Pitt Spring Practice #8  March 31, 2015

One of the more interesting developments of Spring Camp is the continuing battle for a starting LB spot between Bradley and Mike Caprara.  Not too many of us fans would have thought that would be a main issue for discussion during these practices.  Again, legit depth chart movement or motivational tool?  It may well be the this defensive minded staff sees what the last staff didn’t, at least as far as the personnel goes.  Let’s hope this is the case and we truly get the best 11 guys on the field.

Also, there is a lot of hair pulling regarding 3* Safety Tony Butler who committed to PITT last week then promptly went on recruiting trips to OSU and Michigan.  From the link:  Pittsburgh commit visiting:  Michigan will host Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward safety Tony Butler on Thursday. He committed to Pittsburgh recently, but has planned to visit Michigan for several weeks. His former high school coach, Rick Finotti, was recently hired by the Wolverines as director of football operations

Onto the actual practice stuff…

Coach Pat Narduzzi impressions on practice No. 8:

Video: Coach Pat Narduzzi

“Day eight was pretty good. We talked about adversity today, just fighting through adversity. The defense won the scrimmage the other day but it didn’t look like the offense punched back. If I punch you, you get punched back on the field. Today we talked about fighting for what you want. If you lose a period, there’s another period to come back and do it.

I thought our guys did a heck of a job. One of the best practices we’ve had so far where the guys are punching back and not taking it. Sometimes you think they’re beat today and they don’t think they can finish the practice. I’m really excited about what we did today.”

On the linebacker competition between Mike Caprara and Bam Bradley:

“Mike [Caprara] has been consistent and so has Bam [Bradley]. It’s a battle. They’re both playing good football, which is good. That’s good when you can get two guys that can go in there. We’re going to find out which one wants it more, who’s fighting a scratching to be the guy.”

On Mike Caprara being more of an outside or middle linebacker:

“He can do both. He’s playing a little more outside because we’re trying to find out who they are. I think he could do both for sure.”

On roles of the running backs other than James Conner:

“The role is who’s hot. Rachid [Ibrahim] has had a great spring practice so far. I guess in the past, they had two guys that were runners. Two tailbacks that were the running tailbacks and two were the pass guys, is how it was set up. James [Conner] is in for most of the runs, Rachid was in for most of the passes and they kind of sorted it that way.

It’s hard to play in the NFL when you’re not in for any passes or runs. So we’re going to mix that up and let those guys do everything. James has great hands out of the backfield. It’s not like he can’t be in on third down because you can’t chuck it down to him.

He has great hands and had a great catch today. It was a one-hander where he snagged it and it was like, ‘Wow.’ He’s a big guy that can protect, so why would you not want him out on the field on third down.”

On what he saw on film from Saturday’s scrimmage:

“They’re picking up the fundamentals and doing the little things right. They’re not perfect by any means but you can see the progress. It’s back and forth: when the defense does little things you can get stops on offense, but when the offense is doing things right, you can get something going.  The defense was clicking more than the offense but today the offense was punching back. They just need to pay more attention to detail.”

On having Aaron Donald and Larry Fitzgerald coming back for the spring game:

“We’ve been working on it for a while and it was an idea that we had as a staff. We were able to work together and have two former Pitt players to come back and be around our guys. I think that’s the big thing, bringing back the great Pitt players and hopefully some of that greatness will rub off.”

On if the players were excited:

“They were fired up. There’s no doubt about it that they were excited.”

On the spring game “draft”:

“We will have a draft. We’ll draft out the [coaching] staff, they will draft out the seniors, and then the seniors will draft the rest of the team.”

On having NFL players and Pitt alumni at the spring game adding a level of competitiveness:

“I think so. I think our guys would want to play football in front of them. It’ll be competitive anyway.”

On how he views the spring game:

“It’s an extra practice but it’s a fun practice. It’s something that you build to. You work 14 days, there should be some fun at the end of it. To me, that’s what the spring game is.”

