As training camp has progressed, we read the stories. Digest some of the previews and analysis. Not all of it is simply the happiness of talking, reading and thinking about football.

With Coach Paul Chryst, a lot of time has been spent on the offense. With good reason. That’s the area with the real questions. The real problems that had to be addressed. The QB. Offensive line. Running backs. Wide receiver depth.

Contrast that with the defense where the only real questions were with the linebackers and simply who would be behind the starters on defense.

The defense needs some attention. Not simply because of the questions with new Defensive Coordinator Matt House. While that is certainly something I have made my concerns known, is not the issue today.

My thoughts are about what this defense wants to be. The defense shifted to a 4-3 when Chryst came to Pitt. No big deal. In the ACC it is ab0ut 8-6 4-3 vs. 3-4 base defenses.

Part of that is because Pitt’s stated goal on defense is to bring more pressure up-front. To control the line of scrimmage. Something that requires more players on the line.

Someone like Ejuan Price who was successful as an outside linebacker now finds himself battling to become a defensive end and who will see a lot of actions when Pitt wants to bring pressure on the quarterback. He admits this is still a bit of a struggle.

Price was more comfortable in the 3-4 that Pitt used two years ago when he started five games and recorded four sacks as a freshman. The 4-3 installed by coach Paul Chryst wasn’t his defense of choice.

“I feel like I’m naturally a 3-4 outside linebacker,” Price said.

He worked at the new defense and now understands it, he said.

“I am almost 97 percent on top of everything,” said Price, who knocked down a Tom Savage pass at the line of scrimmage Monday. “It’s allowing me to play faster, so I love it.”

Bam Bradley redshirted last year and found himself moved from safety to outside linebacker. Part of the reason is that he is there to provide more coverage against the pass.

Bradley played safety in high school at Trotwood-Madison near Dayton, Ohio, and spent last year learning his new position at strong side linebacker.

“It was harder than I thought it was going to be, and I’m still adjusting to it right now,” he said. “I’m used to having everything in front of me playing safety, but now I have to turn around and look behind me, so it’s a little change up.”

There are some similarities, though. Specifically, Bradley’s spot has a lot of pass-coverage responsibilities, so the converted safety feels at home. Most times, he’s covering an opposing slot receiver.

Bradley said he has been able to pick up the position more quickly this fall because new defensive coordinator Matt House has simplified the defense, which allows the players to think less and play faster.

“Last year, it was a whole lot of different stuff,” Bradley said. “This year, they’re just trying to make it real simple for us so we can just play fast and just run the alleys.”

Now that he has adjusted to the new spot, he’s starting to reap the rewards. Even after he missed a few days to attend a relative’s funeral last week, Bradley jumped right back into the first-team rotation.

Athleticism, being better against the pass is a big thing in the linebackers. Anthony Gonzalez was moved from safety to an outside linebacker spot. Todd Thomas has always been better against the pass than the run.

A lot of the changes to the make-up of the linebackers is an adjustment to the fact that more and more offenses adopt spread principles of multiple receiving targets. Pitt’s defense is making the change to have more athleticism behind the line that can defend the pass.

For all the grief Max Gruder still gets for being burned on passing plays, he was a run-first linebacker often stuck on the outside because there was nobody better and little help with the rest of the linebackers. Guys who were just as bad against the pass — if not worse. (Examples: in 2010, Gruder was the MLB and on the outside was Tristan Roberts and Greg Williams. In 2011, he was stuck outside along with Brandon Lindsey — converted from the D-line, Greg Williams and a hobbled Todd Thomas).

At the same time, that means Pitt is putting more pressure on the four guys up-front to make the plays against the run. Even last year, it was a problem against the run if the front-four didn’t make the tackle. The linebackers (outside of maybe Shane Gordon) and the safeties definitely struggled to handle run defense. This was also noted in this preview of Pitt.

If the defense is truly going to be the strength of this team, either the D-line will have to be extremely stout against the run. Or the linebackers will have to improve significantly in the run defense.