Pitt was back at it Tuesday morning for practice No. 4 of spring camp, and here some news and notes from the open media viewing window.
OFFENSE
- For the most part, Tuesday - which was the start of Week Two of camp - was a continuation from Week One. Max Browne continues to seem to have the top spot at quarterback and his offensive line, at least in the early portion of practice, was unchanged.
That would be Brian O’Neill at left tackle, Alex Officer at left guard, Connor Dintino at center, Alex Bookser at right guard and Jaryd Jones-Smith at right tackle.
- The receiver combinations continue to be intriguing. I saw a three-receiver set of Jester Weah, Tre Tipton and Quadree Henderson and later saw Aaron Mathews line up with Tipton and Henderson as well as some two-receiver sets that mix and match height combos.
The coaches really have some options, even if you just consider those four players. They can go with a lot of height by using Weah and Mathews or Tipton together. They can get a lot of speed with the big-small combo of Weah and Henderson. And they can create some real matchup issues with a three-receiver set that has two “bigs” and Henderson.
And all of that is before guys start going in motion and shifting and doing different things.
- Last spring we talked a lot about how Pitt might use multiple running backs on the field at the same time, and while we saw some of that during the season, those spring projections were based largely on what appeared to be a glut of running backs and some big holes at receiver. This year the script is flipped; Pitt’s got the talent at receiver and, at least for this spring, fewer numbers at running back. Even when the freshmen arrive, they’ll still lack experience as opposed to the receivers, so I think we’re looking at a lot of three-receiver sets in the offense.
Of course, that wouldn’t make Pitt anything close to a groundbreaker - even the Steelers rely on those kinds of formations - but it almost seems like Pitt’s base offense this season will likely be one with a trio of wideouts on the field.
- At the same time, George Aston is still going to be an important part of the offense, and he’ll often work in tandem with a tight end. So those situations will lead to more two-receiver sets, obviously.
- But again, think about defending this offensive personnel:
Receivers: Weah and Henderson - size and speed on one end, speed on the other and playmaking skills all over
Tight end: Chris Clark - more size and good running and catching abilities at that size
Fullback/H-back/adjuster: Aston - a weapon who will force defenses to tip their hand pre-snap and can make plays running or catching
Add in the running back - whoever it is - and there are matchup issues all over the place. With solid work from the offensive line and effective play at quarterback, this offense should be good.
DEFENSE
- On defense, things are taking shape a little bit, although I didn’t really expect any major changes until after this weekend’s scrimmage.
- Right now, I think the defensive line two-deep looks like this: Dewayne Hendrix and Rori Blair at end with James Folston and Allen Edwards as their top backups and Kaezon Pugh, Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones behind them. And at tackle, it’s Jeremiah Taleni and Keyshon Camp backed up by Amir Watts and Mike Herndon, with Shane Roy and Rashad Wheeler behind them.
- Quintin Wirginis is still limited, so he’s not in the mix at linebacker right now. That leaves Saleem Brightwell working in the middle with Chase Pine behind him, and I think the stock arrow is pointing up on both guys, maybe as much as anyone on the defense (just from my view). The equation will change when Wirginis is healthy and active, but I think Brightwell is a starter in this defense and I think there’s a good chance Pine has a role when the season gets going (perhaps similar to Wirginis last year, who came on the field primarily for Pitt’s third-down package).
- Avonte Maddox and Phillipie Motley continue to be the top two cornerbacks, with Maurice Ffrench, Therran Coleman and Dane Jackson behind them and Damar Hamlin still limited. Coleman and Jackson seem to be in competition, and I suspect Hamlin will push Ffrench when he returns.
- At safety, Dennis Briggs continues to work next to Jordan Whitehead, with Phil Campbell and Jay Stocker behind them and Bricen Garner and Henry Miller working there as well. I also think Campbell could have a role in the defense, but we’ll see how that develops.
- I didn’t mention Deslin Alexandre, but he got some work Tuesday morning, even taking a couple reps next to Taleni and Camp during the walk-throughs.
- Speaking of Camp, he may be in the spotlight this season. Barring a major push from Mike Herndon or Shane Roy, there is going to be a young player lined up next to Taleni - whether it’s Camp, Watts or incoming redshirt freshman Kam Carter. Camp is somewhat forgotten since he redshirted last season, but Pat Narduzzi gave him some kind words the other day and Camp seems to be getting first-team work during walk-throughs.
RECRUITING
- Pitt had a few visitors on Tuesday morning. Most prominent was new Athletic Director Heather Lyke. But there were a few recruits as well.
-2017 signees Kyle Nunn and Carson Van Lynn came in for the practice. Nunn was focused on the linebackers, as expected, but offensive line coach John Peterson told Van Lynn to keep an eye on his position group. Van Lynn signed with Pitt as a defensive end, but there has been a lot of discussion about him potentially moving to the offensive line - a few schools offered him for the OL - so perhaps that is being considered.
