University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Quoting the Panthers: Pitt wraps up spring practice No. 13
4/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Pitt Spring Practice #13
Pitt Live Wire Feature
Video: Tight Ends Coach Tim Salem Feature
Post-Practice Video Interviews
Video: Coach Pat Narduzzi
Video: Receivers Coach Kevin Sherman
Video: Linebackers Coach Rob Harley
Video: Receiver Zach Challingsworth
Coach Pat Narduzzi Quote Sheet
On today's practice:
"We're doing good. This was really our last hard day of work today. They faded just a little bit near the end. We did a little scout period where you're teaching guys how to be scout teams and be team players. Everybody has a role, so we taught that in emphasis today. It tailed off near the end of practice, but overall we're 13 in. Thursday will be kind of a Blue-Gold [Game] practice. We'll have a very similar practice but it will be split up into those teams so they can get to work next to each other. The tough part about the spring game is it will be a vanilla spring game. We won't be showing you guys everything, nor do we want to show Youngstown or Akron or anybody else. It will be a vanilla spring game like most people do. The first year will usually be a little more vanilla than any of them because really no one knows what we're doing. We're looking forward to getting it going. We split up the staff today and we'll see you guys tomorrow at 4 o'clock [for the spring draft]."
On how the staff is divided for the spring game:
"We had the [coaching staff] draft this morning in the staff room. It's divided right in half. Coach [Jim] Chaney will be one of the head coaches for the gold and Coach [Josh] Conklin will be the other head coach, and I'm the commissioner. We know who our honorary coaches are, so we're excited about getting them back on campus."
On doing a spring draft previously:
"We did it at Cincinnati and I think a lot of people do it. It's an old-school thing, to be honest with you. My dad did it back at Youngstown State a long time ago."
Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Sherman Quote Sheet
"He has stepped up and has done some good things over the past couple of weeks which I think is a good sign that he is progressing. He is getting better on a daily basis. We have to have guys that can step up and play at a high level consistently. We are trying to get everyone better at their craft. Zach has stepped up, but we aren't done yet. We are trying to finish strong."
On what Challingsworth has done better:
"Consistency. Knowing the offense. Understanding what we are doing. He is playing faster. Once you know how to align and know what your assignments are, you can execute on a consistent basis and you are going to help this football team."
On the receivers starting with a clean slate:
"No question. I told them that everyone has a clean slate and that I wasn't going to put a cap on anyone. Whatever their talents are, we are going to utilize those talents and we are going to improve upon those talents. We have to go out and work hard every day to get better at our craft and we have to get consistent."
On other receivers who have shown progress:
"One guy that has really stepped up in my opinion is Dontez Ford. He has made some big catches. He has been a physical presence on the football field so I like how he is progressing. Elijah Zeise has done some good things too. I am just looking for people to be consistent. The more we watch ourselves on video, the better we will get. The game will slow down for us because we have to get better with our eyes."
On Jester Weah:
"He has shown flashes. We know he is a guy who can run down the field vertically, but he is a guy I want to improve his all-around game. I want him to be a better perimeter blocker. I want him to be a better route runner. I want him to step up with those 50-50 balls. We talk about that all the time--you have to step up and be able to make those plays. We are all learning from it. That is why we have video--to learn and teach. Putting those guys in those situations will only get them better."
Linebackers Coach Rob Harley Quote Sheet
On if the linebackers are getting the "meanness" that he wants:
"I think so. If easy is what you want, and the way Coach Narduzzi runs it, then this is not for you. This is hard. You have to be mentally into it. We're going to push these guys and I think they are getting to where we want. To answer your question: yes. Are they there yet? No. They're getting a feel as to what we want, and that's a big thing about having a new staff.
"Early on, we could talk about and preach it, but they didn't really know. They have to take every rep like it's a real game rep. I think they're getting there, especially the older guys. They just need to understand that it never ends. It's constant if you want to be great."
On if anyone is separating themselves from the pack:
"[Mike Caprara and Bam Bradley] have been going back and forth. We just keep rotating and looking for someone to take the lead. If someone doesn't take the lead, then we'll ask a freshman coming in to take it. They're just holding the spots, some of them are by default because we don't have anyone else. It's not that they aren't doing a good job, but if we're rotating them, then someone's not seizing the job. Once they do seize it, we're still going to push them.
"I like where they're at. It's not a cut on them saying that we're rotating them. Part of that is to get them seasoned with reps with the ones and twos. Continuing to rotate them and get that great competition flowing.
"It's a new system. We installed a handful of new things on defense to see how these guys were going to react. You always have to be on your toes and be ready. I think they're in a good spot and they're primed to go through the summer and continue to have a reference point. Now when we get better in the fall, it'll be fast because of those reference points."
On Jamal Davis:
"He's gotten better in 13 practices. He's a guy who didn't even go through fall camp [last year]. He's a blank slate. Everything we teach is for the first time and that's a good thing. Right now, he's a young player and sees a lot. His vision is really wide and we need him to zero in on what we want him to do. That just comes with maturity, reps, experience, and being in the system long enough to really understand it. He'll get there."
Zach Challingsworth Quote Sheet
On spring practice:
"It's been good. I got a lot more reps than last year and continue to get better each and every day. Coach Narduzzi said if you get three percent better every day then you're winning the day. I think I`ve done that throughout the spring. I'm trying to learn, get better and get in the film room."
On the new staff giving him a good chance to gain reps:
"When they came in they said they weren't going to look at any tape or worry about what the other staff did. They were just going to move forward--they've stuck to their word with that. They've given everyone a chance to make plays. It's exciting when you go out every day and have the opportunity to make a play or catch that ball."
On where he has improved:
"Everything. Getting in the film room with Coach Sherman, he's on me all the time, `pushing my buttons' as he says. Seeing the defense, playing faster and more physical in and out of routes, just trying to be more of a complete receiver...catching the ball and making plays."
On how the college game is different from high school:
"More physical and more speed. The speed of the game was fast. When I came in as a freshman, my first snap of the game had my head everywhere. Now, it's all slowed down and I can focus on my assignment and what I have to do."
On having Tyler Boyd on the field with him:
"It definitely makes everything easier. He is who he is. People know him and they look for him. It opens up other receivers but at the same time, allows you to be more confident about yourself--knowing that you're out there with him, and knowing you're a strong receiving corps that can make any play that he can make, and vice versa.
"If Tyler and Dontez Ford aren't in the game, someone has to step up. We all take part in that, cherish that, and we talk about it in the film room all of the time. We're only as strong as our weakest link. So everyone has to be ready to step in the game."
On if he has distinguished himself this spring:
"I would like to think so. All of the work I put in during the offseason in the training room and getting my weight and strength up. There are other guys like Jester Weah and Elijah Zeise who are broadening out too. So it's not just me, or one guy. Everyone is moving forward."
On his weight compared to when he first came to Pitt:
"It's 205 now. I was 185 pounds coming in freshman year. I put on a lot more muscle. I'm excited once spring ball is over to get back in the weight room and continue to improve."
--PITT--
