Pitt notebook: Some starting spots solid on offensive line, but keep an eye on 330-pound redshirt freshman Ryan Baer

There’s plenty of vocalized optimism surrounding Pitt’s offensive line that returns four players with significant experience.

Yet there has been no definitive word on the makeup of certain positions along the line.

All-ACC preseason tackle Matt Goncalves can play on the left or right side. If he is left — which he has done in the past — he will be protecting the quarterback’s blind side.

Who will be the left guard, Ryan Jacoby or Ryan Baer? Will Baer, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound redshirt freshman, settle at guard or tackle? Coaches gave Baer the opportunity this week to speak to the entire team before practice, preparing his teammates for the next two hours and preparing himself for the future.

“Now that I’ve been here almost two years, I’ve earned some respect,” said Baer, a member of Pitt’s eagles, a group of leaders voted on by players to represent each class. “People know me more. I’ve shown what I can do on the field. People are more willing to listen to me more now.”

Added coach Pat Narduzzi: “We aren’t expecting him to lead our football team, but we do expect him to try and be a leader. He’s doing great. We’re excited about him. We’re excited about Jacoby and Jason Collier. There’s a battle going on for the guard spot, the tackle spot. Branson (Taylor, a returning tackle) has had a good camp, as well.”

Meanwhile, Baer, who won’t turn 20 until almost six games into the season, admits he is far from a complete offensive lineman. He plays guard and tackle and can line up on the left or right of center. He likes pass blocking on the left and run blocking on the right.

“I’m still adjusting,” he said. “I’ve been struggling with power lately. I’m not going to lie. How fast D-ends are now, you have to set for speed, but you also can’t get too high or get off balance. They can come in there anytime and put two hands in your chest and, then, you’re in trouble. I really need to get that timing down to where when I see it’s power, I need to be able to sit and be ready for it.”

Baer is trying to find a role on a line that includes Goncalves and six-year veterans Jake Kradel at center and Blake Zubovic at right guard, all of whom appear to be rounding into 2024 NFL Draft choices.

Meanwhile, defensive line coach Charlie Partridge told Narduzzi that the double teams and zone-blocking schemes offensive linemen recently have thrown at his players are at a summer-long high in effectiveness.

“Hearing it from a D-line coach, that’s an indication of where we are on the offensive line,” Narduzzi said.

One of the more interesting one-on-one battles has been defensive end Dayon Hayes vs. Goncalves, Narduzzi said.

Four freshmen

Narduzzi said he has seen some separation among the four freshman wide receivers, but he isn’t ready to identify anyone who is moving ahead of his classmates.

A team that sings together … pic.twitter.com/1XZ45oKSEF

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 17, 2023

“They kind of have (separated),” he said. “We’ll see in the second scrimmage. We saw a little tail off the past couple days. You get to that point as freshmen. You hit a little bit of a wall.

“I asked one of them, ‘Hey, did you hit the wall yet?’ ”

“No, coach, no,” was the response.

Added Narduzzi: “We’ll find out in the next few days.”

Sing a song

Thursday marked the 13th practice of August, but Narduzzi said his coaches don’t need to light a fire under the players, even at this late stage in camp.

“We don’t need any tricks. If we need tricks, we have issues,” he said. “I think our guys are fired up. They sing at every team meeting. We have a lot of actors. They think they’re all musicians. They got energy. We have to make sure we get that out of them.”

Another scrimmage

Pitt will scrimmage Saturday morning on the South Side — its second of the summer — before leaving for Acrisure Stadium to attend the Steelers-Bills preseason game at night.

It will feature former Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett throwing into a Bills secondary that includes two Pitt guys, Damar Hamlin and Dane Jackson.