Game Notes (PDF) came out yesterday with the first real depth chart for the 2016 season (pg. 3).

I wouldn’t say there are a lot of surprises. Maybe a couple eyebrow raises, but not any, “Wait, what?” moments in the depth chart.

The O-line is stout and there are actual players behind the starters who would not fill me with dread if they had to play. Occasionally over the last half-dozen head coaches there have been O-lines that have been solid, but never deep.

Offensively, the Panthers are poised for a strong year, starting with depth on the offensive line. Pitt is shored up on the left side with Adam Bisnowaty at tackle and Johnson at guard. Alex Officer and Alex Bookser are competing at center and right guard, and Brian O’Neill, who converted from tight end, is expected to have a big year at right tackle.

But what offensive coordinator Matt Canada called “unbelievably magnificent” is the depth beyond those five — Jaryd Jones-Smith, John Guy, and Connor Dintino which makes a solid eight players in the rotation.

“We are very fortunate with as much depth as we have up front,” Canada said. “We have some really quality offensive linemen. Most places have three, maybe four, four-and-a-half with a guy you’re trying to hide. We are certainly deep up front and very fortunate to be.”

I’m not sure what to make of this.

With this O-line, even an average running game would find success. Pitt does not have an average running game.

James Conner leads the depth chart and then there are three backs with an “or.” When the ACC newcomer of the year is among them, you have a good problem. True freshman, Chawntez Moss earned a place on the 2-deep. By all accounts he was outstanding during training camp. That seems like an understatement with the depth in the running game and the desire of Coach Narduzzi to redshirt where possible.

At Wide Receiver, there are a few more questions. Oh, are there questions. Dontez Ford, Jester Weah and Quadree Henderson are the starters. Only Ford can be considered a lock to stay that way (barring injury) from week-to-week.

Henderson is going back-and-forth with Rafael Araujo-Lopes for that slot receiver spot. Henderson’s speed is unquestioned after the performance returning kicks in the otherwise forgettable Military Bowl. Araujo-Lopes is probably a little better at the routes, though.

As for Jester Weah, he is being pushed by Aaron Matthews — the only other true freshman on the depth chart. Matthews will almost certainly be a starter at points this season. The question remains as to whether Weah can catch the ball in game situations. If he can even get to average hands, he could do some great things with his speed.

I’m not even going to discuss the back-up QB situation, because that is not something anyone wants to think too much about at the moment. Happy thoughts.

Over to the defense. Hmm.

There is the Narduzzi-halo effect that makes me want to believe that the unit will be much better than the individual pieces, but I am worried.

This side is where you worry more about the depth as the drop-off at a lot of spots could be significant.

Nowhere is that more apparent, than on the D-line. I really like the starters. Hendrix and Price on the outside should be monsters. Soto will benefit from being moved inside, and Jarrett can be a wall inside. It’s when the players rotate out or if there are injuries. Behind Soto at defensive tackle are two true freshmen in Watts and Camp. Great that they both stood out in camp, but it still speaks to the lack of depth that they are right there to see regular action right away.

The linebackers aren’t going to scare anyone. Hopefully they will surprise everyone, but on paper this is the weakest point on the defense. Mike Capara/Bam Bradley at the Money and Matt Galambos at Mike Linebacker spots are guys that are smart enough and play hard. For lack of a better way of putting it, they are also distinctly average.

Then there is the Star spot. Great, great story. Terrifying reality.

First crack at the star outside linebacker position will go to former walk-on safety Seun Idowu, who beat out former North Allegheny classmate Elijah Zeise and senior Bam Bradley. “Seun has had a great camp,” Narduzzi said. “He and Elijah have battled back and forth. That outside linebacker job is a position we will continue to evaluate throughout the season. It’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately position, like they all are. If Seun continues to do what he’s done in practice, we will be happy with what we get on game day.”

Not sure how much of Idowu getting the start is simply to play with Bill Hillgrove to say Oluwaseun Idowu. High school teammates. Walk-on versus a converted wide receiver. And they are the best options at the position. I know, recruiting rankings aren’t always accurate, Narduzzi and Conklin are coaching them, yada, yada, yada.

The real strength of the defense is in the secondary. Even with freshman Damar Hamlin a scratch for the time being. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pitt use both free safeties, Terrish Webb and Reggie Mitchell at the same time in some passing situations in place of the Star linebacker spot.

I do expect more freshmen to work their way onto the 2-deep as the season progresses — beyond Hamlin. It isn’t just Narduzzi selling when he says things like this.

“We tell the freshmen, ‘You’re never redshirted until the end of the year.’ You really aren’t. You could go into the 11th game of the season and all of the sudden you need a guy and he’s playing. You can’t go out there and ask the team to play with 10 guys because we don’t want to burn a player’s redshirt. We’ll find out after two or three weeks. You hate to do that late in the season, but guys develop at different levels and you never know where someone is going to be in a couple of weeks.”

Not long now.