Pat Narduzzi Confirms Jurkovec Will Start, Hammond Will Receive Heavy Workload

Pat Narduzzi was asked point-blank Thursday at his weekly press conference if Phil Jurkovec will start against No. 17 North Carolina this weekend.

“Yes,” he said immediately.

I guess that settles that. Jurkovec, as expected, will start against UNC Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium. And once again, Narduzzi made sure to emphasize that he does not place the blame for the offensive ineptitude this season on Jurkovec’s shoulders.

“We’re getting a lot of pressure,” Narduzzi said. “We’re not protecting like we’d like to, that’s why the run game has got to be clicking, and we’ve gotta give our quarterback time.”

He pointed to execution and details. In his eyes, if there is no execution, he thinks there might be too much going on offensively. So, slim it down, execute the little details and finish. But that’s easier said than done — especially as Jurkovec has made the easy plays look difficult this season.

Narduzzi has faith in his coaching staff — who interact with the offense more on a day-to-day basis — to fix what has been ailing the offense.

“I’m not the guru,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t think any offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator wants a guy that really doesn’t know the details. Like I said, they do a fantastic job. They’re detailed, and we’re good at what we do. We just gotta execute it better.”

In two games against Power Five opponents, Jurkovec has completed 18-of-52 pass attempts (34.6%) for 260 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He simply hasn’t been good enough. He isn’t alone in that regard, but he is the quarterback. And for better or worse, the quarterback shoulders the burden.

I can’t see Jurkovec being any worse than he’s been over the first two weeks. If he is, I think even Narduzzi will have a hard time keeping him on the field, but as of now, Jurkovec is the starting quarterback. And unlike past seasons when Narduzzi has made switches at quarterback, notably in 2017, he doesn’t feel the need to do so right now.

“I watch practice every day,” Narduzzi said. “I watch game tape every day. I watch the pressure the quarterback has been under. And I see all the issues. Every year is different, every quarterback is different, and I’m gonna be patient with it.

“No one is saying there’s not gonna be a change, but I look at the whole picture. I see everything, not just — I just don’t see the little things, I gotta look at the overall picture. And I think I’m smart enough and done it long enough that we’ll make the right decision when the time is right. And hopefully, you guys will come in and say, ‘Coach you’re damn right.’”

In the meantime, as Pitt will need to figure out how to win games with Jurkovec under center. The run game, finally, will be relied upon against North Carolina.

Pittsburgh Panthers running back Rodney Hammond Jr. (6) September 9, 2023 David Hague/PSN

The passing game hasn’t clicked this season, and for whatever reason, neither has the run game. Pitt didn’t establish the run against Cincinnati, falling behind early and throwing it 32 times, and turnovers (and the inability to complete passes) killed any early momentum against West Virginia.

There haven’t been any explosives, in the air or on the ground, and they’re very much missed. It will fall upon Rodney Hammond Jr. Saturday, who is finally being looked upon as a bell-cow back.

“(Israel Abanikanda) had the ability to explode, and we miss Izzy,” Narduzzi said. “Rodney, we’re gonna put a load on Rodney tomorrow, he needs to go, and you guys will all be happy with that. He was a little banged up here in camp, and we’ve got him back to as good of health as we’ve had. So, Rodney’s ready to go.”

Hammond started the game well against WVU last weekend, with seven carries for 41 yards on the opening possession, but he received just seven more carries throughout the rest of the game. That cannot happen again.

He’s shown the ability to carry an offense when given touches (124 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries against Syracuse and 94 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries against UCLA last season), and as Pitt looks to slow down the game against Drake Maye and UNC, sustaining the run will be important.

But scoring touchdowns, which Pitt hasn’t done since the fourth quarter against Cincinnati, will be even more important.

“We will get it right,” Narduzzi said. “It’s what we do, it’s why we get to coach, and that’s what you love about what you do. Otherwise — if everything was perfect, what would we do? So, it’s a challenge, and it’s fun and we’ll get it right.”

Pitt is facing a tall task against UNC, and the coaching staff will need to get it right — in terms of decision-making, play-calling and scheme if it wants to have a chance to win.