Both beat reporter notebooks lead in the notebook regarding Defensive Tackle Thomas Smith getting his knee operated. They still hope to get him back for the season opener.

Wannstedt said that senior Phil Tillman will take most of the snaps with the first team in Smith’s absence. He said the normal rotation of tackles once Smith is back will be Smith, Tillman, Corey Davis and a fourth player from a group that includes senior Ron Idoko and freshmen Craig Bokor, Rashaad Duncan and Ernest “Mick“ Williams.

The kicking and punting was discussed in both, as well. Both Punter Adam Graessle and Kicker Josh Cummings are vying to handle kickoff duties. Graessle seems to be booming it better.

Bill Fralic will do color commentary on the radio with Bill Hillgrove for the second straight year. He apparently came to Pittsburgh from his home in Atlanta to briefly talk with Coach Wannstedt at practice. I did not hear any of the radio broadcasts last year, so I don’t know what kind of job he did.

While everyone agrees that Pitt will use running back by committee, everyone has a favorite. Rashad Jennings has impressed at least one of the reporters covering Pitt’s preseason practices.

It’s been nearly two decades since the University of Pittsburgh had a running back like Rashad Jennings, a perfect blend of power and speed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, but with the Panthers stable full of talented running backs a solid rotation could be in order this season.

Jennings was the No. 1 running back coming out of the spring workouts, but senior Tim Murphy was injured and freshman LaRod Stephens-Howling from Johnstown was still in high school. Sophomore Brandon Mason and fifth-year senior Ray Kirkley – the leading rusher last year and as a freshman in 2001 – are also in the mix now.

“Murphy is healthy, and he and Rashad are taking most of the (first-team) reps right now,” Pitt running backs coach David Walker said. “But all of those guys are going to play, and they’re all competing very hard.
…
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh and Walker prefer to have one back carry the load, but there are several factors that might keep them from utilizing that plan this year.

“I’d love to have Tony Dorsett here, but we don’t have him,” Walker said. “But we have a good group of players that are competing real hard, and they’re all a little bit different. Rashad probably will do most of his damage inside and should be a high yards after contact guy.

“Brandon has the ability to make guys miss a little more, and Tim has both qualities. LaRod, he’s a change of pace guy with good speed, but they all give us a chance to spread teams out if we want or wear them out if we want to do that. So, with this personnel, we can execute every play Matt calls.”

[Emphasis added.]

LaRod Stephens gets some love in this story.

“There’s a lot of backs who are not as tall or as thick as other guys, but he can definitely be a factor in the return game in his career here. And he’s definitely going to be a factor as a running back in his career here,” Pitt running backs coach David Walker said of Stephens.

“He’s such an explosive young man. At times, he may break down physically, but you ve got to hit him to break him down physically, and if you can’t catch him, you can’t hit him.”
…
“I just like to play football, wherever I can be on the field,” Stephens said. “If it’s helping the team, that’s even better. Anywhere they have to put me, that’s where I’ll go.”

Need a kick-returner? Stephens will give it a try. Need a big play on third down — a game-breaker for, say, 60 yards? Give the ball to LaRod.

“I’ve seen some guys like him,” said Walker, who ranks as the sixth-leading rusher in Syracuse history (2,643 yards). “That style of back puts a lot of stress on the defense. He can outrun angles. He can get in your gap and exploit you. He’s got a chance to be a productive player for us.”

Clearly, Stephens has been working on his cliches. Nicely done.