As I wandered around the field this morning, the first thing I noticed was Isaac Bennett was still in a knee brace. It’s a long one that immobilizes his right leg, but he was in full pads. Jerry DiPaola pointed out that he was doing push ups, showing he can put weight on the knee. I’m not a doctor but if he’s able to put the pressure of a push up on it and walk around, I’d assume he’ll be ready to go on Labor Day. The really good news is it’s looking more and more like he won’t be expected to carry the load alone. (more…)
August 16, 2013
I can’t get a full post up since I have to hit the road at 3:30 (20 minutes from typing this sentence) but I wanted to go over a few quick observations from practice and I’ll throw up a more in depth one tonight.
Lots of stories about the defense abound. Very little about the man in charge, Matt House, but that’s my problem.
Time to run through what’s there.
At the defensive end position it looks like Ohio State transfer David Durham is putting himself solidly in the starting spot. He started out at OSU as a DE, but moved to fullback. Now at Pitt, he’s back at DE.
Durham said he expects the defensive line to increase its presence in opponents’ backfields this year. But he also said that, especially against Boone and other mobile ACC quarterbacks, he may have to pull back that aggression a bit.
“We have to know when we can turn it loose,” he said. “We do face a lot of mobile quarterbacks in this league, and that’s a challenge. It’s a challenge when you play spread teams because you have to be able to, not rein things in, but be smart.”
Through a week of training camp, Durham said the little details — footwork, play calls and fundamentals — have been his focus so far. He credits new defensive ends coach John Palermo as having a big impact on his game the past six months.
Ultimately, Durham is ready to finally get his chance on the field Sept. 2 in Pitt’s opener against Florida State.
“I’m hungry, man, I’m hungry,” he said. “I just come out every day and try to be the best player I can be for this team.
Sitting out a year as a transfer can do that to you. With a name like Durham, it’s just a coincidence that he is a North Carolina native.
After the age of 13, I can’t say I’ve cared too much for autographed items. I have a few things tucked away that I have been given or came into. Waiting in line for an autograph, however, let alone the idea of paying money for it. No. It’s just never been a thing for me. To this day the whole concept of the market for signed memorabilia and pictures of players, is a bit odd. Autograph shows blow my mind. I guess like comic books and baseball cards, it is some part of our childhood that some people just do not let go. Just when you get older and have your own money you can spend it on those things.
With that, the whole Johnny Manziel autograph scandal-story (and the issue of his eligibility) has spooked colleges as the season approaches.
Louisville has forbidden players from signing autographs, replacing its annual event with an open practice. Texas A&M will not allow players to sign anything but specially designed autograph cards.
…
At West Virginia, officials took no chances last Sunday when players and coaches signed autographs for two hours. The school provided autograph sheets, posters and NCAA compliance handouts outlining regulations prohibiting the sale of items bearing the name of the athletes.
That presumes, though, that the WVU fan is capable of reading.
