PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pat Narduzzi said it’s been a good bounce back week at practice, specifically for the offense, what needs to change Saturday against Virginia?
The message has been it’s not just about quarterback Eli Holstein. The numbers have dropped—from 15 touchdowns to three interceptions over his first five college games to two touchdowns and three interceptions over the last three. While there are things he can do better, it’s about the group.
“Just working on the details and working on everything else around him,” Narduzzi said. “Obviously, the protection has to be better. We all focus on the quarterback spot, but the protect has to be better. He can’t be looking around.”
What Narduzzi also said was a little detail where they’ve been struggling, route running. He said there have been times where the receivers have run too close to each other in patterns. It doesn’t leave enough separation to spread out the defense and makes it hard on any quarterback.
There are also times where players are cutting off their routes too quickly. Maybe it’s because they don’t think the quarterback has enough time for them to run the complete route. Bottom line, the spacing and depth must improve and then trust regained.
Part of accomplishing that is the play of the offensive line. The inability to establish the run, only 88 yards per game over the last two. A part of that is falling behind by a lot against SMU, but still not establishing the ground threat which makes it easier for opposing defenses.
Narduzzi would like Holstein to get rid of the ball a little quicker at times, but says there is often more to it that just assuming he saw the check down.
“It’s always easy to say that when you have the clicker in your hand,” Narduzzi said. “If you watch the video from the press box and you rewind it. You go ‘why didn’t he throw it over there’. But there are people in your face and big dudes over here. The best camera could be the one on the quarterback’s helmet.”
Often Narduzzi said Holstein isn’t able to see because of all of the traffic in his way and he’s 6’4”. It’s not like he can’t see over players, it’s as much also about seeing around them.
Narduzzi said a few times it takes everyone working together for an offense to work. So why typically the credit and now the blame all falls on the quarterback’s shoulders. The Pitt head coach is optimistic going forward.
“We are doing the best we can,” Narduzzi said. “I think he is playing his tail off and we are happy with where he is. We got to make sure the other 10 guys around him are playing well too. I think we can get that done on Saturday.”
Panthers pregame with Bob Pompeani and Dorin Dickerson begins at 5p on Saturday. The Pitt network show with Larry Richert at 6p leading up to the Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove with Pat Bostick, Dickerson and Richert for the game starting at 8p.
“We got to focus on the game and the execution,” Narduzzi said. “Running the ball, throwing the ball and stopping the run. Simple game guys, not that complicated. Just got to execute, got to do a good job as coaches to make sure they execute properly.”