Winning with backups gives Pitt satisfying feeling

Pat Narduzzi doesn’t experiment when he designs gameplans and lineups.

His personnel choices are made based on what he and his assistants believe gives Pitt the best chance to win.

Nonetheless, some part of him felt especially gratified Saturday night when he was able to keep starting quarterback Kedon Slovis on the bench — even after doctors cleared him of concussion symptoms — and defeat Western Michigan with former fourth-team quarterback Nate Yarnell under center.

When he was asked if winning in that manner is more satisfying than having a complete team and winning by five or six touchdowns, he said, “No question about it.”

“I almost want to see what we’re made of. To me, I didn’t know what the heck we’d get.”

But players responded by putting together three long scoring drives in the second half, committing only four penalties and no turnovers, allowing just one sack and grinding out 238 yards on the ground.

“When you hold on to the ball, with your fourth team, third team, whatever you want to call them, quarterback in there, that was impressive,” he said. “He played with composure. Not turning the ball over was critical.

“Our staff did a great job of setting that up, getting to the point where he was comfortable.”

Truth be told, Pitt looks to be a hobbled team.

With Owen Drexel out, Jake Kradel moved from right guard to center, and Blake Zubovic was inserted at guard. Plus, right tackle Gabe Houy missed his third consecutive game. Among other prominent players who missed all or part of the game were wide receiver Jared Wayne, running back Rodney Hammond Jr., quarterback Nick Patti, cornerbacks Marquis Williams and M.J. Devonshire, defensive ends Deslin Alexandre, Habakkuk Baldonado and Dayon Hayes and defensive tackle Devin Danielson.

Other than Slovis, the most important absences might have been Drexel, who calls out signals on the line, and Wayne, who remains Pitt’s leading pass catcher (13 receptions, 265 yards, one touchdown).

Yarnell, who was named ACC Rookie of the Week, threw only 12 passes (completing nine). Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. still expected him to take care of all the housekeeping items demanded of quarterbacks.

“He’s controlling things,” Narduzzi said. “Not only was he playing quarterback, taking snaps, he’s making checks up there as well … changing runs. He’s changing pass protections. He was doing it all.

“We weren’t just calling a play and saying, ‘Just run it, don’t worry about anything else.’ He was operating. He had 100% decision-making. He made great decisions with what we asked him to do.”

Narduzzi didn’t identify who would start Saturday against Rhode Island, however.

“We have another piece to the puzzle you may have to use at some other point in the season,” he said. “Who knows when, where? I think Kedon is out of the woods. If he is, you go play. He wanted to play last week, so …”

With Rhode Island of the FCS next on the schedule, Narduzzi said he doesn’t plan to rest running back Izzy Abanikanda, who has 56 carries in the past two games.

“Not really. I mean, maybe don’t give him 31 carries,” he said. “I’m sure he wants to play. Put it this way: We put too much work in not to play. If I grabbed Izzy, said, ‘I’m thinking about resting you this week.’ He’d look at me, ‘Coach, you don’t like me?’

“We’ll rest him up Tuesday, Wednesday, give him (fewer) carries. He’ll be ready to go Saturday.”