Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi is as old school as college head coaches come. A defensive mind, Narduzzi just wants his offense to run the ball, control the clock and shorten games so his defense can create low-scoring wins. That is, Narduzzi wanted to do that, until it stopped working.
Pitt’s offense completely bottomed out last season ranking 122nd in scoring (17.9 points per game), 120th in yards (302.2) and 131st in pace (60.
1 plays per game). Pitt’s offense was slow, boring and inefficient and the Panthers went just 3-9 in 2023. In response, Narduzzi made the biggest change he’s made in his entire tenure with the Panthers, hiring offensive coordinator Kade Bell from Western Carolina.
Bell runs one of the fastest offensive systems in the country, completely different than what Narduzzi has done in the past. Through three games this season, Pitt is 14th in scoring (40.3 points per game), 16th in yards (478) and 31st in pace (72.
7 plays per game). “It takes a ton of commitment,” WVU coach Neal Brown said last week. “It’s entirely different than what (Narduzzi has) done.
..this is totally unique for him.
For a defensive guy to go to this style, you can tell he’s gone all in.” That new offense is a big reason why Pitt has started 3-0 and it’s the only reason the Panthers were able to come back and beat WVU 38-34 on Saturday. The loss shines a spotlight on Brown and a West Virginia pass defense that has been dreadful to start the year.
Brown has never made a change.