Even after consecutive losses, Nathan Peterman has a tight grip on the starting quarterback job at Pitt.
Coach Pat Narduzzi praised Peterman after the 42-30 loss to Notre Dame, and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney hasn't used the packages designed specifically for backup Chad Voytik since the Georgia Tech game on Oct. 17. In fact, Voytik has not thrown more than two passes in a game since Sept. 12.
But Pitt's passing game — occasionally productive, but choppy in several instances — is not moving downfield in large chunks.
Peterman is averaging 12.09 yards per completion, 64th in the NCAA, ninth in the ACC and down from Pitt's quarterbacks the past two seasons. Voytik averaged 12.68 last year and Tom Savage 12.43 in 2013.
Peterman was plagued by drops in the loss to Notre Dame — a fact that Narduzzi noted after the game — but he also wasn't as accurate as he had been previously. Peterman and Boyd both made note of an underthrown pass against the Irish.
“I know that I underthrew him on a deep ball, and it was kind of a rough collision, too,” Peterman said. “They were playing tight coverage, but I have got to better with my ball placement and put it only where he can get it. He's a great player, and I needed to let him go up and make a play.”
Said Boyd: “I beat the defender and he knew it, and it didn't go my way. I don't stress out about things like that. I just continue to play my game.”
Two interesting passing game stats:
• Peterman has been sacked 10 times in the past three games after Pitt allowed a total of one against Virginia and Georgia Tech.
• Boyd had only three receptions against Notre Dame, snapping a streak of 15 consecutive games in which he had at least five and was averaging 7.4.
Tackles out
Defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett missed most of the game and was standing on the sideline not holding his helmet for a time.
“Jarrett was banged up a little bit,” said Narduzzi, without elaborating on the injury. “I thought he was going to come back. I wasn't sure. He said, ‘Coach, I don't want to hurt the team. I don't feel like I'm 100 percent.' I understand that. I respect him for that.”
Backup defensive tackle Mark Scarpinato also missed the entire game with a head injury.
Ford injury
Wide receiver Dontez Ford hurt his leg in the fourth quarter, but Narduzzi said it's not serious.
“He just had a cramp,” the coach said. “I rubbed that out. He's OK.”
Run the clock
Punter Ryan Winslow pinned Notre Dame at the 3 with 42 seconds left in the first half, but Narduzzi chose not to use any of his three timeouts to force a punt.
“Based on the way our defense was playing (allowing 21 points),” Narduzzi said, “I wasn't going to give them any more time on the clock.”
Price's touchdown
Pitt's defensive unit recorded its first touchdown since Anthony Gonzalez's interception return against Duke in 2013 when end Ejuan Price picked up a fumble by backup quarterback Brandon Wimbush and ran 32 yards for the score. It also was Pitt's fumble return for a touchdown in four years.
Narduzzi wasn't especially impressed with the fourth-quarter score, though. “He's had a pretty good year, but we have to stop the run,” he said. “Everybody sees the touchdown, but there are a lot of things we need to tie up and clean up. Our defensive ends have to play better.”
Price agreed with his coach.
“There were a couple of times when I was supposed to squeeze,” he said, “and (the play) is hitting where I would normally be.”
Pitt allowed 175 yards on the ground after giving North Carolina 174.
“If you have a running game that can keep you away from the third-and-long situations where it gets a little scary against a Pat Narduzzi defense,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said, “you have a really good chance of getting some play-action shots.”
Small consolation
The most encouraging takeaway from Saturday might be how Duke — Pitt's next's opponent — collapsed defensively in a 66-31 loss to ACC Coastal Division leader North Carolina.
Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams amassed 524 total yards, the sixth-most in ACC history, and threw for a school-record 494 (404 in the first half). Pitt held Williams to 270 yards passing and 52 rushing.
Pitt's game at Duke starts at noon Saturday and will be televised by ESPNews.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Coach Pat Narduzzi praised Peterman after the 42-30 loss to Notre Dame, and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney hasn't used the packages designed specifically for backup Chad Voytik since the Georgia Tech game on Oct. 17. In fact, Voytik has not thrown more than two passes in a game since Sept. 12.
But Pitt's passing game — occasionally productive, but choppy in several instances — is not moving downfield in large chunks.
Peterman is averaging 12.09 yards per completion, 64th in the NCAA, ninth in the ACC and down from Pitt's quarterbacks the past two seasons. Voytik averaged 12.68 last year and Tom Savage 12.43 in 2013.
Peterman was plagued by drops in the loss to Notre Dame — a fact that Narduzzi noted after the game — but he also wasn't as accurate as he had been previously. Peterman and Boyd both made note of an underthrown pass against the Irish.
“I know that I underthrew him on a deep ball, and it was kind of a rough collision, too,” Peterman said. “They were playing tight coverage, but I have got to better with my ball placement and put it only where he can get it. He's a great player, and I needed to let him go up and make a play.”
Said Boyd: “I beat the defender and he knew it, and it didn't go my way. I don't stress out about things like that. I just continue to play my game.”
Two interesting passing game stats:
• Peterman has been sacked 10 times in the past three games after Pitt allowed a total of one against Virginia and Georgia Tech.
• Boyd had only three receptions against Notre Dame, snapping a streak of 15 consecutive games in which he had at least five and was averaging 7.4.
Tackles out
Defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett missed most of the game and was standing on the sideline not holding his helmet for a time.
“Jarrett was banged up a little bit,” said Narduzzi, without elaborating on the injury. “I thought he was going to come back. I wasn't sure. He said, ‘Coach, I don't want to hurt the team. I don't feel like I'm 100 percent.' I understand that. I respect him for that.”
Backup defensive tackle Mark Scarpinato also missed the entire game with a head injury.
Ford injury
Wide receiver Dontez Ford hurt his leg in the fourth quarter, but Narduzzi said it's not serious.
“He just had a cramp,” the coach said. “I rubbed that out. He's OK.”
Run the clock
Punter Ryan Winslow pinned Notre Dame at the 3 with 42 seconds left in the first half, but Narduzzi chose not to use any of his three timeouts to force a punt.
“Based on the way our defense was playing (allowing 21 points),” Narduzzi said, “I wasn't going to give them any more time on the clock.”
Price's touchdown
Pitt's defensive unit recorded its first touchdown since Anthony Gonzalez's interception return against Duke in 2013 when end Ejuan Price picked up a fumble by backup quarterback Brandon Wimbush and ran 32 yards for the score. It also was Pitt's fumble return for a touchdown in four years.
Narduzzi wasn't especially impressed with the fourth-quarter score, though. “He's had a pretty good year, but we have to stop the run,” he said. “Everybody sees the touchdown, but there are a lot of things we need to tie up and clean up. Our defensive ends have to play better.”
Price agreed with his coach.
“There were a couple of times when I was supposed to squeeze,” he said, “and (the play) is hitting where I would normally be.”
Pitt allowed 175 yards on the ground after giving North Carolina 174.
“If you have a running game that can keep you away from the third-and-long situations where it gets a little scary against a Pat Narduzzi defense,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said, “you have a really good chance of getting some play-action shots.”
Small consolation
The most encouraging takeaway from Saturday might be how Duke — Pitt's next's opponent — collapsed defensively in a 66-31 loss to ACC Coastal Division leader North Carolina.
Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams amassed 524 total yards, the sixth-most in ACC history, and threw for a school-record 494 (404 in the first half). Pitt held Williams to 270 yards passing and 52 rushing.
Pitt's game at Duke starts at noon Saturday and will be televised by ESPNews.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
