Thoughts on development

[Pittski]

We're really enjoying an incredible season of maturation. When lightening strikes and an Aaron Donald taps into his greatness it's almost impossible to pay attention to anything else. This hasn't been that type of season and perhaps we're better off as we've instead enjoyed significant strides made by players all over the field.

When was the last time we had SO much improvement from players that had previously been limited or total non-factors in the prior season. Think about the strides made by:

• Tyrique Jarrett - Most disruptive player on our interior. Eats a fair number of double teams with the C&G.
• Mike Caparara - I thought he was practice bait. The kind of guy coaches run out to push a more talented kid. Undersized, not the fastest.. Mike Caparara don't give a f#$k. I love it when I'm so wrong.
• Ejuan Price - Couldn't get healthy, was playing out of position, who knew he was still capable? Nobody did. We need to recognize this is a blessing to see him finally performing.
• Jordan Whitehead - TRUE FRESHMAN? Top 3 player on the team. Scary if he keeps improving.
• Mark Scarpinato - This guy wasn't playing football last year, you could have fooled me. MLB play is better in part because of the work our DT's are putting in upfront.
• Brian O'Neal - Change positions and start as a RS Freshman. He's been excellent considereing those two things.
• Nate Peterman - Criticize all you want. THANK GOD WE HAVE NATE PETERMAN.
• Dontez Ford - While not a gamebreaker, he's a large target whose consistent and making plays.
• Zach Challingsworth - It might be too soon on Chally, but I think we're seeing the guy we thought we got out of H.S.
• Quadree Ollison - This is a big back that can be a force in the ACC if he continues to develop and run hard.
• George Aston - SUPERMAN! LOL, the walk-on is starting and that one's a star for the Mooselodge. A good find.

This could be a 10 win team. It's more than I dared dream after Conner was injured. Pat Narduzzi has created excitement, reeled in key transfers, made great 2nd half adjustments, talked trash and backed it up but mostly he's breathed a flicker of life into a long dormant program. He didn't do it with a star player. He did it by making stars of the players he had. This is what Pitt fans have been asking for most of my life.