In something of a minor surprise in media watching, LeSean McCoy has not gotten a lot of puff pieces yet.

There’s the one today that is about his close relationship with fellow RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, and plans to pair the two out there at the same time.

“The reality is we have two starting tailbacks,” Pitt running backs coach David Walker said. “They are both going to play a lot and they are both going to play together at times because when we put them out there together it opens up a whole new challenge for defenses trying to stop us.”

McCoy added, “With both of us out there, you have no idea who is getting the ball and that makes us both more dangerous. That is what made West Virginia so good, they had Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine back there, that’s a lot to deal with. Hopefully people will say the same thing about us.”

Stephens-Howling and McCoy are not just backfield partners, they have become best friends. They refer to themselves as Mario and Luigi in reference to Nintendo’s Mario Brothers and have used that friendship to push each other.

So, duality is key this season for the offense. Two tailback sets. The hope to see two tight end formations. Using Greg Cross for Bill Stull for two QBs getting action. I’m sure there is a great and deep meaning for the number 2 in the Pitt offense.

The rest of the article is a nice enough piece as each flatters the other.

The facet of their relationship was also featured on another piece on Stephens-Howling from his hometown paper last week.

But rather than sulk about the loss of playing time, Stephens-Howling has embraced his role.

“I feel like I’m here for whatever they need me for,” he said. “I’m not going to whine about not getting enough playing time or anything like that.”

McCoy said the player he calls “Hot Rod” has been instrumental in his development as a running back.

“He’s done so much for me, helping me out with formations,” McCoy said. “He’s like having a coach on the field. If I have any questions, I can go to him. He knows the playbook like the quarterbacks.”

McCoy and fullback Conredge Collins each got puffing Pitt press releases that are sure to make it into the info packets that broadcast crews get for Pitt games.

Sometimes they can be amusingly (or disturbingly) fawning.

One look at his well-defined, chiseled features reinforces his words that he is more than ready for his senior season.

“I’ve been working very hard on my conditioning,” he said. “I’ve heard all during my career that I’m too small, too light, to do this or that on a football field.”

As for Collins, you bet this will get picked up in the on-air stories. After all, what commentator can resist a “mother-knows-best” theme.

“I told her how I felt, told her I didn’t think this [playing fullback] was a good idea,” he said. “My mom said, ‘You stay there, and you be the best fullback coming out of your class.’ I said, ‘Okay, Mom, I’ll do what you tell me.’ She said, ‘You’ve built a bond with your team. You stay committed. You do what they ask you to do.’ I’ve been working hard ever since.”

Mothers always seem to know best – and have great foresight. Heading into his senior season, Collins is considered college football’s top fullback by several scouting services.

Both of course are all about the team, and really seem to have accepted that McCoy is the leading star among the backs. They are focused on helping the team and keeping the younger kids behind them in the depth chart.

At the start of camp I mentioned that with the number of injured players from last year, it could be counted on that the local media would be doing stories on each of them coming back this year.

With that in mind, a couple of severe knee injury stories from each side of the line.

On the D-Line it was Gus Mustakas who had a torn ACL in the left knee.

“I think it will take him a little while to play at the level he was playing and get comfortable again,” Pitt defensive line coach Greg Gattuso said of Mustakas. “Everybody that has injuries of that severity has work to do to get to that level again. But he’ll be fine. He’s tough, smart and understands it. I think it’ll take a game or two.

“The nice thing is, whatever minutes he can give me in a game are bonus minutes right now. He has to get to a high level – he knows it – because of the talent level of the others.”

For the O-line it was Chris Jacobson with a torn patella tendon in the right knee.

Tony Wise, Pitt’s new offensive line coach, said Jacobson is making progress.

“He is feeling more comfortable every day,” Wise said. “As he twists and turns his body, things like that. There’s really not much hesitation.”

Both are coming back to squads with a bit more depth.

The silver lining is that with Mustakas and [Mick] Williams, Pitt has the opportunity to use a rotation to keep them fresh. That’s quite a difference from two seasons ago, when Mustakas played every snap against Rutgers, West Virginia and Connecticut. Mustakas is a strong pass rusher, but Williams is better against the run.

Not to mention that taking a medical redshirt has allowed Mustakas another year to grow into his frame, especially after being forced to play defensive end as a 17-year-old true freshman.

And.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said Jacobson could be the first reserve off the bench for Malecki or left guard C.J. Davis.

“I think (Jacobson) is going to be a solid guy,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We need him to play. If we can get him to the point where he can be the swing guard, that would be a big bonus.”

That Wannstedt is already saying how Pitt needs him for the line as a reserve is actually reassuring. It means that O-Line coach Tony Wise’s comments last week about wanting just the top-5 guys always playing is already being scaled back a bit.