Prediction: Switzer to give Pitt fits one more time

Opening up conference play against a reigning division champion is less than ideal, especially after a heartbreaking road loss.

But Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi is embracing the challenge heading into Pitt’s ACC opener Saturday against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

“We don’t make it bigger than any other game, but it’s a special game because it’s the ACC start,” Narduzzi said. “It’s a special game because they’re a good football team, they’re the champion of the Coastal [Division] and we get an opportunity to open up with them down at their place.”

After back-to-back thrillers against Penn State and Oklahoma State, here are three trends to look for in what could be another classic battle.

Pass it on

Pitt’s cornerbacks — particularly junior Avonte Maddox — struggled mightily last week against Oklahoma State’s daunting set of wide receivers, as James Washington torched the secondary for nearly 300 yards.

The task won’t be any easier against the Tar Heels, as Ryan Switzer and Mack Hollins have given the Panthers fits since they moved to the ACC.

In his career against Pitt, Switzer has posted 10 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two scores on punt returns. Last year, Hollins hauled in two long passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

“The first thing you look at is Ryan Switzer, who can take over a game by himself,” Narduzzi said. “[Hollins] presents the jump ball with his height, so there will be a height mismatch as well as a speed mismatch. [UNC] is going to take their shots off of what they saw last week, without question.”

The Panthers may want to give Maddox more safety help than last week by blanketing either Terrish Webb or Jordan Whitehead over the top.

On the other side of the ball, the Tar Heels can be equally susceptible to deep passes.

If Pitt has enough confidence in quarterback Nathan Peterman, the team should look to test the Tar Heels deep and early. It could be a good opportunity to get some rhythm flowing in a passing game that has been so stagnant so far.

Keeping Conner

One of James Conner’s best career games came in Chapel Hill in 2014, when the bruising Pitt running back rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries.

Don’t expect that kind of workload for Conner this week against UNC, though. Narduzzi said he needs to taper back Conner’s carries.

“James gets tired. We have to keep him fresh,” Narduzzi said.

Pitt has the depth to give him the rest he needs. Sophomore Darrin Hall is a talented young back that has impressed early, and the Panthers gave true freshman Chawntez Moss the first two carries of his career against Oklahoma State.

Additionally, ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year Qadree Ollison didn’t receive any carries last week but operated as Conner’s primary backup in the team’s first two games.

Conner is a special talent, but Pitt will need production from the other backs, particularly Hall. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound tailback appears to be the Panthers’ go-to change-of-pace back, but they are capable of rotating Moss or Ollison in as well when Conner gets tired.

Born to stop the run

Pitt’s run defense started the season strong before allowing 101 yards on just 10 carries to Oklahoma State running back Rennie Childs. The Panthers have also allowed four rushing touchdowns apiece to the past two starting running backs they’ve faced –– Childs and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.

Still, Narduzzi’s goal of holding teams under 100 yards rushing hasn’t changed.

“We’re not worried about rushing TDs, we’re worried about rushing yards and stopping the run,” Narduzzi said. “And if a guy feels good about running for a two-yard touchdown after an 80-yard pass, I guess he needs something to feel good about it.”

The defense faces another premiere running back in the Tar Heels’ Elijah Hood this week. Hood ran for 98 yards on 20 carries against Pitt last year, and has already run for 266 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Narduzzi said that the Tar Heels’ balanced offense presents an interesting challenge for his defense.

“We struggled to contain the rush game last year,” Narduzzi said. “And now you’ve got to worry about the pass as well as stopping [Hood] in the run game.”

PREDICTION: Pitt will engage in its third straight shoot-out, as the defense isn’t equipped to shut down an offense as talented as the Tar Heels. UNC’s defense might struggle with Pitt’s weapons on offense like Quadree Henderson and Conner, but Switzer will torch the Panthers for one last devastating score before he graduates.

North Carolina 37, Pitt 32