University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Football Camp: Day 14, Photos & Quotes
8/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
2016 Pitt Football Camp, Day 14 Coverage: Photos & Quotes
Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Opening statement:
"Good morning. We have a beautiful day. It was like 61 degrees when I drove in this morning. I'm out of the dorms, which is a good thing. I had a good night's sleep at home. Yesterday's [practice] was off. We had a tremendous scrimmage on Saturday at Heinz Field. We got 130 plays in. I was happy at the things our offense and defense did as the head coach that day. It was a great scrimmage—very physical, great attention to detail. We saw some guys that we wanted to see make plays at Heinz Field on game day. The kickers did an unbelievable job and special teams were solid. Overall it was just a productive day. Today, we've got a two-a-day schedule. We'll see how this first one goes. We're looking for quality."
On potentially giving the team tonight off:
"Maybe. I think we've got a pretty mature football team right now that is focused. I like where we are. I like the attitude we took in the scrimmage. It was physical and one of the best scrimmages we've had here as a staff in my opinion. It was crisp, clean and came out pretty good."
On the clarity at backup quarterback:
"Everybody did some good things. From Nathan [Peterman] all the way down to [Thomas] MacVittie and Bo Schneider. We saw some good things. We still have two more weeks for clarity. There was good and bad out of everybody. Nathan was really sound. We're still searching."
On the growth of the freshmen defensive tackles:
"They look pretty good. [Amir] Watts has impressed in camp and shown some really nice things. Sometimes freshmen are the ones who get exposed when you go into a different atmosphere but they stepped their game up at Heinz Field. [Rashad] Wheeler did a nice job as well. I thought they all did a nice job."
On how this freshman class compares to previous years:
"They are about as good as what we've had. If you come in and you can help us as a freshman, that's pretty good. So I would say they go to the top of the list."
On beginning to make final decisions on the depth chart:
"There's been a lot of depth chart decisions made, but then again there is still another week of camp and a scrimmage on Friday. We try to make depth chart changes every day they are in pads. We want them to go out there with the attitude that 'I'm getting better today and I'm going to beat somebody out.' I like when our kids have to see that up-and-down variation. That will continue this week."
On the performance at the scrimmage by Jester Weah:
"Early in the game he made a nice over-the-shoulder catch that he needs to make and he did. There were a couple more catches that he can make as well, so he just continues to get better and he can be a big-time receiver. I think his confidence is as high as it's ever been. It's up there."
On specific games where the lack of offensive line depth last year factored in:
"There was never an exact point. Maybe the second half of the season we weren't as crisp as we needed to be. But there wasn't a [single] game. Look at the nine-minute drive against Georgia Tech; that wasn't a time where you said 'they need a break, we should get them off the field.' They converted on consecutive fourth downs and kicked a game winner. There was never an exact point, but maybe in the bowl game when [Alex] Officer went out and you had a guy coming in for the first time who didn't have the game experience that you would like him to."
On getting out of the scrimmage healthy:
"We had a couple bumps and bruises but nothing major. So I feel really good about that."
On the reps at the running back position:
"James [Conner] lined up and got a few carries. I talked to him prior to camp and told him that we weren't going to wear him out. Before the scrimmage I said 'James, get in there. I don't want to keep you in there all day, so don't make me. Let's get in, let's be sharp, and let's get you out of there. Let's get to September 3rd.'"
Running Backs Coach/Special Team Coordinator Andre Powell
On James Conner during Saturday's scrimmage:
"He ran the ball really well. He really cut it loose. We are really encouraged by what we saw on Saturday."
On James Conner being the top running back going into season:
"He's done a good job. We've been really selective on his number of reps and all of those sort of things. But he has earned the right. He's a talented guy, and he has a lot of skill. So he's the top guy—no doubt about it."
The advantage having a talented kicker and punter:
"Specialists are a little bit goofy by nature. So when you get those mature guys, you don't have to watch them as much. They go out there on their own and do their work. They are smart from the standpoint of knowing when they have kicked too much, so they don't wear themselves out too much. To have mature guys there is big."
