Die-Hards: Importance of the Pitt Run Game Next Season

I think it’s safe to say that the Pitt running backs will be utilized in an entirely new manner next season.

It was a difficult year for the running backs in 2023, to put it lightly, and that difficulty stemmed from a few different factors. There was often little push up front, the play-calling was unimaginative and plodding and the actual running back usage killed any sort of momentum before it could get started.

The new Kade Bell offense is going to be different. It’s up-tempo, no-huddle and pass-heavy, but it goes hand-in-hand with a strong, effective Pitt run game.

“To me, you want to build everything off the run game,” Bell said. “If you can run the football, if you can find ways to have success in the run game, it makes throwing the ball easy, right? Now next thing you know, you’re getting more two-man, one man box, or one high safeties, and you can push the ball down the field and create matchups and get guys open.

“So, to me, when it comes down to it, whatever we gotta do to score points. We might run for over 200 yards one game, and the next game we might run for 300, 400, right? Whatever we gotta do to win and score points.”