Pitt and Penn State's meeting last season got out of hand after halftime. And it happened in a hurry.
The Nittany Lions hung 37 points on Pitt in the second half of their 51-6 rout. Trace McSorley accounted for two touchdowns. Running back Mark Allen, now at Duquesne, scored. Punt returner DeAndre Thompkins found the end zone. Even backup Sean Clifford — the Nittany Lions' current starter — threw a 34-yard touchdown.
Meanwhile, Pitt's offense proved it wasn't up to snuff under former offensive coordinator Shawn Watson. Sure, the rain and wet grass made life difficult on Kenny Pickett and the Panthers' skill position players. But Pickett managed 55 passing yards on 18 attempts. And Pitt's second-half drive chart read: Punt, safety, punt, punt, punt, fumble, turnover on downs. That didn't cut it — and it won't on Saturday, either.
However, the Panthers, now two games into the Mark Whipple experience, might have left that offensive ineptitude behind them. At least in the passing game.
"I certainly believe our pass game is better right now than it was a year ago," Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said at his Monday press conference. "I don't have any question about it."
Narduzzi called the Panthers' running game — which was non-existent vs. Virginia — a "work in progress.” However, he said Pitt has "definitely" taken steps to be more dynamic through the air, and while two games is a small sample size, that's a fair assessment.
After missing open receivers in the opener against Virginia, Pickett completed five passes of 20-plus yards in last weekend's win over Ohio, as many as he had in five non-conference games in 2018. Pickett's passing yards (321) and completions (26) on Saturday were career highs. Wide receiver Maurice Ffrench also had a career day, catching 10 passes for 138 yards. And the tight ends were involved, too, as Will Gragg and Nakia Griffin-Stewart combined for seven receptions and 60 yards.
Pickett said after the 20-10 win that getting Ffrench the ball in space and "letting him do his thing" was an emphasis of Whipple's game plan. Pickett and Ffrench connected not only on a 74-yard touchdown, but also on a couple chain-moving screens — what Pickett labeled "extended runs." Pickett also targeted Gragg and Griffin-Stewart 10 times. Six of the tight ends' seven catches resulted in first downs.
"We're spreading the ball around," Pickett said. "And I think they're going to continue to get more comfortable as the year goes."
Of course, everything wasn't perfect for the Panthers' offense against Ohio. Pitt managed only 20 points despite Pickett's career day, and the Panthers committed five false starts, which could factor in at a packed Beaver Stadium this weekend. "There are still things you're disappointed in," Narduzzi said, before focusing his attention on the penalties. "They're drive killers."
Still, Whipple's offense cut up Ohio's overmatched secondary (99th in pass defense in 2018). That ought to give Pickett, Ffrench, Taysir Mack and the tight ends a bit of confidence entering Saturday's road tilt.
The Nittany Lions return veteran corners John Reid and Tariq Castro-Fields and safety Garrett Taylor from the nation's 15th-best pass defense a year ago. Former Clairton star Lamont Wade also features at safety opposite Taylor.
So far in 2019, though, Penn State's pass defense has been fine, not stellar. In blowout wins over lowly Idaho and scrappy Buffalo, the Nittany Lions allowed 6.7 yards per passing attempt, right around the national average. And before buckling down in the second half, Penn State let up two passing plays of 40-plus yards in last week's 45-13 victory over Buffalo. Was that a sign of weakness? Or was it an aberration?
We'll find out on Saturday, when the Panthers inevitably test Penn State through the air.
John McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9
First Published: September 10, 2019, 5:59 p.m.
