PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It seems like every year for most sports teams you hear ‘this is going to be the year we do ____.’ For Pitt, it’s putting together an offense that can run and pass the ball.
This season you have a healthy, four-year starter at quarterback with veterans all around him and unlike the offensive coordinator revolving door preceding him, Mark Whipple is in his third season.
“It’s being more consistent,” Pickett said. “I feel comfortable with the offense right now and how Coach Whip calls it. Especially our guys, Coach Whip has been in the system for three years, a lot of these guys have an O-coordinator and an offense that is theirs. They can master and I think things are clicking a little better now.”
“The ball is coming out of his hand a lot quicker,” Whipple said of Pickett. “He’s had a really good camp. He’s been really, really good. Been a leader, we’ve had a lot of fun.”
In 2020, even with the issues around COVID, Pickett had career-highs in yards-per-game (267.6) and touchdowns (13) playing in three fewer games.
The former coach for guys like Ben Roethlisberger, Whipple believes Pickett has taken time to learn his pro-style offense. Now it clicks and going through his progressions looking for the best option.
“Just rhythm and understanding and processing things faster,” Whipple said. “In the pass game you have your number 1, number 2, number 3, number 4 (options). He’s been able to get to three and four quicker.”
“That’s the whole thing with a quarterback situation in a NFL system. It takes some time to process it and see the defense and everything else.”
“I think it’s like being in the system for a long period of time,” Pickett said. “Being able to play a step faster.”
Another on the Panthers ‘if only list’ is finding a tight end who can be effective in the run game. That hasn’t happened since the Steelers offensive coordinator was at Pitt, but now Lucas Krull could be as big a part of the offense as Scott Orndoff was.
“It’s been great so far,” Pickett said. “He adds another element to the offense in the run and pass game.”
Krull is a crazy athlete, drafted by the baseball Giants in 2018 as an outstanding pitcher. He would play two years of football at the University of Florida, catching nine passes due to the depth at the position. High expectations last season at Pitt, he played just one game due to injuries. He’s fully healthy now.
“He just opens everything up,” Pickett says. “There aren’t just outside lane throws now. There’s stuff over the middle. There’s stuff outside with the speed we have. Now you add 6’7” running over the middle. It’s a little different. He draws coverage or there is a mismatch.”
Pickett has confidence in his receivers, believing they have strong depth with first-year All-ACC Jordan Addison, seniors Taysir Mack and Shocky Jacques-Louis, who many believe will have a break out year. Add in 6’3” Jared Wayne, speedy Jaylon Barden and veteran Tre Tipton. Pickett believes he has options.
It’ll be the first year he starts without center Jimmy Morrissey, but he knows his replacement Owen Drexel. The line fills out with three other seniors and a junior with a couple of veterans pushing at multiple positions.
The key is the same one from last year, can they get a run game going. Can Israel Abanikanda be consistent enough? Vincent Davis sustain what he did at the end of 2020 or AJ Davis or Todd Sibley find another gear in their final seasons?
It’s those questions likely determining the offenses’ success.
“It’s been an emphasis,” Whipple said. “A little more short-yardage situations n’at, feeling a little bit more comfortable. Our line is better. I was talking to the guys on defense. We are a little more physical that we have been in the past.”
It’s not much of an opponent on Saturday. An easy A could give this offense the confidence they need to become what Pitt fans hoped for the last five years.