PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We are little over a month away from Saturdays being all about football. On 93.7 The Fan, all about the Pitt Panthers and head coach Pat Narduzzi is excited seeing better athletes in royal blue and gold now.
"When you look at the quality of player we have," Narduzzi said. "There were times in the first couple of years I would look out there and like 'wow'."
"That's no disrespect to what we had. I think every year, we get a little bit better. I think the quality of personnel. I think the depth."
"We have been able to retain our players. We don't have a bunch of guys in the portal. Our guys are sticking with us. Kenny Pickett probably could have gone anywhere in the country he wanted to go. He says I'm coming back for my fifth year at Pitt. That tells you about the culture we have there."
Pickett and the Panthers coming off a 6-5 season. A year where the defense again mostly showed up, but the running game did not.
"We can't drop back with any quarterback, you can give us Dan Marino back, but if Dan has to drop back every snap and throw the ball," Narduzzi said. "You are going to have issues. When the run game gets going you are going to see more explosive plays. Not a seven or eight yard pass completion, you are going to see a 78-yard pass completion."
"Those are the ones we'd like to have. Kenny would just like to have one throw and have a nice, fresh arm."
Narduzzi believes some of the position battles—defensive line, secondary, linebacker, offensive line—will be toughest they've had. And for those already with starting jobs, they will be pushed by their understudies.
"I'm excited about where we are as a football program, as a football team," Narduzzi said. "Our depth and our roster management is as good as it's been. I sit there and look, there are years where I wonder how are we going to get through the season with these four linebackers who can play. Now I'm looking like, if he goes down. If he goes down. If he goes down, we are ok. I think that's crucial in the ACC."
"Our depth is good everywhere. It's going to really be making sure everyone gets enough reps and try to keep everyone happy through the season. Our locker room is full. We got great players, a team concept going on. I like the leadership our players have shown from top to bottom. Our coaches have done an unbelievable job."
Not being in Clemson's division, Pitt always has a chance in the ACC Coastal even with North Carolina and Miami improving. Narduzzi believes in their talent, their veteran quarterback and maybe another belief that will get them over the top.
"I'm going to go to church on Sunday morning at 7:30 and say my prayers and hope for a little luck," Narduzzi said. "Everybody needs a little luck."
