Pat Narduzzi Says Injuries to Pitt Starters Disrupt Offense's Rhythm
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are slowly becoming more whole after their starting lineup was decimated by injuries during the non-conference portion of their schedule. Starters at every position group had to miss time, whether it was a couple of quarters or a couple of weeks.
The Panthers had survived with their shorthanded roster. They stood at 3-1 with their lone loss coming at the hands of a Tennessee team that has since vaulted into the top-10 of national polls. But last week's loss to a Georgia Tech team that had recently fired its head coach illustrated that depth can only do so much.
Head coach Pat Narduzzi said that the offensive line, down starting center Owen Drexel and left tackle Carter Warren, had trouble communicating and recognizing assignments when backups Jake Kradel and Branson Taylor had to take over. Continuity makes it easier for the entire unit to work together, according to Narduzzi, and it creates a ripple effect out to the rest of the offense.
"We had some missed IDs which we haven’t had a lot of," Narduzzi said. "All of a sudden you go into this game and the center mistakes some IDs. Owen doesn’t have many of those because he’s a veteran following up Jimmy [Morrissey]. Kradel’s done an unbelievable job but he’s given up some pressures and some missed identifications as far as where linebackers are and where we’re targeting and where we’re going and that doesn’t help the offense or the quarterback."
Pitt's lack of explosive plays through the first roughly 55 minutes of game time - before the Yellow Jackets backed off into a prevent defense - was as much a product of missing home run-hitting tailback Israel Abanikanda, who tallied 10 carries before he was sidelined by an arm injury.
His understudy, Vincent Davis, rushed for 80 yards on 15 attempts - the most he's carried the ball since September 2021 - but also coughed up two fumbles. Narduzzi said he has all the faith in the world in Davis, who will likely have those turnovers and a costly holding penalty on his mind for the rest of the week at least.
“Sometimes you don’t have much of a choice," Narduzzi said about the decision to give Davis the bulk of the carries. "[Abanikanda] was banged up. ... We have a lot of confidence in Vince. … He ran the ball well too. He ran the ball well, but put the ball on the ground a couple of times which is going to get you beat, period."
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