Pitt WRs coach Tiquan Underwood believes grounded aerial game will improve
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Perhaps the blame for the dramatic regression in the Pitt passing game rests largely with Jordan Addison.
After all, he left Pitt for USC, taking with him the Biletnikoff Trophy, 100 receptions in 14 games and the speed and precision route running that probably will thrust him into the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
But that’s the easy explanation. College football is played under new transfer and NIL rules, and every team needs to adjust its roster, work harder at developing new talent and keep winning games at the same time.
No wonder Pitt passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood declared Tuesday to reporters, “Football’s hard.”
Pitt WR coach Tiquan Underwood promises to “keep hammering.” pic.twitter.com/zA2XqnHdCb
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) November 2, 2022
It’s the message he sends to players in his meeting room, hoping it will motivate them to accept the challenge.
“I tell my guys all the time, ‘Everybody can’t do it. You guys are special,’ ” Underwood said.
So far, there’s been nothing special about the Pitt passing game that is 10th in the ACC, averaging 227.4 yards per game.
“We just have to keep hammering them in practice, and it will turn into completions in the game. I truly believe that,” Underwood said. “It’s just execution.”
But only three players caught passes in the loss to North Carolina. Jared Wayne leads the team with 32 receptions, a pace that would leave him with 48 in 12 games. Addison had the benefit of two extra games, but he finished the regular season with 85.
Underwood expected to take a committee approach to replacing Addison, but Wayne and Konata Mumpfield (30 receptions) are carrying nearly two-thirds of the wide receivers’ workload.
Unexpected circumstances are to blame, especially at quarterback. Kedon Slovis has completed only 58.2% of his passes while missing six quarters with a concussion. Before the season, his career average was 68.4%.
After Kenny Pickett threw 42 touchdown passes last season, Slovis has thrown just five so far.
“The one thing about the quarterback position,” Underwood said, “when it goes well, you get all the glory. When it doesn’t go so well, you get most of the blame.
“I tell him, ‘Don’t lose confidence in who you are. You’re a heckuva player.’ Saturday, (he threw) some dimes (in the first half). That’s the Kedon that I know. We just have to play cleaner as an offense. When we play clean, we’re hard to stop. We don’t play clean, defenses have their way.
“Replacing a first-rounder, that’s always going to be tough. I don’t care who you bring in. For us, it’s just taking a little time.”
The departure of Jaden Bradley after six games is as significant as it is puzzling. He still leads Pitt’s wide receivers with two touchdown catches, and he actually started the last game he played for Pitt.
“You’re building these relationships with these guys, and when they decide to leave it’s tough,” Underwood said. “Because you have to have that talk with them. You have to have that talk with their folks.
“Guys leave for different reasons. In this instance, I loved coaching JB when he was here. I feel like that decision was made and he’s going to move on. We’re going to move on. Wish him nothing but the best, and I know he’s going to be successful wherever he lands. Some program is going to be lucky to have him, for sure.”
Coaches liked the flashes Jaylon Barden showed the past two seasons when he caught 16 balls and averaged 19.6 yards per reception. But he’s having trouble getting on the field this season and has only three receptions.
“The kid can play. He’s a heckuva talent,” Underwood said. “We just to be better in finding ways just to get him acclimated. He comes here ready to work each and every day, just waiting for his opportunity and I have nothing but respect for that young man.”
Barden is one of three backups to starters Wayne, Mumpfield and Bub Means, according to coach Pat Narduzzi’s depth chart. The others are junior Gavin Thomson, a former walk-on from Central Catholic with four career receptions for 39 yards, and redshirt freshman Myles Alston, who’s been on the field for only four games.
The message is the same every week from coaches and players: Failure is a team effort, including quarterback, his protectors on the offensive line, pass catchers and coaches.
“We’re going to try to do our best to put the players in position to be successful,” Underwood said. “Clearly, we just have to be better at doing that.”
NOTES: SirVocea Dennis (Butkus, nation’s best linebacker), Izzy Abanikanda (Maxwell, player of the year), Calijah Kancey (Bednarik, defensive player of the year) and Deslin Alexandre (Wuerffel, community service) were named semifinalists for four national awards.