Today was practice in pads. Something that college coaches never complain that they do not get enough during training camp. Coach Wannstedt didn’t have a lot to say in the press conference. At least in the transcript.

On the first day in full pads:

Not bad. Always good and bad. I thought that we ran the ball better today for our first time and made some strides there. We have a lot of work to do with our run defense. Right now that’s an area that if we’re going to be an improved team, we need to obviously run the ball better and stop the run. I was not pleased with that today. We’re working a lot of different people to still try to get the right mix. I’m not sure who that is right now. We’ll have a little bit of a scrimmage tomorrow, a controlled scrimmage. We’ll actually have three controlled scrimmages between now and next Saturday. That’s kind of a timetable to be able to put players in situations enough where it’s full speed and we will be able to evaluate exactly where they’re at and where we’re at.

On the running backs:

I was pleased with all of them. LaRod (Stephens-Howling) has been outstanding, Brandon Mason had a very good day today, Shane Brooks had a very good day, Kevin Collier had a good day. So I’m pleased with the running backs. Brandon is bigger and I think he’s in a lot better shape. He’s actually slimmed down a little bit, he did a very good job in the weight room. He’s stronger.

On the heels of the whole talking about the D-line potentially improving this season, reading that the Pitt running game looked good against them is, well, terrifying? Disturbing? Unnerving? Putting me in a fetal position on the floor?

Joe DelSardo is hurt. Oderick Turner made some good plays at receiver. Nate Byham stepped in with the second team in place of Darrell Strong and really caught Coach Wannstedt’s eye. Something is going on with McKenzie Mathews on a personal level.

Still catching up with all the material while still feigning sociability with the wife’s brother’s family. So, I’m going to go through this quickly since most of this has probably been read by everyone at this point.

The raw feed transcript of Coach Wannstedt talking after practice on Friday.

On canceling the Saturday morning practice:

There has been a schedule change for tomorrow. I’m obviously very pleased with how much work we got done with our football team these last couple days. Tomorrow we’re going to come out in the morning and do a walk through, some weight room work, then get the team together and practice in the afternoon. There are several reasons for this. The first one being we’re getting a little bit low in numbers. Nothing major but we have a half a dozen guys that are banged up and for us to come out and be productive, it’s important that we have enough depth to be able to do that.

The receivers are down a couple with Dorin Dickerson and Aaron Smith both fighting injuries. The receivers as has been repeatedly noted, have tremendous potential but are so raw.

The defensive line is and will be an ongoing question for the season. It’s training camp, so optimism abounds.

Now, there is plenty of chatter about the defensive line at the Panthers’ South Side training camp, and, for a change, it mostly is positive. The one negative is that most of the players who are talked about are freshmen whose full impact likely won’t be felt for a year or two.

Rebuilding the line was one of second-year coach Dave Wannstedt’s recruiting priorities, and it shows in the number of incoming defensive linemen. Co-defensive line coaches Charlie Partridge and Greg Gattuso believe the sky is the limit for this group as well as for redshirts like tackle Mick Williams.

The three big names among the freshmen are Jason Pinkston, John Malecki and McKenzie Mathews, but Partridge said two others, Jared Martin and Tyler Tkach, are in the mix as well. And coaches have been raving about Greg Romeus, who has only played two years of organized football but might have the most natural athletic ability.

Mick Williams has been making some noticeable plays in practice so far. Clint Session went a little crazy in practice and Shane Brooks showed some big strength carrying the ball and Shane Murray. Revis had a very good practice. So did Marcel Pestano.

The first Q&A of the training camp is out. Lots of goodies to read.

The first week of camp is nearly complete. Although the Panthers have yet to go in full pads, I can make some observations about the team and some of the players. As most of you know, Dave Wannstedt split the squad into two groups with half practicing in the morning and the other half, primarily the freshmen, practicing in the afternoon. The result has been two distinctly different practices: The first is more crisp and efficient and the other is more choppy and has a lot less flow to it because the freshmen are just trying to learn the plays.

