Seems like there have been a few stories (at least) about Dorin Dickerson playing linebacker. Updates each week as he appears to keep improving and getting better. The latest on Dickerson getting closer.

Dickerson’s big-play ability has overshadowed his mistakes. To the naked eye, it’s easy to notice his closing speed in pass coverage and diving interceptions. What film study shows, however, is a linebacker who tends to over-pursue and has trouble shedding linemen’s blocks.

That’s where Gunn has an edge at the moment, although Wannstedt warned that Dickerson is “real close.”

“If you were just worried about a percentage grade, about who was right and wrong every snap, then Adam is going to grade out very high,” Rhoads said. “Conversely, when you are looking at a production grade, Dorin’s probably grading out a little higher because he’s making more plays. There’s a happy medium you’re trying to find there.”

The minute Dickerson shows any consistency, the job will be his. That’s one of Wannstedt’s favorite issues. Consistency.

Safety Eric Thatcher features prominently in this AP story about the defense hoping it is better than last year.

One of the defense’s biggest weaknesses last season was at safety as both Thatcher, the free safety, and strong safety Phillips were injured. Phillips played in all 12 games but started only five because of lingering effects of a severe ankle injury that occurred in 2005.

Pitt also looks to be deep along the defensive line, led by Gus Mustakas and Rashaad Duncan.

“This is the first time since I’ve been here that I like our depth on the defensive line,” Wannstedt said. “I like our secondary play.”

…

Despite that, Thatcher can already sense a difference between this season and last, and he likes the change.

“It’s going to be different, the camaraderie is a little different,” he said. “People had a tougher offseason, and they got used to it, seeing how high-intensity we have to be to be a really good football team. So we’ll see what’s up.”

Of course, if the post topic is defense, how can there not be the gratuitous shot at Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads. From Kevin Gorman’s blog post on the first scrimmage the other day.

The dominance of the defense in Pitt’s first scrimmage was rewarding for defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, perhaps the most embattled member of Dave Wannstedt’s staff.

The Panthers are trying to shore up a defense that allowed an average of 274.8 rushing yards and 467.6 total yards in the final five games last season and are doing so without the benefit of a bona fide superstar.

Now that Rhoads has taken over the duties of coaching the linebackers, there is an added emphasis on the play of the front four and how it affects the linebacker corps. That the defense kept the first-team offense out of the end zone until red-zone drills lifted their spirits.

A. There’s no “perhaps” about it. Name another member of the coaching staff that is even close to where Rhoads is in fan dissatisfaction. Who should be in it deeper than Rhoads?

B. Gee, if he’s responsible for the linebackers, as well as the overall defense, now he is concerned on how much they have to do? If it actually makes a difference this season, give Coach Wannstedt credit for recognizing that Rhoads likes to make whatever unit he has direct oversight look good and using it to help the defense.

When he had the focus on the secondary, he wouldn’t put them in a position to get burned at the expense of the rest of the defense. Now that he’s got the linebackers, he doesn’t want them looking bad.