PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pat Narduzzi had what he called a work shirt on Wednesday afternoon as he is trying to set the attitude to get his team through the last few days of training camp before game week starts on Sunday. What Narduzzi said about the quarterbacks as well.
It was a blue shirt that looked like something a mechanic would wear with a rectangular patch on it with ‘Prove It’ (the team motto), script Pitt and Narduzzi as the wording. He is emphasizing that they need a strong finish this week and wanted to communicate that to the team.
“I do see a different attitude,” Narduzzi said of the 2024 team. “I don’t see as much clowning around. These dudes are a little more serious than last year. Is there a reason why? I have no idea. I just see, even walking off the field they are series walking off the field, walking on the field. It just seems to be more locked in.”
Narduzzi said last year he thought they assumed too much, especially on offense. He said it was a ‘bad job’ and he put it on himself.
QB clarity?
It’s down to two, but when asked if he has a starting quarterback between Nate Yarnell and Eli Holstein, the Pitt head coach said.
“They’ve both been outstanding,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t think you will be disappointed with whatever you see out there. I think you are going to be happy with what you see. I don’t think our defense is easy to go against every day with all of the stuff you do.”
“We are looking for that consistency. One day, one is really, really good and the other one is good. The next day the other one is really, really good and the other one is good. We want them to be great all the time.”
What will separate them is how they pick up game plans. How do they adjust to different defenses. It seems they are close enough that even after a starter is selected, it wouldn’t take much to go to option two.
Safety love
A helmet dotted with stickers denoting forced turnovers or acquired turnovers, Narduzzi was enthusiastic in discussing senior safety PJ O’Brien.
“PJ is a football player,” Narduzzi said. “He’s got the best ball skills back there. He’s got a nose for the football. He finds a way to catch it all the time.”
Even with O’Brien’s penchant for getting the football, there are others he wants to work into the mix. He called it a three or four-man rotation at safety and he sees an advantage of keeping guys fresh. Among those is Steel Valley HS redshirt freshman Cruce Brookins. He said he needs to prove to Narduzzi that he’s not a camp All-American and show it in the game, but he’s had a big offseason.
“He’s having a great camp, like he did in Spring,” Narduzzi said. “He’ll probably be the starting nickel back as well. I anticipate he’s going to be a really good football player. We are excited about him.”
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