There isn’t one definitive reason that the Pitt offense has cratered over the last few weeks. It’s not as simple as pointing to one player or one position group, but it certainly all adds up.
Eli Holstein has battled inconsistent play and injuries, the coaching staff is still looking for its five best offensive linemen 10 weeks into the season and the wide receivers have slipped in recent weeks. The ill-prepared, unfocused group, led by new offensive coordinator Kade Bell, is starting to invoke memories of last season.
Pitt is averaging 309.7 yards and 25.5 points per game over the last four games, and that’s inflated by three defensive touchdowns against Syracuse — and two touchdowns and 123 yards in the last 4:01 against SMU.
Pitt averaged 317.9 yards and 20.2 points last season with former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. calling plays.
It’s not good. And there aren’t any easy fixes with three games left. But Pat Narduzzi recognizes there’s no point in lamenting. It’s about putting the players in the best position for success right now against No. 20 Clemson.
“That’s what you do in college football,” Pat Narduzzi said Monday. “We can’t go get a free agent. You deal with what you have to deal with, and you try to juggle and try to put the best 11 players on the field offensively and defensively and special teams. But you move around, and you try to get the best fit. We’ll try to get the best 11 players on the field next week.”
Narduzzi pointed to the loss of Branson Taylor, a team captain and starting left tackle, as a factor in the offensive decline over the last month. He said the loss has highlighted a lack of depth on the line.
“We didn’t have another Branson Taylor,” Narduzzi said Thursday. “Maybe we gotta go out and buy a few more linemen. We got NIL now, I’m gonna go ask for an advance. And I’m not throwing anybody under the bus, I’m just saying depth is hard. I think it’s hard anywhere. You lose a linebacker, you lose an offensive lineman, it’s hard. I think it’s hard on everybody.”
Pitt has lost its starting left tackle in each of the last three seasons (Carter Warren in 2022, Matt Goncalves in 2023 and Taylor this season), and it’s kind of remarkable. In each instance, Pitt has lost a key starter and team captain, rolled into one player.
Pitt can’t go out and “buy” a new offensive lineman in the middle season, or make any moves in that regard, but his comments are telling — and new.
Narduzzi is old school, but even he has taken advantage of the transfer portal. The transfer portal is a necessary tool, and the Pitt coaching staff recognizes that. Pitt announced 11 transfer starters against Virginia, half the team, and that’s just the reality of college football now.
Pitt hasn’t had good play from the offensive line this season, even when the offense was racking up yards and scoring points at a high rate. The offensive line isn’t the anchor that’s dragging down the ship, but it’s part of it.
Pitt can’t address the holes right now, but they will be addressed. When the transfer portal opens in December, there’s no doubt that the offensive line will be addressed. But it certainly won’t stop there.
In the meantime, Pitt will look for an offensive resurgence against Clemson at noon on Saturday.
