It’s been just over a week since Kade Bell was hired as the new Pitt offensive coordinator, and it might be early, but those early returns are encouraging.
OK, it is early. Bell hasn’t even officially been introduced as the Pitt OC, which will come in due time, but if anything, he’s shown that he’s not going to sit around and let the offseason come to him. Bell arrived and has immediately begun to reshape the Panthers’ offense.
There was a risk in hiring an offensive coordinator who has not coached a single snap at the FBS level. Bell is the antithesis of a traditional Narduzzi hire. He’s very young, and he likes to push the pace. Western Carolina really liked to sling the football last season. And the ‘Mounts were one of the very best offenses in the FCS last season.
Now he will be relied upon to turn around a stale, stagnant Panthers’ offense.
Narduzzi, if he continues his 15/85 split between the offense and the defense, will hand the reins to Bell. Not just to install a new scheme but to have just about complete control of the offense. Frank Cignetti Jr. wasn’t the first Pitt OC to run the show. Bell may be young, entering his first gig as a Power Five coach, but he’s been successful at every level.
“Kade’s offensive approach — relentlessly fast and aggressive — is everything a defensive coordinator hates to face and the type of system our players will absolutely love,” Narduzzi said in the Pitt press release. “He’s an incredibly creative play caller who is widely regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the country. Beyond ‘Xs and Os,’ Kade understands and greatly values relationship-building with his players and fellow coaches. On and off the field, Kade Bell will make us better.”
And when he announced the news on Twitter (X, whatever you want to call it), a few words stood out. Well, a hashtag, I guess. #PlayFastScoreFaster.
I’ve seen that slogan, that style of play, compared to when Todd Graham brought “High Octane” to Pittsburgh in the early 2010s, and while there may be some bad memories, it’s an entirely different situation. Bell has produced everywhere he’s been, which — admittedly — isn’t a lot of places, but the success is undeniable.
Bell loves speed. His scheme has a lot of tempo, relying on his quarterback to make a lot of quick decisions, and he likes to use a lot of pre-snap motion and force defenses to make quick decisions of their own when matched up against creative sets — often using 11 personnel. Of course, he’s able to slow it down, huddle and operate out of 12 sets, too, but speed is the name of the game. RPOs, play-action, explosive plays. Spreading out opposing defenses and taking advantage on the ground and in the air.
Cignetti didn’t find a lot of success with RPOs and play-action last season, but his scheme wasn’t exactly built for it either. There seemed to be a contempt for pushing the football downfield, which led to stacked boxes and baffling running back usage. No movement, no creativity and absolutely no synergy amongst the offense. Bell — by all accounts — will be a breath of fresh air.
I mean, Western Carolina is coming off a season in which it averaged 37.5 points and 504.1 yards per game (321.2 passing yards and 182.9 rushing yards). That was fourth in points and first in yards across all of FCS football.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity that coach (Pat) Narduzzi and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke have given me to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh,” Bell said in the Pitt press release. “Great players, traditions and championships are what this program is about. I can’t wait to get to work and be part of something special in the City of Pittsburgh. Hope our fans are ready to play fast and score faster. Hail to Pitt.”
Bell has certainly hit the ground running at Pitt, too. He’s been on in-home visits, he’s landed commitments from former Catamount stars Desmond Reid and C.J. Lee, and he’s already extended offers to high school and transfer portal targets.
Recruiting hasn’t been the greatest priority for prior Pitt offensive coordinators, but Bell has already shown a willingness to dive into all areas of the offense. He’s been involved across all aspects of the offense already. And that recruiting acumen, especially in the talent-rich state of Florida, is a major plus.
Bell has only worked one FBS job, serving as a quality control analyst at USF in 2019, but he was an impactful assistant nonetheless.
Tank Dell, who had his incredibly successful rookie season with the Houston Texans cut short by a season-ending injury this month, appeared set to become the newest USF Bull after leaving Independence (Kan.) Community College in 2019.
Bell was just a quality control analyst at the time, in his first and only season at USF, but he was the one who worked to bring Dell to Tampa. It didn’t work out but not because of Bell.
