Notebook: Offense works on limiting turnovers with Duke on deck

Last September, Pitt football fans expected a walk in the park when their 1-1 team traveled to Durham, N.C., for the Panthers’ first-ever conference game against what used to be a lowly Duke team.

The Panthers did pull out a 58-55 win over the Blue Devils in a shootout, and, on paper, it ended up being their marquee win of the season. Duke ended up winning the ACC’s Coastal Division and falling three points shy to Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.

Pitt (4-4, 2-2 ACC) hosts Duke (6-1, 2-1 ACC), which cracked the AP poll this week at No. 24, Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field.

Pitt’s defense surrendered 612 yards of offense to Georgia Tech in a 56-28 loss last weekend, and members of Pitt’s defense were left baffled by the Yellow Jackets’ triple option.

Pitt head coach Paul Chryst said Monday that Duke’s offense is nothing he hasn’t seen before. Still, Chryst added, “What makes it difficult is that you’re going up against a good offense.”

Duke’s offense lacks star power, but its four-running back system blew by Virginia in the Blue Devils’ last game with 242 rushing yards. The Blue Devils’ defense allows just 15 points per contest, which ranks fifth nationally.

Pitt’s only chance to top that average is by holding on to the ball better than it did last game. Pitt fumbled the ball seven times against Georgia Tech. The Panthers tied an FBS record for most fumbles in a quarter of play with five fumbles, and the first four came in their first six snaps from kickoff.

Pitt running back James Conner had probably the wildest fumble of them all. In the first quarter, Conner was stripped at the goal line while chugging out what could have been a 74-yard touchdown run.

“I guess we can drill it and not let it happen again,” Conner said Monday.

Pitt will have to do just that this week during practice, because Duke’s defense has induced 14 turnovers through seven games this season.

Quarterback Chad Voytik was evaluated for injury after leaving the Georgia Tech game in the fourth quarter, and Chryst said Monday that Voytik was “O.K.,” and that he has been practicing with the team this week.

Pitt center Alex Officer airmailed a snap out of Voytik’s reach with 10 minutes to play, and as Voytik chased down the loose ball, Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Travis collided with Voytik’s upper body and head.

Voytik stood up after the hit and was slow to leave the field. Reserve quarterback Trey Anderson replaced him at that point.

Chryst provided no update on the status of safety Terrish Webb, who suffered an ankle injury against Georgia Tech.