Panthers observations: 1st day in pads increases intensity level at Pitt practice
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Pitt practice looked like what actually happens in games Tuesday morning when players put on their big-boy pads in the first live session of the summer.
Turning it up a level today!! First day in full pads! ????????#WorkAndEffort #BAM #WeNotMe #H2P pic.twitter.com/136Xlt9Qeu
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) August 8, 2023
During the open viewing window, reporters were allowed to watch six live plays. Among them were three by players who will be counted on heavily this season. Three of the six plays were long passes, so read into that whatever you want.
Three players stood out in those plays, and maybe the most striking was a diving catch by wide receiver Bub Means, who was covered well by cornerback M.J. Devonshire. Phil Jurkovec placed the pass perfectly.
It was a confrontation between the two best (arguably, I guess) playmakers on either side of the ball. Means, who received plenty of praise the past week, won that one.
Then, running back Rodney Hammond kept his legs churning when he met the second wave of defenders on a run play, and carried a linebacker into the secondary for extra yardage.
Another notable snap ended up with cornerback A.J. Woods knocking away a pass toward redshirt junior wide receiver Jake McConnachie.
Also, defensive tackle Sean FitzSimmons and linebacker Brandon George got some good penetration and stuffed a run play.
Let it be known that each player victimized by their teammates had ample opportunity to redeem themselves later in practice. Reporters watched only one live 11-on-11 session.
Before practice, coach Pat Narduzzi was eager to see some real physicality from his players, who were equally excited about impressing their coaches.
Pat Narduzzi, fired up for the first day in pads. “There’s no sport like this.” pic.twitter.com/QrkH3yWSoO
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 8, 2023
“Looking forward to see what our guys have,” he said. “It’s been a while since we tackled anybody live. There will be nerves. Everybody gets nervous about the first day of pads. It’s real contact out there. There’s no sport like this.”
Of course, it goes without saying (Narduzzi said it, anyway) that defenders must “stay off the quarterbacks.”
Narduzzi said he expected some trash talk from the third team, given freshman linebacker Rasheem Biles got in “some scraps” Monday, the coach said.
Asked about first-team linebackers Bangally Kamara, Shayne Simon, Solomon DeShields and George, Narduzzi had no complaints. “What we expect,” he said.
Then, he added, “We expect more details. We want you to be better than you were in the spring. If you’re not getting better, you’re staying the same and that’s not good.”
Narduzzi said running back Derrick Davis is making daily progress, but he also added freshman Montravius Lloyd “showed up” Monday. “It was kind of like oooh. He looked like he has a little motor to him. He was interesting, as well.”
Narduzzi believes he has two “pretty good (punters)” in Caleb Junko and Jeff Yurk.
“It’s just going to come to the details and who we trust more.”
Pitt will scrimmage Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium.