Pitt’s Eli Holstein-Kenny Johnson Duo Growing Strong

During Monday’s press conference, Kenny Johnson addressed a play he made in Saturday’s scrimmage on the receiving end of an Eli Holstein pass. 

All indications point to Johnson adequately filling Konata Mumpfield’s shoes so far throughout spring camp. 

“Actually, we had our quick game on, so we had our slant. Eli looked over there, (had) seen that Cruce had cheated down a little bit, so he wasn't really going to be able to play the fade ball,” Johnson said in his Monday media segment (available on YouTube). 

“Me and Eli been working on a little signal. So, he threw a little signal out for me, and we just ran a fade ball. Easy. Me and Eli been getting real close on those. It's like being connected and knowing if a DB is over the top, where to put the ball. If I'm over the top, where to put the ball, and stuff like that.”

It’s the product of a full season of competing in the same offense together, and plenty of time on their own working to strengthen that connection. 

“Me and Eli, even this summer, I'm trying to go wherever he's at just so we can throw,” Johnson added. “You know what I mean? We've got to be on the point where it's like on some Aaron Rodgers - Davante Adams stuff…We've got to be the focal point because everything's got to flow through us so everybody else can eat."

“If me and him have the best connection that we can possibly have, there should be no reason that we don't score every drive.”

The Holstein-Johnson connection was cited by Pitt’s head coach on Monday. 

“You know, Kenny, he keeps getting better,” Pat Narduzzi said. “He knows where to go. He can make plays. He does a great job catching the football. I know Eli trusts him. So, there's an element of respect there for both those guys, and Kenny's done a nice job for us.”