Is there still the potential for the present and future of Pitt’s quarterback room to collide? Yes. Yes, there is.
Kenny Minchey, Pitt’s four-star quarterback commit in the class of 2023, told Pittsburgh Sports Now of his intention to sign his National Letter of Intent in December and enroll at Pitt in January. He will be with the team for the spring. The future will be around. Will the present?
At this point in time, it’s a decision that likely only Kedon Slovis knows — if he’s even come to a decision yet — and Pat Narduzzi is content to let the decision arrive naturally as the 2022 season unwinds.
“We’re going to have that conversation,” Narduzzi said Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I think let’s let the season play out. Really have not had it, and you’ve got Senior Day in two weeks. We’ll have to figure it out soon who’s going to walk out there, who’s not.
“Again, as you guys know, some guys will walk out for Senior Day and some guys won’t, and it doesn’t mean they aren’t going, either. There’s decisions to be made for a lot of people come the end of the season.”
The 2022 season has been anything but fulfilling for Slovis and Pitt. Offensive consistency outside of Israel Abanikanda has been hard to sustain, and Slovis’ individual success has hit a low that hasn’t been seen in his college career.
But against Syracuse, a game in which Slovis threw for 176 yards and an interception, Narduzzi felt like a game in which Slovis completed 70% of his passes was an encouraging sign. Aside from a miss on a deep post to Bub Means, Narduzzi said that Slovis didn’t leave anything on the field.
“So, I was really happy with where he was, and I think he just keeps getting a little bit better every game,” Narduzzi said.
Narduzzi has been complimentary of Slovis all season, unwaveringly loyal throughout Slovis’ struggles, and during Narduzzi’s Thursday briefing before the Louisville game, his musings on Slovis’ potential for growth caught my attention.
“I would do it all over again,” Narduzzi said. “I think (Slovis is) very, very talented and he’s got another year. I would imagine, in another year, he’s gonna be a heckuva lot better than he is this year.”
Narduzzi has often mentioned the difficulty of immediately adapting to the offense this season. It takes time time, he’s said.
Slovis has thrown for 1,737 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions on 137-of-231 pass attempts (59%) this season. He has missed a game and a half because of a concussion, but there has not been any sort of consistency through eight games.
Quarterback has been a weakness for Pitt this season, among other offensive weaknesses, of course, but it’s an area that has held Pitt back nonetheless. There’s still a good chance that Slovis decides to return for one more season — and Narduzzi appears to be on board with such a decision.
It would be shocking if Nick Patti decided to spend another season backing up Slovis. Derek Kyler will exhaust his eligibility and Nate Yarnell has played one college game. Pitt’s quarterback depth — especially if Slovis decides to move on — isn’t very deep.
It’s the same quarterback room that Minchey will enter in January, but he will be just a true freshman quarterback learning the system. Even Kenny Pickett did not start — initially — as a true freshman.
A quarterback room that features Slovis and Minchey in 2023 wouldn’t be shocking.
At 5-4, coming off a win over a ranked Syracuse team, Pitt has the opportunity to close the season with four wins and then another in a Bowl game. 9-4 would be a very respectable season, and it would likely mean that Slovis starts to put the pieces together. It just may be putting the pieces together for another run.
The talk should be to please find a level of football that suits your skill set…UConn, URI
or Southern Cal where he is one of the schools all time leaders in TD passes, passing yards and completion percentage.
Too bad Pitt isn’t enjoying such past success…
sure head on back to USC
He has been in college long enough now, its not going to happen for him…seems like a nice guy, but Pitt needs to move on
Yes he has struggled, but the offensive line has been the biggest disappointment in my opinion. Tough for a QB to play and make throws when he is evading a rush 75% of the time.
Picket and Shocky Jacques-Louis proved that if you play college ball long enough, you’ll get good. One more year Kedon!!
Hard to put all on Slovis as piss poor as this offense is set up. It starts with OC and head coach, are scheming for game planning is horrible plus receivers are not great 😊,patterns are terrible,but line has been most disappointing part of whole team ( of course injuries contributed) what was strength be came weakness MOST disappointing season I can remember in55 years all hype but nothing to show for
Elephant in the room (Minchey has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since Week 4 of the High School Season).
Stand to lose a starting WR, 6 OL, U/G RB and Sr. RB.
On defense almost all starters are either out of eligibility and two others will declare for NFL draft.
On the bright side we have depth at Kicker and Punter.
…
Not sure I would want to be the starting QB next year anyways.
Sad to say but I think the decision last years o- line deciding to come back and being annotated starters, removed the spirit of competition right from the start. Competition makes a player better as we saw, the ol has struggled from day one. Maybe their success last year , had more to do withe QB than the individual parts of the OL.
Variance is usually an indicator of root-cause. Let’s examine; (a.) 1st Round Draft Choice 5th Year Senior QB K.Pickett (b.) Blietnekoff WR Addison exited (btw should be in NFL not in NCAA as good as he is) (c.) OC Whipple leaves for more $$$ to Nebraska (d.) NFL tight-end Lukas Krull (e.) Taysir Mack WR Went from #6 scoring offense in NCAA 2021 to #64 in 2022. Defense was #52 last year #56 this year. So it is OC play-calling (scheme) or personnel (play execution)? Might want to give Willy Korn at Coast Carolina a Call in next few weeks… Read more »
Jeff Scott is looking for a job.
Dan Mullen and Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills) are likely outside our pay-scale similar to Brian Hartline (Ohio State WR Coach).
Dan Mullen would never come to pitt as a HC let alone an OC. He’s waiting for a big time college job down south or the NFL.Jeff Scott is a southern guy.
Need a young, up and coming OC.
i.e. Willy Korn from Coastal Carolina or Bryan Ellis from GA Southern
yes, or the HC at Holy Cross or someone from Princeton (Northeast roots and high powered offense is what we need)
Be careful what you wish for. Whipple’s Air Force offense has Nebraska fans wishing for the old days and BC’s season is terrible (post FC).
Cignetti is the biggest mistake of Narduzzi’s career.
Disappointed for the players who are stuck playing for a terrible OC.
Pickett and Addison made Whipple look much better as the OC than he actually was. Whipple, recognizing this, smartly moved to the big dollars while his reputation had peaked.
He has some skill but can’t make all the throws but he’s made for that by being slow both physically and mentally.
But Pat will convince him to stay because “ Slovis is the guy” right coach?
2 of the 3 current QB’s will be transferring. If Slovis stays Patti and Yarnell are gone. If Slovis leaves with Yarnell then Patti will stay. It looks like transfer portal again which is not a recipe for long term program building.