Here are the digs from various media reports on Thursday’s practice.
Something that jumped out at me seems a small bit disturbing, but then I jerk myself back to reality by saying there is still months to go before the opener against YSU (better than last year we hope.) But we have heard from the minute that these players started working out in the weight room and running early morning drills couple weeks ago that this new staff ‘brought a whole new level of energy” to the table when it comes to interactions with the players. Yet this is the third practice in a row where I have heard or read about a PITT coach commenting on periods of lack of energy or emotion from the players themselves (see Narduzzi’s interview below.)
After practice #2 – “There was a lack of focus—tempo might have been a little bit faster.
After practice #3 – “It’s day three. The pads were on today and we started a little slow. The game of football is a game of emotion and you can’t come without that” The Trib’s blog headline: Pitt starts slow on first day with pads, but ends with `emotion’.
Hmmm, let’s hope it doesn’t continue into what the team was experiencing back in the latter part of the 2011 season under HC Beelzebub Graham when the players were mailing in their effort during the between-game practices. Of course, that is an exaggeration and these players are on the cusp of practicing under and learning from whole new set of coaches and trying to understand the new coaching philosophies being instituted, but I wanted to get another jab in at Graham… it makes me feel good when I’m down. Next week it will be different I’m sure, being in pads now will help. Now the coaches can tie raw meat to the walk-on’s belts and tell the scholarship guys to “Go get ‘em boys!!!”.
Here are the Post-Practice Video Interviews with three coaches and a player.
