PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The new Pitt starting quarterback wants to be like the old Pitt starting quarterback. Graduate transfer Phil Jurkovec is anxious to pick the brain of now Steelers QB Kenny Pickett.
They’ve only really talked once, when they were at the Manning camp together. Jurkovic played against Pickett in college and while they haven’t connected since he returned, Jurkovic said he will take it on himself to try and get together.
The former Pine-Richland HS star hasn’t wanted to bother Pickett as the Steelers season just ended. Jurkovec said he just wants to learn whatever he can.
“I think just talking with him, maybe watching some film and get some tips,” Jurkovic said Wednesday. “It’s helpful to learn from everybody.”
Both are record-setters, Jurkovec holds the Pennsylvania state record with 5,180 total yards in his senior season. Pickett most of the Pitt passing records including career touchdown passes, yards and completions.
“He’s a play-maker, he’s a gamer,” Jurkovec said of what he likes about Pickett’s game. “He’s got a competitiveness that in the game he just makes some things happen. That’s what I’ve seen from him.”
Now it’s about finding time between his classes and then Spring ball and Pickett’s off-season workouts to hang out. Or even if they aren’t together, just watching what he does while over on the Steelers side of the Rooney, UPMC South Side facility.
“I really look forward to working with him and watching him,” Jurkovec said. “I want to learn from him, his experience, what he did. He got a lot better at Pitt, especially his final year. It’s so great that you can be in this facility and watch the Steelers and how they do it. I think it’s a huge advantage that we get to learn from these NFL guys.”
Old School
The other Pittsburgher he’s been anxious to connect with is much easier, it’s the Pitt offensive coordinator. Frank Cignetti was with Jurkovec at Boston College before coming back home. He believes it will be a successful reunion.
“I owe a lot of my success at Boston College to Coach Cignetti,” Jurkovec said. “He really knows how to coach quarterbacks. I’m so happy to be back in that system. The way that they train the quarterback, it’s different.”
“The first few days, the first week is all about footwork. You don’t get that at other places. We are watching Joe Montana tape from the ‘90s. We are watching the history, it comes from Bill Walsh and his success with the 49ers.”
“It’s a little bit different, I think it’s a great system. It’s used in the NFL.”
In 16 games together at BC, Jurkovec completed nearly 60% of his passes for 3,472 yards with 24 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He rushed for another 472 yards and eight more touchdowns.