Narduzzi Notebook: Pitt Looks Ahead to North Carolina

Pitt is coming off a tough, gritty win over Virginia Tech, but the story coming out of it isn't just the result. It's the fallout.

Mason Heintschel is done for the year with a torn ACL, Holden Geriner (GER-ner) is getting the first real start of his college career and the Panthers are leaning harder than ever on their run game to bridge the gap.

Here's what Pat Narduzzi had to say as his team turns the page to North Carolina:

Losing Heintschel

Narduzzi confirmed Saturday that Heintschel will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL against Virginia Tech, and it was clear the moment still weighed on him.

"I don't think I'll ever forget just seeing his mom and dad and Mason after the game in the corner of that end zone," Narduzzi said. "That'll stand for a long time."

He made sure to credit how the team responded despite the news, and left no doubt about Heintschel's role going forward.

"Mason will be with us, obviously, and he will be as big a coach as anybody," he said. "I know how much he means to our football team."

Geriner Gets the Nod

With Heintschel out, the job now belongs to Holden Geriner, who takes over on his third school in five years after limited playing time at his previous stops.

This season, he's appeared in three games — against Miami (Ohio), Bucknell and Virginia Tech — completing 19 of 26 passes for two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Narduzzi leaned on Geriner's demeanor more than anything else when explaining his confidence in the move.

"He's just an unbelievable kid," Narduzzi said. "I think Kade [Bell is] his 14th offensive coordinator slash quarterback coach in his career, and I think Kade's done a hell of a job... we've got a ton of faith in him."

He also credited offensive coordinator Bell's track record with quarterbacks, pointing to what he did with Heintschel last year and now Geriner.

As for Geriner's actual game, Narduzzi was quick to praise the fifth year.

"He throws a nice ball. He's composed," Narduzzi said. "He might not have played a whole lot of football, but he's been around a lot of football."

Behind Geriner, freshman Corey Dailey moves into the backup role. Dailey has appeared in just one game this season, against Bucknell, going 3-for-5 with a touchdown pass. Narduzzi pointed back to that outing as proof Dailey is ready for bigger reps.

"Corey has gotten better every week, and now he's going to get those backup reps," Narduzzi said. "You're blessed to be able to have gotten those opportunities... I was impressed with those guys after the Bucknell game."

Neal Making His Case Up Front

Isaiah Neal's season has been one of the most productive stories on Pitt's defense.

Through five games, he's racked up 14 tackles, three tackles for loss (third-most on the team) and a team-high 1.5 sacks for 12 yards, adding four quarterback hurries. He's also one of two Panthers to force a fumble this year, and the only one with a recovery.

"That guy just keeps getting better," Narduzzi said. "He's so smart. You know, I always talk about how smart Ghost is. He's got such great instincts too. I guess that's the interior intelligence. That guy's playing out of his mind."

Run Game Carries the Load

With a new quarterback settling in, Pitt's rushing attack becomes even more important. The Panthers are averaging 162.0 rushing yards per game with eight rushing touchdowns, spread across three backs who've each shown flashes this season.

Damon Ferguson leads the room with 270 yards (54.0 per game) and three touchdowns, followed by La'Vell Wright with 145 yards (36.3 per game) and two scores. Ja'Kyrian Turner, working back into the rotation after playing in just two games, has added 104 yards (52.0 per game) and a touchdown.

"I feel really good," Narduzzi said. "Panther nation should feel pretty good with those guys, not only all being back, but all back again this week too."

Can Pitt Still Win the ACC Without Heintschel?

When asked directly whether losing Heintschel changes Pitt's championship outlook, Narduzzi didn't hesitate.

"It's more than just one player," he said. "We have a team that can win an ACC championship with Mason or without Mason. And obviously it's a lot better with Mason. But I don't think there's any doubt in this room."