with a 30-19 loss at Duke, but the number of defections on defense has been significant, if not stunning.
Presumed starters for the ‘24 season who entered the portal included linebackers Bangally Kamara and Brandon George and defensive linemen Sam Okunlola, Deandre Jules and Nate Temple. Losing Okunlola at end and Jules at tackle hit especially hard.
Good news followed when end Dayon Hayes and linebacker Solomon DeShields announced they were returning. Hayes will be a fifth-year senior with 12 career sacks, and coaches will look for more consistent production from him in ‘24.
I will return for my last year of eligibility. #H2P #Hometownhero pic.twitter.com/OXeUAdF63A
— DayonHayes (@dayonhayes00) December 4, 2023
“He’s a super kid that just keeps getting better. He’s still a baby,” Narduzzi said of the 22-year-old Hayes. “Everybody would like him to grow up faster than he is. He’s going to be really good in another year. He will put it together just like all our guys at defensive end have through the years.”
The interior defensive line lost seniors David Green, Tyler Bentley and Devin Danielson, who had been with the program since 2018 and whose eligibility expired. Even with those players, the run defense was not up to Narduzzi’s high standards, allowing an average of 150.2 yards per game, the most in five seasons.
Lack of depth at defensive tackle is a major issue that needs to be addressed, with only three players of limited experience — Elliot Donald, Sean FitzSimmons and Isaiah Neal — left on scholarship.
There are plenty of ends at the moment, but expect Narduzzi to land a transfer or two there, too. Bam Brima, Nahki Johnson, Jimmy Scott, Antonio Camon and Maverick Gracio are still on the roster, but only Brima has a productive past (four hurries and three sacks last season).
Cornerback is another area of concern with A.J. Woods and Marquis Williams moving on and M.J. Devonshire yet to make his plans public. Narduzzi will look for portal help, but Ryland Gandy appeared in all 12 games and appears to have a solid future at Pitt.
Probably the most important defensive player set to return is safety Donovan McMillon, the first at Pitt with more than 100 tackles (105) since Jordan Whitehead in 2015. Barring any unforeseen developments before the portal closes Jan. 2, McMillon will be joined by incumbent safeties Javon McIntyre and P.J. O’Brien.
“He’s a guy you trust to make the tackle at that boundary position,” Narduzzi said.
Several players on offense have indicated their desire to return, and Narduzzi probably managed a broad smile when tight end Gavin Bartholomew and running back Rodney Hammond said they’re coming back. Branson Taylor, Ryan Baer and Jason Collier also return, giving Pitt a decent start in rebuilding the offensive line. Still, portal help is needed.
Note to the new offensive coordinator: Find a way to get Bartholomew more involved in the passing game, especially with wide receiver Bub Means declaring for the NFL Draft. Bartholomew needs to average more than 1.8 receptions per game, which was probably the most shameful statistic of the season.