Day 5 of Pitt training camp is upon us, and that also means first full day of pads. The pads were popping, but nothing crazy during our viewing window. There is an NCAA mandated off day tomorrow, so they are presumably really getting after it now that we are inside. It is another hot one in Pittsburgh, but more humid than yesterday.
Shockingly enough, we got to see more than usual. They did a 7-on-7 drill that lasted for a while and we got to see a few drives and few different combinations out there, so definitely more on that later.
Shockingly enough, we got to see more than usual. They did a 7-on-7 drill that lasted for a while and we got to see a few drives and few different combinations out there, so definitely more on that later.
- Usually when we get there the first thing we see is some stretching and guys catching punts. I was able to take note of guys catching punts and I noticed Paris Ford, V’lique Carter, Jason Pinnock, Maurice Ffrench, Shocky Jacques-Louis, and Rafael Araujo-Lopes. Obviously there is a blend of explosive players, but also some guys that are sure-handed. Sometimes just catching a punt is hard enough and Narduzzi has done that in the past with putting guys he thinks will at least catch it.
- I did walk by some of the linemen drills and I took note of Dave Borbely’s coaching style since that was a talking point yesterday and how a lot of guys really take to him. He’s certainly not a screamer, and he’s very instructive. While there I wanted to check on the two big freshmen: Jake Kradel and Blake Ziubovic. They are well put together, especially Kradel. He looks the part.
- The offensive line alignment when they went to drills was the same as it has been: Millin-Dintino-Morrissey-Herndon-Bookser. The second unit went as follows: Drake-Brown-Drexel-Ford-Houy. I sort of caught a third group of Warren-Kradel-Rainey III-Zubovic-Van Lynn.
- Obviously Kenny Pickett got the first reps in everything we saw, and once again he’s the unquestioned best quarterback out there. The accuracy drills where they have to throw footballs on the run into a little basket, he’s there almost every time. I actually thought beyond Pickett, that true freshman Nick Patti was the second most impressive QB out there.
- They did a quick two-minute drill against air to get ready for the 7-on-7. The group of receivers out there with Pickett was: Tre Tipton, Araujo-Lopes, and Dontavius Butler-Jenkins. Sear was the first tight end with that group, along with Qadree Ollison at running back. The second group out there was Ricky Town with AJ Davis, and Willl Gragg and a few different receivers, I noticed Ffrench and Jacques-Louis out there.
- I checked on the defensive backfield units during a drill. At one safety spot there’s Dennis Briggs, Phil Campbell, and Jazzee Stocker. At the other is Damar Hamlin, Bricen Garner, and Therran Coleman. Dane Jackson and Damarri Mathis were at one spot and Pinnock and Ford at the other as far as cornerback goes.
- The secondary coaches: Cory Sanders and Archie Collins, really seem to work well together. They feed off of each other and both are very hands-on with their coaching. They run around as much as the players sometimes.
- OK, 7-on-7. Pickett took the field first with Ollison and Sear. I thought it was noteworthy Jacques-Louis was lined up with Pickett and in the rotation with the normal receivers like Tipton, Mathews, Ffrench, Araujo-Lopes ect. Seems like he is at least in the mix to get some snaps this year.
- There was a nice play in the flat on a third down. Pickett hit Ffrench in the flat and he made Hamlin miss and got a nice gain to keep the drive alive.
- Out there in the first unit on defense, the group of linebackers were: Elijah Zeise, Quintin Wirginis, and Sean Idowu. I caught Chase Pine working with the first team as well. The second grouping was Anthony McKee, Elias Reynolds, and Saleem Brightwell. I did see Cam Bright working in that unit towards the end.
- Paris Ford had a nice play running step for step with Aaron Mathews on a long play down the sideline, the pass hit Mathews on the hand a little higher but Ford was in great position.
- Darian Street made a nice diving catch right in front of me to preserve the drive. He then proceeded to drop the next pass, but Pickett was there to coach him up a little. There was only one guy pass rushing, so it’s not like there was pressure or anything. But Pickett is patient. If guys aren’t open, they do the correct thing of coming back to the ball and he does seem to hit all his check downs and has good field awareness.
- The drive concluded with a pass right on the money to Mathews on the side of the end zone. It was around an 11-12 yard pass in a tight window. Nice all around by Pickett and Mathews.
- Kessman was the primary kicker, with backup kicker Jake Scarton working as the holder.
- We didn’t get to see much of Ricky Town’s drive, and Patti got some throws in there as well. V’lique Carter had some nice coverage on Butler-Jenkins, but the throw was long anyway. Sibley seemed to be the third back of the day with Ollison and Hall getting most of the reps. Davis was in there, didn’t see much Salahuddin in these drills.
- That was it for today, it was the first day of pads but there was some hitting and chirping. There’s an off day tomorrow, but media day is Thursday and Chris and I will both be on the Southside to get some interviews and talk to whoever we can.
