Weekly Report Week of 08/30

Per the terms of my employment and at the request of the head coach, I am required to generate a weekly report regarding the state of the program as a whole. This is my unedited and unqualified analysis of the University of Pittsburgh’s football program.

Yup, I am back. We are back. College Football is back. It is customary that my weekly incoherent thought dumps about Pitt Football are indeed back. Here is what you can expect, from my perspective, from the 2021 Pitt Panther Football Team.

This is the year that could mark the end of mediocrity within the Pitt Football program. Most of you say, “Grad Assistant Jr, you say this every year” and you would not be wrong in reminding of that. The difference between this year and all the other years past is depth. It was inevitable that the younger members of the team would have to step up after losing key starters on defense and on the offensive line. Fortunately enough for Pat Narduzzi, they did. Thanks to the extra year that was granted to each player as a result of pandemic, Pitt is in a position for the first time in a long time where it is deep at every single position defensively. The defensive line is as deep as its ever been. The linebacker position is as deep as its ever been under Narduzzi. The defensive backs have impressed a lot in camp. The offensive targets are there. Kenny Pickett returns. The only receiver lost was DJ Turner and sophomore Izzy Abanikanda has turned heads in camp. It will inevitably come down to the play of the offensive line. The reasons for optimism are found in the competition that was formed in fall camp at the tackle position. However, it is not easy to replace Jimmy Morrisey and Bryce Hargrove. If the offensively is able to turn a notoriously stagnant red zone offense into an efficient point producer, there is no reason to believe Pitt can achieve 9 regular season wins. Conversely, say the offense remains similar to 2019 and 2020, Pat Narduzzi will have lost yet another chance to turn this program in the right direction. There are plenty of reasons to believe in this team. Let me emphasize that the difference between this team than teams of years past is the depth that exists in almost every single position excluding quarterback and guard perhaps. The quality of player has not changed and the young talent has impressed. Confidence is quietly abundant in the locker room. Strap in folks, this is the year.