Ranked or unranked, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi says ‘chip’ will rest on players’ shoulders
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Someone told Pat Narduzzi that Pitt came in 32nd in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll, seventh among the ORVs (others receiving votes).
If Narduzzi played the disrespect card to his players in their private meetings, he didn’t say so Tuesday morning when he met with reporters.
“I heard 32, but I didn’t look to see who’s in front of us,” he said. “But I don’t really care.”
For the record, three teams on Pitt’s schedule — No. 8 Florida State, No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 21 North Carolina — are ranked ahead of the Panthers, plus an ORV that Pitt defeated last year, No. 28 UCLA.
Narduzzi said a chip on the shoulder is there in any case. “If they ranked us 15th in the country, we’d still have a chip. Doesn’t matter.”
What does matter is how the team performed Saturday morning in its first scrimmage of the summer at Acrisure Stadium. Narduzzi wanted to practice at night under the lights, but the weather forecast moved it up several hours. The team practiced Sunday night on the South Side.
Narduzzi said the team ran 125 plays from scrimmage, plus 30 on special teams, during Saturday’s scrimmage. He pointed out that “the explosiveness of the offense” was among the standout occurrences of the day.
“We have to shore things up defensively. They’ve gotten really good at throwing the deep ball,” he said, including all three quarterbacks — Phil Jurkovec, Christian Veilleux and Nate Yarnell — in his assessment.
Asked about Jurkovec specifically, Narduzzi deferred to offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.
From what Cignetti has told him, “He’s way ahead of where he was when he was with him last (at Boston College in 2021).
“It’s hard for me to say where he was, except he kicked our butt in 2020 up there after we had a ball bounce off the upright (missed extra point in a 31-30 overtime loss). It still makes me sick. I don’t remember any other play. Can’t sleep at night.”
Pat Narduzzi “Can’t sleep at night.” How does Phil Jurkovec fit into that quote? pic.twitter.com/zYq1zCIwbT
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 15, 2023
Narduzzi said the offense won the scrimmage, with the first team committing only one turnover (an interception by M.J. Devonshire).
Senior Bub Means was a standout, which has been the norm this summer, Narduzzi said.
Aside from catching passes, Means has excelled as a gunner on the punt team.
“He’s going to make himself some money (in the NFL) if he can run down as a gunner,” Narduzzi said. “He’s special right now. I just love his work ethic.”
Redshirt freshman Che Nwabuko also was productive on the deep catches, which Narduzzi was pleased to see.
“You think of him doing all the short stuff and getting the ball in his hands. He had a great deep ball,” the coach said.
Others who caught deep passes, according to the coach, were Jake McConnachie and Daejon Reynolds.
Praise for the freshman wide receivers has become almost a daily thing.
“Some of those young guys. Those (older) guys better watch out,” Narduzzi said. “Kenny Johnson had one (deep catch). Kenny Johnson always has one. Kenny is separating himself. Zion (Fowler-El) s separating himself a little bit from some of the other guys at this point, in my opinion.”
Defensively, Narduzzi made a point of singling out freshman safety Cruce Brookins (Steel Valley), who, he said, “is kind of sliding up the depth chart.”
Also, he said there will be decisions to make on starters at linebacker. He said Bangally Kamara, Shayne Simon, Solomon DeShields and Brandon George are “the four starters.”
“We’re only going to start three.”
The only controversy during the scrimmage arose when Narduzzi declared a first down on a fourth-down quarterback scramble.
“Did he get a first down or not? The head coach said it was a first down so it was a first down,” he said.