PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Not only going through Spring practice with a new quarterback for the first time in three years, what is changing with the Panthers under a new offensive coordinator?
“We still play with 11 guys on offense,” quipped assistant coach Tim Salem.
That revelation aside, Narduzzi said they’ve got about 80% of it already installed. They will plan on seeing what is working this Spring. What works in the Blue-Gold Game on Saturday at Heinz Field and then narrow it now from there. The normally secretive Panthers head coach did offer a couple of hints.
“The offense is very multiple what we’ve done,” Narduzzi said. “Some of the new stuff that we’ve added in is going to really help us, especially our run game. The pass game is pretty good, but just some of the things we have in the run game to get us some better runs.”
“I think it will be just as explosive,” said Pitt offensive lineman Jake Kradel. “I think maybe more in the run game to open the pass game to be explosive. Last year we were more explosive in the pass game, not so much in the run game. I think it will be the opposite this year, hopefully.”
Panthers were one of the best in the nation at throwing the ball and understandably wanted to best utilize the skills of Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner Kenny Pickett and Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison at receiver. Narduzzi said there are a number of two-tight end sets to go with the four-receiver looks.
“I lot of what we are doing, these kids did in 2018 as freshman and redshirt freshman,” said Panthers Offensive Line Coach Dave Borbely. “A lot of them weren’t on the field for us. Even with Coach Whipple here, we had a lot of these concepts installed. We just didn’t use them very much because we were a pass-first team.”
What fellow assistants like about what CIgnetti has done from the beginning is allow them to do their jobs. They’ve focused with their individual groups to get them to learn his system and terminology quicker.
“I just really incorporate everything we’ve done over the last few years as far as our calls, our techniques and just incorporated it into our offense,” Borbely said. “Last year we called it apples, this year we are calling it bananas. It’s been a very smooth transition for us.”
“In football a lot of the plays are the same,” Salem said. “For some of our plays, we may have called it A, B, C last year and now it’s X, Y, Z. It’s like going from German to Latin to French to Spanish, it’s just learning terms and words. They are eager to learn.”
Narduzzi is pleased with how they have picked it up. Running back Israel Abanikanda said coaches’ text him often to remind him to study the new plays. Senior offensive linemen Marcus Minor and Owen Drexel believe they’re getting it down as a group.
Salem described what seemed to be some major changes in their scheme. He called the new plays a smorgasbord of offense. Seems like his tight end group will a big key to its success. Leading returning tight end Gavin Bartholomew believes there will be tons of opportunities for him. There this will be passing, but with a different look.
“It’s pro style stuff,” said receiver Jaylen Barden. “The run sets up the play-action, that helps everything.”
“There is some rhyme and reason to the offense,” Narduzzi described.
Credibility
It’s Cignetti’s third opportunity in the Pitt program. The 56-year-old started as a graduate assistant under Mike Gottfried in 1989. He came back for two years in 2009-10 to be Dave Wannstedt’s offensive coordinator and now back to run the Panthers offense again.
He was busy in-between jobs in Oakland and his experiences with some of the biggest names in the sport is not lost on the players and even his peers.
“I’ve enjoyed Frank,” Salem said. “No matter what you say, the NFL experience of him being with the Packers, Giants, Chiefs, Saints, Rams and 49ers. You get to hear a NFL story. You get to hear something that Eli Manning didn’t like or that Aaron Rodgers can do that. It’s the history of football and the plays we are installing.”
Seems like a smooth transition to someone eager to bring his knowledge back home.
“He’s a Pittsburgh guy and I’m glad he’s on our staff,” Salem said.