PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s had three starts now in college football. The first was amazing, the second he was involved in a controversial call and the third was just bad. Pitt quarterback Christian Veilleux now prepares for a team getting votes as the best in the nation, Florida State Saturday at 3:30p.
The numbers overall for the redshirt sophomore are 66 completions, 127 attempts, 774 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Now facing the fourth ranked Seminoles with the 17th best scoring defense among Power 5 teams and fifth best in the nation in passing efficiency defense.
“Super-excited,” Veilleux said. “The last time we played at home we got a huge win and we are trying to repeat that. Obviously having the home field advantage is super-useful for us. Looking forward to it.”
Probably wasn’t as looking forward to the film session with coaches after throwing four interceptions against Notre Dame. The Panthers quarterback said he has to play comfortable. It’s also about spending more time with the playbook and really understanding it and executing it. He said he needs to stay in their system, he deviated against Notre Dame and got away from what he should have done. Veilleux feels like he’s learned a lesson.
“I have to be able to stand back there and take a hit and go through progressions,” Veilleux said Tuesday. “I think Notre Dame’s defense did a great job playing the Cover 2 which they played. It was hard for me to identify it. I think it’s one of those moments where you’ve never seen a defense play like that. You get those reps and finally get to understand and learn from it.”
Those conversations are mostly with offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, although he also talks with the passing game coordinator Tiquan Underwood. He called Cignetti a ‘real coach’ saying a lot of guys will sit you down and say why would you do this and why wouldn’t you do that. He said his meetings with Cignetti are more like he’s a student in a classroom.
“He’s a teacher,” Veilleux said, adding Cignetti is supportive. “Anytime something would happen, he would really break it down and be like ‘look, your eyes were here, when they should have been here’ and from that you can pick up a key to move to your next read.”
“I came here because I believe in Coach Cignetti and the type of person he is. He’s a great teacher of the game. I’m super-thankful to learn under him.”
He said he will spend the time he has on the sidelines Saturday watching Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis and see what he can learn from his game. He expects the FSU defense to bring the blitz until he shows he can beat it.
There is no margin for error to make a bowl, but he says the Panthers have not given up.
“Obviously it’s not easy, but it’s November,” Veilleux said. “We got four games left and November is the month that really matters. It’s keeping the fight, keeping the courage. Nobody is ready to quit yet.”
“I don’t think we will be ready to quit until we have nothing left to give, nothing left to play. It’s definitely a challenge, but I think the guys are in the right mindset, the right mentality. I’m just there to make sure that’s right.”
Panthers pregame begins at 12:30p on Saturday on 93.7 The Fanwith Bob Pompeani, Paul Zeise and Dorin Dickerson with network pregame hosted by Larry Richert adding Pat Bostick with the play-by-play from the Voice of the Panthers Hillgrove at 3:30p