Hits keep on coming toward Pitt’s Christian Veilleux, but he hopes to use them as learning tools
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In an eight-minute chat with reporters, Pitt quarterback Christian Veilleux made four references to one specific aspect of playing his position:
• “I have to stand back there and take a hit.”
• “(Learn) to be comfortable, be willing to take a hit.”
• “Even if you have to take a hit, you still have to stand back there and be tough.”
• “Once you get that first hit out of the way, now we’re settled in, ready to go.”
Christian Veilleux meets the press … pic.twitter.com/RX7mWNkAsg
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) October 31, 2023
Veilleux, a redshirt sophomore from Ottawa, Ontario, was Pitt’s clear and unquestioned backup quarterback from the moment he stepped on campus in January, through winter workouts, spring drills, summer’s unofficial training sessions, August training camp and the first five games of the season.
Suddenly, when coach Pat Narduzzi couldn’t allow Phil Jurkovec to continue as the No. 1 quarterback, the burden of trying to resurrect the season was handed to Veilleux.
Three games later, he’s 1-2 as a starter. Next up is No. 4 Florida State on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, with more hits to come from the Seminoles’ fierce pass rush.
It hasn’t been easy for Veilleux, who has completed 52% of his passes (66 for 127), with more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (five).
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But Veilleux has two more seasons of eligibility remaining beyond 2023, plus the Florida State game and three others this month. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. said being in the same system for multiple years would be crucial to Veilleux’s development.
“When you really look at the coordinators who have had great success in the National Football League,” Cignetti said, “I think of (guys who worked with) Joe Montana and Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. There are so many of them. They had the luxury of playing in the same system, same coaches.
“Continuity for a quarterback is so imperative. Being able to play in the same system, have the same language, the same terminology, the same people around you, understanding this is what it’s going to look like when a play is called.”
Veilleux said he had a difficult time trying to “identify” Notre Dame’s cover 2 defensive scheme. When told the Irish blitzed him 65% of the time, Veilleux agreed with that estimate.
“They knew the blitz was going to affect us, and it surely did,” he said. “I tried to do some things I shouldn’t have done.”
Playing in legendary Notre Dame Stadium didn’t help.
“I think I let it get to me a little bit. Something to learn from,” he said.
Cignetti said the lessons, as hard as they are to absorb, will be beneficial in the future.
“What he learned Saturday in South Bend, he’ll be able to take with him the rest of his career, starting with this week,” Cignetti said.
“Al Golden (Irish defensive coordinator) did some really good things on defense, coverage-wise, that we will only learn from. The more he plays, the more reps he gets — and understanding this is what it looks like vs. certain coverages — the quicker he will be able to respond and make decisive decisions.”
Veilleux hopes to look back at the 58-7 defeat and his four interceptions as bitter, but important, learning experiences.
“You watch the film, try to understand the mistakes,” he said, “learn from them, identify how you can avoid them. Obviously, (the game) wasn’t fun, but we all took something from it. It’s definitely going to help us this week.”
Meanwhile, he’s now the leader of the offense, with 10 sets of eyes in the huddle looking to him for leadership.
“Obviously, it’s not easy,” he said. “It’s November. We have four games left. November is the month that really matters.”
He said he expects his teammates to “(keep) the fight, (keep) the courage.”
”Nobody’s ready to quit yet. I don’t think we’re going to be ready to quit until we have nothing left to give. It’s definitely a challenge, but I think the guys are in the right mentality and I’m just there to make sure that’s right.”
Veilleux said he’s pleased to have Cignetti guiding him through the tough times.
“He’s just a real coach,” he said. “A lot of guys will just sit you down and say, ‘Why did you do this? This is what you’re supposed to do.’
“We watch the film, and coach Cignetti was supportive. He’s a teacher. Anytime something happened, he would break it down and say, ‘Look, your eyes were here when they should have been here.’
“I came here because I believe in coach Cignetti, the type of person he is. He’s a great teacher of the game. I’m super thankful to learn under him.”