Monday, January 27, 2025, 9:09PM |  37°
MENU
Advertisement
Pitt running back Vincent Davis (22) reacts after his touchdown against Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Beaver Stadium at University Park.
1
MORE

Pitt's offensive line takes responsibility for improving running game

Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette

Pitt's offensive line takes responsibility for improving running game

Dave Borbely, Pitt’s offensive line coach, is a bit of a perfectionist. That’s to be expected from a 61-year-old who’s coached at eight different Power Five programs over the course of his career. Borbely’s seen a lot, and he knows what he likes and doesn’t like.

Last year, Borbely, as well as Pitt’s fan base, saw a lot of the latter.

Pitt’s offensive line was competent at best, dismal at worst in 2019. That’s not news to anyone or something Pitt’s own linemen would refuse to admit. Jimmy Morrissey, the Panthers’ two-time captain and All-ACC center, acknowledged Pitt’s woeful rushing attack on more than one occasion last season, placing the blame at the feet of the offensive line.

Advertisement

It’s not entirely the line’s fault that Pitt ranked 118th nationally in rushing yards per game last year (118.8). The Panthers also ranked 100th in rushes per game, rarely committing to the run as Kenny Pickett attempted 39.1 throws per contest, third-most in college football. Running backs A.J. Davis, Vincent Davis and Todd Sibley Jr. also dealt with periodic injury issues, further stunting any potential growth in the ground game.

Head coach Jeff Capel is called for a technical foul during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 28, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina.
Craig Meyer
ACC coaches vote for all-inclusive NCAA tournament field in 2021

But the offensive line played a role in the Panthers averaging only 21.2 points per game (112th nationally) in Mark Whipple’s first year as offensive coordinator. Pro Football Focus ranked Pitt’s offensive line 94th in the country, as it allowed 76 tackles for loss (77th nationally) and 29 sacks (86th). Pitt was also penalized 102 times, fourth-most among Power Five teams, with false starts and illegal procedures factoring heavily.

As Pitt’s offense tries to take a step forward in Whipple’s second year, Pitt will still rely on Pickett’s arm. But the Panthers know they need a reliable rushing attack in 2020 to reach the ACC championship game — and that starts with the offensive line making noticeable improvements.

“We’ve been stressing that we have to run the ball, and we’ve got to be good at it if we want to win championships,” said Carter Warren, the Panthers’ returning starter at left tackle. “There’s been a lot of emphasis on running the ball.”

Advertisement

“We put that on our back as the offensive line. That’s our responsibility,” Morrissey added. “I think we’re going to have a lot better year running the ball.”

While it’s hard for the Panthers to do worse in the run game, Morrissey’s confidence is rooted in something real.

The fifth-year senior — who hasn’t allowed a sack in 1,006 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus — said Pitt’s line took an aggressive approach to training camp, practicing what he called “running off the ball” when run blocking. “Instead of being passive and seeing what the defense does,” Morrissey said, the Panthers are going after defensive linemen with more urgency.

Bryce Hargrove, Pitt’s returning starter at left guard, concurred, adding that Borbely’s group “capitalized and learned” from studying its own film and that of the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and other NFL offensive lines during quarantine Zoom sessions.

Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi
John McGonigal
John McGonigal's Pitt football chat transcript: 09.09.20

Hargrove, Warren and Morrissey also agreed that the offensive line’s experience and familiarity should help keep Pickett upright and open holes for Pitt’s cluster of backs.

Warren, after entering last season as an unproven redshirt freshman, now has 13 starts under his belt. Hargrove, a rotational piece in 2018, earned third-team All-ACC honors and allowed just one sack last year. Morrissey’s resume speaks for itself, while Butler’s Jake Kradel and Upper St. Clair’s Gabe Houy return with experience at right guard and right tackle, respectively.

Kradel, a redshirt sophomore, started the final seven games of the season at right guard. Houy — who battled through undisclosed injury issues throughout the campaign and underwent offseason surgery — worked at right tackle when healthy after starting the first six games at guard.

