Narduzzi sticking with Browne at QB

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - In the immediate aftermath of Pitt’s 33-14 loss to Penn State at Beaver Stadium Saturday, Pat Narduzzi had a disconnect with social media - and not because the cell reception was lousy in the post-game press conference room.

Rather, Narduzzi and Twitter disagreed on the future of Pitt’s quarterback position.

The fans want redshirt sophomore Ben DiNucci. Narduzzi said he’s sticking with redshirt senior Max Browne.

Browne, a grad transfer from USC, has started Pitt’s first two games this season and is 1-1 as the Panthers’ starting quarterback after Saturday’s loss. Statistically, he hasn’t lit the world on fire, with 278 passing yards on 56 attempts - five yards per completion - and one touchdown against two interceptions.

Browne had to leave the Penn State game in the fourth quarter, though, when his helmet came off after he ran on an option play near Penn State’s end zone.

The next snap was a third-and-goal from the Penn State 3, and DiNucci found the goal line when he kept the ball on another option play, put a move on a defender and barely got across the goal line for Pitt’s only touchdown in the game.

DiNucci stayed on the field for Pitt’s two-point conversion attempt and was successful with a shovel pass to running back Qadree Ollison. But Browne returned for Pitt’s next drive.

That didn’t end well for the Panthers, who took the ball at their own 4-yard line. The first play was a shovel pass to running back Darrin Hall, who dropped it for an incompletion. On second down, Browne threw to Hall in the flat; that pass was complete, but it would have been better if Hall dropped it, as Penn State safety Marcus Allen tackled him across the goal line for a safety.

Pitt had one more offensive drive in the game, and Narduzzi went with DiNucci, who went 4-of-8 for 49 yards on the drive. He also scrambled for 15 yards on a fourth-down play, but an extended scramble on fourth-and-goal from the Penn State 8 turned into a fumble that ended the game.

“He gives a spark because he can run,” Narduzzi said. “You see him scramble around, even the last play - now, he puts the ball on the ground and you can’t scramble around forever; they’ve got 11 guys running around with different color jerseys. But he gives you a spark.

“I told you, he’s a good quarterback, too, and I think we can win games - I told you that a long time ago - with him. So it was good to get him some action out there. You know, he scores on the one, he can scramble. He’s got to make good decisions all the time, but I was happy with what he did in there at the end. He made a couple of nice throws. But we had another turnover, which we can’t have, too.”

DiNucci’s fumble was Pitt’s third turnover in the game, following the two interceptions Browne threw. The first pick ended Pitt’s game-opening drive; the second came in the second quarter with Pitt trailing 14-0.

Browne and Narduzzi had differing viewpoints on the first interception. Browne said the cornerback reacted differently than he expected after studying game film this week, but Narduzzi put it on a different player.

“I think the first pick, you know, the normal arm-chair quarterback will blame it on Max but the receiver didn’t get out of his break fast enough, didn’t go after the ball and we have to clean that up,” Narduzzi said. “There’s a few of those that we’re not on time. We expect the quarterback to be in rhythm and get the ball out; you know, you also have to be where you’re supposed to be.”

That was a problem for Browne on Saturday. Not every pass was perfectly on the mark, but multiple passes that were on target were dropped, like a second-down throw down the field to Jester Weah in the first quarter (Pitt ended up punting) or a third-and-long pass to Chris Clark that might have moved the sticks if it had been caught (Pitt punted then, too).

“We can sit here and look at incompletes - you know, when we’re throwing it, you have to catch the ball, too,” Narduzzi said. “There’s opportunities to catch it.

“We just have to execute. The quarterbacks are putting the ball where it needs to be, and I think there’s some good play-calling out there today, but you have to make a play, too.”

Thus far, Pitt’s passing offense has left a lot to be desired. With 327 passing yards through two games, the Panthers are averaging a paltry 163.5 yards per game through the air. And while their rushing offense has been better - 363 yards through two games - it hasn’t been as good as it was last season, when the successful ground attack could offset the air game.

And that’s a bit of a surprise, as Pitt’s passing attack was supposed to be more effective this season and have more of a downfield approach.

“I think if you came to one of our practices, I think you’d see it: the vertical plays are there,” Browne said after the Penn State game. “I think it’s just one of those things. I think it’s only been two games. I don’t worry about it. It’s just a matter of kind of going out there and making the plays when they’re there. But I don’t think that’s going to be the necessarily the M.O. for our offense moving forward.”

As far as Narduzzi is concerned, whatever the offense looks like going forward, it will have Browne at the helm.