I’ll dig into the Pitt recruiting class next week but for now let’s talk about the QB transfers as they are arguably as important as anything. In this edition of the Farrell Files Pitt, I compare Christian Veilleux and Phil Jurkovec and the plan ahead.
First off Jurkovec is the guy for next season barring a surprise. He’s experienced, he’s an excellent leader and high character kid and he’s familiar with the offense of Frank Cignetti Jr. This is an offense that Pitt fans aren’t thrilled with, but Jurkovec knows it well and is very good in it when he’s healthy. It’s run first but the run opens up the pass and Jurkovec was in tempo under Cignetti Jr. and I can’t stress how important that is for a QB like Jurkovec.
His arm is solid, and he can make all the throws and he used to be more mobile and hurt you with his legs, but he always struggled with accuracy. He struggled in high school and at Notre Dame but at BC it came together because of tempo and rhythm. Once Jurkovec gets a few completions under his helmet he’s a very good quarterback. Jurkovec might not be the mobile QB he was before all his injuries, but he is still a solid pocket passer when the gameplan suits him. Veilleux has more physical skills and we’ll get to that shortly, but when it comes to comfort in an offense suited for him, Jurkovec is the guy. He’s a great stopgap option here.
As for Veilleux, I went over his physical skills in an article earlier this week so refer to that for a deep scouting report. He’s big, raw and is still developing so he needs a year behind a leader like Jurkovec. This will allow him to learn the offense, hone his skills and work on some things he needs to improve (throwing under duress, trying not to do too much) and add strength to a still lanky frame.
These two QBs were targeted for a reason and there is a plan in place. A lesson was learned by plugging Kedon Slovis into place too soon and this will allow for a better transition. The Pitt offense won’t be what you saw under Mark Whipple and Kenny Pickett in 2021, that’s not going to happen. But it will be better.
Farrell Files: Breaking Down Pitt’s New QB Christian Veilleux
“The Pitt offense won’t be what you saw under Mark Whipple and Kenny Pickett in 2021, that’s not going to happen. But it will be better.” Better than the Whipple offense, or batter than last season? Nobody believes this. There is NOTHING anyone can point to that makes this statement anywhere close to true. We have all heard how “complicated” Cignetti’s offense is. It appeared so complicated last season that it was pretty much an unusable failure. If that’s the case, we are losing YEARS of player eligibility in order to try to instal it. While other programs are quickly… Read more »
Well, I think he was referring to “Better than last year’s offense”. And I agree 100% with him because Jurkovec is 10x the athlete of Slovis, and hopefully he can see more than one receiver at a time.
As far as HS kids vs transfers. I will take a transfer (4 star) over an unproven (4 star) HS kid any day of the week. The transition from HS to D1 college is huge, especially at QB. So unless they were terrible at their old college, I think most coaches would agree. It is nice to mix in both though.
You should take a 4* transfer if he has multiple years left (unless you are loaded and feel the QB is the only missing piece to get to the playoff). At some point you have to recruit for depth and program building. You can’t keep raiding the portal every year, as the NCAA will put a stop to this crazy transfer ear sooner than later.
This is spot on. Jackie Sherrill tried to build a program out of JUCO transfers and it imploded.
What is being forgotten here is that for a program to have true long-term success, you have to build a strong foundation of culture. This won’t happen with a revolving door of team leadership.
Where did Jackie Sherrill try to build a program on Junior college players? At Pitt. His record at Pitt was like 50-8 in the 5 years he coached here. Why is Jurkovec going to be a bust? He knows the offense and has the tools to be very good.
Jackie Sherrill at Miss State. It didn’t work. Look up up buddy and don’t be so defensive Eddie. You need high school players to build your foundation with transfers to plug holes. Sure, the NIL and transfer portal has changed things, but I can’t remember the last 4 star QB PN got on campus and it worked out.
Jurkovec will be a bust for the same reason as Slovis. A bad OC. But add to it, an O-line that’s leaving. And a diminished running game.
you are correct Burton, Edward is very argumentative and defensive. It’s his lack of football knowledge, but we will help him.