“You like being on the field with him because he inspires you with his intensity and the way he approaches the game,” Hargrove said of Houy before complimenting Kradel. “And Jake, that’s my guy. That’s my young dude. ... Every day, every play, every rep we exchange a back and forth. How would you take this block? How would you approach this play? How do you approach film? How do you approach the game?”

Matt Goncalves, a 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman who can swing between guard and tackle, is another young option at Borbely’s disposal. Keldrick Wilson, a graduate transfer from Hampton, will continue to compete with Houy for the right tackle gig. Meanwhile, Belle Vernon’s Blake Zubovic, Carson Van Lynn and Owen Drexel are slated to back up Kradel, Warren and Morrissey, respectively.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi, who’s talked up all 10 of the aforementioned linemen at some point in the last month, is confident those five starters and the depth behind them are enough to elevate Pitt’s offense. In fact, when he was asked on Monday how confident he was in the offensive line, Narduzzi said he was confident four times.

But as his answer continued, Narduzzi couched that confidence with a dose of caution as Pitt nears its season opener against Austin Peay at 4 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field.

“I’m confident until I’m not confident,” Narduzzi said. “... I’m excited with where we are. And that’s why you play games. We’re going to find out who they are and what they are — and what this 2020 team looks like — on Saturday at 4 o’clock. That’s when I’ll really know.”

John McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9

First Published: September 8, 2020, 8:48 p.m.

RELATED
Pitt tight end Jake Zilinskas is hoping to see the field this weekend against Austin Peay.
John McGonigal
From injury to scholarship, Pitt fifth-year senior Jake Zilinskas refused to quit
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi waves to gate attendants as he and the team arrive at Heinz Field before playing North Carolina last November.
John McGonigal
'Are we going to know?' Pat Narduzzi worried about COVID-19 testing turnaround
A view of Heinz Field before the WPIAL Class 1A championship on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. The stadium will be devoid of fans this Saturday when Pitt opens its season against Austin Peay.
John McGonigal
Forced to watch from afar, Pitt's parents 'disappointed' Heinz Field will be empty Saturday
Pitt coach Jeff Capel reacts to a play as his team takes on Nicholls State in November.
Craig Meyer
'Nothing normal about it': Questions persist about college basketball during a pandemic
Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett celebrates with wide receiver Taysir Mack after they connected for the go-ahead touchdown against Eastern Michigan in the fourth quarter of the Quick Lane Bowl Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at Ford Field.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PODCAST: 2020 Pitt football season preview
Pitt wide receiver Taysir Mack pulls in the go-ahead touchdown pass against Eastern Michigan defensive back Vince Calhoun in the fourth quarter of the Quick Lane Bowl Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at Ford Field.
John McGonigal
Breaking down Pitt’s depth chart ahead of Austin Peay opener
Pitt tight end Nakia Griffin-Stewart and offensive lineman Jimmy Morrissey congratulate quarterback Kenny Pickett after he caught the tying touchdown pass against UCF.
John McGonigal
Pitt football captains 'grateful' as uncertainty subsides, fall season approaches
SHOW COMMENTS  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey spoke Monday to members of the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg.
1
news
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey says his administration will not work with ICE
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II walks around the field before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Denver.
2
sports
Art Rooney II gives Mike Tomlin vote of confidence, admits Steelers unlikely to re-sign both QBs
T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on as the Baltimore Ravens huddle during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland.
3
sports
Brian Batko's Steelers chat transcript: 01.27.25
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, center, calls timeout during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. The Steelers won 16-10.
4
sports
Jason Mackey: Steelers' offseason has been tough to predict and understand
Visitors to the Three Rivers Arts Festival check out the Artist Market last year.
5
a&e
Three Rivers Arts Festival will move this year to the Strip District
Pitt running back Vincent Davis (22) reacts after his touchdown against Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Beaver Stadium at University Park.  (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story