PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's now a third time we've seen issues with the Pitt defense this year. There were times against Tennessee's back-up QB. Giving up 44 points to a veteran Western Michigan team. Now allowing a freshman quarterback to throw for 426 yards and three touchdowns.
You knew it wouldn't be easy to replace two consensus All-Americans on the edge in Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver and a pair of dynamic safeties in Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford and corner Jason Pinnock.
You believed in the depth and the experience at linebacker and at times it's been good. It's just when it's been off, it seems to go really bad.
The Panthers allowed 15 plays of 10 yards or more against Miami and 21 points in the first 10 plays of the game. Narduzzi is not going to change the way they play, he just wants them to play better.
"Just lack of execution really," Narduzzi said after detailing some of the issues. "No, it's not back to square one. They've (Miami) got a good football team. You could say the second half was back to square one."
"In a big moment, sometimes it's hard to just focus on your job and try not to do too much," said Pitt linebacker Phil Campbell. "We saw that on film. We saw little mental mistakes that we do every day at practice. I think it's all fixable. It's not like guys are just getting beat."
The Pitt head coach believed they solved some of their issues with adjustments at the half against Miami but agree they need to start better.
"I think we finished it the way we needed to," Narduzzi said. "Came back and played a really good second half, regardless of what happened in the fourth quarter on a third down dink route to the tight end, there's a fumble. All the discussions, there were safeties and all that. Our defense came out and played a darn good second half. That's how you want to finish it."
"If it would have been a first half and the second half the same, maybe we're back to square one. But we've got a good football team and I've got a lot of trust and faith in our guys. Give them credit. We didn't play as good as we needed to play."
Panthers regrouped after the Western Michigan loss, but the problems resurfaced against the Hurricanes. Virginia and North Carolina are ahead on the schedule and they each average over 36 points a game. Each also have potential explosive quarterbacks.
Why does Narduzzi believe they will solve this?
"Because we've got great kids," Narduzzi said. "Got coachable guys. They learn from their mistakes."
"Again, sometimes you got to get punched.
It's called adversity. Sometimes you've got to get punched in the mouth. We got punched. Our guys will swing back. Not worried about that at all.
"We've got a lot of football to play. We've got four good ACC teams (to play). Anybody can win any given Saturday. Our guys will be ready to play."
Receiver questions
The crucial last stretch begins Saturday at Duke. Hear it on 93.7 The Fan with pregame at 9a and kickoff at noon.
