Got a ton of confidence in Holden Geriner-Pitt sticks with QB

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Head coach Pat Narduzzi said after the game and repeated on Monday as Pitt (5-1) prepares for Boston College, fifth-year quarterback Holden Geriner will make his second start Saturday at noon.

“You got too much rotation and you got problems,” Narduzzi said at his weekly news conference. “We got a ton of confidence in Holden.”

Narduzzi said there were a number of reasons why Geriner didn’t play as well in the second half as he did in the first, putting some of that on the coaches plan for him.

Geriner was 15-21 for 99 yards in the first half with no turnovers against the Tar Heels last Saturday and Pitt up 10-7. In the second half, 12-23 for 110 yards and a couple of interceptions in a 21-17 loss.

“We just didn't make some plays down the field,” Narduzzi said. “We had opportunities and we've got to make them pay with whatever they're doing and we didn't. We didn't make them pay, but that's a learning experience and that's his first start.”

The first since high school for the fifth-year transfer who only threw one pass in game action last year at Texas State. Narduzzi said one of the big positives was there were no procedure or delay of game penalties, the operation was clean.

As for where he can improve from the North Carolina game.

“He's got to sit in the pocket and make those throws, whether it's to (receiver) ‘Blue’ (Hicks) on fourth and two,” Narduzzi said. “Whether it's making a good decision on the other fourth and two, if you go look at the tape, CJ Lee's wide open. And his read is to throw it to not hand it off to La’Vell (Wright).”

“He's gonna make those improvements. He's gonna improve on those little things like that. That's. That's game experience. It doesn't happen naturally, guys. There's a lot going on.”

Pitt’s next option with starter Mason Heintschel out for the season is Corey Dailey, a 6’6”, 200-pound true freshman, who did throw a touchdown pass in the blowout win over Bucknell, but those are his only reps. Narduzzi said he has faith in him, but is sticking with Geriner.

“I wouldn't want to play quarterback,” Narduzzi said. “I was a linebacker. That was the quarterback of the defense. But you know, nobody, you guys don't even look at me, you know back in the day. You guys don't see the mistakes of linebackers. Everybody sees the mistake a quarterback makes. So, it's a tough position to play.”