Defensive Back Jevonte Pitts on playing safety and what’s different this year:

Video: Defensive Back Jevonte Pitts

 “I’m trying to do what I can. Everything is much simpler. Everything is scaled back and ‘dumbed down’ as opposed to us having so many checks last year and it’s a fresh start. It gives everybody an edge, everyone wants to compete.”

On starting with a clean slate with the new coaching staff:

“As soon as I heard Coach Chryst was leaving, I knew I had to step up because I’ve been trying to play all these years and the time has finally come.”

“It’s always discouraging when you think you’re going to come in and think that this is going to be my year, but it doesn’t happen. Then, you finally get a chance to play. I was discouraged at first, but then I got it together and came out fighting.”

“Every season is a new start. Every season, no one is starting, it’s always a new opportunity at the beginning of every season. I always thought I had a chance. I never cut myself out.”

On improvements made since last year allowing him to compete for a starting job:

“I definitely think I’ve made improvements. I think I got a little bit faster and my eyes are a lot better just from watching and learning from Ray [Vinopal]. Sitting in film rooms and the coaches do a good job.”

On competing against your teammates:

“It’s really good. Especially with the defensive backs, we all look at each other as brothers…so it’s like when you were a kid, playing with your sibling; you’re always trying to win. Everything’s a competition because you want to work hard.”

On if the simplicity of the new defense will improve the overall performance:

“Definitely, because it allows you to play faster. With every down you play faster because you know what you’re doing.”

 On how he’s considered the hardest hitter of the secondary by his teammates:

“I think that’s the best thing I can do. It’s my strength.”

On how fellow safety Reggie Mitchell has helped him:

“It’s all about competing. I call Reggie a technician because he can do everything so well. When I watch film, I try to watch him and see what he is doing. I think he’s a big part of the defense so I try to do the things he does. He’s a leader, too.”

Some other notes:

Donald and Fitz to be Honorary Captains of the Spring Game:

Two of the greatest players in Pitt football history—and two of the NFL’s biggest stars—will serve as honorary head coaches for the 2015 Blue-Gold Spring Game.

Pat Narduzzi announced today that eight-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald and 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald will return to Pittsburgh to “coach” the Blue-Gold Game held at Highmark Stadium on April 18 at 1 p.m.

Both players were unanimous All-Americans at Pitt. Fitzgerald is entering the 12^th season of a Canton-worthy NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. Donald is coming off an impact debut season with the St. Louis Rams, earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and selection to the Pro Bowl.

“Larry and Aaron are not only legendary Panthers but also two of the elite players in the NFL,” Narduzzi said. “The University of Pittsburgh takes great pride in what they have accomplished as both players and people. We’re thrilled to have them as honorary head coaches for the spring game. I think they will have as much fun as our players and fans will.”

This year’s Blue-Gold Game will feature a true game format with the team being divided by position into two separate squads.  Fitzgerald will lead the Blue squad with Donald heading up the Gold.

“I always love coming back to Pittsburgh and I’m excited to see firsthand the work Coach Narduzzi is doing with the team,” Fitzgerald said. “There is a great buzz around the program right now. My Blue squad better be ready to go come April 18!”.

“Coach Narduzzi is already doing great things at Pitt and I’m excited that he asked me to be an honorary head coach,” Donald said. “This will be a lot of fun because I still know a lot of the players on the team. Larry better have his guys ready because I know our Gold squad will be fired up to play!”

Despite playing only two collegiate seasons (2002-03), Fitzgerald left Pitt as the most decorated receiver in school history. He was named the 2003 Walter Camp Player of the Year, becoming the first sophomore to earn that prestigious honor, and also won the Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver. Fitzgerald’s No. 1 jersey was retired by Pitt in 2013.

Selected third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by Arizona, Fitzgerald has amassed 909 receptions for 12,151 yards and 89 touchdowns during his pro career. He is the Cardinals’ franchise leader in each of those statistical categories.

A first-round pick of St. Louis (13^th overall), Donald led all NFL rookies in 2014 with 9.0 sacks, setting a Rams rookie record in that category. He added 32 quarterback pressures, 12 quarterback hits and 17 tackles for loss en route to a Pro Bowl berth.

