It would be so tempting to be sidetracked. PSU fighting itself and maybe the NCAA. Fraud Graham still spinning. So easy. So much fun. No! There are practices. There is actual sport. Must. Stay. Focused.

Let’s start at the defensive end.  The questions are about the player behind him and the other side. From a star-recruiting ranking perspective it seems loaded with Shayne Hale, T.J. Clemmings and Bryan Murphy. Reality is something else. Hale has never progressed from potential no matter the position. Clemmings seems to have endless questions about his desire. Murphy just has problems getting on the field. So, Tyrone Ezell is moving to the DE spot, while LaQuentin Smith is competing at linebacker. Zeise tips the hand of why Ezell has moved when he puts it in terms of “ moving into the mix has thrown a little bit of fire into this competition.”

Ezell might win the other starting spot simply because he wants and will work harder for it. That’s a little frustrating, but it is taking place early. Chryst and DC Huxtable are wasting no time trying to make sure that even when there are issues of depth there is is a sense of urgency and competition.

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The first day of training camp is in the books and there has been another excellent website set up by PITT’s Sports Information Department to get the info out to us fans.

This years edition is called PITT Live Wire and has videos, visdeo inyterviews, practice notes, etc.  All in all its a nic bit of work but is a bit hard to navigate at first.  Here is the full address if you want to bookmark it:  http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/blog/

Then it looks like there will be a different page added each day – Here is the Day One entry.  In it there is a current Training Camp Notebook.  Nothing really jumps out at me with these notes.

Tyrone Ezell has been moved from the interior of the DL out to defensive end though which is a bit of a surprise considering how thin we are in the interior.  Yesterday I posted that we had four DEs vying for starting jobs; Murphy, Clemmings, Hale and Smith – so now add Ezell.  Somethings got to change there obviously.

Update:  LaQuentin Smith is starting camp at defensive tackle.  I wrote earlier that I figured this would happen sooner or later once this kid packed on 55 pounds over the last 18 months.  This kid is a player and one to keep an eye on.  He’s a true Sophomore this season and can put a few more pounds on his 6’2″ frame.

Chryst was asked about the departure of Myers at QB and he didn’t sound overly concern about the loss – rather blase’ actually:

On Mark Myers transferring:

“It does not really change our situation at quarterback. I think that you have just got to keep going. We wish him well obviously, but we just have to keep going and not miss a beat.”

On whether freshman Chad Voytik will be receiving more meaningful reps due to Myers transferring:

“Absolutely, and we will take advantage of that. It’s certainly easier to rep three quarterbacks than it is to rep four.”

Tom Savage was out there tossing passes around. He’s a walk-on who isn’t eligible this season but figures to be in the mix in 2013.  I just as soon have the guy sat down during camp but as long as he isn’t take any practice reps from the three QBs then no harm I suppose.

If you want to see who PITT’s  ‘next great thing’ at QB is take a look at this short clip of Chad Voytik being interviewed.  That is Paul Zeise of the Post Gazette strolling in at the end and asking Voytik a question that gets cut off by the videographer.  Hmmm, wonder what it was?  Voytik has an NFL jawbone already.

Other than that it was a normal first day of camp with no great news to digest.    Camps are like this, they are required to go without pads for three practice (I think) then once they suit up and go full speed we’ll see things start to shake out.

Note:  Here is a nice video of some of the players moving into Sutherland Hall before camp starts, puts a smile on you face.