2017 ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings week 7

Roller Coaster

Apparently, Pat Narduzzi is a roller coaster fanatic, particularly with quarterbacks.

Last week I assumed that Max Browne’s injury would lead Narduzzi to stick with Ben Dinucci and maybe even find some rhythm with the young signal caller. I was wrong. Instead, for the seventh time this season Pitt played two quarterbacks in the game.

In the third quarter against State, and his team trailing by only seven, Narduzzi stuck freshman Kenny Pickett into the game. By the time Pickett finally led the Panthers to a fourth-quarter field goal, the Wolfpack had gone up 14 and put the game away.

Pickett played about ten minutes and three drives but Pitt faithful have to wonder if Dinucci couldn’t have led them to a touchdown.

Dinucci did return but by then the team was down 11 and he couldn’t finish against a good defense.

For the game Dinucci completed 59 percent of his passes for 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Pickett completed 38 percent of his passes for 61 yards.

Quarterback roller coaster works for no one. It frustrates the quarterbacks and it makes it hard for the team to rally. It is one thing to do it to spark up an offense but stick with it.

Pittsburgh could also use some help running the ball. The leading rusher ended up being Pickett who carried the ball four times for 18 yards.

Pat Narduzzi might be interested in this roller coaster season finding a conference win. He will get his chance this week as his team travels to play a faltering Duke team.