Pitt started crawling toward real football Wednesday morning (Day 3) when players donned shells and limited contact was permitted — what coach Pat Narduzzi likes to call thud sessions.
The idea is to hit and bounce off and keep as many players as possible off the ground (and uninjured). Sometimes, brief skirmishes occur, which is OK with Narduzzi — as long as the proceedings don’t get out of hand.
“It’s going to happen. You see it happening all over the NFL,” he said. “It’s going to happen here. But we want to keep it under control.”
In order to limit lingering hard feelings, coaches chase units off the field after two snaps.
The media viewing window included the first three minutes of 11-on-11, and it was evident that the defense likes contact and — per defensive coordinator Randy Bates’ wishes — tries to knock the football out of the ball carrier’s hands.
Pat Narduzzi shows off his punting skills — but he forgot the ball. pic.twitter.com/vLdmd6nZar
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 3, 2022
By the way, keep an eye on sophomore safety P.J. O’Brien. He knocked away a nice pass by Nick Patti.
In his early-morning media scrum, Narduzzi had praise for the new No. 8 on offense — tight end Karter Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound transfer and former defensive lineman from Butler (Kansas) Community College.
“We’re excited about where he is,” Narduzzi said.
He also said he had no qualms about giving away Kenny Pickett’s jersey number.
“No hesitancy. I don’t think anybody wanted No. 8,” Narduzzi said. “When he asked for it, I said, `I think I can give that to you.’ I was trying to push it on some other guys and nobody wanted it.”
He also likes what he has seen from two other backup tight ends, Dylan Deveney, the transfer from Georgia Tech, and junior Kyi Wright (Farrell High School).
There’s been a lot said about the five starting offensive linemen, but Narduzzi said there is a position battle at right guard between Western Pennsylvania natives Jake Kradel (Butler) and Blake Zubovic (Belle Vernon). Kradel is the presumptive starter, but Narduzzi said it’s not that clear in his eyes.
“We’re going to find out who that guy is,” the coach said.
Other backups who may provide the necessary depth on the offensive line are Matt Goncalves (“We consider him a starter right now,” Narduzzi said), Branson Taylor, Ryan Baer and center Terrence Moore.
Narduzzi also offered a glimpse into the closed session Tuesday. Linebacker Shayne Simon, a transfer from Notre Dame, wowed the coach with an interception.
“It was like, `Whoa.’ He just took the ball over. Holy cow, that was a great play. He understands the position.”
Narduzzi said Simon can play the money (outside) and middle positions.
“He’s so smart. He’s like a vet.”
Temperatures inched into the low 80s, with a bit more humidity than earlier in the week.
“You like to get (hot, humid days) early, for sure,” said Narduzzi, who builds water breaks into the schedule. “We don’t want it to be every day, all day.
“You want to keep the guys healthy. We have tents over there (if anyone needs a break). Our first few years, we always had guys in the tent the first five, six days of practice. Now, we’ve had nobody in the tent the past two years. We want to keep it that way.
”The heat’s great. I imagine that on Sept. 1 at 7:30, it’s going to be about 72 degrees and sunny.”
