Well, it’s been underway for a few days. A couple of practices. And, well, not much else to actually say that seems particularly groundbreaking.

The quarterbacks know they are in competition, but it is nothing personal.

“Competition’s healthy everywhere you go,” Sunseri said. “This, in particular, at our position, Pat knows it better than anybody. We’re also helping each other, so it’s more like a friendly competition.”

Sunseri said the position has gotten easier for him and that spending last season interacting and preparing with Stull was a major part of that.

Bostick, meanwhile, said the redshirt year allowed him to experience some things he should have when he was a freshman, when he was eventually thrust into the starting job after Stull broke his thumb.

“I got to sit back, prepare myself and get myself into the best physical condition as I can and see how Bill succeeded,” Bostick said. “It was huge being a part of that for me, and just getting back into it is awesome.”

But of course everything is pad-free and essentially non-contact right now. It’s getting the kids to do the basics and fundamentals.

Again, a lot of this was fiction because they weren’t in pads and the contact was minimal, but at least they got out there and the journey towards putting together a working depth chart is complete.

One other tidbit – Todd Thomas is coming in May and when he does, even though he was a big-time defensive player in prep school, Wannstedt said he is going to be a receiver. “He is too good at catching the ball and too good of an athlete and playmaker not to use him on offense,” Wannstedt said.

I would say, if the past is any indication, put that in pencil rather than ink. Until Thomas is actually in the practices, playing and getting chances where he fits on the future depth charts is up in the air. Plus, issues of injuries and the depth on the other side factor into it.

Then there’s the always more important issue of the O-line and depth chart.

The first-team offensive line Thursday had one minor surprise: Greg Gaskins was at right guard ahead of Ryan Turnley, but Wannstedt said the competition for that job will be ongoing and will involve a number of players.

“As far as guys like Gaskins and Turnley [and several other linemen], all those guys are interchangeable,” Wannstedt said. “What we are trying to do now is evaluate them once we get the pads on and then determine who are the six or seven best guys. It is tough to evaluate linemen when we are out here without pads on, though.”

And while there are a lot of players not practicing due to injuries and ailments:

Two of Pitt’s top receivers — Mike Shanahan (recovering from mono) and Devin Street (infection) — did not practice Thursday. Wannstedt expects Street to return to practice Saturday while Shanahan will remain day to day.  … A number of members of the secondary are out with various injuries: Safeties Jason Hendricks (shoulder), Dom DeCicco (toe) and Andrew Taglianetti (knee) are out for the spring, and corner Ricky Gary (undisclosed) is week to week.

Cam Saddler is trying to work his way into the depth chart at WR.

“The last couple days, we’ve gotten Cam the ball, and he’s been very productive. Cam’s time is now.”

Saddler was primarily a kick returner last year, averaging 25.3 yards on 25 returns and also catching three passes for 41 yards and a score.

That’s a long way from Dickerson’s 2009 stats, which included 529 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

But the explosiveness Saddler showcased at Gateway High School is still evident, even despite his injuries the past two years.

“It’s the best feeling in the world, just being able to show that I can make plays,” Saddler said. “Showing I’m capable of getting touches in games is real important.”

At 5-7, Saddler is one of the smallest guys out there. It’s great that he is running pain free and feels better than ever. The issue is the target he presents. I’ll be curious to read how Sunseri or Bostick are able to get him the ball when they get to more physical practices.

Early practice stories are essentially like getting some broth to start a meal. Very unsubstantial, but it gets you ready for more.

I think I’ll spare myself (and possibly the rest of you) any big media recap of the actual game. Suffice to say, Coach Dixon put things succinctly.

But when it was over, Dixon contrasted the moods of the two teams. “They’re happy and we’re suffering,” he said. “It’s going to sting, it’s going to hurt.”

It was pointed out that Kevin Gorman and Bob Smizik see part of the problem in Pitt not having enough offensive firepower come the NCAA Tournament. Be it a take-over “man” in crunch time, or simply a need to recruit more players who are shooters even at the expense of defense.

My first thought is that both are essentially ignoring the fact that the Pitt team of the past two years has been much more of an offensive-minded team with good, but hardly transcendent defense. Who was Sam Young but an offensive force when he asserted? Who was Levance Fields, but the general who would get those last clutch shots when needed? Who was DeJuan Blair, but the force on the glass that would clean up everything and get easy putbacks on offensive rebounds? The defense was better than average, but it was Pitt’s offensive efficiency and ability to outscore teams that had them winning games the last two years.

This team was made up of the role players who had to expand their role, and young players still learning. They had to go with their strengths, which was much more emphasis on defense. The job of any coach is to win the games, and win with the talent on hand.

Looking at it a little closer, Gorman seems to be talking about some dominating two-guard or wing forward that can drive and shoot threes to be that man. Even if the defensive prowess/effort isn’t there. Or, if you want to be a little clearer — a more consistent Gilbert Brown. I mean, doesn’t Brown fit that description? When Brown is on his good days, he is exactly that. Didn’t he actually do that abruptly and unexpectedly (and yes, a little too late) at the end of Xavier? Isn’t that what Pitt may have coming in J.J. Moore? Can we agree that Dante Taylor still has big potential to be a very potent offensive force?

As for Smizik’s contention that Pitt needs 3-point specialists who can come off the bench cold and drill 3s. Um, okay. Yeah, that would be nice. Tell me a team that wouldn’t mind that. But maybe it’s because I’ve watched a bombing of 3s philosophy absolutely fail in the Big East (and most other places) — Notre Dame, Providence, Seton Hall, etc. — that it seems a bit silly. The only teams in the Big East that shoot a lot of 3s and have any success — Louisville and Syracuse. They play a completely different style than Pitt, and still they rely on having an inside presence and ability to go to the basket when the shots don’t go down.

My feeling is that that the writers are ignoring or confusing things, and really want to see Pitt play more of an up-tempo style. That’s not going to happen.

Final note. Just for fun, imagine if Pitt did change philosophies. Then imagine what would happen when Pitt hit a patch where they lost several games in a stretch because the defense was not there? Then there would be bemoaning the loss of identity for Pitt. How they are failing on the basics and fundamentals.