Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi wants to see more than 'thud' when offense confronts defense Saturday

The aim of Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi and every college coach during spring football is to keep everyone upright and healthy for the upcoming season.

Yet, while understanding football is an inherently rough game, coaches pick their spots when they will allow players to block and tackle like it’s just another autumn Saturday.

Pitt’s second live scrimmage of the spring — the ninth of 15 overall sessions — is Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.

Narduzzi was pleased with the offense’s performance Monday and Thursday, but the sessions were labeled “thud,” a designation that tells players it’s OK to hit each other — if they keep everyone off the ground.

“The offense looked sharp. A lot of plays made offensively. It was thud, obviously,” Narduzzi said after practice Thursday. “I want to see the offense go out and do what they did and what they did Monday on Saturday. It’s tough on the defense when it’s thud. You can’t tell if we would have (tackled) them or knocked them out (of bounds).”

Narduzzi made a point to praise the offense for a drive that started at the 1 and ended 99 yards later with a touchdown.

“Quarterbacks were moving around the pocket. Protection was good, and they were making plays with their feet,” the coach said, adding the defense is “toying around” with different coverages.

“That’s kind of the day it was. Mentally, it’s easier on the offense on a day when you know you’re not getting hit. You go across the middle as a receiver, you know you’re not getting splattered on the turf.

“We’ll come out with an attitude on Saturday and make it a real game.”

Junior defensive tackle Nick James said he expects a battle.

“Friendly competition. (The winning team) can come to the locker room and get the last laugh,” he said. “It’s very competitive on the field. Everybody wants bragging rights.”

Weather doesn’t matter

The weather forecast is good for Saturday — no rain and 72 degrees — but Narduzzi doesn’t care if a snowstorm sweeps across the North Shore.

“We’re going out,” he said. “It can’t be any worse than it was last week (during an especially windy session at Acrisure).”

QB update

It’s way too early for Narduzzi to release a depth chart, but no one would be surprised if Julian Dugger, a rising redshirt freshman from Penn Hills, was listed as the No. 1 backup quarterback.

“Julian has been really good, a world of difference from where he was last season, last spring. Even where he was last fall at the end of the year,” Narduzzi said.

But freshman Mason Heintschel is opening eyes. “For a freshman quarterback, he has done an unbelievable job. He’s been sharp, has a quick release. He’s looked good.”

Meanwhile, junior guard B.J. Williams said he sees starting quarterback Eli Holstein making progress from last season.

“I feel like he’s more comfortable back there, making his reads, slinging the ball, scoring touchdowns,” Williams said.

Asked about redshirt sophomore wide receiver Zion Fowler-El, Narduzzi mentioned a contested catch that he secured on a deep pass. “We have to find a way to see what he can do when the ball gets into his hands,” he said.

Position battle

There’s competition at middle linebacker between junior Braylan Lovelace (Leechburg) and sophomore Jeremiah Marcelin. Both stand 6-foot-2, with Marcelin coming in 10 pounds heavier at 235.

Lovelace is practicing with the first team, but Marcelin is “right there,” Narduzzi said.

“They’re still fighting at the Mike spot. Jeremiah’s a guy you trust. Jeremiah is a guy you love. He’s got the greatest attitude. He’s smart. He doe a great job communicating, and he’s physical. He’ll come down and snap you.”

Familiar faces join new ones on O-line

Williams is one of three returning starters on the offensive line, but he said transfers Jeff Persi and Kendall Stanley at tackle and Keith Gouveia at guard are fitting in well. Those six, along with junior tackle Ryan Baer and senior center Lyndon Cooper, appear to be leading the pack on the line.

Because the transfers are experienced — Persi and Gouveia are seniors and Stanley a redshirt junior — the line is expected to make a jump this season.

“They fit right in with the program. It’s just like they’ve already been here,” Williams said. “I love playing with those guys, watching them learn, grow.”