After two practices yesterday, today's practice got off to a late start, beginning at 1:00 p.m instead of the normal start time of 10:00 a.m.
“I wanted to give them a little refresher, a little rest," Pat Narduzzi said. "We actually slept in an hour longer today. They were excited about that.”
Just because the team is coming off a two-a-day doesn't mean the team took it easy today. Narduzzi said today will be a "get after it practice." The team will then take it light on Friday— practicing for only about an hour— and then will scrimmage Saturday.
- Always one of Pitt's most athletic linebackers, Bam Bradley is hoping to finally put those abilities to full use this year. Earlier this fall, Bradley mentioned he slimmed down, cutting about 10 pounds of fat. Today, Narduzzi lauded Bradley's ability to play both outside linebacker spots.
“Bam, we’re working on both sides. Based on personnel, we feel good about what he can do on the field," Narduzzi said. "It’s good to see him be able to go out there and execute it. He’s gotten so familiar with it now. A year ago he couldn’t do that, so his knowledge is better.”
- Between Bradley, Mike Caprara and other linebackers with versatility (Quentin Wirginis), Narduzzi has quite a few different linebacker combinations he can go to and adjust based on personnel. Bradley is a huge cog in that, as his athleticism and improved knowledge allow Narduzzi to move him around and cover tight ends and even wideouts if need be.
"The good thing is Bam has done that against three of four wideouts already. So he’s done it against good wideouts, so we’re not afraid to do it because he’s got those reps through camp," Narduzzi said.
- This fall we haven't heard much about Matt Galambos and Matt Caprara, Pitt's two most experienced linebackers. That experience, mostly, is why the coaches haven't talked much about them improving.
“You don’t see the improvement out of those guys like you’d like, because they were already pretty good," Narduzzi said. "They know what they’re doing on defense. Sometimes you even see a drop off because they feel like ‘hey, I know what I’m doing, I don’t have to do that perfect. Coach, you know I can do that.’”
- Narduzzi said the team worked on some situational special teams stuff in the second practice yesterday— like what to do when kicking off after a penalty— as the team mostly just has time to practice fundamentals and basics during the day.
- Pitt had two early enrollees— Chawntez Moss and Patrick Jones— both of whom have showed noticeable improvements from spring until now.
“Both of those guys have taking full advantage of it, not only changing their bodies, but getting a chance mentally to help themselves on the field," Narduzzi said.
- In an early walk through in practice, the offensive line from left to right was Bisnowaty- Johnson- Officer-Booker-O'Neill. That lineup is of note, as Bookser has typically been lined up at center, and John Guy at right guard, with Officer switching between center and guard on the second team. John Guy wasn't practicing today, which may be why that was the lineup. Still, when the team takes the field for Villanova, I think that's the five Narduzzi will go with— with maybe Bookser and Officer switching positions. For a while, it seemed like the assumption was that Jaryd Jones-Smith would slide into the starting lineup, but Bisnowaty and O'Neill look fairly settled in at the tackles. Things might change, and O'Neill did practice some at guard in the spring, but that's my best guess at the starting offensive line for Villanova.
“I wanted to give them a little refresher, a little rest," Pat Narduzzi said. "We actually slept in an hour longer today. They were excited about that.”
Just because the team is coming off a two-a-day doesn't mean the team took it easy today. Narduzzi said today will be a "get after it practice." The team will then take it light on Friday— practicing for only about an hour— and then will scrimmage Saturday.
- Always one of Pitt's most athletic linebackers, Bam Bradley is hoping to finally put those abilities to full use this year. Earlier this fall, Bradley mentioned he slimmed down, cutting about 10 pounds of fat. Today, Narduzzi lauded Bradley's ability to play both outside linebacker spots.
“Bam, we’re working on both sides. Based on personnel, we feel good about what he can do on the field," Narduzzi said. "It’s good to see him be able to go out there and execute it. He’s gotten so familiar with it now. A year ago he couldn’t do that, so his knowledge is better.”
- Between Bradley, Mike Caprara and other linebackers with versatility (Quentin Wirginis), Narduzzi has quite a few different linebacker combinations he can go to and adjust based on personnel. Bradley is a huge cog in that, as his athleticism and improved knowledge allow Narduzzi to move him around and cover tight ends and even wideouts if need be.
"The good thing is Bam has done that against three of four wideouts already. So he’s done it against good wideouts, so we’re not afraid to do it because he’s got those reps through camp," Narduzzi said.
- This fall we haven't heard much about Matt Galambos and Matt Caprara, Pitt's two most experienced linebackers. That experience, mostly, is why the coaches haven't talked much about them improving.
“You don’t see the improvement out of those guys like you’d like, because they were already pretty good," Narduzzi said. "They know what they’re doing on defense. Sometimes you even see a drop off because they feel like ‘hey, I know what I’m doing, I don’t have to do that perfect. Coach, you know I can do that.’”
- Narduzzi said the team worked on some situational special teams stuff in the second practice yesterday— like what to do when kicking off after a penalty— as the team mostly just has time to practice fundamentals and basics during the day.
- Pitt had two early enrollees— Chawntez Moss and Patrick Jones— both of whom have showed noticeable improvements from spring until now.
“Both of those guys have taking full advantage of it, not only changing their bodies, but getting a chance mentally to help themselves on the field," Narduzzi said.
- In an early walk through in practice, the offensive line from left to right was Bisnowaty- Johnson- Officer-Booker-O'Neill. That lineup is of note, as Bookser has typically been lined up at center, and John Guy at right guard, with Officer switching between center and guard on the second team. John Guy wasn't practicing today, which may be why that was the lineup. Still, when the team takes the field for Villanova, I think that's the five Narduzzi will go with— with maybe Bookser and Officer switching positions. For a while, it seemed like the assumption was that Jaryd Jones-Smith would slide into the starting lineup, but Bisnowaty and O'Neill look fairly settled in at the tackles. Things might change, and O'Neill did practice some at guard in the spring, but that's my best guess at the starting offensive line for Villanova.
