PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pat Narduzzi said they poured over every little, tiny detail of every stat and practice rep. When it came down to it, Pitt coaches thought what separated Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti was simple, Slovis just threw it better.
"The separator is accuracy," Narduzzi said Wednesday. "Kedon is really, really good in the pocket. Nick is too, I don't want to slam him. I'd say just putting the ball where our receivers are going to catch it and be able to get yards after the catch."
That accuracy gave Narduzzi and his staff a lot of confidence. Narduzzi said it became evident as Fall camp progressed. Having Patti for years, the Pitt head coach said he can do the job as well, but Slovis was the person they needed to choose.
"I have a lot of confidence in what he's done," Narduzzi said. "I guess it comes down to he's been more consistent, very accurate with the football and he's a really, really good passer. We think he can lead us."
You can imagine for Patti, waiting Kenny Pickett's career to end for the opportunity to be the every-game starter. Then to have it end by the player you befriended and taught the ropes, it must be difficult even if it was the right thing to do. Patti is starting his fifth year with the Panthers and Narduzzi said he handled the news with class and with a team-first mentality.
The Pitt head coach noted there was a work ethic in Slovis that endeared him to the coaches and teammates.
"He threw a ton of balls with these guys," Narduzzi said. "This summer they weren't sitting around going to Pirates games. They were throwing a lot of balls. I leave the office late at night and they are out there under the lights throwing the ball. There are times they are in the indoor facility at 10 at night."
"Kedon has worked hard to get to where he is today, that's for sure."
The offense isn't exactly what Pickett had last year under Mark Whipple. They will still throw the ball, but the plan is not to do it as much. So even if Slovis has a great season, the numbers may not compare. And Narduzzi doesn't want any comparisons.
"Kenny is Kenny and Kedon is Kedon, he's not going to sit there and measure himself to who Kenny Pickett was in a different offense," Narduzzi said. "We just want him to play within himself and do his job. I'm not going to compare myself to Mike Tomlin or Vince Lombardi, I'm just Pat Narduzzi and that's who I am going to be."
"Once you change to be someone else, that's where things go off the rail."
With the talent assembled, the Panthers don't need Slovis to be Pickett. If they can get the 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns that Slovis produced his rookie season with the Trojans, they'll win a lot of games.
