The defense got its revenge.
A week after losing to the offense in the first scrimmage of camp, the defense won the rematch in Saturday’s scrimmage. It was the final live-action scrimmage for Pitt’s 2015 training camp.
“I think we had something to prove this scrimmage,” said linebacker Mike Caprara, who finished the scrimmage with 7 tackles, two for loss and a sack, “but I think, at the end of the day, we need to learn how to finish. We started off on fire, but it wasn’t a great finish. At the end of the day, it didn’t really go our way.”
If nothing else, Pitt is looking to find an identity on defense. That’s something the Panthers lacked last season, other than possibly an identity of giving up points at inopportune times.
At this point in camp, defensive coordinator Josh Conklin said he and the coaching staff are learning more about the players and the identity of the defense as a whole.
“We’ve thrown a lot of defensive scheme at them, and today we wanted to hone in on who we are,” Conklin said after the scrimmage. “As we get further along here, we’re beginning to understand who we are and what they do well, and we’ll start trimming the package back. We played well. We executed well.
“We’d like to see us finish a little better because in the last two minute situation, we didn’t win. We’re pleased where we’re at, we just have to get better every day.”
The last two-minute situation was a highlight for the offense. The situation was 58 seconds left with no time outs on the offense’s own 40-yard line. Quarterback Chad Voytik drove Pitt’s offense down the field for a touchdown, connecting with Elijah Zeise for a touchdown.
Zeise finished the scrimmage with three catches for 58 yards and pair of touchdowns. Freshman receiver Qadree Henderson led all receivers in receptions (4) and yards (77).
Voytik said the score was tight by the end, and he believed that the defense won the first half of the scrimmage while the offense won the second half.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said he was happy with the effort today, but his unit struggled in the execution phase. Still, he said the defense played really brought it to the offense today.
“I don’t know if they were doing what they’re calling or not, but they were in our backfield tackling us a couple of times,” Chaney said. “I don’t know. I don’t evaluate them, but they won today. They knocked the hell out of us. They looked good to me today.”
FOCUS AND ENTHUSIASM
That was the message from Coach Narduzzi in the beginning portion of practice.
He gathered the entire team, taking a knee in a giant circle around the head ball coach. Showing his natural charisma and passion, Narduzzi spoke about taking advantage of today’s scrimmage through focus and enthusiasm.
He preached focus, specifically on every player’s job – making sure to complete your assignment and concentrate on doing your part for the team. He spoke about enthusiasm and playing today with energy.
The need for enthusiasm can sometimes be understated. For the average fan, a day of playing football would be a dream and the highlight of a week. However, for the 105 Pitt players who are wrapping up their second week of training camp, it can be a bit more of a challenge. Still, a scrimmage – actually playing real football in a game format – can be a huge boost for an otherwise, business-like camp.
SLOW START
For two straight scrimmages, the offense came out slow, flat, whatever you want to call it. The offensive unit has struggled in the early going.
“I think as an offense, we need to get better at coming out stronger right off the bat,” said Voytik, who completed 7 of 13 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. “We came out slow then fought back. After halftime, we were playing so much differently. We just need to come out that way.
“Last scrimmage it was the same scenario. They came out stronger than us, then we finished stronger. I really don’t know. I think we just need to come out with energy and enthusiasm and right off the bat, decide that we’re going to control the tempo and how the game goes.”
The slow start started in the red-zone period, simulating third downs. On the first two plays, both Voytik and fellow quarterback Nate Peterman missed their targets, Tyler Boyd and Jester Weah, respectively.
Coach Chaney recognized the slow start. He said he might look at how the quarterbacks warm up and other pre-game stuff. However, he said it all comes down to execution and making plays.
“You just have to go out and execute a play,” Chaney said. “I feel like we had the opportunity to make some plays early and we didn’t. When we didn’t, we stayed stagnant for too long. We just have to get out of that rut a little quicker.”
Even though a slow start is never a good thing for an offense, Chaney did take a positive from the past two scrimmages and their early struggles. In both cases, Chaney said he liked the response from his unit in trying to get out of the rut and back on track.
“The one thing I like about the team, when things aren’t going good, we’re not going crazy on the sideline,” he said. “We’re pretty calm over there, talk things through and turn it around again. We started extremely slow the last two scrimmages and have to come up with a remedy for that.”
