Panthers observations: Pitt training camp winding down, but work just beginning

Pitt conducted one of its last practices of training camp Thursday morning, but there’s plenty of work to do even before players and coaches begin to singularly focus on Kent State and the opener Aug. 31.

Among the so-called “fun” activities over the next few days will be posing for the team photo Thursday, a rehearsal scrimmage (not much more than a walk-thru) Friday at Acrisure Stadium and the annual luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Friday, with fans, when Narduzzi will announce this year’s captains.

Players are off Saturday while many of them move into their houses and apartments, but they’ll practice Sunday before classes start Monday.

Coach Pat Narduzzi has been publicly pleased with the players’ attitude throughout camp, but he said he expects the best improvement in his team from game one to game two. That better be true because Pitt has two Big 12 opponents — Cincinnati on the road and West Virginia at home — in the second and third weeks of the season. The Panthers lost to both teams last year.

Narduzzi speaks to the team every day and he said he sent a message to his players Wednesday night that they need to be grateful for what they have, especially a new locker room in their South Side training complex that has a photo of each player above their stall.

“I showed them a power point of what this building used to look like when I got here (in 2015),” he said. “We talked about gratitude, being grateful for what we have.”

Players have taken on the responsibility of policing the locker room to make sure it’s tidy.

“Our guys have done an unbelievable job. Every night, a different position polices the locker room,” he said. “It’s the best it’s ever been. They’re taking care of themselves.”

Asked about position battles at defensive tackle and cornerback, he mentioned several players who are still competing for playing time.

At tackle, Nick James, Nahki Johnson, Anthony Johnson, Francis Brewu, Isaiah Neal and Sean FitzSimmons appear to be the standouts. Brewu, a freshman, has been one of the surprises of camp.

“This dude just plays with great technique. He’s strong as an ox,” Narduzzi said. “He was on the scout field (where backups are supposed to give the first team strong competition) the first day, and I heard some of the offensive linemen say, ‘He won’t be here long.’ When they got respect of the older guys, talking like that, it means something.”

At cornerback, Ryland Gandy, Tamon Lynum, Rashad Battle, Tamarion Crumpley and Noah Biglow are competing for two starting jobs. It’s likely there will be plenty of opportunities for all five players in the Kent State game.

”We’ll find out how much I can trust them on game day,” the coach said.