Pitt QB Kedon Slovis 'Over-Coached' and 'Overthinking'

Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi said his starting quarterback could benefit from a simplified approach.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have surpassed the midway point of the 2022 campaign and their bye week allowed for plenty of introspection and self evaluation for everyone, including starting quarterback Kedon Slovis. 

The Panthers were unafraid to pass in their first two games against West Virginia and Tennessee. Slovis threw for more than 500 yards across six quarters while Pitt threw on more than 50% of its plays. 

That was before before Slovis had to leave midway through the Week 2 game with a concussion. Ever since, running back Israel Abanikanda has taken the reigns and led a run game revival and Slovis' play has been shaky - plagued by long spells with the ball in his hands and few explosive plays.  The smooth, accurate and powerful arm that won Slovis the starting job in training camp has not been unleashed often and even when it has, it hasn't been done very successfully. 

"I'd say it's maybe above average," Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "I wouldn't say it's a winning effort every time. I'd say it's above average right now. And I think it can be better. And, again, he thinks it can be better as well."

Narduzzi believes some of what is holding Slovis back is indecision. He said Slovis is getting caught between different options while trying to pick the perfect decision when he should trust his instincts more.

"Put it this way: I think he's a pleaser," Narduzzi said. "And I think he's trying to do everything exactly the right way. And sometimes I think he can overthink things. So I think we just got to kind of let it go and maybe don't over-coach him as much and let him play football and let him do what he does."

Narduzzi thinks the problem starts with the coaches, who might have been putting too much on Slovis plate and "cluttered his mind with useless details". If they can give Slovis less to worry about, Narduzzi believes it can unlock better play. 

"It's always twofold. We’ve got to do a better job as coaches first. And then, you know, doing so much, maybe doing too much to the point where we’ve got to keep it simpler, too."

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