Here are the digs from various media reports on Thursday’s practice.

Something that jumped out at me seems a small bit disturbing, but then I jerk myself back to reality by saying there is still months to go before the opener against YSU (better than last year we hope.)   But we have heard from the minute that these players started working out in the weight room and running early morning drills  couple weeks ago that this new staff ‘brought a whole new level of energy” to the table when it comes to interactions with the players.  Yet this is the third practice in a row where I have heard or read about a PITT coach commenting on periods of lack of energy or emotion from the players themselves (see Narduzzi’s interview below.)

After practice #2 – “There was a lack of focus—tempo might have been a little bit faster. 

After practice #3 – “It’s day three. The pads were on today and we started a little slow. The game of football is a game of emotion and you can’t come without that” The Trib’s blog headline: Pitt starts slow on first day with pads, but ends with `emotion’.

Hmmm, let’s hope it doesn’t continue into what the team was experiencing back in the latter part of the 2011 season under HC Beelzebub Graham when the players were  mailing in their effort during the between-game practices.  Of course, that is an exaggeration and these players are on the cusp of practicing under and learning from whole new set of coaches and trying to understand the new coaching philosophies being instituted, but I wanted to get another jab in at Graham… it makes me feel good when I’m down.  Next week it will be different I’m sure, being in pads now will help.  Now the coaches can tie raw meat to the walk-on’s belts and tell the scholarship guys to “Go get ‘em boys!!!”.

Here are the Post-Practice Video Interviews with three coaches and a player.

Video: Coach Pat Narduzzi on the first day of pads:  “It’s day three. The pads were on today and we started a little slow. The game of football is a game of emotion and you can’t come without that. The word of the day today was `toughness’ because it was the first day of pads. We didn’t come out with any emotion but we finished with a lot of it. I’m really happy with where we are right now.”

On if he was surprised with the lack of emotion:  “I don’t know. I just know that we finished strong. We have such good kids that I’m not sure if they knew what to expect. It’s a work in progress.”

On if the team is responding well to the coaches:  “I think so, you’ll have to ask them, though. [the team] doesn’t give you any lip–we have really, really, really good kids. I’m so happy with the type of people we have here. They’re easy to coach and that makes a coach’s job easy.”

On how much contact they had in practice:  “We did three live periods: full tackle, take them to the ground. Then probably three `thud’ periods, which is an aggressive thud where they try to stay up off of the ground. It went pretty good. You can’t tackle every day, and as a coach you’d love to, but you can’t.”

On if the intensity is going to increase leading up to the season:  “I think so. We’ll just see how they take it. We came out healthy again today, have a day off, then hit Saturday hard.”

On receiver Dontez Ford in Thursday’s practice:  “Dontez had a great catch today. I thought it was going to be a pick and he went over-top and took it away.”

On the offensive line:  “Alex Officer is doing a great job at center right now. [Adam Bisnowaty always does a great job–he’s intelligent. Until you watch the tape from today you can’t really say anything.”

Video: Offensive Line Coach John Peterson on if the offensive line has depth:

“It’s still early to tell. They’re still learning the language and process of a new offense. Today was an example of the first day in pads–it’s going to take a little time. It’s a high-quality group; they care and are working hard every day.”

On guard Alex Bookser:  “Just like any young guy, he’s learning Coach [Jim] Chaney’s system. He’s tough and likes contact. There’s usually a guy who’s pretty close to him that he can put his hands on pretty quickly. He’s also a big body in there. He needs to clean up his footwork and understand how he fits in a little bit more.”

On versatility:  “In the beginning you’re trying to develop a line early with guys who can be versatile. The more positions guys can learn, and understand the game, the more valuable they become.”

On if Artie Rowell will wear an orange jersey throughout spring practice:  “Yes. He’s still in that no-contact rehab. He’s right in the middle of everything though: making calls and going through individual stuff. What he can contribute he does. He mentally takes reps every snap.”

Watch this entire next Rob Harley video interview as I think he’s signaling some intent as to personnel.  The only thing I am surprised about is that he’s been mentioning Mike Caprara pretty often and did so during LOI Day also.  Not taking anything away from Young Mr. Caprara but he wasn’t so much on my radar as MLB#2.

He also make a nice point that Galambos, Caprara, Wirginis and Folsom have gotten the ‘calls’ down quicker than expected. It sound like Harley is starting with Grigsby, Galambos and Bradley as starters so far.

Video: Linebacker Coach Rob Harley on the linebackers through the opening week of spring drills:

“After three days, these guys are really mentally ahead of the schedule. I think these guys have played a lot of football. We have some savvy veterans that have played and been around the system. We’re playing a little bit more of a simpler defense and what they have to do is now master their fundamentals. That’s where those nuance situations come in with their techniques. As far as knowing where to be and knowing what to do, they are way far ahead of anywhere where I thought they would be by the third practice.

