PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s a teaser to what we likely will see from the Pitt offense this year. Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi discusses what he wants to see from the first closed scrimmage of Spring camp on Saturday, scheduled for Acrisure Stadium.
Narduzzi gave the caveat that every coach does when it comes to scrimmages about wanting everyone to come out healthy. He said he wants to see the offense move the ball, but it’s a catch-22 because he also wants the defense to perform. All of that is pretty standard stuff, but then the Pitt head coach said this.
“I want to see our deep shots that we missed a year ago,” Narduzzi said. “I would like to see us connect on a few of those. I would like to see it work out that way at Acrisure.”
It was a run-heavy offense last year and when you look at the strengths of Israel Abanikanda while replacing an all-time quarterback, understandable. But even though Narduzzi wants a run game, and has said numerous times he would rather have the strong run game than pass if he had the choice. He wants more deep balls.
That would also likely play into the strengths of transfer quarterback Phil Jurkovec. Players have discussed his leadership and swagger during his first months back in Pittsburgh. The defense taking note in the few drills they’ve done with the first-team facing the first-team.
“He’s a good quarterback,” said Pitt safety Javon McIntyre. “He can throw the ball. I like playing against Phil, he’s good competition. I know Phil is going to throw the ball deep and give receivers opportunities to make plays.”
“We know every day we have to be on our A-game against Phil.”
Saturday will be the first time Jurkovec, or any other quarterback, can do it in a truly live setting (at least live where the QB doesn’t get hit). Narduzzi said he wants to coaches to back off a little and let them play. He believes it’s the best way to see what they have. Who has improved? Who of the new guys really gets it? And who needs work?
Count McIntyre as the first to embrace the hitting. The redshirt-sophomore safety, looking for a starting spot vacated by Brandon Hill or Erick Hallett entering the NFL Draft, is all about hitting. He said he’s tired of letting up on guys in practice because they aren’t contact drills.
“That’s my favorite day-live,” McIntyre said. “I don’t like shells. I don’t like spiders. I like live. I like football.”
McIntyre made his first start in the Sun Bowl against UCLA and had a career-high eight tackles. This after an interception, two pass breakups and a tackle for loss the previous game against Miami.
“Finally, I could show everybody,” McIntyre said of making that start. “I knew what I could do. I always trusted myself. I knew when my time came, I would make the most of it. Finally showed the world what I can do.”
The Philadelphia native said he learned a lot about hard work from Hill and Hallett. He’s also constantly working to get better mentally and understanding how teams attack their defense. It’s an area of needed improvement as Narduzzi pointed out he screwed up on a couple of big plays given up by the Pitt defense in the Sun Bowl.
“He’s working at the mental part of it more than anything,” Narduzzi said. “I think he’s a talented kid who has the ability to be a really good player. The mental part of it is as important as the physical part. That’s what he’s gotten better at in the offseason with a bunch of meetings.”
“I feel like he is stepping up and being more of a leader in the back end,” said Pitt corner AJ Woods. “A lot of guys look to him, he can play the boundary and the free safety. He teaches a lot of guys behind him.”
It’s time now for him to show what he’s learned. That he can be responsible to do the little things right. Take from the first six practices of the Spring and show it in a game-like environment, especially mentally.
There is competition at safety with PJ O’Brien having a very good start to Spring drills, plus transfer Donovan McMillon and sophomore Stephon Hall. Saturday is the first chance to see who is making a move.