Pitt Expects Big Plays To Come From Run Game

The Pitt Panthers are hoping to find explosive plays on the ground.

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi was musing about some of the ways his offense could stand to improve on a miserable start to the year in which it's averaging just 13.5 points per game against FBS competition. 

Getting more explosive plays - the kind that came frequently and easily from the legs of star tailback Israel Abanikanda, who now plays for the New York Jets - was something Narduzzi said the Pitt offense has sorely missed this year. 

“Izzy was pretty good. Remember that guy, No. 2?" Narduzzi said. "That guy has the ability to explode and we miss Izzy"

But even without Abanikanda's home run-hitting speed in the lineup this season, Narduzzi believes the Panthers will still be able to find big plays on the ground if they remain disciplined and committed to the run game. 

"But we need some explosives. How do explosives happen?" Narduzzi said. "You talk about getting the run game going, you’re exactly right, Narduzzi said. "So we need to get some explosive passes, we need to get some explosive runs." 

The Panthers expect North Carolina to load the box against them this week as ACC play begins at Acrisure Stadium, but as running backs coach Andre Powell pointed out, a front-loaded defense will allow for them to break big plays with just one move into the second level. 

To get that crucial ground game established, Narduzzi is ready to unleash Rodney Hammond, who had been held back by a nagging, but undisclosed injury from the preseason. Hammond has been listed as the starting tailback on every depth chart released this season, but only taken about a quarter of the total carries this season. 

He's run hard and for good yardage - about 4.2 yards per touch on runs and passes - but to create the kind of plays Narduzzi is looking for, Hammond and the rest of Pitt's stable of runners will have to rely on their teammates. 

"It’s hard to go 13 plays all the time and kick a field goal or score a touchdown," Narduzzi said. "You like to do it quicker than that and you have to do it in the run game and pass game. But how do explosives happen? The receivers got to get downfield on the runs and help Rodney, help C’Bo [Flemister], help Daniel [Carter] and help Phil [Jurkovec].”

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