On young players that are going to make an impact on special teams:
"I think Tre Tipton is going to do a good job for us. I think [Jay] Stocker has a chance to help us. Those are two guys that really stood out. [Anthony] McKee Jr. has some work to do, as well as Saleem [Brightwell]. I've been pleased with the young guys. Some of the true freshman are not ready yet, but they will be talented down the road. I sat down last night and made a list of how many guys I will have available to me on special teams. My number was 53. I'll have 53 guys available to play on special teams, and I don't think that number has ever been that high."
On his depth in special teams:
"You have to be smart. Some of those guys are starters on offense and defense. You can't have [Jordan] Whitehead playing snaps on defense and then 20 snaps of special teams. For example, you'll have him start the game on a kick-off and he might not again until the end of the game. But the way we coach things, they all get the same amount of reps. Certain groups of guys are trained together. For example, on kick-off I have all the units train together. So if we are two deep, a three has to be able to play a one and a two will have to be able to play a three. We gain depth that way."
Linebackers Coach Rob Harley
On how close he is to figuring out the depth chart at linebacker:
"We're not close yet—not anywhere close yet. It's a credit to these guys who are making it really hard on me. We're going to roll guys. That's the nature of the spread offense. We're going to have to roll guys in constantly to keep them fresh. Guys are on the edges; the ball is on the edge; the ball is on the perimeter; guys are running fast. We're going to be playing six guys, and it's going to change weekly. Those guys know it, and they're working. Again, it's a credit to their effort that I can't set the depth chart yet."
On if he has the top six linebackers determined yet:
"That's also in flux. There are two weeks left. I won't get anywhere near set until [next] Monday. We're rolling guys in, and we're changing guys around to see what works. It's kind of like line changes in hockey. You're trying to see who works well together. Who makes the most plays together? Who's productive together? Who communicates well together? We're doing that right now. We've still got two weeks left. It's close, but we're just not there quite yet."
On if he will rotate players in both the base and sub-packages:
"I'd like to. I think it's a feel thing too. I think a large part of football is who's hot? Who's out there? Who's got a flow of the game? Who is playing well that game? I never want to be stringent and say, 'That's what our depth is,' but if a guy is hot and a guy is really blitzing well that game, it's our job to make sure he gets on the field to make a play."
On if he's been seeing big plays out of the freshman regularly:
"Yeah, you can see it. The one thing that we did is that we brought in some big dudes. Big, physical guys that can run. We're seeing them make some plays in the blitz game. You're seeing them around the ball, which is good. They're affecting people because of their size and their speed, which is good."
On if he feels like they are well prepared to face a lot of teams that run the spread offense:
"I feel good about it. We're going to roll guys. We're always going to have a chance, even without depth, that we're going to make changes, and we're going to do some things. We're always going to be able to formulate our defense to fit whatever we're facing. Obviously, it's a luxury to be able to have three seniors in my room that are like extra coaches. So when we do have that depth, they're coaching these guys up on the side line. I think we'll be alright."
On Linebacker Bam Bradley rotating between the Money and Star positions:
"We're really rotating more than just him. Guys are rotating in and out. We want to see how guys work together because the communication may be more than the physical. It's how they communicate. We're not talking defensive calls. We're saying, 'What's the offense going to do?' Which one of them has the tip? How good is one of them at reading offenses? We're plugging guys in and just seeing the flow of it."
On how Elijah Zeise has been doing:
"He's doing well. Obviously, he's a brand new guy. You almost want to say he's a freshman, not even a redshirt freshman, for our defense coming over in the spring. But he's doing well picking it up. That's one of those guys, similar to our freshman, that relies a lot on his instincts and his athletic ability, which is awesome. All of that mental stuff is obviously my job to teach him and not mess him up and allow him to play fast and use his god given talent, which is the reason we brought him over, to play out on the edge. He's been impressive so far, especially being such a young linebacker at the position."
Placekicker Chris Blewitt:
On how important repetition is for him:
"That's especially big. It's just muscle memory, repetition. You just get used to it. It becomes second nature, really. That's really a big part of just getting the rhythm down with the snap, hold and the line."
On how you rebound from a bad day:
"With a bad day or a bad kick, you know it's not your normal. That's not what you do. It's just a fluke. You've just got to bounce back. You could have a bad kick, bad punt, bad snap, or a bad any play at any position. You've just got to bounce back."
