PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After one start there was a comparison made of Christian Veilleux and Tom Brady. Really, there was, but a coach. However, it was about the work ethic that a former Brady teammate believes they share.
Tiquan Underwood played with Brady and the Patriots during their AFC winning 2011 season. And while he acknowledged mentioning them together unsolicited is unfair, there is something that the Pitt sophomore and maybe best quarterback ever have in common.
Underwood said Veilleux has taken to the routine that Brady had of spending time in the wide receiver’s position room. It’s not just a casual hello or checking to see if they are ok, but they deep dive together.
“Truthfully, CV is always in the receiver room,” Underwood said Tuesday. “If he’s not in Coach (offensive coordinator Frank) Cig’s (Cignetti) office, he’s in the receiver room. He’s watching tape. He’s with the receivers. They’re looking over stuff.”
“You can feel that relationship, that bond pours over onto the field. It was great to see that on Saturday. I feel like it’s going to continue to go moving forward.”
At the end of the day, Underwood said the receivers have to not just know the plays, but see the plays through the eyes of the quarterback. They have to make sure they are on the same page with the starter and know the nuances that make him unique. Also serving as the Panthers passing game coordinator, Underwood said that time together is critical.
Veilleux made his first college start Saturday. A win against the 14th ranked team in the nation that just defeated Notre Dame by multiple scores. He was taking over an offense that had struggled to move the ball and score points. The redshirt sophomore threw for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns completing 46% of his passes against Louisville.
“He gave us a boost,” Underwood said. “He played his ass off. I’m very happy for him because he puts a lot of work into it. To see him go out there and make some splash plays was good to see. He knows he can be even better.”
“There are some throws he would want back. There were some catches the receivers would want back. We have to fix those things in practice and be better against Wake Forest.”
Now they’ve had a game together and it’s the third week of full practice with Veilleux as the starter. Underwood believes those reps are paying off. He can see a rhythm and timing that Cignetti discusses with the offense all the time. He said it’s going to show up more on game days and lead to a more efficient pass game.
If you’re a fan who is frustrated with the Pitt offense, imagine the guys Underwood coaches. The wide receivers, who saw a Pitt offense go up and down the field just two years, a big reason they came to Pitt, was stalled.
In the first game against an FBS opponent (Cincinnati) receivers caught six passes. Against rival West Virginia, where a big play could have turned the game, receivers caught four passes for 38 yards. Finally, Konata Mumpfield broke through with eight receptions against UNC, but the rest combined for four. In the loss at Virginia Tech, only six receptions by receivers. Through six games the Panthers leading receiver has only 279 yards.
Underwood has been preaching patience and said the group is still working hard hoping they can make bigger impacts in games leading to a winning second half of the season.
“We pride ourselves in just going our jobs, day-in and day-out,” Underwood said. “No matter the circumstance. That’s what they’ve done. We got to take pride in blocking and DBs have to feel us in the run game and when we get opportunities in the pass game, we have to make the most of it.”
“Whatever play is called, we have to play our ass off.”
The wide receivers just want a little confirmation that the work is paying off and are hoping the change in quarterback will continue to give it to them, and the team.