In terms of pixels and ink, there are two players among the Pitt receiving corps that have gotten the most attention. Freshman WR Jonathan Baldwin and junior TE Dorin Dickerson. That really didn’t change over the weekend.

Dickerson has been solid in practice, but receives extra attention in part because this is his third position in three years. That makes him an intriguing story as a player the reporters know, constantly taking a new challenge.

“It fits his physical stature very well,” Wannstedt added. “He’s a good enough blocker and he can run against the linebackers as opposed to the defensive backs. I expect him to have an excellent year. He has enough talent to be a difference maker.”

Thanks to spending his freshman year on offense, Dickerson already knows offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh’s playbook.

“That’s not a problem. I remember all the plays from my freshman year and it’s still the same concepts,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson has been showing enough, that despite the now healthy Nate Byham (and John Mackey watchlist candidate) and John Pelusi, Dickerson is right there for major playing time.

On the competition at tight end:

“I’ll tell you the tight ends, it’s between (Nate) Byham, (Dorin) Dickerson and (John) Pelusi. In my mind we have three starters, and I think any one of those guys can line up and start and we can win with any of the three.”

Expect at least 2-TE sets this season.

Q: Will the tight ends be more involved in the offense?

ZEISE: I’d say yes if for no other reason than I think the passing game will be a lot better than it was last year with Stull taking over at quarterback. Also, I think coaches see that Dorin Dickerson and Nate Byham are match-up nightmares for most linebackers and are looking for ways to get both into open space. I’m not saying these two will combine to catch 100 passes, but I could see both getting somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 to 35 which would be about five or six per game.

Honestly, I keep waiting for more passes to the TEs. I mean, the one thing you can say that Cavanaugh did well as OC for the Baltimore Ravens was utilizing TEs and making use of Todd Heap. Again, no excuses this year.

As for Baldwin, every practice report seems to include mention of Baldwin making some great catch or just showing that he has more talent than those trying to cover him.

Freshman receiver Jonathan Baldwin added to his growing list of circus catches, leaping high for a one-handed catch in double coverage on the left sideline.

Panthers players started howling when the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Baldwin showed off his 40-inch vertical jump by soaring above safety Elijah Fields and cornerback Jarred Holley.

“Jonathan Baldwin made a catch today that, I think, let everybody know that he plans on competing,” Wannstedt said.

Which, in turn makes him the subject of other stories, even as he sticks to the tried and true cliches.

“I’m just trying to work hard in training camp,” he said. “I’m not looking farther than this right now. Just continue to work hard. Whatever happens to please the coaches happens.”

Wannstedt hasn’t discussed Baldwin’s future, saying it’s still too early in camp to discuss the freshmen, but the coach seemed willing to leave open the possibility that Baldwin could begin the season without a redshirt.

“I think the big decision for us is who we are going to put on the field when we get the entire team together: an extra back, tight end or receiver?” Wannstedt said. “We have some choices at all positions. How much these young kids will have an opportunity, I think it’s just too early to tell yet.”

RRRIIIGGGHHHHTTTT.

Assuming no injuries, it would be a huge shock not to see Baldwin on the 2-deep by week 3. I’m hedging just because I think Coach Wannstedt would put the older players ahead of him on the official depth chart initially out of respect. Even if he didn’t actually stick to the chart when it came time for substitutions.

Sticking with the receivers, we are still waiting for Derek Kinder to show he’s healthy. He’s frustrated as well after having to sit for a few more days.

It felt good to go out and run around, coach limited me some but he wanted me to get back into the swing of things and it felt really good,” said Kinder, who said he is close to 100 percent. “I just needed some rest for my knee after that first practice, my knee just wasn’t used to those long practices. As soon as I get a few two-a-days under my belt and get used to all the running and pounding my knee is going to take, I hope by next week I’ll be all right.

“I feel good cutting, but I need to get back to where I was before. I’m still waiting on that first hit, I hope it comes soon, maybe tomorrow.”

Kinder said it was frustrating to have to sit out the past few days after working so hard to get back from the injury, but he understands the rehabilitation process on an injury such as his can be as long as two full years.

On Sunday, Kinder did actually participate in contact drills. No clear word on how much contact he actually took.

Oderick Turner hasn’t gotten attention in camp from the media, but it seems he is handling things rather well.

Oderick Turner capped one of his best practices in some time with a punctuation mark, catching a 23-yard pass from Bill Stull on third-and-25 pass and – after LeSean McCoy converted a fourth-and-2 – a corner fade in the end zone to end the day.

Turner is quickly developing into Stull’s favorite target, and took a step toward regaining the starting split-end job by showing off skills that points put on the scoreboard.

More importantly, the offense responded to adversity and took an important win over a defense that has been dominant at times. That was certainly the case in third-down drills.

After sacks by Tommie Duhart and Jabaal Sheard, Stull found Turner on a square-in pattern for a big gain. Then Stull lobbed a scoring pass to Turner, who jumped over Jovani Chappel and Eric Thatcher for the catch in the left corner of the end zone.

Gorman speculates that Wannstedt has been judicious in his praise of Turner, in part because Turner is compteing against Cedric McGee for the starting spot, and that McGee is a favorite of Wannstedt’s for his blocking and arguably being a harder worker.

I would also suggest that it is a little psychological. Turner seems to respond better when he isn’t  the focus. He struggled as the #1 receiver last year with Kinder out. Coach Wannstedt hasn’t really singled out Turner one-way or another up until today’s practice. Instead just letting Kinder play.