Seeking fixes, Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. looks at everyone, himself included
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Frank Cignetti Jr. has many issues specific to Pitt’s offense that need to be addressed before the Panthers venture into hostile West Virginia territory Saturday night, where the Mountaineers and nearly 60,000 fans are ready to pounce.
At least one problem may have been of his own making during the 26-21 loss to Cincinnati last Saturday, Pitt’s offensive coordinator said Wednesday. Such as junior running back Rodney Hammond — who came into this season with 964 yards rushing — getting only six carries.
Cignetti said “absolutely” Hammond needs to become more involved after getting only 12 touches in the first two games.
“I take a critical look at myself in terms of the game plan and the play calling after the fact,” Cignetti said. “I’d like to get Rodney more touches. I’d like to get the entire running back crew more touches.
“It starts with myself. It starts with coaching.”
At the same time, Pitt didn’t protect quarterback Phil Jurkovec well enough, and he was sacked five times.
While serving on 15 coaching staffs — six in the NFL — since he was a graduate assistant at Pitt under coach Mike Gottfried in 1989, Cignetti has learned solid blocking is the key to productive offense.
“I’ve sat around that NFL table (with) the head coach and the coordinators and the entire staff,” he said. “You talk about ‘How are we going to win this game?’ Usually, the first or second thing that comes out of the defensive coordinator’s mouth is we have to hit the quarterback early and often.
“When quarterbacks get hit early and often, it’s hard and it multiplies and you put them in a tough situation. Our pass pro must improve. We were under duress.”
But what about the quarterback?
Jurkovec, who is in his sixth collegiate season at his third school, had the unusual stat line of 10 completions among 32 attempts, but with three touchdowns and another pass to tight end Gavin Bartholomew that covered 60 yards.
Despite those social media denizens who believe a quarterback change is in order after two games and one loss, Cignetti — the man who has been studying quarterbacks his entire life — did not have and still has no such thoughts.
“The thought process (when quarterback is struggling) is you have to really know why,” he said. “Whether it’s your quarterback, or maybe even it’s your runner. You have to know why are we not getting the desired results.
“Not one time did I ever think about changing quarterbacks. We have a starting quarterback. We have backup (Christian Veilleux) and a third (Nate Yarnell). As the course of the game went, there was no reason to change.”
Cignetti pointed to Jurkovec’s two touchdown passes in a span of less than three minutes in the fourth quarter and his 14-yard scramble that gave Pitt a first down at the Cincinnati 29 in a one-score game.
“There were some great plays that were made,” Cignetti said.
But what was most important to Cignetti was the 23-year-old quarterback’s reaction the next day.
The first thing he said to me (Sunday morning) was ‘Hey, I’m going to play better.’ And we know he will,” Cignetti said.
During his two seasons with Cignetti at Boston College, Jurkovec often followed a losing effort with a victory the next week. It happened four times in 2020.
“It’s not the first rough game Phil and I have been through together,” Cignetti said. “I know how he responds. He loves football. He loves his teammates.”
Bartholomew said Jurkovec came to work every day this week, looking to improve his game while helping others with their tasks.
“He’s being a leader. He’s taking care of the team,” Bartholomew said. “He’s putting our needs first, communicating with the O-line, the receivers, the running backs. What’s working. What isn’t working. Does everyone understand everything?”
Everyone involved must be in sync with each other, or the play falls apart. Coach Pat Narduzzi has said many times that having 10 of 11 players going in the right direction isn’t enough. That’s part of what happened in the loss to Cincinnati.
“Life’s difficult. Football’s difficult,” Cignetti said. “There is no such thing as perfect. We’re striving for excellence.
“Any quarterback, it all starts with trusting what you see, making good, decisive decisions in the passing game and, then, throwing an accurate ball. So many things come into that. You have to have good protection. You have to have the route (runner) on the same page.”
Sounds intricate and complicated, but not to a coach.
“That’s why we love coaching,” Cignetti said. “We love trying to put these guys in a position to be successful and see it come to fruition on game day.”