With the heat index breaching 90 – but seeming much hotter – the Pitt Panthers continue to work through the familiar "dog days," as quarterback Kenny put after a sweltering practice Tuesday morning.
It's so hot this week that Pickett used Monday's off day Kennywood field trip not on many of the rides but to do his best to stay out of the sun. There's no avoiding that on the practice field, however, but that's a good thing. Pickett says that dog-eat-dog mentality will make the 2021 Panthers an improved version of 2020's 6-5 team. Why is that?
"Competition; we're deeper," he quickly answered. "If you don't have someone pushing you every single day you don't have to show up and bring your best; you can be more relaxed."
"Every day we're coming out here competing against the defense and obviously competing within the (position) rooms," Picket continued.
"I want to be the best quarterback every day, (back-up) Nick Patti wants to be the best every day and it trickles down to the O-line to the receivers, the running backs and we're going against the defense every day. I think the competition aspect has increased for everybody."
And since that defense is more and more familiar with what the offense is trying to run, that requires Pickett and his teammates to be sharper. "It pushes (us) to be mentally prepared," he explained. "I have to know the entire offense and all of our guys have to be running to win because maybe one day we get Jordan (Addison) on this play but then Shockey (Jacques Louis) has to pop open the next day because they're going to adjust to it.
They've played against us now all spring and all summer."
While that can make Pickett's practice life more difficult, it will pay off once the actual games begin. "A guy who's really smart on defense and been impressive is Voss (linebacker Sirvocea Dennis), he's made a lot of plays. He made one today on me that I don't think anyone else on the team makes. He's a step ahead of everybody I would say in the knowledge aspect of the game."
"I love competing against him every day. (Safety) Brandon Hill is another one I could point out who is really smart back there. He makes it tough on us and that's going to make us better in the long run," Pickett said, adding that Keyshon Camp and the defensive linemen have been getting after him, as well.
Now, it won't be long – a little over a week - until he gets to play against somebody other than is teammates when Massachusetts comes to Heinz Field. "September 4th will be here before we know it," Picket smiled
