Pittsburgh’s offensive system may have changed. However, the production has continued – so far.
The Panthers’ new offense under a new coordinator and a new quarterback performed well in their season-opening win against West Virginia. That’s something for Tennessee to keep in mind.
Mission accomplished. UT senior defensive back Jaylen McCollough said former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and current Panther quarterback Kedon Slovis, who transferred from Southern California, are both effective from the pocket.
“Both of those guys, Pickett and Slovis, are great pocket passers and they like to put the ball on their receivers and let them run,” McCollough said. “As far as the safety position, we are going to have to have great eye discipline looking at our keys and just trusting what we see. I would say our eye discipline will have to be on point.”
In his first game as a Panther, Slovis was efficient. He completed 16-of-24 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown. Sometimes, change can be good or, at least, as good.
Facing Pitt in 2022 presents a new set of challenges compared to playing the Panthers in 2021. Pickett is a Pittsburgh Steeler. Receiver Jordan Addison won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver last season at Pittsburgh. He transferred to Southern California. Wait, there’s more.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi decided to replace his offensive coordinator from last season, Mark Whipple, with Frank Cignetti Jr., who had coached at Pitt before the last two seasons, in which he coached at Boston College.
Whipple and Cignetti see football a bit differently. Whipple ran a west-coast attack and, depending on who you ask, called far too many passing plays. Cignetti likes to pound the ball with a stout running attack with a passing game that is predicated on play action. Pitt ranked No. 31 in passing offense in the nation last season. That’s not likely to happen in 2022 with more emphasis on the running game.
McCollough, however, said there is some carryover despite all the changes.
“We know that they will try to attack in some of the ways that they were successful with last year,” he said. “We come to work every day and trust our preparation and what the coaches are telling us. We will go in and be ready to play.
“They will have some wrinkles, and so will we, but we will be ready to play.”
