Pitt 5 questions: With camp set to open, OC Kade Bell undertakes offensive overhaul while Pat Narduzzi seeks more sacks

When you attempt to identify five questions that fans — and, perhaps, even coaches — might have about the 2024 version of Pitt football, you can look up and down the roster and start your quest almost anywhere.

This is a team that lost five defensive starters to the transfer portal, three cornerbacks and their most explosive wide receiver to the NFL, the entire offensive coaching staff and — the big item — nine of the 12 games played a year ago.

For now, with training camp opening Tuesday, we’ll stop at five questions.

1. Are growing pains inevitable?

Think about it: Pitt is moving from a pro-style, huddle-up offense that had little imagination, couldn’t find the tight end and finished last in the ACC in points and total yards to one that may go 15 seconds between snaps.

More plays and, theoretically, more scoring plays. We’ll see.

That might be too much change in one offseason, and Bell’s offense may not reach its full potential until 2025. It’s not a stretch to imagine players talking next spring about how much they learned in 2024 and how Season 2 will be different.

The counter to the growing-pains argument is that quarterback Nate Yarnell, who will turn 22 during the season, appears to have the mind to handle anything Bell throws at him. And Bell demands a lot from his players.

Yarnell has attempted 76 passes with only one interception in his six career games, dating all the way to when he backed up Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti in 2022.

“He takes what he sees,” tight end Gavin Bartholomew said. “He doesn’t get greedy. He looks at the reads. He does a great job just understanding the offense, what strengths guys have, where they should get the ball.”

But he was the third-string quarterback last season behind Phil Jurkovec and Christian Veilleux. Why did it take so long for coach Pat Narduzzi to conclude Yarnell was his best option?

2. Can they get the ball to Bartholomew?

After three seasons, Pitt’s tight end is 74 receiving yards shy of 1,000. The senior from Blue Mountain High School in Schuylkill Haven (an hour northeast of Harrisburg) has averaged 308.6 per season.

More was/is expected from him, and there is plenty of blame to share.

Is Bartholomew not getting open?

Were quarterbacks the past two seasons given inadequate time by their blockers to read the defense and find a 6-foot-5, 250-pound man, who’s hard to miss with or without pads?

There has been plenty of time to find answers, but in any case Bell must bring Bartholomew’s athleticism and toughness to the forefront for his offense to work.

“My mentality is when I get the ball, you’re not going to see me go down by one guy,” he said. “It’s going to take a couple guys.”

Bartholomew is one of those players recruited in 2020 while coaches were under covid restrictions. Narduzzi said offering a scholarship came down to “instincts.”

“When I met him on a Zoom call, I saw that big, thick beard,” the coach said. “I said, ‘We need a man like that guy.’ ”

Give Bartholomew credit for spurning advances from other schools in the offseason. He’s been Yarnell’s roommate since his freshman season, and he didn’t want to lose and waste what has become a strong connection with his teammates. He’s the best example of a great teammate.

Bartholomew averaged 18.1 yards per reception last season, even more than wide receiver Bub Means (17.6), who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints.

“Pitt was my only Power 5 offer,” he said. “That means a lot. Coach Duzz, we built a great relationship the past four years. That’s what he instills in this program … family. I’m not going to leave my brothers stranded. It was an easy decision to (return to Pitt).”

Though he grew up in central Pennsylvania, Bartholomew has some Pittsburgh blood running through him. One of the songs he listens to while getting ready for a game or practice: “Renegade.”

3. Questions up front?

The number of defensive lineman who played last season and are now gone or out for the season with an injury is staggering. They include three who transferred (Deandre Jules, Sam Okunlola and Dayon Hayes), three who exhausted their eligibility (David Green, Tyler Bentley and Devin Danielson) and defensive end Nate Temple, who suffered a season-ending injury this spring.

Meanwhile, Narduzzi has made increasing the sack total a priority. Pitt recorded only 31 last season after averaging nearly 50 for four seasons.

“We’re looking to increase that sack total. I don’t care who’s returning on defense or offense. It doesn’t matter,” he said.

An unacceptable sack total is partially the result of the offense failing to score points. With a lead, opposing offenses can be unpredictable and less dependent on the passing game. “Our guys found out the hard way,” Narduzzi said.

Defensive end Nate Matlack, who transferred from Kansas State, could help, Narduzzi said.

“There might have been a lot of people who watched his videotape and said he didn’t fit in,” the coach said. “Tall, skinny guy (6-5, 250), playing head up on a tackle. You didn’t like what you saw. But when that guy got put on the edge, he’s got what we need in our defense. He’s going to be a guy to reckon with. Seems like he was playing a little bit out of position, but we got him in position to make some plays this year.”

4. Safeties look good, but what about CBs?

There is no questioning Pitt’s depth at safety. Donovan McMillon, Javon McIntyre and P.J. O’Brien could turn into the flashiest players on defense. They combined for 231 tackles, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles last season.

“I love hitting,” said McMillon, an honorable mention ACC choice while recording 105 tackles (the most by a Pitt player since Jordan Whitehead had 109 in 2015).

McMillon hopes to change the team’s fortunes this season by wearing different underwear.

“I’ve worn the same underwear for three, four years straight,” he said, quickly reminding everyone that he did wash them. “I switched because we were 3-9.”

No matter their undergarments, young cornerbacks such as Ryland Gandy need to compensate for the loss of A.J. Woods, M.J. Devonshire and Marquis Williams. There are eight cornerbacks on the roster, and the only one with starting experience is Tamon Lynum, who started one game in four seasons at Nebraska.

5. Can Pitt navigate closing stretch?

Predicting the strength of a team’s schedule in July can be a foolish undertaking. Too much uncertainty.

• Is Pitt’s schedule easy because six of its opponents were either in the FCS (Youngstown State) or had losing seasons in 2023?

• Are teams looking at Pitt’s 3-9 record and counting on a victory?

• Is avoiding Florida State, Notre Dame, Miami, Virginia Tech and N.C. State an advantage?

• What about that closing stretch? In November, Pitt must play 2023 American Athletic Conference champion SMU, Virginia, Clemson, ACC runner-up Louisville and Boston College. SMU, with one of the ACC’s best quarterback in Preston Stone, Louisville and BC are road games.

Let’s not sugarcoat what appear to be the facts: To ensure a winning season, Pitt must start no worse than 5-2.