Panthers observations: Pitt offense 'much cleaner' in final summer scrimmage, but no clarity in QB derby

For anyone wondering if Pat Narduzzi is taking proper care of his health during training camp, please note that he slept well Sunday night after Pitt’s second and final scrimmage of the summer.

“I was disappointed with the offense in the (first) scrimmage (Aug. 10). This one (Sunday at Acrisure Stadium) I was not disappointed,” he said.

“Offense was much cleaner than it was. The (first and second teams) on offense had one penalty the entire game, which is impressive. I don’t think if I’ve ever seen that before.”

Although it’s difficult to make definite observations when teammates are competing against each other, Narduzzi’s praise might mean wrinkles in offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s fast-paced system are starting to disappear.

“We’re making fewer rookie mistakes,” redshirt sophomore right tackle Ryan Baer said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, what year you are in. We all came into this offense, and we were learning it new. Once you learn it, mistakes go down.”

Narduzzi quantified the offense’s victory with a score of 39-25, according to his scoring system. Turnovers were limited to a fumble on a botched exchange and a tipped ball that turned into an interception, the coach said.

“It wasn’t like we caused it,” he said of the fumble. “Which is disappointing, defensively. Let’s get good turnovers.”

Of the tipped ball/pick, he said, “It’s not like we threw to the other guys.”

“The offense just plugged away at the defense,” Narduzzi said. “It wasn’t like these explosive plays (happened). There were a couple, like there better be. But as a head coach, you walked out of there (saying), ‘I feel good about all three phases.’

“I slept better Sunday night than I did the last weekend. The defense made them earn it, for the most part.”

Baer said communication has improved on his unit after offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau made it a point of emphasis in the spring .

“Last year on the O-line, we had a big false start problems,” Baer said. “When coach Darveau came in the spring, that’s one of the first things he told us. That’s not going to be a part of our identity anymore.”

Senior left tackle Branson Taylor said false starts have been eliminated for the most part because players are focusing on the quarterback’s voice, not the distractions coming from the other side of the ball.

“First scrimmage we didn’t focus in, especially the offensive line,” he said, pointing out there were too many false starts at that point in camp. “We’re rolling now.”

Although the offensive line did its part in protecting the quarterbacks, neither Nate Yarnell nor Eli Holstein distinguished himself enough to motivate Narduzzi to name one his starter. Or, at least, Narduzzi wasn’t ready Tuesday morning to reveal the winner.

“No answer for you,” he said when the quarterback topic was raised with the first question of his morning scrum. “I’m glad we got more than one. We got two quarterbacks who are really good we can win with. Those are hard decisions, take it day by day. Competition continues at just about every spot.”

Added wide receiver Poppi Williams: “I’m ready to go to war with either one of them.”

Narduzzi revealed that Yarnell got into a skirmish in practice last week with senior safety P.J. O’Brien after he picked off a pass.

“He tackled P.J. O’Brien. P.J. got all mad. I think Nate lost his mind, but he’s done that in high school, too,” the coach said.

Williams was one of the stars of the scrimmage, running 50 yards after a catch. He credited wide receiver Konata Mumpfield for the block that allowed him to “do what I do.”

Williams said success on offense is “just about putting the trust in each other.”

“We’re finally starting to believe in each other. It’s like poetry out there.”

Overall, Narduzzi was most pleased that the team ran 122 plays, plus 33 on special teams, in the scrimmage that was closed to reporters and the general public.

“Twenty-two guys times 122,” he said. “That’s a lot of manpower there.”

Narduzzi labeled Derrick Davis Jr. (Gateway) “the darkhorse” in the competition at running back.

“(He) was a beast in there,” the coach said. “Playing with his pads down low, physical, hard runner. You better get in the weight room if you want to tackle that guy this year.”