ATLANTA — Imagine being handcuffed in a swimming pool.
Not to be overly dramatic, but that’s how Pat Narduzzi described Saturday’s futility for Pitt’s offense. And really, it could’ve applied to the defense, too.
For the first time since 2014, before Narduzzi arrived, the Panthers are on a three-game losing streak, and now their early-season struggles have soiled the clean slate they took into conference play.
Georgia Tech’s triple-option gashed them repeatedly, rolling up 436 yards rushing en route to a 35-17 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium in both teams’ ACC opener. That’s the most yards on the ground against Pitt under Narduzzi, and most since allowing 465 to the same foe in 2014.
“I feel like we had a good week of practice; good preparation, we were coached up,” said sophomore safety Damar Hamlin. “It’s just about discipline and details.”
Narduzzi questioned that execution, not the effort, but for as many issues as the defense had, there were even more for the offense.
Pine-Richland High School graduate Ben DiNucci started over Max Browne at quarterback for the first time, but Pitt (1-3) remained inefficient, contributing to the defense’s very long day. Last Saturday, it had no chance of stopping the pass against Oklahoma State. In this one, Georgia Tech (2-1) ran mostly at will, wearing down the Panthers drive upon drive as Pitt had more than half as many three-and-outs (six) as first downs (11).
“Some of the guys on offense aren’t playing their best football, and some of them are seniors,” Narduzzi said. “They have to play better if we’re going to win ballgames.”
That starts with the offensive line, which allowed three sacks and paved the way for just 37 yards rushing on 20 attempts, Pitt’s lowest output since 2013. DiNucci did his best under duress to avoid pressure and dodge tackles in the backfield, but when he wasn’t scrambling, he did little through the air, completing 12 of 19 attempts for just 110 yards and a touchdown. His biggest blunder of the day wasn’t any of those incompletions, but instead when he missed a handoff to Qadree Ollison with Pitt trailing, 28-17, and 10:34 to play.
Georgia Tech recovered the fumble, which got DiNucci pulled back to the sideline in favor of Browne, who took over after another giveaway —this one by Georgia Tech, its fourth lost fumble of the game — at Pitt’s 4-yard line with 7:18 left. But with Browne, Pitt went three-and-out once again. A team that had rushed for at least 100 yards in 15 consecutive outings couldn’t establish the run, which hurt the passing game and whoever tried to pilot it.
“I’m not worried about winning streaks, losing streaks, I’m worried about those kids in that locker room that are fighting their tails off every week,” Narduzzi said. “We need to find out what the problems are, pinpoint them and fix them as coaches. That’s our job, I don’t care, win or lose.”
Things actually started off with a bang for DiNucci and the offense, as Pitt took the opening kick and quickly went 78 yards on just five plays, capped by a 28-yard touchdown from DiNucci to Ollison. But that was about the only sign of life from the Panthers on that side of the ball, finishing 1 for 13 on third down, scoring their only other touchdown on an 80-yard punt return by Quadree Henderson, and getting their only other points when Alex Kessman squeaked a 55-yard field goal over the crossbar to make it 21-17 at halftime.
DiNucci said Narduzzi told him he’ll remain the starting quarterback despite his late-game benching, but the coach indicated it’ll be another week of competition and sounded like a man not all that concerned with who’s under center one way or the other.
“You can’t drop back and throw the football every time. … When you make a team have to pass it like we had to pass it today, we’re throwing check-downs all day. They’re covering up our deep balls all day,” Narduzzi vented. “It didn’t look like we could throw the ball 20 yards downfield. We couldn’t get a guy open. It’s 11 guys, not just one. It’s not just the quarterback.”
The defense had its moments in the return of safety Jordan Whitehead, who was suspended for the first three games. In addition to the four takeaways, Georgia Tech was 6 for 14 on third downs and didn’t hit any big passing plays. But TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech’s shifty quarterback, ran for 118 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns, and running back KirVonte Benson popped for 196 on 29 and two more scores. Benson dropped the final hammer on a 47-yard touchdown with 5:37 to go.
Left winded and on the field for long stretches at a time, the totality of the ramblin’ wreckage on his defense set in for Narduzzi afterward when he noticed middle linebacker Saleem Brightwell’s pants soaked in sweat.
“That opening drive, we take the ball right down the field. Where was that the rest of the game?” Narduzzi asked. “I don’t know. That’s why we have to find out what it was, and go find it.”
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: September 23, 2017, 7:36 p.m.
Updated: September 24, 2017, 4:18 a.m.