Today was practice in pads. Something that college coaches never complain that they do not get enough during training camp. Coach Wannstedt didn’t have a lot to say in the press conference. At least in the transcript.

On the first day in full pads:

Not bad. Always good and bad. I thought that we ran the ball better today for our first time and made some strides there. We have a lot of work to do with our run defense. Right now that’s an area that if we’re going to be an improved team, we need to obviously run the ball better and stop the run. I was not pleased with that today. We’re working a lot of different people to still try to get the right mix. I’m not sure who that is right now. We’ll have a little bit of a scrimmage tomorrow, a controlled scrimmage. We’ll actually have three controlled scrimmages between now and next Saturday. That’s kind of a timetable to be able to put players in situations enough where it’s full speed and we will be able to evaluate exactly where they’re at and where we’re at.

On the running backs:

I was pleased with all of them. LaRod (Stephens-Howling) has been outstanding, Brandon Mason had a very good day today, Shane Brooks had a very good day, Kevin Collier had a good day. So I’m pleased with the running backs. Brandon is bigger and I think he’s in a lot better shape. He’s actually slimmed down a little bit, he did a very good job in the weight room. He’s stronger.

On the heels of the whole talking about the D-line potentially improving this season, reading that the Pitt running game looked good against them is, well, terrifying? Disturbing? Unnerving? Putting me in a fetal position on the floor?

Joe DelSardo is hurt. Oderick Turner made some good plays at receiver. Nate Byham stepped in with the second team in place of Darrell Strong and really caught Coach Wannstedt’s eye. Something is going on with McKenzie Mathews on a personal level.