To all the frustrated Pitt fans — and there are many — Randy Bates apologizes.
“I’m sorry for those who have angst. We all want to be 7-0, including myself. Just in case anybody needs to know that,” Pitt’s defensive coordinator said Wednesday with a touch of perspective amid the Panthers’ four-game losing streak.
Bates continued by saying Pitt’s downturn after a preseason of hope has been “a learning experience for everybody.” And that will continue to be the case for the Panthers as they look to navigate their final four regular season games without star safety Paris Ford and without any real external expectations.
When the Panthers take the field at Florida State on Saturday, they won’t be the favorites like some thought they would be months ago. Then again, Pitt (3-4, 2-4 ACC) will hardly be the same team anyone envisioned back in July.
Kenny Pickett isn’t expected to play, spending most of Pitt’s off week and this week of practice watching Joey Yellen take first-team reps at quarterback. Damarri Mathis might travel with the team, but only to offer a mentoring voice on the sideline as he continues working back from a season-ending injury suffered in August. And neither Jaylen Twyman nor Ford will be in attendance as they focus on their NFL futures.
At Doak Campbell Stadium, it will be up to Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers to reckon with that reality and make do with the players they have.
To his credit, that’s the approach Bates took with reporters over Zoom.
The first question asked to Pitt’s defensive play-caller was about Ford, the first-team All-ACC safety who opted out of Pitt’s remaining games on Monday to preserve his 2021 draft stock. Instead of lamenting the loss or really addressing the decision, Bates mentioned only the name of Ford’s replacement.
“I’m excited to see Brandon Hill play. I’m here to talk about the guys on the team, not the guys off the team,” Bates said. “It’s an exciting time for Brandon Hill to step up and be the player he is. ... Brandon is an extremely physical player who plays within the defense very well. He knows the calls. He knows where to be. And now is his opportunity when they’re there to make those plays.”
Hill will undoubtedly have big shoes to fill. Ford led the program in tackles (97) and interceptions (three) last year, while tallying 45 stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and three picks in seven games this season. And though it didn’t make a drastic difference as Pitt’s defense failed to live up to the hype through seven games, Ford’s style of play normally brought an edge to Pitt’s defense.
When asked about being without Ford’s emotional energy on the field, Bates said: “I don’t think we’ll lose a beat.”
Bates’ confidence stems from captains Damar Hamlin and Patrick Jones II “continuing to be positive,” as well as younger players growing into their roles. One of those underclassmen, sophomore linebacker SirVocea Dennis, echoed Bates’ unwavering belief in a Ford-less defense.
Dennis, the Panthers’ second-leading tackler behind Ford through seven games, said “we’ll be fine” when quizzed about the Panthers’ remaining defensive leadership. He also backed up what Bates said about Hill, adding that he and his teammates “aren’t worried at all” about how the new starter might settle in.
Hill, who replaced Ford in the second half against Notre Dame, logged eight tackles against the Irish and looked the part. Narduzzi spoke highly of him on Monday and even after the Notre Dame game, well before Ford’s decision to leave the team.
Of course, it’s not just Hill and the defense that have to perform on Saturday and in the weeks to come. Pitt’s offense has to improve, too, as does the team’s overall mojo.
Narduzzi said the off week, which provided Pitt a chance to rest and recuperate, should help in that regard. And those around the program have noticed a boost in spirits and speed.
“I see us out there playing faster. That would be my Number 1 excitement,” Bates said. “The guys are back fresh again, and I would expect us to play with that level of speed.”
“We really needed that break,” wide receiver Shocky Jacques-Louis added. “You’re going to be able to see it around the board. A lot of those boys are looking fresher in practice.”
Fresh enough to close out the regular season with a couple wins or more? Perhaps.
But just as the Panthers refuse to look in the past and dwell on Ford’s opt out, they also aren’t getting too far ahead of themselves. It’s a cliche, no doubt. And yet, at this point in the year with every game precious, Pitt is taking things one game at a time.
“It’s definitely difficult,” Jacques-Louis said of Pitt’s team-wide approach in the midst of a losing skid. “But we deal with our losses positively because adversity is what makes you strong. We invite it so we can get better.”
John McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9
First Published: November 4, 2020, 9:34 p.m.