With good reason, there’s a lot of importance placed on the scrimmages in terms of positional battles, getting on the depth chart and not getting redshirted. Tomorrow is the next scrimmage, and yesterday’s practice seemed to reflect some of that preparation for spots still up for grabs and players trying to move up.
The running back battle is probably down to three: Dion Lewis, Chris Burns and Ray Graham. Shariff Harris, who really didn’t seem to be in the mix is unofficially eliminated from the chances of getting even 3-deep with his two week suspension for “disciplinary reasons.” No explanation given beyond that.
Two weeks. Hmm. That means he finishes after training camp ends. He could suit up for the opening game with YSU, but obviously he is not going to see any action.
Without any knowledge of the offense incurred or insight into Harris’ mindset, this seems set-up for Harris to transfer out of Pitt. He’s a redshirt sophomore with 3 years of eligibility remaining. I hear Liberty is fond of ex-Pitt backs.
Harris definitely has been a non-factor dating back to spring practice, when he had the best chance to grab the starting tailback spot — or at least be the second back. Instead it was Dion Lewis who grabbed the starting spot, and just has not let go. Chris Burns is probably second at the moment, but if Ray Graham can hold onto the ball he should be breathing down his neck. Harris is probably behind another freshman, Jason Douglas, by the time it is all said and done.
I don’t type this to say he should transfer or want him to, but the fact pattern looks rather predictable.
Sticking with the tailback spot, Dion Lewis appears to be getting closer to nailing down the starting spot as Wannstedt once more singles him out for praise in his opening comments after practice.
“We had about four or five guys that weren’t practicing yesterday or this morning that were practicing this afternoon. It was good to get those guys back. I think we’re starting to become a little healthier. As far as practice today, I thought our receivers, especially Jonathan Baldwin, made some plays. I was very disappointed with their performance this morning and I pleased with the way they responded. Dion Lewis continues to make guys miss in the open field and make plays. I like the progress that he’s made. Defensively, it was one of those days where you run 60 plays, 55 of them were right on and the other five we gave up some big plays. It’s a reminder that it’s a 60-minute game. It was very competitive today. It was a good practice, I was happy with the effort. We’ve had some good practices in pads and we got a lot of work done.”
The offensive line is where the most questions seem to remain. Center Robb Houser had two different practices in the morning and afternoon.
That said, after criticizing Robb Houser for a poor practice this morning, it’s only fair to give him credit when he plays well.
The senior center had a strong second practice, drawing praise and a fist bump from offensive line coach Tony Wise twice, the biggest after his downfield sprung Aundre Wright on a reverse for a big gain.
Houser playing well and consistently is vital for Pitt. He is not only the lone true center on the team, keeping him out there increases Pitt’s overall depth on the O-line.
The other spot still in question on the O-line is Left Guard between Joe Thomas and Chris Jacobson. They have continued to split 1st team reps, and there seems little separation between them. Coach Wannstedt has said they will split the reps on Saturday’s scrimmage and the performance in that scrimmage will be the final test to make a decision.
Lucas Nix, the starting right tackle is still out with an infection on his leg. Erp.
Jared Holley is making noise to be on the field at cornerback.
“That’s the plan,” Holley said of his strong summer. “I hope that this camp has shown the coaches that they can trust me.”
The plan is working. Holley is pushing sophomore Antwuan Reed for the fourth cornerback spot behind senior starters Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel and redshirt junior reserve Ricky Gary.
Regardless of his role, Holley will provide valuable depth in a secondary that will face some elite receivers, including Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati, Mike Williams of Syracuse, Golden Tate and Michael Floyd of Notre Dame and Naaman Roosevelt of Buffalo.
Holley’s scrimmage interception came while playing safety. His versatility will enable him to see time in both the nickel and dime packages.
“Holley is playing extremely well,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “He’s got a real feel for making plays. We are trying to get him on the field.”
Otherwise, for a lot of the other players it is just about the practices and getting better. Stull didn’t seem to have a bad day, overall. The O-line seems to be getting more cohesive, the defense is still nasty. The D, however, did let several big plays happen after appearing to have things contained — as Coach Wannstedt had noted in his opening comments.
On injuries, Safety Elijah Fields and Tight End Nate Byham returned, but TE Dorin Dickerson is still dealing with a hamstring problem.
Really looking forward to two-tight end sets this year.
Q: With the new addition of offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., and with the running game taking a hit with the loss of LeSean McCoy, are the tight ends (Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson) going to play a bigger role in the offense this year?
ZEISE: Yes. Cignetti has said as much on many occasions. And early in camp — before Byham and Dickerson were both injured — it reflected as much. He knows these guys are two of his best players and he said he wants to make sure they both get enough touches to have an effect on every game. Byham will also play a big role in the running offense because he has developed into an excellent blocker.
The key to using Byham and Dickerson will be trusting the QB to throw the ball over the middlle. Cavanaugh/Wannstedt preferred the sideline, screens and bubble screens since it meant less risk of an interception if the pass was errant.
Another of what is hoped to be many pieces on Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard as one of the best pairs of DEs in the country.
“It is definitely different,” said the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Romeus, who was named second-team All-Big East last season. “So we know that we are held to a higher standard. At the same time, we know that as hard as we go is hard as everybody else is going to go, so we have to set the tempo, but that is a good thing.
“The key is, they can’t really double-team either of us, and if they run to [Sheard’s] side I’ll make plays, and if they run to my side he’ll make the plays. It helps us both a lot because they’ll have to pick and choose how they want to block us.”
Romeus is rated as one of the top defensive ends in the country and is listed as one of the top defensive line prospects in next year’s NFL draft even though he has another year of college eligibility.
At the other end of the line, Sheard, who is 6 feet 4, 260 pounds, is every bit as fast and quick as Romeus and probably a little more refined as a player.
So many potential playmakers on defense. There’s a good reason to expect a lot from the defense this year.
