PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After dealing with one of the best running backs in the nation, Pitt turns around this week to find the number one offense in the nation as the Panthers play at Georgia Tech Saturday at 7p on 93.7 The Fan.
Georgia Tech averages 496.7 yards of offense per game, that 7.47 yards per play. Much of that offense comes on the ground where the Yellow Jackets are fifth among Power Four teams at 224.2 yards a game. What is unique about Georgia Tech is that so much of it is coming from the senior quarterback.
“Their quarterback is special,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi on Monday. “Haynes King is really good. Transfer from Texas A&M, played three or four years down there or at least was on the team down there. But he's special. I don't listen to the news, but I don't know if he's in for the Heisman or whatever, but the guy has thrown for almost 2,300 yards, rushed for 800. That guy should be talked about for the Heisman because I think he is about as tough as anybody in the country.”
He's not among the Heisman favorites, but the numbers are still amazing. He’s completed 73% of his passes for 2,259 yards with 10 touchdowns to two interceptions. He’s rushed for 807 yards and 14 more TDs. He’s 40th in the nation in rushing yards (a reminder sacks count against QB rushing totals in college). The 14 rushing touchdowns ties him with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love for fourth in FBS. He averages 8.93 yards-per-pass-attempt, 11th among Power Four QBs.
Five times this year King has been a 100/100 guy rushing and passing for over 100 yards. Against NC State he rushed for 103 yards and passed for 408 with four total touchdowns and the Yellow Jackets are 9-1.
“I think you just watch that tape, that guy, he battles,” Narduzzi said. “He can do it all. He's throwing the ball a heck of a lot better than he has probably in his entire career. They've done a good job with them. He's making plays all over the place.”
It’s Pitt’s first opportunity against King, as the teams haven’t met in the last couple of years.
“I've never seen so many formations,” Narduzzi said. “They'll formation you to death, so you're working and walking through a million formations this week. But number one thing is to get lined up. Number two is to read your keys, play fast and tackle well. Those are the keys.”
“That's going to be the key. Read your keys.”
Notre Dame thoughts
“Heck of an atmosphere, heck of a day for Pitt, heck of a day for the city of Pittsburgh in general, just having that atmosphere here,” Narduzzi said. “I wish we could have put a ribbon on it at the end with a victory, but it wasn't our day to get that one done, against a really good football team.”
“We always talk about 11 guys playing as one, and there's times where if you've only got nine or you've got eight or you've got seven, it's not going to be as good, so 11 guys got to play together on offense, defense and special teams, and we just didn't do that.”
Panthers pregame for Georgia Tech begins at 4p Saturday with Bob Pompeani and former Panthers Dorin Dickerson and Johnny Petrishen. Larry Richert starts network coverage at 5p with former Pitt quarterback Pat Bostick and the All-American Dickerson. The Voice of the Panthers, Bill Hillgrove calls the game from Atlanta starting at 7p.