Having a player of Jordan Addison's caliber in front could certainly not be a bad thing.
But with the former Biletnikoff Trophy winner moved on, it became Jared Wayne's time to become Pitt's top wide receiver, in the next era ushered in by a new quarterback and offensive coordinator.
And, with a new wide receivers coach, in Tiquan Underwood.
Through eight games, he has largely lived up to the billing, even while working through injury issues and with the passing game as a whole struggling to bridge any sort of consistency across weeks.
"The one thing I can say about J-Wayne is he's consistent," Underwood said on Tuesday. "Each and every day you're going to get the same person on and off the field, and he's done a great job of leading the receiver unit. For him to have the game he had last game, honestly I wasn't surprised because he comes to work each and every day. He took advantage of his opportunities."
Wayne certainly did, against No. 21 North Carolina. He finished with a career-high 161 yards on seven catches (on 14 targets) for Pitt's first 100-yard receiving game of the season and Wayne's third-career 100-yard game. He caught passes of 41, 21, 29, and 50 yards throughout parts of the first half and gave us a glimpse of some of the positives that can happen once Pitt chooses to try to stretch the field.
He did register a drop, albeit on a deep ball he had to make a tough adjustment on, in order to gain separation from his defender. But otherwise, the 100-yard performance was a refreshing sight for an offense which has largely struggled to open up opportunities downfield throughout the season.
Each of Pitt's three top receivers -- Konata Mumpfield and Bub Means included -- have been dinged up at points, with Wayne and Mumpfield each missing a game this season. Means was injured before the Louisville game, and did not register a reception.
This comes with some already-thinning depth, as Jaden Bradley entered the transfer portal two weeks ago.
"That's always hard," Underwood said of having a player leave the program. "You're building relationships with these guys, and when they decide to leave, it's tough. You've got to have that talk with them, you've got to have that talk with their folks, and it's not always easy. Guys leave for different reasons, and in this instance, I loved coaching J.B. when he was here, and I feel like that decision was made, and he's going to move on, we're going to move on. Wish him nothing but the best, and I know he's going to be successful wherever he lands. Some program's going to be lucky to have him, for sure."
And this also comes with receivers building connections with Kedon Slovis and learning a new offense implemented by Frank Cignetti, Jr.
"That's going to be always," Underwood said. "Same when a young guy comes here. You've got to build chemistry. When you transfer in and you're throwing with guys, that's why you've got to throw all the time. Those off-seasons are valuable. The spring, spring ball, the summer, it takes time. It takes time, and I feel like we've just got to keep working. Got to keep working. Some plays we connect, some plays we don't, and it's our job as coaches to fix the mistakes, players just executing better, and I feel like we'll be fine.
"We've had flashes, we've had games and quarters where we've played well, we've played very well. We execute, we score, and sometimes we go into a little lull. So, we've got to figure out as coaches, 'OK, why are we going in that lull?' and let's fix it so we can play clean ball."
As Pitt moves on to face No. 20 Syracuse, it is preparing for a challenge against a physical secondary, even with cornerback Garrett Williams now out for the season with a torn ACL.
Wayne has recorded seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in two games against the Orange, including a five-catch, 59-yard outing with a touchdown in the 2020 matchup.
"I feel so bad for (Williams)," Underwood said. "He was playing great football. Really good corner. I definitely saw him on tape. Collectively, Syracuse, very aggressive. Good tackling team, and they play with an attitude, play with a chip, so we're going to have to bring it on Saturday, that's for damn sure.
"From Syracuse, they'll give you some press, they'll give you some off, you know what I mean? They do a good job of mixing it up, and they've got that three-safety defense, which is unique. Very different than most defenses that you play against, so that makes you think a little bit, it's a little different. Very aggressive, that's what I see on tape. They run to the ball, and they're physical. So we've got to do a good job of having good ball security, that's for sure."