“Some of the stuff we’re seeing out there is very advanced. They’re running what we need them to run. Now we’re just needing to tweak the finer details of it and that’s just going to be from film as they get in here and watch.”

On how the defense is simpler:  “We’re going to play what we play 80 percent of the time. We’re going to be in the same defense. There’s going to be some different things that we do depending on what the offense gives us, but we’re going to be in it 80 percent of the time. How we line up, and how our fundamentals are, so when those guys master the fundamentals, it’s now just about what the offense is doing. Our linebackers are going to be where they only can be in a handful of different alignments. It’s going to be one thing and we’re going to get really good at it.”

On returning starter Matt Galambos:  “You want to see some leadership and that comes in so many different ways. I’m not the kind of guy who demands others to be vocal. As the mike linebacker, he’s the guy that gets us lined up and makes all the calls–that comes with its own leadership. If he can get that done, and command the defense, then I’ll be really happy.”

Video: Wide Receiver Dontez Ford on his big catch today in practice:

“I felt like I was just doing what I was supposed to do. Coach [Kevin] Sherman got on us a lot about catching the ball whenever we had someone trying to hit us, so that’s just what I was trying to do.

“I got the outside release and saw the corner go away. The safety was coming over to stop Chad [Voytik] so he threw the ball. At that point it was just going up to catch the ball. I caught it with two hands.

“It was supposed to be a deep ball right down the sideline, but the safety was going right over top. So [Voytik] just put it line-drive right between them. [Safety] Reggie [Mitchell] happened to get his hand on the ball, but he was playing smart: he didn’t want to hit me out of the air. You don’t want to do that to your teammate. I just happened to snatch it right before he could.”

On if he has a lot to prove this spring:  “I feel like I do. I didn’t put up the numbers last year like I could have. So this year, I feel like I need to come out and do well this spring and let that carry over into camp.”

On what he did well last season:  “My physicality helped me a lot: being able to catch the ball and trap it, making key blocks. That stuff helps you whenever the pass game comes along.”

On if he feels comfortable after the 2012 transfer from Syracuse:  “Definitely a lot more comfortable. Now I’m learning a lot more about the game. At Syracuse I only really played defensive back. The last staff put a lot of knowledge in me about the receiver position and this staff is doing well, too. I’m taking what I learned in the meeting room and putting it on the field.”

Speaking of the wide receivers, Sam Werner of the PG has this tidbit: “Not only him, just the whole offense, just in general,” said receivers coach Kevin Sherman. “The more guys we can have to be productive, the more defenses have to worry about a tailback, have to worry about two receivers and the quarterback, as well, [the better]. We’re looking for a consistent group of guys who can help us go out each Saturday, compete and play at a high level, and be productive.”

Among players in the running to help Boyd are sophomore Jester Weah, freshman Elijah Zeise, junior Chris Wuestner and sophomore Zach Challingsworth.

You know the more I look at that group of kids and remembering how they showed what they could do in past practices and camps I’ve a feeling we are going to get more productivity out of the WR2 spot then we have though.  The question is will there be any real threat opposite Boyd to peel of that second defender when he’s getting double coverage?

If we don’t have that then I say get the best possession receiver we have, a la Mike Shanahan, at that position and work the ball down field that way and then ‘cry havoc let slip the TE of war‘!  Chryst and staff wasted their talents for three years.  Granted the OL needed a lot of help but our offense needs all the ball targets we can put out there.  That recent quote by TE Scott Orndoff said it best when he was asked if OC Jim Cheney will use the his position more in the passing game: “Let’s hope. I don’t want to be another tackle like we were last year.”

On a side note, in the midst of the spring practices, new staff, new atmosphere the P-G comes in with a short article on Dontez Ford and then posts a much longer article about basketball news.   It is a nice article and granted it wasn’t written by the PITT beat writer but with the P-G PITT football blog two days old and that small piece about a 2^nd string player you would think they could find room for more relevant PITT football issues.

I’m planning on driving up to the Southside to put eyes on the kids tomorrow but I’m wavering a bit because the Saturday practice was moved forward from 10:00 am to 9:30. That means a departure time of no later than 4:30 am if I want to be sure to be on time.  Add to that the media will have only 25 minutes on the sideline and it isn’t too attractive.  However, my best friend is throwing a 90^th birthday party for his Mom and her daughter is an old girlfriend of mine, so I’ll do it I’m sure.

Add any legit questions you want me to ask the interviewees to your comments and if I have a chance I’ll try to get some answers.  Personally, I’d like to ask Coach Cheney what the plans for Jaymar Parrish are.