…

The key for everyone to remember, however, is most of the talent on the team is young and that means there is no way to be certain how they will respond when the lights go on. I think the offensive line in will be better than people think and the defensive line will compete, but the team’s fate lies mostly with the younger players and how quickly they develop.

I have a hard time believing this team is capable of winning more than seven or eight games. Still, that would be a nice step forward and there is an excellent foundation being built for the future.

I would caution anyone from putting unrealistic expectations on any of the freshmen because they are just that — freshmen — and they have a long way to go. A few of them will help this year, but this class won’t ultimately be ready to really make an impact for a year or two.

As a beat writer, he is almost protective of the new kids.

Right now it’s a lot of speculation.

Once again, a big thanks to Keith for keeping the posts going while I was in rehab away. I’m still trying to get back up to speed and read everything I missed. To try to add some thoughts and more info on the Curtis Martin post. There were a bunch of Curtis Martin stories back in January 2005 when the Steelers and Jets were meeting in the playoffs. He was very honest in the interview talking about his whole attitude about football and playing when it came to college. It was a way out.

“My mom didn’t want me out on the streets,” Martin recalled. “Too many of us were getting killed. I feel like I could have been dead so many times. I feel so blessed and grateful that [bad] things never panned out for me.”

Hackett and assistant Sal Sunseri wooed Martin, sold his mother on a Pitt education, landed the prize recruit. “I listened to them and the whole time I’m thinking in my mind, ‘They don’t know, I don’t even care.’ I was horrible in college. I didn’t want to play. I just didn’t want to look stupid [frittering away] the scholarship.”

Reading between the lines, I think it also lends a little insight into why he was so loyal to Parcells, why he followed him from the Patriots to the Jets. Parcells was a coach that reached Martin and made him realize so much more of his potential. Not to mention made him that much more aware of how his football career could give him the chance to pursue his other interests as well.
The points made in the comments about Majors helping his career are also accurate. That 251 yards he rushed against versus Texas in ’94 is 8th all-time for Pitt rushers in a game.

Finally, Martin seemed to be just part of a string of injury-crossed rushers for Pitt. Adam “Sky” Walker, Curvin “Swervin'” Richards, Martin and Billy West all had what looked to be great potential careers derailed by injuries. In fact, Martin’s injury in 1994 was what paved the way for West that season (1358 yards). Richards bolted early for the draft after some minor injuries and some family issues needing the money.

I married into a family of late sleepers. I am the only adult awake in a house with 4 kids (3 under the age of 5) running wild. Send help.

Mark May is in South Bend for the College Football Hall of Fame ceremony and golf tournament. Today he gets inducted.

All but one day at Pitt was spent on the offensive line.

“When (head coach) Jackie Sherrill recruited me, he promised me I could play defense,” May said. “My first day as a freshman, I was on defense. One day. The next day, they switched me to the offensive line. At least he lived up to his promise.”

He talked a little about how and when he got his start in TV.

“My college years were so great because of the opportunities to bond with my teammates,” May said. “Pittsburgh was a special (school) in a special city. The people there cared about you. I was able to learn so much from the alums.”

It was also the place where he got his start in television. He got to know a sports director at the ABC affiliate. He convinced May to get involved in television before he graduated. When May was chosen by the Redskins, that sports director convinced the head of sports at the ABC station in Washington to hire May.

That training was followed by post-football jobs with TNT and CBS before finally landing at ESPN about five years ago.

Pitt fans would appear to be the exception among college football blogdom (writers and readers) in liking May on ESPN’s College Football studio show. Much the way ND partisans are the exception towards seeing Lou Holtz there.

The Arizona Cardinals, technically one of the oldest NFL franchises, have decided they need their own “Ring of Honor.” During today’s exhibition game against the Steelers, the late, great Marshall Goldberg will be one seven players and Bidwell, Sr. placed in the ring during halftime (PDF).

All fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Cardinals Stadium lanyard/ticketholder.

Ooooh. Well, there are the cheerleaders at least.