Pitt needs stronger run 'D' to prevent 2nd consecutive loss to Cincinnati

After the final score, the next-most important number Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi will want to see Saturday at Nippert Stadium is Cincinnati’s yards gained on the ground. Perhaps no Pitt unit on either side of the ball will have a more challenging task than the rebuilt defensive line.

The Bearcats like to run the football, and they were good at it last season. At least as good as a ground game can be when a team’s overall record is 3-9.

In Cincinnati’s 27-21 victory at Acrisure Stadium in 2023, the Bearcats ran for 216 yards and possessed the football for 34 minutes, 43 seconds. Narduzzi hopes to get a better grip on Cincinnati’s ground game this time after watching video of three games against Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield’s offense — last season and in 2020 and 2022 when he was the coach at Louisville.

Pitt is 1-2 in those games.

Cincinnati finished sixth in the nation in rushing yards per game last season (217.1), and its 275-yard effort last week against Towson of the FCS (not a true test) was 19th-best on the day around the country. More to the point, Cincinnati returns all five starters on the offensive line.

“We’re not going to trick them,” Pitt defensive line coach Tim Daoust said. “We’re going to see who can execute better. I think our kids did a solid job (against Kent State) and left plenty of room for improvement. We better figure it out before this Saturday.”

Daoust said he used six tackles in the game, and Nick James, a transfer from Indiana, received the most playing time. He started next to redshirt freshman tackle Isaiah Neal.

“He needed to get in shape since he got here,” Daoust said of James. “He steadily improved in that regard. He’s been one of our most consistent guys. That’s why you saw him the most on Saturday.”

Nahki Johnson (West Mifflin) is also improving at tackle, Daoust said.

“We’re fighting daily for that consistent behavior, and he knows it and he sees it,” Daoust said of Johnson. “If we can marry his physical with his mental, the sky’s the limit for Nahki.”

Then there’s freshman defensive end Sincere Edwards, who has worked his way into the rotation at the age of 18. Daoust was impressed with Edwards’ initial venture into college football.

When asked how Edwards played, he said, “What do you think? Eighteen years old. Just under 20 snaps. Couple TFLs. Almost killed the quarterback.”

“He came to me on Sunday and said, ‘I could have been better.’ I’m glad he’s his toughest critic. Eighteen years old playing at that level? It’s not common, but none of us were surprised.”

The game’s outcome likely will hinge on what James, Johnson, Edwards and their linemates can do to neutralize Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby (6-foot-3, 228 pounds).

Sorsby transferred from Indiana, where he threw for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns a season ago — five against Illinois and three at Penn State. He also ran for 286 yards for the season.

In keeping with their football personalities, Narduzzi and defensive coordinator Randy Bates will try to pressure Sorsby.

Narduzzi said Pitt blitzed 41% of the time last week against Kent State, which is more frequent than what the Pitt coach has called his norm over the years.

“I was somewhere between 31% and 33%,” he said. “Not on purpose. It all depends on how the game’s going. If we’re getting hits, you’re going to bring more. I’m sure (Cincinnati coaches) are working on pressure this week. What’s another 10%? They have to prepare for it.”

Narduzzi said Bates called three consecutive blitzes Saturday, which sounds like a lot but was OK with the head coach.

“I like to be aggressive, too,” Narduzzi said. “We’re on the same page. You don’t want to be a guy who blitzes once and doesn’t blitz again. The way we blitz, it’s safe and easy.”

Of course, there are limits, especially when facing a quarterback such as Sorsby who’s seen more than one difficult pass rush in his past.

“Sorsby does a good job versus pressure,” Narduzzi said.

If Pitt decides to dial down the pass rush and back into coverage, Pitt hopes that presents a different challenge for Sorsby.

“We’re going to try to make him put it in a tight window, which I think he is talented enough to do,” he said. “We’ll find out.”