Why Phil Jurkovec Has Held Onto Starting QB Job

Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi explained why he's sticking with Phil Jurkovec.

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers starter Phil Jurkovec has compounded error on top of error over the past two weeks, beginning with a poor performance against Cincinnati, then controversial comments about the boos they hurled at him and the offense during the game and now a three-interception night in the Backyard Brawl. 

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has affirmed his support for Jurkovec multiple times and explained why he has stuck with the same starting quarterback despite some struggles as the Panthers look forward to the beginning of ACC play this weekend. 

“He’s a leader in that huddle. He’s a guy you trust," Narduzzi said. "You’ve seen it every day. When you look back at all the things you put in a practice and put in camp on paper and what you’ve shown to do as far as not throwing interceptions in practice - obviously games are games - you just don’t dump things like that. You just don’t do it. It’s just a philosophy and you just don’t do it."

Narduzzi said prior to the West Virginia game that he isn't one to make rash decisions to pull players, regardless of position, but Pitt has already made some quick adjustments to their starting lineups through the first couple of games of the season.

On offense, the Panthers have rotated right guards, with Jason Collier Jr. getting the start on opening day, B.J. Williams replacing him during Week 2 and Collier returning to the starting lineup as Williams missed the Backyard Brawl in Week 3 with an injury. On the defense, they replaced P.J. O'Brien with Donovan McMillon at safety after entering the season with O'Brien as the starter.

Narduzzi then said at the beginning of Week 4 that offensive line and safety are wholly different situations from quarterback.

"I think the quarterback is a totally different position from any other," Narduzzi said. "You try to compare a quarterback to a safety and to me, there’s no comparison. We’re going to rotate safeties in there. You talk about a two-quarterback system, you talk about a four-safety system. You’re rotating guys in there and eventually, you find a rotation you like. I just think quarterback is a totally different deal."

Narduzzi added that the coaching staff will continue to look at their options and make changes wherever they see it as necessary. 

"Obviously, we’re going to evaluate every day and it’s going to be a big week for everybody," he said. "Including the quarterbacks.”

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