Juelz Goff tries to shake off Boston College linebacker Kam Arnold at Alumni Stadium.
With Desmond Reid sidelined for Pitt's final regular season game, the Panthers failed to develop any type of run game Saturday evening in a 34-23 loss to Boston College at Alumni Stadium, their fifth straight.
Pat Narduzzi said Reid, who didn't travel with the team to Boston, will be able to play in the team's bowl game. But, his absence showcased Pitt's current lack of depth at the position as they rushed for 23 total yards, with Nate Yarnell losing -10 net yards after being sacked six times.
"We didn't run the ball well enough, we rushed for 26 yards or 23 yards, whatever it was, I mean we just didn't rush the football like we need too," Narduzzi said. "When No. 6 (Donovan Ezeiruaku) is lined up way out there on the offensive tackle, we've gotta be able to run the ball when they line up like that and we weren't able to. So, we'll go back and look at the tape and see why we didn't. But a big reason is our No. 1 playmaker in the backfield, No. 0, wasn't there."
With Reid sidelined, Daniel Carter lost to a season-ending injury and Rodney Hammond Jr. redshirting, the Panthers only traveled three running backs -- Derrick Davis Jr., Juelz Goff and Caleb Williams. Davis went down with an injury late in the second quarter and never returned, so the game was handed to Goff, a true freshman.
Goff rushed for just 14 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 14 yards as the Eagles ultimately made Pitt one dimensional. Yarnell threw the ball 42 times and completed 55% of his passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
"I think he (Goff) did a solid job, I mean he's a freshman, he hadn't had a carry going into the game," Narduzzi said. "He played 12 snaps a week ago. We knew we were going to have to lean on him and Derrick Davis. I mean we traveled with three tailbacks. I looked out there in pre-game and watched three tailbacks with six quarterbacks and three quarterbacks didn't have anyone to hand it off too and I'm like 'Holy cow.' I knew we only had three but when I saw that, I was like 'What's going on here? With Daniel Carter and Des being down and Rodney being out, that's the way it is."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
1:36 am - 12.01.2024CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.NO REID, NO RUN GAME
Pitt Athletics
Juelz Goff tries to shake off Boston College linebacker Kam Arnold at Alumni Stadium.
With Desmond Reid sidelined for Pitt's final regular season game, the Panthers failed to develop any type of run game Saturday evening in a 34-23 loss to Boston College at Alumni Stadium, their fifth straight.
Pat Narduzzi said Reid, who didn't travel with the team to Boston, will be able to play in the team's bowl game. But, his absence showcased Pitt's current lack of depth at the position as they rushed for 23 total yards, with Nate Yarnell losing -10 net yards after being sacked six times.
"We didn't run the ball well enough, we rushed for 26 yards or 23 yards, whatever it was, I mean we just didn't rush the football like we need too," Narduzzi said. "When No. 6 (Donovan Ezeiruaku) is lined up way out there on the offensive tackle, we've gotta be able to run the ball when they line up like that and we weren't able to. So, we'll go back and look at the tape and see why we didn't. But a big reason is our No. 1 playmaker in the backfield, No. 0, wasn't there."
With Reid sidelined, Daniel Carter lost to a season-ending injury and Rodney Hammond Jr. redshirting, the Panthers only traveled three running backs -- Derrick Davis Jr., Juelz Goff and Caleb Williams. Davis went down with an injury late in the second quarter and never returned, so the game was handed to Goff, a true freshman.
Goff rushed for just 14 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 14 yards as the Eagles ultimately made Pitt one dimensional. Yarnell threw the ball 42 times and completed 55% of his passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
"I think he (Goff) did a solid job, I mean he's a freshman, he hadn't had a carry going into the game," Narduzzi said. "He played 12 snaps a week ago. We knew we were going to have to lean on him and Derrick Davis. I mean we traveled with three tailbacks. I looked out there in pre-game and watched three tailbacks with six quarterbacks and three quarterbacks didn't have anyone to hand it off too and I'm like 'Holy cow.' I knew we only had three but when I saw that, I was like 'What's going on here? With Daniel Carter and Des being down and Rodney being out, that's the way it is."
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