“There was something going on, and they didn’t want me to commit,” Dell told the Daytona Beach News-Journal in 2019. “I had a great relationship with (assistant) Kade Bell and his father, but that’s about it. I really didn’t get love from the rest.”
Dell would go on to transfer to Houston, emerging as one of the best wide receivers in college football (back-to-back seasons of 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns) and eventually, one of the most promising rookie wideouts in the NFL.
Bell was just an assistant at the time, but his impact and eye for talent is unquestionable. With deep roots in the state of Florida, raved about by all those who bring up his name, those ties will be crucial in the Florida-to-Pittsburgh pipeline that has been established in recent seasons.
It’s been a quick start to the Bell era at Pitt, with a couple of new commitments and a couple more on the way in the near future, and his true impact as a recruiter won’t be felt for some time still. But the early returns — and the dedication to the craft — certainly stand out. He’s already invested in the entire offensive unit, recruiting the offensive line, the running backs, the wide receivers and the quarterbacks.
He’s a young, innovative mind that doesn’t have a whole lot of experience. But what he might lack in experience, he makes up for in creativity and innovation. If he can coach in the FCS, he can coach in the FBS. The lack of Power Five — or FBS — experience is a risk, but he’s the sort of young, innovative offensive mind that should be able to find success anywhere — if the system is implemented, taught well and run by the right personnel. Of course, he’s still in the building stage at this point.
So, it is early. Bell has a long way to go when it comes to recruiting and implementing a brand-new offense and executing on the football field, but I believe he’s exactly what Pitt needed to add this offseason. Now he just has to prove it.
A found a few interesting comments worth noting. The first is Bell’s comment … “I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity that coach (Pat) Narduzzi and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke have given me to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh,” Bell said in the Pitt press release. I am curious how much influence Heather Lyke played in hiring a young, innovative coach that was not typical of a Narduzzi hire. Also, I am curious what type of recruiter he will be at this level. This article outlines a very limited recruiting history with Tank Bell… Read more »
This is where losing Minchey hurts, he might have been able to flourish in this kind of offense. Sure Julian Duggar is coming in and maybe just MAYBE he’ll have what it takes. I’m optimistic, I think we’ll be better than last year!
The door is still open. Minchey is more than welcome to transfer. He keeps getting passed up at ND. Pretty sure that’s going to keep happening to him. If Kenny would have kept his commitment to Pitt, he might be a starting QB.
Alex, Bell will bring in a Division 1 QB for his system. Duggar just might have needed skill set. Bell will want a athletic QB. He’ll bring in a QB for his system. I see at least another receiver with speed and athletic receiver TE. I’d like a couple more OL talent too.
I think narduzzi having a longer term contract helps the situation. I also credit Lyke for that. No reason for Pat to worry about losing his job to some up and comer.
Heather made this hire. She knows Narduzzi ‘s coaching staff really weak and old. He’s a joke and wasn’t her hire. Her coaches have been good. Partridge only good recruiter on staff. Think you’ll see new faces after signing day done . Bell has to recruit all offensive talent. Especially QB, OL, WRS. This coaching staff horrible and need young blood that can recruit. Now Syracuse with young new Coaches that good recruiters. Bell and Partridge need help.
That is my thought as well. I think this hire has Heather Lyke written all over it. When you look at her thumb print on all the other hires in the non-revenue sports it provides great confidence in the state of Pitt athletics. That is not even mentioning the impact of the Victory Heights Campaign that she has been the driver of. If Heather Lyke with her track record at Pitt is confident in Pat Narduzzi then this is one of the reasons I am confident in Pat Narduzzi leading this program. Why question her instincts. I do think she… Read more »
Too bad Heather will next Ohio State AD!
I hope that does not happen but I do understand the appeal from her perspective. I only hope the decision makers at Pitt can financially match what Ohio State would offer. Also, at Ohio State she is only continuing what is already a great athletic department. At Pitt it is her thumbprint on the program. From each sports team and the great coaches she has/is assembling to the facilities to all infrastructure. It is all from her thoughts and actions. This might be the difference maker.
I’ve never been a fan of our O line coach. Dave Borbely. Wonder if Coach Bell will keep all of the offensive assistant coaches. Old high school DB here that has always felt our O line could be more dominant. Annually. H2P