You know, as late as Monday, I was reading and posting on stories about how the offense was looking better than the defense. Now, after the first scrimmage the defense was apparently a little ahead of the offense.

On the scrimmage in general:

I think we got about 60 plays in. It was good. For the first scrimmage out of the block, I think the encouraging thing was, and history has proven, that your defense had better be a little bit ahead of your offense. I haven’t been involved with a good football team on any level where you’re watching the first scrimmage and the offense is going up and down the field and scoring a bunch of touchdowns and then all the sudden you become good on defense. I was pleased. I thought both quarterbacks threw the ball well. We didn’t have an interception. We didn’t have a turnover. We had two penalties, and they were both by the same guy. So for the most part, there were no penalties for the first group. No penalties for the first group, no interceptions, no fumbles. When you come out of the block and have the first scrimmage, that’s something that’s important. It’s important all the time, but particularly early. I really thought our defense played with a lot of emotion – the first group from time to time. We got an opportunity to look at a lot of young players.

That’s fine, if a little disconcerting. Once the team started scrimmaging the defense looked better. Everything else was just practice and drills. At most 11-on-11 drills.

It’s not like there’s some sort of revisionism going on.

Pitt’s defense has been dominant throughout training camp, while the offense — and quarterback Tyler Palko in particular — has been erratic. And that didn’t change in the scrimmage. But the offensive came on strong down the stretch behind second-team quarterback Kevan Smith.

Smith, a freshman, has taken plenty of snaps because Palko’s backup, sophomore Bill Stull, has been slowed by a broken finger.

Um, well that’s just one view.

The Panthers defense has been dominant throughout training camp, while the offense — and fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler Palko, in particular — has been inconsistent at best.

Palko and the offense showed improvement during Pitt’s first extended intrasquad scrimmage yesterday afternoon at the UPMC Sports Complex, but the best players on the field were on defense.

The former was an AP wire story — no byline — while the latter was from Dale Grdnic (who regularly covers Pitt stories for the Harrisburg Patriot and Johnstown Tribune-Democrat). I really hope Grdnic wrote the AP piece as well, because there are a few too many similarities in the stories.
In the scrimmage itself, the offense was able to move the ball but not able to get it into the endzone. Instead it was a couple field goals, and the kickers struggled overall for the day.

Both kickers vying for the starting job — Conor Lee and Dan Hutchins — struggled again (Lee 1 for 4; Hutchins 1 for 2) which has Wannstedt concerned.

Both walk-ons. Lee had nearly battled Abdul to a draw in the spring. Of course, maybe it’s because they were looking over their shoulders.

On the placekicking competition:

[Dan Hutchins] has done a nice job. It’s between him and Conor Lee right now. David Abdul was here today. He’s going to meet with the doctors, and we should get word on him by tomorrow whether he’ll be cleared medically or not. But it’s right now between Hutch and Conor, and nothing has been decided.

After two very good years of kicking, looks like this year could be something of an adventure.

Dorin Dickerson has been slowed in camp by injuries, but there is little chance Coach Wannstedt will redshirt him. He’s still too versatile and too potent a weapon on offense to not use right away. Other injuries included

Cornerback Kelvin Chandler, fullback Conredge Collins (hamstring), receiver Joe DelSardo (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jason Pinkston (concussion) joined the injured list and did not practice or scrimmage yesterday. Defensive end Chris McKillop (shoulder) practiced but did not participate in contact drills.

Mick Williams who has missed a few practices with migraines has been re-diagnosed and it seems is suffering from a concussion. He won’t be back practicing for a few more days.