It was a seamless transition from Pitt to the pros for Donald. During his All-America senior season in 2013, Donald was college football’s most destructive player, compiling 28.5 TFLs and 11 sacks. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award.

Admission for the Blue-Gold Game is free for all fans and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors at Highmark Stadium will open at 11:30 a.m., and parking will be available at both Highmark Stadium and Station Square. For more information, visit PittsburghPanthers.com.

DiPaola of the Trib has another interesting bit on how the Spring Game will be conducted

That will be a rush for the players and the fans, but Narduzzi will divide the squad into two teams, chosen in a draft format.  First, coaches will draft the seniors onto two teams. Then, the seniors will pick the remainder of the rosters. 

Narduzzi will allow the media to watch the proceedings, and it could be very interesting.  Do you choose either of Pitt’s two stars — running back James Conner and wide receiver Tyler Boyd – with the first pick? Or, do you grab the veteran quarterback Chad Voytik? 

Keep in mind that Pitt has only two inexperienced quarterbacks behind Voytik –redshirt freshman Adam Bertke and walk on Nate Bossory. Plus, if you take Voytik with the first pick (the way I would go) than you are guaranteed either Conner or Boyd with your second selection.

DiPaloa also has an article on the urgent need for more sacks from our defense in 2014:

“The previous Pitt coaching staff didn’t design an excessive number of blitzes. Starting outside linebackers and departed seniors Anthony Gonzalez and Todd Thomas totaled only one sack between them. Former coordinator Matt House called more blitzes last year, but he tried to avoid leaving holes in a secondary that needed a lot of help from the front seven.

Coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff have promised more aggressiveness, something that will shine a light on linebackers and defensive ends, especially Rori Blair, who led the team with five sacks last season while starting only two games as a freshman, etc…”

In keeping with the staff’s minimalist approach to media relations here is an article by the Post-Gazette’s Sam Werner on… you guessed it – Rori Blair.  Werner also got his Red Shirt Diaries back in action last night.

Here is an interesting piece from an Alabama Blog on rsSO WR Robert Foster.  He was the 5 star recruiting in the class of 2012 who spurned PITT for the Crimson Tide two years ago. If you’ll remember his press conference shocked some of us (all of us maybe) PITT fans.

He seems adamant that he’ll stay at Alabama for his collegiate career but if Tyler Boyd declares for the draft early, as PITT players always do (see Fitz above for the extreme case), then perhaps Foster will see a bigger and better playing opportunity opening up here at PITT and a better chance of having his talents showcased for the NFL scouts.

However, it could be that he just isn’t that talented to have grabbed a starting job in his first two years and that might not change.

Receivers coach Billy Napier was happy to hear that.  “I think Robert is a guy who’s going through that process of developing as a player, not necessarily in talent level, but maturity to deal with being a college student, being under the rigors of the day-to-day schedule, learning the system,” Napier said. “Honestly, we kind of rebuilt the system this year with coach (Lane) Kiffin, but his progress has been good at times.

That developing a maturity level to handle all the ‘rigors of college’ is something that we fans tend to not give much weight to when discussing underclassmen.  We get tunnel vision on the football games and forget that there is a great big new world thrust upon these kids all of a sudden.  This Foster subject has been in discussion on here for a day or so, but have at it again.

Rivals.com’s Chris Peak, a great source of PITT football info, will have a ‘long’ interview with DC Josh Conklin on his Thursday’s Panther-Lair Show internet radio podcast.  These podcast are fantastic if you want a bit more ‘behind the scenes’ info on the workings of the PITT football program.  Here is the broadcast info:

The PantherLair Show; is broadcast from 2pm to 3pm on Thursday afternoons.  Pitt Expert Chris Peak of Panther Lair brings you the most comprehensive Pitt show on the web talking Panthers football and basketball.

It is broadcast on the “Trib-Live Radio Sportstalk” website and here is the latest March 25^th edition for your listening pleasure.