Bad OL that will be worse next year and Phil’s injury history (with his history he will certainly miss at least 4 games) will make this another swing and miss
Patti should have gotten a shot
Outside of mop up duty, Patti played in three game, two of which he was hurt…just sayin
Sherrill was 52-28 at Texas AM. His last season they were 7-5. He left because of issues with admin there. Your take is wrong. Pitt recruits HS players and will plug gaps through the portal. Jurkovec is a stud. We will see who is right.
just like Slovis was a stud. Phil is now an average to good QB, certainly not a stud
You could not help an old lady cross the street without fleecing her and leaving her to die. Have a nice night
Not true, I’d fleece them before they crossed so I wouldn’t have to help….Just kidding I love old ladies and have no hate in my heart, unlike you Ed who disparages Mormons and me with relative ease. You must be popular at the holiday party?
They did What they have to do at the very end they lost there quarterback… I think they did very good considering how quickly they had to move…
*their, must have went to pitt with that grammar.
Was that really necessary?
of course
English major…. they didn’t have basket weaving🙄
Must have gone to PSU you arrogant douchbag
such anger Edward..tis the season you know!
h2p!
Isn’t it time for your soda jerk class?
Oh okay, yea right! Are you new to college football??? The NCAA only cares about 2 things buddy, $$$$$ and POWER! After 100 years we are finally getting a real playoff.
It has worked out pretty good for several QBs with only one year left.
Nope, played and coached at the D1 level. NCAA finally got rid of Emmert and coaches are now openly complaining about NIL money raiding their programs. In the near future the NCAA will drastically make over the ease of all these transfers (J.T. Daniels is on his 4th school).
“…PN can’t seem to bring on a QB in a schedule so they can learn and develop the offense” You have just described Kenny Pickett’s career at Pitt in one sentence…and with three years of eligibility remaining, Vailleux becomes the future Pitt QB “learning and developing the offense” while an experienced Jurkovec takes control of the offense next season. With Minchey throwing a wrench into their QB plans only a few weeks ago, I think the staff did a hell of a job filling up the quarterback room with talent in very short amount of time. From reading the article… Read more »
Jurkovec “always struggled with accuracy”, “struggled in high school”. Huh? By what definition? His career completion percentage in high school was 68.4% and was 72.8% his senior year. This is literally the opposite of struggling with accuracy.
He was a STUD in HS. He does have a history of injuries though. That’s my main concern, but I think he’s a HUGE upgrade from this past year. We win 2 more games this year if he would have been our starter.
Always hurt
Patti wins us two more games but PN didn’t want to hurt Slovis’s feelings or he might transfer out…oh wait
Here is my crystal ball prediction:
Jurkovec will be a colossal bust at Pitt. He will win 4 or 5 games. Cignetti will blame it on his “newness” to the program.
Veilleux will transfer after one season because stubborn PN will not get him on the field, even as Jurkovec struggles.
Pitt will be back to square 1 at QB for the next three years.
The cycle will continue.
What cycle are you referring to???
Pitt will go 9-3 or worst case 8-4 next year.
Thank Scott Barnes for an unmanageable pre conference schedule.
not a chance
surprising that Veilleux went to pitt to hold a clipboard for another year.
He wanted to be coached!!!
coached to hand the ball off? Veilleux is a good kid, won’t make waves (kind of like Patti). Hope he gets a legit shot to start, but with duzz history he will ride Phil good or bad.
Is that the same Phil that the writer just claimed “is an excellent leader and high character kid”…kind of like what Narduzzi said the other day…then again, what does Mike Farrell know about evaluating college football players.
duzz was just slapping Slovis after he left with that comment. Kinda like duzz opened his mouth about the NC quarterback with no facts or direct knowledge. Worry about your own team duzz
Narduzzi is throwing down the gauntlet on the Lincoln Riley’s of college football. Mack Brown isn’t exactly a church mouse and he’s made the same complaint. Stop recruiting my players until they enter the portal kinda like JA last year.
The NCAA is gun shy from all the recent court cases and is reluctant to challenge Riley. He shouldn’t be looking for any Christmas cards from fellow coaches. “Want a home and home with an FBS team?” Thanks – NO!
I’ll let Mike Farrell explain it to you…”to me he is still a project of sorts who is a year away and that’s fine with Phil Jurkovec coming in and comfortable in this offense”
You and your buddy 🤡 should go have drinks together
They are having Sandusky Shakes at Ice Cream U.