Pitt Panthers: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Pitt Panthers: Key To The 2022 Offense
Keep on running.
It’s no coincidence that the three losses came on three of the team’s four worst rushing performances of last season.
The passing attack was a whole lot of fun last year, and the fun can keep going with Kedon Slovis under center.
However, it wasn’t all that long ago that Pitt did big things by ripping it up with the ground game – Quadree Ollison and Darrin Hall dominated with over 2,300 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2018.
This year’s running game won’t be that, but the veteran backs in place should be able to balance out the attack more, and at the very least they need to help the O average more than four yards per carry.
Pitt Panthers: Key To The 2022 Defense
See the big touchdown passes to a minimum.
Over the last three seasons, Pitt is 1-9 when giving up more than two touchdown passes.
Giving up lots of passing yards is just the cost of doing business for the Pitt defense. Quarterbacks are going to get fat on big plays, everyone will get off the bus with 200 passing yards, and the deep ball will be there.
But there’s a difference between struggling in pass defense and not being to control what’s happening.
How did Pitt lose to Western Michigan? Then-Bronco QB Kaleb Eleby seemingly hit every throw, and the Panther D gave up 357 yards and three touchdowns.
How did Pitt lose to Miami? It allowed over ten yards per throw and gave up 426 yards and three touchdown passes.
And then there was the bowl meltdown against Michigan State, allowing 354 yards and three touchdowns.
All three losses came when the pass D allowed over 350 yards and three scores. That only happened one other time, and it was a wild shootout win over Virginia.
Pitt Panthers: Key Player To The 2022 Season
WR Konanta Mumpfield, Soph.
Akron might have been awful last year, but the passing game occasionally worked. One of the big revelations was a 61 freshman wide receiver who averaged 12 yards per catch with 63 catches for 751 yards and eight scores.
No one is expecting Mumpfield to be another Jordan Addison, but if he can chip away at the 100 catches of lost production and be a good No. 2 receiver next to Jared Wayne, the passing game will keep on rolling.
He was a big get from the transfer portal, but not as large as …
Pitt Panthers: Key Transfer
QB Kedon Slovis, Sr.
Kenny Pickett threw 39 touchdown passes in his first four years with the Panthers. Slovis threw 58 touchdown passes in just 27 games at USC.
Of course, Mr. Pickett turned up the production just a wee bit in his fifth year, but Slovis is more accurate, is even better on the deep throw, and has the talent be a more-than-capable replacement for the job. No, he’s not going to throw 42 touchdown passes, but he’ll make the O go.
Pitt Key Game To The 2022 Season
Tennessee, Sept. 10
Really, Pitt, how much of a player are you going to be?
There are plenty of big ACC games to deal with – the road trip to Miami to close out the regular season will probably be the team’s game of the year – but if this year’s version is any good, it has to win the home game against West Virginia to start the season, and then comes what might be the most fun non-conference game of the season.
These two combined for close to 800 yards of total offense and 75 points in the 41-34 Pitt win last year, and it set the tone for the rest of the season …
At least it did after losing to Western Michigan the following week, but I digress.
This will be the moment to see just how good Pitt is on a national scale. Win, and then it’s Game On for the season’s expectations.
Pitt Panthers: 2021 Fun Stats
– 2nd Quarter Scoring: Pitt 218 – Opponents 75
– Sacks: Pitt 54 for 406 yards – Opponents 34 for 257 yards
– 4th Down Conversions: Pitt 17-of-25 (68%) – Opponents 7-of-26 (27%)
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Pitt Top 10 Players | Pitt Schedule & Analysis