Coach Wannstedt apparently felt a little bad about complaining about the run defense yesterday.

On observations about the run defense yesterday:

My emotions came out. I want to see us stop every running play. When we went back and looked at it (on film), the first team defense actually just gave up about 2.5 yards a carry, so it wasn’t as glaring as it was in my mind after we watched the tape. We can improve and we will; it’s just a matter of doing it more and working out. Thomas Smith or Phil Tillman, our two senior defensive tackles, weren’t in there yesterday. We were playing a bunch of those young kids, but that’s kind of how it is. They need to be ready to step up in their spot.

Smith apparently has a twisted knee. Like any coach, he feels there just aren’t enough practices.

On practicing with pads:

It’s been good and we need that. This is the time of year to get that done, obviously. You don’t wait until the second week of the season and say “I wish we would’ve had more contact, I wish we would’ve scrimmaged more,” anything that has to do with training camp. We only have 29 practices before we play Notre Dame and we need to maximize every one of them. We’re still in that transition period of getting used to the players and the players getting used to coaches and new systems, so we’re using all the time we can possibly get.

A coach — any coach — could be entrenched at a program for 20 years, with a senior-laden squad that just won the national championship and he would complain about insufficient practice time.

This AP Wire story on practice today, points out that there is a rough sketch of a depth chart forming. The article also points out how exuberant in praise of the defense Coach Wannstedt is.

First-year Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt was especially effusive in praising the Panthers’ linebacking corps. He said J.J. Horne and Clint Session are starters and the team is fortunate to have H.B. Blades, Brian Bennett and Derron Thomas.

“We’ve got a really outstanding group of linebackers,” Wannstedt said. “So, we’re going to rotate those guys around a bit more. Blades will be the only one that doesn’t really move, but we’re going to alternate some guys. We have to try to get them all on the field as much as possible.”

Pitt will practice twice tomorrow and then take Thursday off.

The one downside to the switch in websites for Pitt, is that all past links to press releases no longer work. I hate broken links, but I’m not nearly that insane to go back and fix things.

Pitt has announced its TV programming with FSN Pittsburgh.

The regional sports network will kick-off its Pitt coverage with a special edition of Savran on SportsBeat live from Fan Fest at Heinz Field on Thurs., August 25. Then on Wed., August 31 at 7:30 PM, FSN Pittsburgh will present an exclusive Pitt Football Preview Show, immediately followed by the debut of Dave Wannstedt -Homecoming. Throughout the fall season, FSN Pittsburgh will feature Dave Wannstedt’s weekly press conferences hosted by Rob King on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM and Panthers Weekly every Tuesday at 7:00 PM.

Dave Wannstedt -Homecoming takes an in-depth look at Wannstedt’s coaching career, ties to Western Pennsylvania and his plans for the future of Pitt football. The half-hour special will have additional air dates throughout the season.

Shame Fox’s regional (Fox Sports Atlantic) doesn’t air any of this stuff other than Pittsburgh Sports Report. Well, that’s not true, they did air Panthers Weekly. Just a matter of finding when it airs.

Not to this site, but the Pitt Athletics Website is now launched. All new, and including a handy-dandy countdown clock until the ND game.

Realized something was up, when the Pitt site wasn’t loading right. Here’s the official press release.

File this one under “things I didn’t need to know“.

The glare from Tyler Palko’s shaved legs blinds even receiver Greg Lee’s keen vision.
…
Throwing for 17 touchdowns in the Panthers’ final six games, Palko’s abilities have garnished the most attention with his smooth legs running a close second depending upon which gender is asked.

“See how they’re glistening over there,” Lee said about Palko’s legs during Pittsburgh media day. “He shaves his legs and he only does it during the season I think. They say the girls like it.”

About the only benefit I can see for a guy to do this (who isn’t a swimmer, cyclist or perhaps a sprinter) is to avoid having the hair ripped out by the roots when you get tape put on your legs.

Still, if hairless chests are considered desirable these days, why not the legs? I guess.

Defensive End Charles Sallet is still recovering from a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery in the spring has found himself behind Chris McKillop on the depth chart — for now. Not that they aren’t still teammates.

During a morning workout yesterday, Sallet delighted Pitt defensive ends coach Charlie Partridge, when he approached McKillop and offered some advice.

“Chris McKillop was working in a pass-rush drill,” Partridge said, “and I coached Chris and then got the next guy going. I turned around and looked over my shoulder and there was Charles Sallet, following on the coaching points that I made with Chris. That’s the guy he’s competing with for the spot. It’s that kind of leadership that gives you a chance to be pretty successful.”

Patridge conceded to being surprised — to a point.

Said Sallet: “I’m not one of those guys who would down somebody just because they are in the same position as me. I take pleasure in motivating my teammates. If they ask me stuff, I tell them what to do. I tell them the right thing to do.”

When it was suggested that Sallet was the ultimate team player, he nodded in full agreement.

“You’re always trying to get a feel for the chemistry for your football team, and one of the things that we, as a coaching staff, really believe right now is these kids enjoy each other,” Partridge said. “Let’s be honest, when you have 105 people from all different walks of life, that’s a hard thing to have happen.

“Fortunately right now, we’ve got the kind of kids that truly get along with each other. We’re very fortunate right now that we’ve got the chemistry we need.”

Everyone wants to win.

With position changes and new emphasis on speed, Corey Davis is a prime example. He dropped more than 30 pounds and has been moved from Defensive Lineman to Offensive Right Tackle.

Davis sometimes misses his old position. Linebackers, he said, get the glory after making highlight-reel tackles. He also feels different after a long day’s work on the line.

“When I played linebacker, my shoulders and hands used to hurt,” he said. “Now, my whole body — from my ankles to my neck — hurts. The physical part is really brutal.”

When that first depth chart comes out, there’s going to be a lot of, “but I thought he was…”

From the beat writers’ notebook pieces, Tyler Palko is trying to pump up the receivers a bit after they took criticism from Coach Wannstedt the day before.

Palko said he’s happy with the progress the receivers have made and offered a gentle reminder that they may be playing at a bit of a disadvantage.

“We need a guy to step up but you have to remember something — we have two of the best corners in the country,” Palko said. “[Darrelle Revis and Josh Lay] — those two are really good. So it is tough enough for young guys to learn the system but to then have to do it against two really good players makes it tougher.”

One receiver who did have an excellent practice yesterday is freshman Oderick Turner. He made some catches, including a tough one for a first down when he jumped high and pulled the ball out of the air.

The (Redshirt and True) Freshmen receivers should have excellent opportunities to earn playing time and vie for the 3rd receiver. Terrell Allen, for all his talent and expectations, can’t seem to stay healthy to earn playing time (this year’s Princell Brockenbrough). None of the other receivers stepped up last year and don’t seem to be this year.

Freshman Irvan Brown broke up a pass play in a goal line stand in scrimmage with everyone watching and cheering. Should do wonders for his confidence at being converted from RB to DB.

Shane Brooks and Conredge Colllins both looked good in the backfield yesterday. Definitely a good day for the new kids.

No new injuries. Right Guard John Simonitis was back from his sore hamstring. Greg Lee is getting closer to returning.