Here's what to see — and what you may not see — in Pitt's Blue-Gold game Saturday

The news emanating from Pitt’s Blue-Gold Game on Saturday will split into two areas:

Plays and players seen and unseen. There will be plenty of both.

Coaches are eager to see how players carry what they learned in 14 practices — with hardly anyone watching — into Heinz Field under game-like conditions with thousands of outsiders in the stands.

But it’s also important for some of the best players to either sit out the game entirely or work up a quick sweat and get to the shelter of the sideline for the final three quarters.

“I want to come out of it healthy,” coach Pat Narduzzi said.

In the past, starters such as offensive tackle Brian O’Neill and defensive end Deslin Alexandre were injured in spring games and missed some summer workouts. Narduzzi wants to avoid that type of scenario.

“Missed all of his lifting,” Narduzzi said of Alexandre, who was hurt a year ago. “Deslin is not going to play in the spring game. I’m not going to do it. It was miserable for him, miserable for us.”

Alexandre’s absence didn’t matter much when games started to count. He missed the 2021 opener but played in 12 other games (11 starts) and was named honorable mention All-ACC.

Despite an injury one spring, O’Neill never missed a game in his three active seasons (38/37 starts), was named first-team All-ACC in 2017 and is now a multi-millionaire for the Minnesota Vikings.

But Narduzzi’s point is well taken. Why play with fire that, potentially, can burn down the house? Expect others starters, such as wide receiver Jordan Addison, running back Izzy Abanikanda and defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado, to be kept on short leashes. Plus, starting offensive linemen Jake Kradel, Gabe Houy and Owen Drexel, running back Rodney Hammond Jr. and defensive tackle Tyler Bentley already have been declared out.

Narduzzi said he’s not worried about the quarterbacks getting hurt. They’ll be wearing red jerseys that scream, “Hands off.”

Plus, there’s an imaginary halo around each quarterback, Narduzzi said, that should not be violated.

“Although knuckleheads could get too close,” he said, joking. “The ‘D’ line is supposed to stay away, so when I throw a pass, I don’t hit a helmet.”

Narduzzi threatened to carry penalty flags and start throwing them, if necessary. Sacks are great drive-stoppers, but they are better appreciated in the fall.

Offensive play-calling also will be basic. So if first-year offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. has a variation of the Pitt Special — the trick play that defeated UCF three years ago — he probably will keep it in the vault.

Narduzzi will keep an eye open for basic, fundamental football played without disruptions.

“Anytime you go to Heinz Field, you just want to see the guys play sharp,” he said. “I don’t want to see a lot false starts or guys jumping offsides on defense. I just want to see a clean game. I don’t care what the score is. I don’t care who wins.”

While some starters get the day off — or most of it — younger players eager for increased playing time will get a chance to step into a spotlight.

Among those players who have opened coaches’ eyes to their potential since the start of drills Feb. 28 are freshman offensive tackle Ryan Baer, redshirt freshmen tight end Jake Renda and safety Khalil Anderson, sophomore safety P.J. O’Brien and three linebackers: senior Brandon George, junior Bangally Kamara and redshirt sophomore Solomon DeShields.

“Baer is going to help us this year. I don’t have any question,” said Narduzzi of the 6-foot-7, 340-pound former four-star prospect. That’s significant praise for a young man barely out of high school hoping for playing time at a position manned by five returning starters.

“I’m trying to work my way up the depth chart,” Baer said. “I feel like I can get in the competition for games, maybe if we’re up by a lot I can get thrown in. I’m just going to work and see where it takes me.”

George, Kamara and DeShields also have a lot on the line at a position that lost four regulars after the ‘21 season.

“Kamara has come out of being just a sometimes player to being an every-down linebacker,” Narduzzi said. “Solomon DeShields, there were a lot of unknowns coming from him coming into spring ball. Was he a wide out? Was he a linebacker? Is he tough enough to play on defense?

“We found out he’s tough enough and is going to be a really good player for us on defense.”

George plays behind second-team All-ACC middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis, but he will be difficult to keep off the field because he also can shift outside.