The Pitt football team keeps getting closer to the end of training camp, and I have to say: Pat Narduzzi seems to be pretty pleased with where the team is right now.
“We had a great day yesterday and we continue to be a healthy football team,” Narduzzi said Tuesday. “I’m happy with where we are right now and it should be another great day today.”
Of course, you don’t really want to suggest that to him, because like any coach, the minute someone implies that he is satisfied with his team, his mind starts racing to think of all the things he’s not satisfied with. But overall, Narduzzi’s approach has been pretty positive in the last week or so (unless you ask about injuries or depth chart information; he doesn’t care for that).
Case in point: he cancelled Sunday’s practice and the scheduled second practice of Monday’s two-a-day. Part of that was health-related, as Narduzzi said Saturday’s scrimmage was very physical. That has been the case all camp, which explains why he is starting to dial it back a bit, although I couldn’t help but notice that Dorian Johnson had a few chunks of skin missing from his forehead after Tuesday’s practice, so they didn’t exactly go light.
Still, Narduzzi is taking a more measured approach to the final week.
“We gave them the afternoon off,” he said in reference to Monday’s previously-scheduled two-a-day. “I told them that we wanted quality over quantity. It’s not how many practices you get in; it’s how good the practices are. I think doubles are overrated to begin with. I think the NCAA as a whole has started to move away from a lot of doubles. I think it just beats up your kids.”
Staying healthy is a big part of it, for sure, but I’ve never met a coach who canceled practices unless he was pleased with his team’s progress. Satisfied? No. Pleased? Yes. And Narduzzi almost conceded as much on Tuesday.
“As coaches, like you said, you’re never satisfied,” he said when I asked if he was happy with the team - adding a caveat that I know coaches are never satisfied. “I feel good with this football team we have. I think this football team cares about each other. I think they’re tight-knit right now. I think there’s great chemistry. Does that equal wins? I don’t know. But it’s nothing to be disappointed (about). I’m happy with where we are as a football team, and I’m talking team, not individuals. I’m happy with that. But that doesn’t equal wins either.”
Along those lines, this team has a number of elements that often do equal wins. Seniors or experienced players at quarterback, running back, four out of five offensive line positions, tight end, three out of four on the defensive line, two out of three linebackers, three safeties and one of the two cornerbacks; that’s a strong foundation when you’re really looking at inexperience at one receiver spot, one offensive line spot, one defensive end, one linebacker and one cornerback - five positions out of 22 starters on offense and defense.
Even if some of those positions need talent upgrades, the experience is valuable and likely has the staff feeling more comfortable with a lot of spots.
- As to Tuesday’s practice, there wasn’t much new in our media viewing window. Avonte Maddox was limited for the second day in a row, but he did address the media after the practice and downplayed any lingering injuries from Saturday’s scrimmage.
That’s notable not so much for what he said, but rather for the fact that he said it. Pitt’s policy is that players who do not practice are unavailable for interviews, so having Narduzzi sign off on an interview for Maddox - and yes, he does have final say on granting interview requests - does seem to bode well for his long-term prospects.
- I went into detail on what I think is more or less settled on the depth chart in Monday’s camp report, and I didn’t see anything on Tuesday to change that view. Seun Idowu and Elijah Zeise are still working at the Star linebacker position, while Bam Bradley gets some work at that spot - but less than Idowu and Zeise.
It seems like Bradley will be a swing linebacker and fill in at either outside spots either as part of a situational rotation or something more structured (every other series, for example). The main point, though, is that it doesn’t seem like Bradley has won a starting job at this point.
- So as game week approaches, we’re really looking at two ongoing position battles (as I see it): Star linebacker and free safety. And I think both spots will see a healthy amount of rotation throughout the season, so the “winner” of each competition will get the starting assignment, but the “loser” will still play a bunch.
“We had a great day yesterday and we continue to be a healthy football team,” Narduzzi said Tuesday. “I’m happy with where we are right now and it should be another great day today.”
Of course, you don’t really want to suggest that to him, because like any coach, the minute someone implies that he is satisfied with his team, his mind starts racing to think of all the things he’s not satisfied with. But overall, Narduzzi’s approach has been pretty positive in the last week or so (unless you ask about injuries or depth chart information; he doesn’t care for that).
Case in point: he cancelled Sunday’s practice and the scheduled second practice of Monday’s two-a-day. Part of that was health-related, as Narduzzi said Saturday’s scrimmage was very physical. That has been the case all camp, which explains why he is starting to dial it back a bit, although I couldn’t help but notice that Dorian Johnson had a few chunks of skin missing from his forehead after Tuesday’s practice, so they didn’t exactly go light.
Still, Narduzzi is taking a more measured approach to the final week.
“We gave them the afternoon off,” he said in reference to Monday’s previously-scheduled two-a-day. “I told them that we wanted quality over quantity. It’s not how many practices you get in; it’s how good the practices are. I think doubles are overrated to begin with. I think the NCAA as a whole has started to move away from a lot of doubles. I think it just beats up your kids.”
Staying healthy is a big part of it, for sure, but I’ve never met a coach who canceled practices unless he was pleased with his team’s progress. Satisfied? No. Pleased? Yes. And Narduzzi almost conceded as much on Tuesday.
“As coaches, like you said, you’re never satisfied,” he said when I asked if he was happy with the team - adding a caveat that I know coaches are never satisfied. “I feel good with this football team we have. I think this football team cares about each other. I think they’re tight-knit right now. I think there’s great chemistry. Does that equal wins? I don’t know. But it’s nothing to be disappointed (about). I’m happy with where we are as a football team, and I’m talking team, not individuals. I’m happy with that. But that doesn’t equal wins either.”
Along those lines, this team has a number of elements that often do equal wins. Seniors or experienced players at quarterback, running back, four out of five offensive line positions, tight end, three out of four on the defensive line, two out of three linebackers, three safeties and one of the two cornerbacks; that’s a strong foundation when you’re really looking at inexperience at one receiver spot, one offensive line spot, one defensive end, one linebacker and one cornerback - five positions out of 22 starters on offense and defense.
Even if some of those positions need talent upgrades, the experience is valuable and likely has the staff feeling more comfortable with a lot of spots.
- As to Tuesday’s practice, there wasn’t much new in our media viewing window. Avonte Maddox was limited for the second day in a row, but he did address the media after the practice and downplayed any lingering injuries from Saturday’s scrimmage.
That’s notable not so much for what he said, but rather for the fact that he said it. Pitt’s policy is that players who do not practice are unavailable for interviews, so having Narduzzi sign off on an interview for Maddox - and yes, he does have final say on granting interview requests - does seem to bode well for his long-term prospects.
- I went into detail on what I think is more or less settled on the depth chart in Monday’s camp report, and I didn’t see anything on Tuesday to change that view. Seun Idowu and Elijah Zeise are still working at the Star linebacker position, while Bam Bradley gets some work at that spot - but less than Idowu and Zeise.
It seems like Bradley will be a swing linebacker and fill in at either outside spots either as part of a situational rotation or something more structured (every other series, for example). The main point, though, is that it doesn’t seem like Bradley has won a starting job at this point.
- So as game week approaches, we’re really looking at two ongoing position battles (as I see it): Star linebacker and free safety. And I think both spots will see a healthy amount of rotation throughout the season, so the “winner” of each competition will get the starting assignment, but the “loser” will still play a bunch.
