PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s the football equivalent to the pitchers being ahead of the hitters. Often at the beginning of college football spring practices the defense is ahead of the offense. Not this year for Pitt.
Saturday the Panthers held its first scrimmage and the offense won 52-24.
“They got after us this weekend at the scrimmage,” said Pitt defensive lineman Isaiah 'Ghost’ Neal Monday. “That’s not typical for the first scrimmage. A lot of the times, it’s the defense. A lot of the time we are getting turnovers, getting sacks.”
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said there was one interception in 109 plays and that happened late in practice and the offensive line, especially the first unit, was solid.
“We played hard,” said Pitt center Ryan Caretta. “The effort was there.”
“It builds confidence in ourselves, seeing how good we can be. Whether it’s one player or a couple of plays, it instills the confidence that we know what we can do. We just have to execute it every time.”
“Coach (offensive coordinator Kade) Bell has done a great job with some unit meetings that we’ve done,” Narduzzi said. “I’m happy where they are right now. Year three, some of the older guys, their knowledge of what they are doing and how they are doing it has picked up.”
“It’s been good. They’ve started a little bit faster than you would expect.”
There were a number of explosive plays that highlighted the scrimmage. It’s one of the areas the Panthers are really trying to grow this year, and the receiver stats Saturday at Acrisure Stadium would show progress.
· 6’ sophomore Bryce Yates (5 receptions, 152 yards, TD)
· 6’1” senior transfer Malik Knight (4 receptions, 92 yards, TD)
· 5’9” true freshman Dylan Wester (7 receptions, 92 yards)
Yates was the player who really stood out to Narduzzi saying his knowledge of the game is at a high level.
“He does the right thing all the time,” Narduzzi said. “You know you can count on Bryce.”
Narduzzi also said he could count on his quarterback. He described Mason Heintschel’s play as outstanding.
“One of the better leaders I’ve been around in my life,” Neal said. “I’ve been around some guys who can really lead football teams. He’s got something special. I’m not just saying that because he’s my quarterback.”
“When he talks, everybody is listening. I feel like he’s not just saying what he feels like he should say. He’s really believing everything that he says.”