PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When you look at the Pitt depth chart Monday, Eli Holstein is the Pitt starting quarterback against Boston College. It may not be that way on Saturday.
Asked by Chris Peak of PantherLair.com how he was going to approach his quarterback position this week and on Saturday.
“We are going to watch practice,” Narduzzi said Monday. “We are going to get better and see where it goes.”
Holstein is listed as the first-team QB in the weekly game notes with senior transfer Cole Gonzales from Oklahoma/Western Carolina second and freshman Mason Heintschel third.
A redshirt sophomore, Holstein has started all four games this season, overall is completing 62.3% of his passes, 1,050 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed for 69 yards, although it’s 133 before you count the sacks, which would be second on the team.
Saturday, he threw a couple of first-half touchdowns, but also a couple of second-half interceptions and was replaced late by Gonzales as Narduzzi said they needed a spark. As for what Narduzzi needs to see differently from his quarterback.
“Consistency, just where his eyes are and put the ball where the open receivers are,” Narduzzi said. “Let it go.”
Gonzales went 3-6 for 31 yards and an interception in his couple of series. Narduzzi said Gonzales was ‘good’, ‘did a nice job’, although he didn’t create a comeback which they had obviously hoped.
At Western Carolina, where offensive coordinator Kade Bell came from, Gonzales threw for 6,682 yards in just 23 starts with 51 touchdowns and in Bell’s final season with him, Gonzales was the conference player of the year.
Just a true freshman, Heintschel enrolled at Pitt in January and from early in Spring drills was opening eyes. Several have praised his work in practice after totaling 102 touchdowns, 8,876 total yards, 7,322 passing yards and 79 passing TDs in three years at Clay High School in Toledo.
Panthers will practice three times before hosting the Eagles. We’ll see how open this competition is and if Holstein can solidify his job and put Saturday’s second half behind him. Or, if they decide it's time to give someone else a chance.