Peterman Says Panthers Focusing on Red Zone Offense

PITTSBURGH – After converting on just 83.3 percent (40 of 48) of its red-zone opportunities in 2015, second-year Pitt starting quarterback Nathan Peterman said the red zone is a point of emphasis in preseason practice.

(Photo of Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell talking to Pitt players at Thursday’s practice. Caldwell’s Lions play the Steelers in an exhibition game Friday at Heinz Field. Photo courtesy of Pitt Athletics)

“When an offense gets in the red zone, you have to get points,” Peterson said. “Obviously, we want 100 percent touchdowns. You have to protect the ball in the red zone, which is something I need to do a little bit better job of right now.”

In 2015, Pitt ranked 70th out of 127 FBS schools in red-zone efficiency, and the Panthers scored just 30 touchdowns in their 48 trips inside the opponents 20-yard line.

Offensive Line Still Being Tinkered With

Second-year head coach Pat Narduzzi said he is still tinkering with his offensive line.

“No question about it,” Nardduzzi said. “I think it’s great for competition. As coaches, that’s what we do. You have to have competition in camp. In different spots, there is better competition than others, but we’re going to continue to tinker—offensive line especially. Jaryd Jones-Smith looked really good yesterday. It’s kind of like—wow—where’s he going to be? We’re going to continue to find those spots on the offensive line and see who’s where. Same thing on the defensive line. We put in some sub-packages on defense today. We’re going to try to find out who fits where. I’m excited about one [sub-package] that we’re putting in. I can’t tell you, but I’m excited about it. I’m excited about what I saw in a meeting today, so it should be fun.”

Whitehead’s Knee Looks Good

After undergoing offseason knee surgery in January, sophomore Jordan Whitehead, the overall and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year last year, has looked good in the early days of practice, according to Narduzzi.

“He looks like a million dollars out there,” Narduzzi said. “He really looks good. We’ve got to keep him healthy. It was a very minor surgery. I say minor because I’ve had some major ones. I’ve had some major issues, but it was a minor thing that we were able to catch and just clean it up. He could have probably gone without it, but he looks really good.”

Running Back Battle Heating Up

One thing Pitt has on offense is a multitude of running backs.

In addition to the return of 2014 ACC Player of the Year and All-American James Conner from a knee injury and cancer, the Panthers also have the 2015 ACC Rookie of the Year Qadree Ollison as well as Darrin Hall, Rachid Ibrahim and freshman Chawntez Moss.

“There’s only one football on the field,” Ollison said. “We’re all working really hard every day to try and perfect our craft. Coach Canada (New offensive coordinator Matt Canada) challenged us as and the entire room to go outside of our comfort zone and learn different positions. whether it’s coming out of the backfield, running routes, going in the slot, they’ve challenged us to do that. We’re all trying to become more versatile so we can make more plays as a room.”

Hall believes any one of the running backs could carry the load.

“We’re all good,” Hall said. “We all want to play, so we’re all competing out there, trying to get better. The best guys will play.”

Ollison, who dropped to third on the depth chart after spring practice, said he is taking the competition one day at a time.

“My approach is to take it one day at a time,” Ollison said. “Don’t try to rush it. If you work your butt off, you’re going to be happy with yourself and happy with the results. I don’t worry about touches or how many carries somebody else is getting because I just want to win. And that’s the great thing about our entire team, we all just want to win. It doesn’t matter who gets the ball. If we have to run the ball 60 times or throw the ball 60 times, it doesn’t really matter as long as we score more points than the other team at the end of the fourth quarter.”