I think I know why I have been having a hard time writing much about spring drills. There isn’t much to say. The same news stories keep getting rewritten. Sometimes with the same quotes.

Here’s an AP story on the backfield — again.

With apologies to Army’s Heisman Trophy-winning Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, Conredge Collins and LaRod Stephens-Howling are Pitt’s not-as-famous Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside.

“He brings the speed and I bring the power,” Collins said. “The other backs, (Brandon) Mason, he’s real shifty on his feet. So, that brings an elusiveness to the backfield. And Shane Brooks, he’s powerful, too, and he runs real hard. So, we all bring something.”

Midway through Pitt’s spring practice sessions, Stephens-Howling and Collins are the starting tailback and fullback, respectively. Stephens-Howling led the Panthers in rushing with 434 yards last season while Collins had eight carries for 25 yards.

Both can expect increased workloads this season.

How many different ways can there be to talk about the running game?

Then there’s another story on the starting kicking competition, that thinks the “pressure” drill is the hook.

To inject a bit of fall flavor into spring drills, the special teams portion of each Pitt practice ends with a “pressure kick” field-goal attempt.

“The whole team gets around and starts yelling, trying to distract us,” kicker David Abdul said.

Abdul paused and laughed.

“I’m not sure why they do that, since, if we miss, they’ve got to do 15 up-downs.”

Maybe it’s also some healthy realism. The optimism and excitement that surrounded last year’s spring drills. Coach Wannstedt’s words got everyone juiced and fueled visions of cracking the top-10, and getting the BCS bid.

Then Pitt played the regular season.