Head Coach Pat Narduzzi won’t say it, but I believe it happens this weekend. The injury report as mandated by the ACC came out yesterday. And even by those vague standards, Avonte Maddox is not looking likely to play.
Pitt junior cornerback Avonte Maddox, who has started the past 24 games, is listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report, released Thursday by coach Pat Narduzzi. Pitt plays its third ACC game Saturday at Virginia.
Maddox injured his arm in the second quarter of Pitt’s victory last Saturday against Georgia Tech. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Dane Jackson, who finished the game with four tackles.
That leaves Dane Jackson as the starter with Ryan Lewis and just Phillipe Motley as the only player on the depth chart without a redshirt to burn.
At some point, either Therran Coleman or Damar Hamlin is going to have to play.
Narduzzi said a couple of weeks ago that Hamlin is healthy. He spent preseason football dealing with an undisclosed health problem that required the services of a specialist.
Narduzzi basically said now it is simply a matter of getting him ready for the college game and not thrusting him into a situation that would waste a year of eligibility if it’s not absolutely necessary.
Hamlin (6-1, 185) of Central Catholic, and Coleman (6-0, 190) who played at Brashear, were highly rated out of high school.
“Damar and Therran, for really the last three weeks, have been battling back and forth,” Narduzzi said. “And you know, we’ve traveled [with] both of them I think the last two or three weeks, and they are just getting closer. They are freshmen, and we’ll see how much closer they are.”
That’s a classic Narduzzi riddle, meant to almost reveal some news, then stop short, to keep everyone guessing.
Narduzzi had to leave town for personal reasons, cancelling a Thursday briefing — usually the last of the week when he would have been peppered with more questions about Hamlin.
Condolences to Media Relations Coordinator Celeste Walsh for the loss in her family.
My Bad.
I can see Pitt DB’s running into each other ala the Keystone Cops, if we don’t see some Zone coverages.
Unless we blitz, blitz, blitz and cause their QB to feel pressure and hurry his passes, I see lots of yardage in the air for the Wahoo’s.
Emel, maybe this will force Duzzi to play 2 deep (Tampa) zone some.
Bottom line: We just have to score more points than UVA
Maybe this weekend. Maybe not.
But one of these Weekends it’s going to happen… DESPITE Canada’s Offense.
The offense has been clicking for all 5 games now. It’s not a fluke. It’s not a gimmick. It works and it works well … and has been successful wherever Canada has coached it and ran it. When the offense has struggled, it has been in the 4th QTR when attempting to use Conner like the bell cow back he is expected to be.
Conner has scored in all but one game. He’s still a big piece of the puzzle. He’s more involved in the passing game and pass protection than ever before. His yards and carries are down but his ypc are also down. There’s probably a correlation.
Conner’s not 100% yet. His conditioning and strength aren’t all the way back in addition to the natural wear and tear of the season. Not to mention he missed all of last year and is still getting acclimated to the speed of the game combined with the toll that chemo and cancer took.
When the combine comes around in February, he’ll be 20 LBS lighter, run a 4.5 40 and have tape showing him in pass protection and excelling in the passing game.
I really don’t think it’s the offense holding him back. Canada and Duzz both want him to do well. He’s just not quite there yet. Understandably. He doesn’t have to give any excuses either. The fact he is where he is right now is a testament to his character.
He’ll get all the way back. We might not see it until the NFL though.
TT, I think Conner stays another year since he’s not near 100% this year.
Canada’s Offense is NOT designed for a Straight Ahead Power Running Game. Just that simple.
I hope you are right and Conner breaks out and shows his stuff in some of the games to come.
Don’t forget Ollison. I don’t know how he practices, but he’s a player in the games when he gets in.
Like Emel says, blitz and keep blitzing all game long.
Pitt finally has an offense that looks like a college offense. Yes, this offense probably hurts Conner a bit but it’s a much more resilient than we’ve had in years.
Safe travels and enjoy the game. I’m off to help my son move…
HTP!
However, tomorrow the REAL Test comes with UVA knowing he’s going to be in the Game.
It’s going to be interesting to see which side the Cavaliers ultimately try to EXPLOIT… Jackson’s or the other.
Then we’ll know for sure.