Pitt vs. Rhode Island Preview: Clean Execution Against FCS Opponent

The Pitt Panthers are looking for win number three when they welcome Rhode Island.

PITTSBURGH -- When an FCS opponent visits a Power 5 stadium, betting lines tend to balloon and confidence grows. Pat Narduzzi certainly knows why his Pitt Panthers are such heavy favorites - 34.5 points according to most sportsbooks - in their Week 4 game against Rhode Island, still he will not bury the Rams before they are dead.

Pitt has clobbered FCS teams over the past two years, defeating New Hampshire in 2021 and Austin Peay in 2020 by an average of 62.5 points, but Narduzzi's tenure in Pittsburgh has featured some close calls against foes from Division I's second tier. 

"We went through the list of all the I-AA opponents," Narduzzi said. "We had Youngstown State in overtime. We played Delaware tight with a backup quarterback Nick Patti back in the day. The last two years, at least last year, we took care of business the way you’re supposed to. I think in ‘20 and ‘21 we had pretty good football teams like we do now, so we’ll see what happens.”

To that end, Narduzzi hasn't considered resting any of his starters. Star tailback Israel Abanikanda can expect a normal workload after carrying the ball a career-high 31 times against Western Michigan, starting quarterback Kedon Slovis will be "ready to roll" and the Panthers will have to go through the Rams to earn any rest before the start of ACC play next week. 

"They all want to play," Narduzzi said. "We all want to coach. You only get 12 guaranteed opportunities to go out there and play and it’s another one of those opportunities to go make a name for yourself, brand for yourself on the field. … They want to play the game of football. They love the game of football."

To get there, Pitt will need to execute. Superior talent will only get them so far, especially against a team like Rhode Island that is one of the better in the FCS. 

Pitt's secondary will once again be tested by a familiar and talented pairing of super seniors. Ed Lee has caught 15 of quarterback Kasim Hill's 47 completions and accounted for 265 of his 705 total yards through three games. They were high school teammates at football powerhouse St. John's in Washington, D.C. and that chemistry has carried over into their college days. Graduate student wideout Kathero Summers is a big, strong red zone threat that's hauled in three touchdowns this season. 

“I’ve noticed they’ve got their quarterback and their leading receiver No. 13, they went to high school together," Secondaries coach Archie Collins said. "So it's going to be a good time because they love each other, you can tell that and how good of a connection they have with one another."

It'll be all about technique and details for the Panthers on defense, which has been good-not-great through three games this season. Finishing off splash plays in the backfield is on the to-do list for the front seven and the secondary wants to fine-tune their technique, particularly when facing another set of talented receivers. 

On the other side of the ball, the Panther receivers will hope to have a strong day. The most productive player in the room, Jared Wayne, suffered an undisclosed injury in the first half last week against Western Michigan and Pitt's secondary pass catchers will be tasked with masking his absence if Wayne cannot go. 

Their job will be relatively easy if the Panthers can run the ball the way they did against Western Michigan. Running backs coach Andre Powell said that they certainly won't hold back their run game, esspecially given how many tailbacks he feels comfortable mixing in.  

“We’re going to try to run the football," Powell said. "That’s always going to be our attitude, whether it’s him or Vince or Daniel or C’Bo, we’re going to try to run the ball.”

A blowout is expected, but that doesn't mean Pitt will be satisfied with a win earned solely through talent. They want a decisive victory and that will require that attention to detail. Narduzzi believes that this veteran team has approached this game with the right attitude and is ready to give a worthy effort on gameday. 

“Really good week of practice. I think our guys are looking at this game in a really mature way," he said. "Looking forward to seeing what happens out there and hoping for a good game.”

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