And training camp 2018 is underway.
Pitt was outside in the rain for its first practice of camp, heading to the outdoor fields of the South Side facility. Here's what stood out in the media viewing window:
- The offensive line looked more or less like you would expect on the first day, with Alex Bookser at right tackle, redshirt seniors Mike Herndon (right) and Connor Dintino (left) at the guard spots, Jimmy Morrissey manning the center position again and grad transfer Stefano Millin lining up at left tackle.
That's been our expected lineup throughout the summer, and for the first day, the coaches are going with it. Behind those five, redshirt freshman Gabe Houy was at left tackle redshirt sophomore Brandon Ford was at left guard, redshirt freshman Owen Drexel was at center, redshirt junior Chase Brown was at right guard and redshirt sophomore Bryce Hargrove was at right tackle.
The move of Hargrove to right tackle is an interesting one for a few reasons. The coaches listed him as the first-team left tackle in the preseason depth chart, but that was bound to change once Millin got in the mix. Having him at right tackle, though, could create a scenario where he could play his way onto the first team and shift Bookser inside to guard, where he has played for most of his career - and arguably is a better position for him.
That will be interesting to watch.
- Elsewhere on the offense, the top trio of receivers in the open practice window consisted of Tre Tipton and Aaron Mathews outside with Rafael Araujo-Lopes in the slot. Maurice Ffrench worked in the slot on the second team, flanked by Shocky Jacques-Louis and Dontavius Butler-Jenkins.
As always with the receivers, there's a lot of flexibility. Those trios might work together a good deal, but they'll also move around and mix and match.
- We speculated about which freshman defensive end might play tight end, and on Friday, the answer was Kaymar Mimes, who was wearing No. 98 in a white jersey - that's the color for the offense at the start of camp. He's definitely got the look of a big athlete; we'll see if the position move sticks.
- Will Gragg was the new addition to the tight end corps as a grad transfer from Arkansas, and he has the look of an athletic tight end, almost closer to the size of a receiver than that of a "traditional" tight end.
- Defensively, the top ends were as expected: Dewayne Hendrix and Rashad Weaver. The interior was more interesting, as the coaches had redshirt freshman Jaylen Twyman lining up next to redshirt senior and returning starter Shane Roy. There will be a rotation at all four defensive line spots, of course, and third-year players Amir Watts and Keyshon Camp will get lots of playing time. But there are some high hopes for Twyman, and I think the coaches believe he can really make an impact this season.
- Twyman and freshman David Green both have something in common: they have the look of smaller, more athletic tackles. I think Pitt needs some bulk in the middle of the line, but the quick guys can make plays, for sure.
- Speaking of freshman defensive lineman, John Morgan looks like he has a physically-ready body right now. He'll have to get the technique and the defense and all of that, but he's pretty well-developed physically.
- Really, I didn't see many other surprises in the lineups on Friday. Quintin Wirginis was flanked by Elijah Zeise and Seun Idowu at linebacker. Dane Jackson and Jason Pinnock were at cornerback. Again, there will be plenty of rotation at those spots.
- On the first day, at least, it looks like all four freshman defensive backs - Judson Tallandier, Erick Hallett, V'Lique Carter and Marquis Williams - are playing cornerback. For now, at least.
I'll post more thoughts as I come across them in my notes, but that's a start. We'll have videos, photos and interviews later as well.
Pitt was outside in the rain for its first practice of camp, heading to the outdoor fields of the South Side facility. Here's what stood out in the media viewing window:
- The offensive line looked more or less like you would expect on the first day, with Alex Bookser at right tackle, redshirt seniors Mike Herndon (right) and Connor Dintino (left) at the guard spots, Jimmy Morrissey manning the center position again and grad transfer Stefano Millin lining up at left tackle.
That's been our expected lineup throughout the summer, and for the first day, the coaches are going with it. Behind those five, redshirt freshman Gabe Houy was at left tackle redshirt sophomore Brandon Ford was at left guard, redshirt freshman Owen Drexel was at center, redshirt junior Chase Brown was at right guard and redshirt sophomore Bryce Hargrove was at right tackle.
The move of Hargrove to right tackle is an interesting one for a few reasons. The coaches listed him as the first-team left tackle in the preseason depth chart, but that was bound to change once Millin got in the mix. Having him at right tackle, though, could create a scenario where he could play his way onto the first team and shift Bookser inside to guard, where he has played for most of his career - and arguably is a better position for him.
That will be interesting to watch.
- Elsewhere on the offense, the top trio of receivers in the open practice window consisted of Tre Tipton and Aaron Mathews outside with Rafael Araujo-Lopes in the slot. Maurice Ffrench worked in the slot on the second team, flanked by Shocky Jacques-Louis and Dontavius Butler-Jenkins.
As always with the receivers, there's a lot of flexibility. Those trios might work together a good deal, but they'll also move around and mix and match.
- We speculated about which freshman defensive end might play tight end, and on Friday, the answer was Kaymar Mimes, who was wearing No. 98 in a white jersey - that's the color for the offense at the start of camp. He's definitely got the look of a big athlete; we'll see if the position move sticks.
- Will Gragg was the new addition to the tight end corps as a grad transfer from Arkansas, and he has the look of an athletic tight end, almost closer to the size of a receiver than that of a "traditional" tight end.
- Defensively, the top ends were as expected: Dewayne Hendrix and Rashad Weaver. The interior was more interesting, as the coaches had redshirt freshman Jaylen Twyman lining up next to redshirt senior and returning starter Shane Roy. There will be a rotation at all four defensive line spots, of course, and third-year players Amir Watts and Keyshon Camp will get lots of playing time. But there are some high hopes for Twyman, and I think the coaches believe he can really make an impact this season.
- Twyman and freshman David Green both have something in common: they have the look of smaller, more athletic tackles. I think Pitt needs some bulk in the middle of the line, but the quick guys can make plays, for sure.
- Speaking of freshman defensive lineman, John Morgan looks like he has a physically-ready body right now. He'll have to get the technique and the defense and all of that, but he's pretty well-developed physically.
- Really, I didn't see many other surprises in the lineups on Friday. Quintin Wirginis was flanked by Elijah Zeise and Seun Idowu at linebacker. Dane Jackson and Jason Pinnock were at cornerback. Again, there will be plenty of rotation at those spots.
- On the first day, at least, it looks like all four freshman defensive backs - Judson Tallandier, Erick Hallett, V'Lique Carter and Marquis Williams - are playing cornerback. For now, at least.
I'll post more thoughts as I come across them in my notes, but that's a start. We'll have videos, photos and interviews later as well.