Continued on the next post...
A week after losing to the offense in the first scrimmage of camp, the defense won the rematch in Saturday’s scrimmage. It was the final live-action scrimmage for Pitt’s 2015 training camp.
“I think we had something to prove this scrimmage,” said linebacker Mike Caprara, who finished the scrimmage with 7 tackles, two for loss and a sack, “but I think, at the end of the day, we need to learn how to finish. We started off on fire, but it wasn’t a great finish. At the end of the day, it didn’t really go our way.”
If nothing else, Pitt is looking to find an identity on defense. That’s something the Panthers lacked last season, other than possibly an identity of giving up points at inopportune times.
At this point in camp, defensive coordinator Josh Conklin said he and the coaching staff are learning more about the players and the identity of the defense as a whole.
“We’ve thrown a lot of defensive scheme at them, and today we wanted to hone in on who we are,” Conklin said after the scrimmage. “As we get further along here, we’re beginning to understand who we are and what they do well, and we’ll start trimming the package back. We played well. We executed well.
“We’d like to see us finish a little better because in the last two minute situation, we didn’t win. We’re pleased where we’re at, we just have to get better every day.”
The last two-minute situation was a highlight for the offense. The situation was 58 seconds left with no time outs on the offense’s own 40-yard line. Quarterback Chad Voytik drove Pitt’s offense down the field for a touchdown, connecting with Elijah Zeise for a touchdown.
Zeise finished the scrimmage with three catches for 58 yards and pair of touchdowns. Freshman receiver Qadree Henderson led all receivers in receptions (4) and yards (77).
Voytik said the score was tight by the end, and he believed that the defense won the first half of the scrimmage while the offense won the second half.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said he was happy with the effort today, but his unit struggled in the execution phase. Still, he said the defense played really brought it to the offense today.
“I don’t know if they were doing what they’re calling or not, but they were in our backfield tackling us a couple of times,” Chaney said. “I don’t know. I don’t evaluate them, but they won today. They knocked the hell out of us. They looked good to me today.”
FOCUS AND ENTHUSIASM
That was the message from Coach Narduzzi in the beginning portion of practice.
He gathered the entire team, taking a knee in a giant circle around the head ball coach. Showing his natural charisma and passion, Narduzzi spoke about taking advantage of today’s scrimmage through focus and enthusiasm.
He preached focus, specifically on every player’s job – making sure to complete your assignment and concentrate on doing your part for the team. He spoke about enthusiasm and playing today with energy.
The need for enthusiasm can sometimes be understated. For the average fan, a day of playing football would be a dream and the highlight of a week. However, for the 105 Pitt players who are wrapping up their second week of training camp, it can be a bit more of a challenge. Still, a scrimmage – actually playing real football in a game format – can be a huge boost for an otherwise, business-like camp.
SLOW START
For two straight scrimmages, the offense came out slow, flat, whatever you want to call it. The offensive unit has struggled in the early going.
“I think as an offense, we need to get better at coming out stronger right off the bat,” said Voytik, who completed 7 of 13 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. “We came out slow then fought back. After halftime, we were playing so much differently. We just need to come out that way.
“Last scrimmage it was the same scenario. They came out stronger than us, then we finished stronger. I really don’t know. I think we just need to come out with energy and enthusiasm and right off the bat, decide that we’re going to control the tempo and how the game goes.”
The slow start started in the red-zone period, simulating third downs. On the first two plays, both Voytik and fellow quarterback Nate Peterman missed their targets, Tyler Boyd and Jester Weah, respectively.
Coach Chaney recognized the slow start. He said he might look at how the quarterbacks warm up and other pre-game stuff. However, he said it all comes down to execution and making plays.
“You just have to go out and execute a play,” Chaney said. “I feel like we had the opportunity to make some plays early and we didn’t. When we didn’t, we stayed stagnant for too long. We just have to get out of that rut a little quicker.”
Even though a slow start is never a good thing for an offense, Chaney did take a positive from the past two scrimmages and their early struggles. In both cases, Chaney said he liked the response from his unit in trying to get out of the rut and back on track.
“The one thing I like about the team, when things aren’t going good, we’re not going crazy on the sideline,” he said. “We’re pretty calm over there, talk things through and turn it around again. We started extremely slow the last two scrimmages and have to come up with a remedy for that.”
Continued on the next post...
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