The moments that make Charlie Partridge love coaching keep popping up, but funny thing about that:

They have more to do with how he’s developing Pitt’s defensive linemen than minutiae such as the Panthers’ ACC-leading 17 sacks or the fact they lead the conference in total defense.

Partridge will say it’s too early in the season to crow about stats anyway. But how his players are growing as men and football players? Now, that matters in and out of season.

Patrick Jones II’s 22nd birthday was Tuesday, the day after he was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and three days beyond a Pitt victory against Louisville fueled by his three sacks.

“I’m sitting in my office at 5:45 (in the morning),” Partridge said, “and 15 minutes later, I hear him roll right in, turn the film on and get to work. It’s just what Pat and (defensive end Rashad) Weaver have become.”

That was one moment.

Then, there was a recent day when a young player Partridge declined to identify showed up for practice.

“He wasn’t late,” Partridge said, “but (it was) as the clock was ticking down. As I was getting ready to go over and say, ‘That’s not how we do things,’ there were seven or eight of the D-linemen letting him know that.

“Any drill work we’re doing, any skill work we’re doing, there’s a demand on the attention to detail on why we’re doing what we’re doing. If a young guy floats, he’s being held accountable by players oftentimes before I need to.”

Such a scenario is only possible if players respect the coach, and the coach returns the favor. Partridge is in his fourth season in his second tour of duty as a Pitt assistant — he previously coached under Walt Harris and Dave Wannstedt — so players know what to expect from him and what he expects from them.

“It takes time to get to that. It takes guys who have developed through this system,” he said. “Because they’re holding these young guys so accountable, I think these young guys are going to benefit and therefore develop faster because of it.

“I’m just proud of how hard they’re preparing and how hard they’re critiquing themselves and taking criticism.”

So far, the system is working. Pitt lost preseason All-American defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman on the second day of training camp when he decided to opt out to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. But the defensive line, led by bookend defensive ends Jones and Weaver (3 ½ sacks each), have been the strongest unit on the team.

Partridge said he and others spoke to Twyman, but it wasn’t to coax him into staying.

“He made a decision that he thought was best for his family,” Partridge said. “We just tried to guide him on the risks of staying compared to the risks of going and the benefits of staying compared to the benefits of going.”

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said he will continue to support Twyman in his quest to reach the NFL.

“And I believe that’s the truth going the other way,” Partridge said.

That’s evident in the way Twyman follows the team from his Washington D.C. home. He tweeted during the Louisville game, “I’m still out there in a different number” when redshirt freshman defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, second on the team with four tackles for loss, made a play.

Partridge said there are similarities and differences in how Twyman and Kancey play the position.

“Jaylen wouldn’t like to hear this, but there are some things that Jaylen did better than Calijah. There are some things Calijah has the ability to do better than Jaylen,” he said.

“Obviously, we’d love a chance to coach Jaylen again this year. It would be a lot of fun to have him with us. But I’m proud of the guys who have stepped into having more opportunity and having a bigger role this year than if Jaylen was still here.

“Jaylen’s game had come a long way wholistically, and Calijah is still working on the entirety of his game. Everyone’s starting to see (Kancey) can be pretty explosive and special as we move forward.”

I’m still out there just in a different number Lol! #DontBeSurprised #CKanceyAnimal! #MyBrothers #GreatWin #PDiddy #H2P pic.twitter.com/URGPbqY1T0

— JT (@JaylenTwyman) September 26, 2020

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