University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Football Training Camp Continues for the Panthers
8/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 16, 2006
Dave Wannstedt
Training
August 16, 2006
On injured and returning players:
Dorin Dickerson came out today and got some work today which was encouraging. We expect that Conredge Collins will be back tomorrow. [Jason] Pinkston and Mick Williams are still slowed up because of the concussions. Hopefully Pinkston will be back tomorrow. Mick - it'll be another day or two. For the most part guys are showing up. We don't have any serious injuries. We've got a lot of guys out here that are banged up, beat up and practicing. That's part of training camp. It's what separates the men from the boys as we say. Dorin came out today and worked through some individual [drills] and did some things. He's obviously not 100 percent. It's going to take him a couple of days, but he's back at it. I asked him at the end there, and he said he did feel good so that's encouraging.
On McKenzie Matthews' absence from practice:
I'll tell you what happened with McKenzie. When all of this happened without getting into a lot of details, he obviously stayed and practiced through everything. I had conversations with his coach, his mom and everything. I had pre-arranged for him to go home and see his mother and his coach. This was set up four days ago, and he'll be back. It was a personal thing that I just felt was important to do at this time. That's where that's at.
On Brandon Mason's absence from practice:
He was excused for personal reasons. I would just say personal reasons right now, for more (specifics) to be discussed (at a later date).
On Tyler Tipton's decision to leave Pitt:
Tyler Tipton has come in and asked for a release, and we're going to do everything we can to help him get placed. We're calling a bunch of places. It's tough. This is going to happen. That happens for different reasons. It's personal as to why different guys decide to transfer and leave. But he's one of our guys, and we'll do everything we can to help him get placed.
On Dexter Davidson's injury:
Dexter had his knees scoped. Him and Dan Loheyde both had knee surgery. Both surgeries went well and they'll be around here recouping. Dexter had both knees scoped.
On David Abdul's possible return:
The last I heard, one doctor had approved him and the other doctor wanted to give him some form of a stress test. And that's what we know.
On his thoughts after viewing the film from yesterday's scrimmage:
After the film, the guys that jumped out that made some plays were Tommie Campbell, big John Malecki, Jovani [Chappel] did some nice things at corner and on special teams. Jeff Otah did some nice things on the offensive line. Shane Brooks, I think, has kind of turned into that tough guy. Kevin Collier showed up and scored two touchdowns. Doug Fulmer continues to make plays. I was really encouraged by, if you want to look at positions, probably our defensive line. But we still haven't settled on anything yet. And the neat thing about it right now is the competition is so fierce - Rashaad Duncan, Corey Davis - everybody's playing better. They're all playing. It's going to be a real, kind of interesting thing when we can say, `Okay, it's game week guys, and here are the four tackles who are going to play and the four ends.' It's going to be a good thing, and we're going to play a lot of guys and keep guys fresh. I kind of like that thing. I think Greg Gattuso and Charlie Partridge are really doing a great job of bringing those young kids along but at the same time keeping that healthy competitiveness.
On Tommie Campbell and John Malecki:
They're coming along, but we've got time yet. We've got two more scrimmages. We're not playing a game tomorrow so I don't need to make any major lineup changes at this point.
On this year's camp compared to last year's:
For the most part, the guys who are going to be playing are practicing. Last year at this time, Greg Lee had a shoulder [injury]. He didn't do anything at training camp. [Charles] Sallet had something. He didn't do anything. Thomas Smith didn't do anything (due to injury). Clint [Session] didn't do anything (due to injury). We had a lot of guys last year who, for whatever reason, were not with us. And this year, our main guys are working and practicing.
On other scrimmage reflections:
From an offensive standpoint, in that first scrimmage, we didn't come up with the big plays. I thought the quarterback numbers were good. The best thing was on that first drive we had one 3rd-and-2 and made it. We ended up with a 3rd-and-14 and missed a field goal. On the second drive we had one third down the entire drive with the offense. That was the last play of the series. So we moved the ball. We just didn't come up with the big play - run or pass. There were some good things - a lot to build on. We'll work good tomorrow, Friday, and then we'll have a similar type of scrimmage on Saturday.
On Elijah Fields and Lowell Robinson at their new positions:
[Irvan] Brown hurt his shoulder so we've been getting Elijah a lot more work at safety. Elijah's been working with the second team.
On Darrelle Revis:
His hamstring is a little bit sore today. He's been working. Nobody works harder than he does.
On Bill Stull playing in Saturday's scrimmage:
I doubt it. I think he gets the pin out Friday. Once that comes out, he should be fine, but I don't expect him Saturday.
