PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Steelers started in pads on Monday, Wednesday is the first day of Panthers camp in pads.
Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi believes it will bring energy and that it's time after a couple of days in shorts, but he doesn't want a series of scrums or skirmishes or escalating into fights. To that end, it's designed it to try and avoid those situations.
"We want to keep it under control," Narduzzi said. "We will start period five and it will be just two plays and get them out of there. That way there is no third play where I'm going to get him back or he hit me harder than I hit him. We want to teach them the tempo, which is a thud tempo and keep them off the ground."
Competition on O-line
Thought to be pretty much set for the season with the group all deciding to come back for a final year, Narduzzi said there is a competition for a starting spot on the line. Jake Kradel and Blake Zubovic are in competition to start at right guard.
It seems for the last three seasons he's tried to find a place for versatile junior Matt Goncalves, saying he's 'like a starter. Narduzzi also praised a couple of freshmen, redshirt Terrence Moore and true Ryan Baer along with sophomore Branson Taylor.
New number 8
There already was a double number 8 last season with All-American Kenny Pickett and All-ACC defensive lineman Calijah Kancey. Not even letting a year pass, 8 is a double number again. Kancey keeps his number and freshman tight end Karter Johnson from Butler Community College is the new offensive player wearing number 8.
"I don't think anybody wanted number 8," Narduzzi said. "When he asked for it, I said 'I think I can give it to you'. I've tried to push it on other guys and nobody wanted it. He wanted number 8 and that's great."
A football coach and poet, and didn't know it.
