Remember late April and early May, when the college football world’s main topic of discussion was if Jordan Addison would transfer from Pittsburgh to USC? We remember Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi throwing Addison under the bus and greatly diminishing his accomplishments as a member of the Panthers in 2021.
Narduzzi said, “We helped him win a Biletnikoff and be the player he is. He had one of the best quarterbacks in the country throwing the ball every day. I think sometimes people forget how they got where they are.”
It was the system, not the athlete. It was the structure, not the athlete. It was the program, not the athlete.
Addison is having a very productive year for USC. Let’s check in on Pitt. The Panthers had a horrible Week 5. Let’s dig into the details of their loss to Georgia Tech at home before a sparse crowd:
FIRST OF ALL
Pittsburgh was a 21-point favorite against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets just fired coach Geoff Collins the previous weekend and were in total disarray.
STUNNING STAT
Pittsburgh’s offense scored just seven points in the game’s first 58 minutes. Pitt scored two garbage touchdowns when trailing by 12 points in the final two minutes, the second TD coming with 16 seconds left.
BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech came into this game allowing an average of 36.25 points per game.
DECISIVE
Pitt was just 2 of 12 on third downs. That proved decisive.
ALSO SIGNIFICANT
Pitt committed three turnovers, Georgia Tech none.
RUSHING YARDS
Pat Narduzzi complained that Pitt didn’t run the ball enough last year, even though the Panthers won the ACC championship with Jordan Addison’s help.
In this game, Pitt was outrushed by Georgia Tech, 232-106.
PENALTY YARDS
Pittsburgh 75, Georgia Tech 43. Pitt committed 12 penalties, Georgia Tech four.
CONTEXT
Georgia Tech won despite completing only 11 of 27 passes for 102 yards.
KEDON SLOVIS
The former USC quarterback was throwing for lots of yards when trailing in the fourth quarter, a lot like his 2021 USC season. He threw one interception and was not able to finish drives until it was too late for Pitt.
NARDUZZI AFTER THE GAME
“Offense didn’t really get started until the last two series of the game,” Narduzzi said. “If we would’ve done that (have any rhythm) the whole game, we would have had a chance … Obviously I didn’t do a good enough job of getting them ready.”