Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said Thursday he is sticking with Eli Holstein at quarterback against Boston College, which visits Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.
Holstein was benched in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ 34-27 loss to Louisville last weekend after throwing two costly interceptions, including one at the Cardinals’ 2-yard line.
Backup Cole Gonzales took over behind center but was unable to spark the offense to a game-tying score.
After a strong series of practices from Holstein, Narduzzi decided to stick with his redshirt sophomore.
“He’s had a good week of practice,” Narduzzi said. “I’ve been impressed with just the way he’s bounced back from last Saturday. I feel good. I think sometimes when you get pulled, maybe things change a little bit. Maybe it was a good thing.”
Holstein has completed 72 of 114 (63.2%) passes for 1,050 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Completing passes to the opposing defense has been Holstein’s primary struggle so far, as he has thrown picks in all of the Panthers’ four games.
After Pitt’s wins over Duquesne and Central Michigan, offensive coordinator Kade Bell said Holstein was immediately grasping what went wrong on the field when he threw interceptions.
However, two losses later, both of which featured questionable decision-making by Holstein, concerns linger.
“Eli’s really smart,” Narduzzi said. “But … everybody can see (mistakes) on the iPad. We can sit here, run it back and forth and say, ‘You see that? Yeah, I see it.’ But things happen faster on the field. He knows, but can you fix it? That’s why you get to play these games and get another opportunity on Saturday.”
So how long will Holstein’s leash be Saturday? Will Narduzzi be willing to yank him again in favor of Gonzales or true freshman Mason Heintschel if things go sideways vs. the Eagles?
Only Narduzzi knows that, but Pitt’s coach stressed there’s always far more to consider than strictly the quarterback’s performance in games, wins and losses alike.
“There’s a regular old leash, and it’s a pretty long leash,” Narduzzi said. “But here’s one thing: Quarterbacks are going to get all the criticism when you lose, and they’re going to get all the praise when you win. Both of them are too much of each.
“There’s multiple, multiple reasons on offense, defense and special teams and elsewhere … for not winning football games. It doesn’t always lay with the quarterback. It’s everyone around them. Everybody’s got to step up. … Everybody takes responsibility, and we all point the thumb at ourselves.”
It’ll soon be on Holstein to prove that his coach made the right call.
“That’s my job to get it right, so I’m looking forward to noon on Saturday, playing a really good football team and playing four quarters of football and finishing that game,” Narduzzi said. “That’s been the emphasis all week.”