- A trio of standouts from DeMatha were at practice:
John Morgan
Judson Tallandier
Jalen Brown
OFFENSE
- For the most part, Tuesday - which was the start of Week Two of camp - was a continuation from Week One. Max Browne continues to seem to have the top spot at quarterback and his offensive line, at least in the early portion of practice, was unchanged.
That would be Brian O’Neill at left tackle, Alex Officer at left guard, Connor Dintino at center, Alex Bookser at right guard and Jaryd Jones-Smith at right tackle.
- The receiver combinations continue to be intriguing. I saw a three-receiver set of Jester Weah, Tre Tipton and Quadree Henderson and later saw Aaron Mathews line up with Tipton and Henderson as well as some two-receiver sets that mix and match height combos.
The coaches really have some options, even if you just consider those four players. They can go with a lot of height by using Weah and Mathews or Tipton together. They can get a lot of speed with the big-small combo of Weah and Henderson. And they can create some real matchup issues with a three-receiver set that has two “bigs” and Henderson.
And all of that is before guys start going in motion and shifting and doing different things.
- Last spring we talked a lot about how Pitt might use multiple running backs on the field at the same time, and while we saw some of that during the season, those spring projections were based largely on what appeared to be a glut of running backs and some big holes at receiver. This year the script is flipped; Pitt’s got the talent at receiver and, at least for this spring, fewer numbers at running back. Even when the freshmen arrive, they’ll still lack experience as opposed to the receivers, so I think we’re looking at a lot of three-receiver sets in the offense.
Of course, that wouldn’t make Pitt anything close to a groundbreaker - even the Steelers rely on those kinds of formations - but it almost seems like Pitt’s base offense this season will likely be one with a trio of wideouts on the field.
- At the same time, George Aston is still going to be an important part of the offense, and he’ll often work in tandem with a tight end. So those situations will lead to more two-receiver sets, obviously.
- But again, think about defending this offensive personnel:
Receivers: Weah and Henderson - size and speed on one end, speed on the other and playmaking skills all over
Tight end: Chris Clark - more size and good running and catching abilities at that size
Fullback/H-back/adjuster: Aston - a weapon who will force defenses to tip their hand pre-snap and can make plays running or catching
Add in the running back - whoever it is - and there are matchup issues all over the place. With solid work from the offensive line and effective play at quarterback, this offense should be good.
DEFENSE
- On defense, things are taking shape a little bit, although I didn’t really expect any major changes until after this weekend’s scrimmage.
- Right now, I think the defensive line two-deep looks like this: Dewayne Hendrix and Rori Blair at end with James Folston and Allen Edwards as their top backups and Kaezon Pugh, Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones behind them. And at tackle, it’s Jeremiah Taleni and Keyshon Camp backed up by Amir Watts and Mike Herndon, with Shane Roy and Rashad Wheeler behind them.
- Quintin Wirginis is still limited, so he’s not in the mix at linebacker right now. That leaves Saleem Brightwell working in the middle with Chase Pine behind him, and I think the stock arrow is pointing up on both guys, maybe as much as anyone on the defense (just from my view). The equation will change when Wirginis is healthy and active, but I think Brightwell is a starter in this defense and I think there’s a good chance Pine has a role when the season gets going (perhaps similar to Wirginis last year, who came on the field primarily for Pitt’s third-down package).
- Avonte Maddox and Phillipie Motley continue to be the top two cornerbacks, with Maurice Ffrench, Therran Coleman and Dane Jackson behind them and Damar Hamlin still limited. Coleman and Jackson seem to be in competition, and I suspect Hamlin will push Ffrench when he returns.
- At safety, Dennis Briggs continues to work next to Jordan Whitehead, with Phil Campbell and Jay Stocker behind them and Bricen Garner and Henry Miller working there as well. I also think Campbell could have a role in the defense, but we’ll see how that develops.
- I didn’t mention Deslin Alexandre, but he got some work Tuesday morning, even taking a couple reps next to Taleni and Camp during the walk-throughs.
- Speaking of Camp, he may be in the spotlight this season. Barring a major push from Mike Herndon or Shane Roy, there is going to be a young player lined up next to Taleni - whether it’s Camp, Watts or incoming redshirt freshman Kam Carter. Camp is somewhat forgotten since he redshirted last season, but Pat Narduzzi gave him some kind words the other day and Camp seems to be getting first-team work during walk-throughs.
RECRUITING
- Pitt had a few visitors on Tuesday morning. Most prominent was new Athletic Director Heather Lyke. But there were a few recruits as well.
-2017 signees Kyle Nunn and Carson Van Lynn came in for the practice. Nunn was focused on the linebackers, as expected, but offensive line coach John Peterson told Van Lynn to keep an eye on his position group. Van Lynn signed with Pitt as a defensive end, but there has been a lot of discussion about him potentially moving to the offensive line - a few schools offered him for the OL - so perhaps that is being considered.
- A trio of standouts from DeMatha were at practice:
John Morgan
Judson Tallandier
Jalen Brown
