A shifting focus on offense?
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Pitt’s offense is evolving - intentionally or otherwise.
Defined in the early part of the season by an overwhelming rushing attack that thrived on misdirection, pre-snap confusion and jet sweeps, the Panthers have shifted their approach in recent weeks as opponents get a better feel for what Matt Canada is trying to do on offense.
But constant variation has been a hallmark of Canada’s time as Pitt’s offensive coordinator, and he continues to mix things up.
That’s not just a reference to the two touchdowns offensive lineman Brian O’Neill has scored - most recently on a reverse against Virginia Tech - or the throwback pass from receiver Tre Tipton to quarterback Nate Peterman.
Rather, it’s a response to defenses adjusting. The most notable example of that is in the jet sweep game. After the sweeps were unveiled against Penn State, they had been a key element in Pitt’s offense, so much so that sophomore receiver Quadree Henderson is the second-leading receiver on the team.
But defenses have naturally adjusted, and the last two games have seen the sweeps largely stifled. Against Virginia, Pitt’s receivers managed just 23 yards on seven rushing attempts, and in the loss to Virginia Tech last Thursday, the receivers took six handoffs and finished with minus-3 yards rushing.
So Canada had to look in a different direction, and that direction was redshirt junior running back James Conner. After recording 46 carries for 228 yards against Penn State and Oklahoma State - games that saw Pitt record 110 rushing attempts and just 45 passes - Conner’s workload had trailed off. He had 16 carries at North Carolina, 11 against Marshall and 14 against Georgia Tech - gaining a total of 160 yards in those three games combined.
At Virginia, though, he came alive again. Conner rushed hard for 90 yards and two scores on 20 carries in Charlottesville, and he carried that over to the Virginia Tech loss, running for 141 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
Pat Narduzzi called Conner “a beast” after the game, and Peterman said the defensive attention to the sweeps - Pitt still frequently sent receivers in motion - created some opportunities for the more conventional running game to flourish.
“I think we still ran the ball really well,” Peterman said after the Virginia Tech game. “Yeah, we didn’t have the huge plays on the jets, but James had some pretty big runs downhill. We just have to find ways to win and find ways to keep getting those big explosive gains. We did that tonight; we just didn’t get enough of them and we have to look at what we can get better at.
“There are plays to be made all over the field…it’s whatever the defense gives us. I think that’s been our philosophy the whole year, and I think we just have to keep doing that.”
While Conner had his best game of the season against Virginia Tech, the lack of impact from the sweeps did negatively affect Pitt’s rushing totals. The Panthers gained 180 yards on the ground against the Hokies, their lowest total since they used a stripped-down version of their offense in the season opener against Villanova.
The ideal scenario for Canada and the offense going forward, then, will be a mix of Conner and the receivers; if a defense is set to stop Conner, then the receivers should have room to operate, and if the opponent is keying on the sweeps, then there should be openings for Conner.
The Pitt coaches could also look to get the team’s other running backs involved a bit more. Freshman Chawntez Moss is the second-leading rusher among the backs, but he didn’t carry the ball against Virginia Tech, while leading returning rusher Qadree Ollison has 22 carries on the season and just six attempts in the last six games. Sophomore Darrin Hall hasn’t touched the ball since the North Carolina game.