On how much he pays attention to the mental part of his game:
"That's probably almost the entire part. It's really just the preparation behind it. Ninety-nine percent of what we do is preparation. All of those mental preparations like, 'Am I in the right spot? Am doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I keeping my body right?'"
On how he thought Saturday's scrimmage went:
"The scrimmage went well. There was a lot of energy behind it. Everyone was flying around. For as long as we were out there, it was definitely like a game atmosphere for us out there. Everybody was flying and we all had a really good day."
On if he and Punter Ryan Winslow feed off each other's performance:
"Yeah, I would say so when you see that one guy is doing well. It's the same thing with any aspect of the team. If the defense is doing well, then the offense is doing well. It raises everybody else's level of play. I'd say definitely seeing Ryan [Winslow] out there and then talking with him on the sideline about it, you can definitely feed off that energy."
On if his range is still expanding:
"I would say that my quickness has. For the range it just depends on the day and the conditions. Every day is different. You just have to prepare for what's at hand."
On if he could kick a 60-yard field goal:
"If I tell Coach [Pat Narduzzi] beforehand that the field and everything is good and the conditions are prime for that, we could probably hit one if we had to. It depends on the day."
Wide Receiver Jester Weah
On his over-the-shoulder catch during Saturday's scrimmage:
"It was a go route. I forgot who I went up against. I remember Nathan [Peterman] bombed it out to me. I was running and saw the ball, so I stretched out for it and I got it."
On what will make him stand out from the rest of the wide receiver unit:
"I'm a pretty fast guy. I have a big body. If I go out there and play my hardest, I can go out there and make anything possible."
On his relationship with Quarterback Nathan Peterman:
"Nathan [Peterman] is a like a big brother. He's a great guy and a great competitor. He wants to be perfect every time he is out there on the field. I love Nate. He is my guy!"
Punter Ryan Winslow
On how special teams performed in Saturday's scrimmage:
"I thought we had a really good scrimmage as a whole. Chris [Blewitt] made all of his kicks and I had some pretty good punts. We were pretty consistent all day, so overall we were really happy with it."
On if he is stronger than last season:
"I definitely think so. The weight training is helping a lot and they really cater to our needs especially, so I feel like I'm stronger and more flexible, which is huge. The recovery portion of this camp has been awesome for us. We're getting in there and doing all the extra little things we need to do so our legs are as fresh as possible. It has benefited us a lot."
On communicating with Placekicker Chris Blewitt after a bad punt or kick:
"Chris [Blewitt] was a good punter in high school and I kicked a little in high school, so we're always bouncing ideas off of each other. It's very important because we only get a certain amount of reps a game. It's important to learn from the mistake and bounce back to execute on that next play."
On how his playing experience helps him and Chris Blewitt:
"We help each other through talking, but it also comes back to the experience aspect. Chris [Blewitt] is going to be a four-year starter and this is going to be my third year starting, so we've been through the ropes and the ups and downs. It's all about communication, and I think we do a good job of that."
On the comradery with Chris Blewitt:
"I would say we are really good friends, same with Pat Quirin our snapper. We all hang out all the time during practice and even outside of practice, whether it's just playing cards hanging out or getting food. I think that's a key part of our comradery."
Defensive Back Jordan Whitehead
On staying humble to repeat his success from last year:
"I have tried not to think about that too much. I'm still only a sophomore and still have a lot to prove. Last year was a good season, but I always can do better. This year I'm trying to do way better than I did last year and keep working hard."
On having the bar set high this season:
"I would say it's not just for me, but for all of the defense. Last year they saw what we could do, so now the defense has way more pressure to perform compared to last year."
On how the secondary is coming together:
"It's looking good. We have Avonte Maddox, who is a returning starter, and Reggie Mitchell and Terrish Webb, who are also starters and seniors who have a lot of experience. In the corner spot, we have a lot of depth, there are a lot of freshmen that came in, and we have guys returning from last year. There are a lot of veterans back there, and I think they know a lot, so it just helps. And Coach [Renaldo] Hill played in the NFL so he brings a lot of knowledge to us."
On if he feels comfortable making defensive calls on the field:
"Definitely. It's easier when they come out of formation and I can make a call and feel confident with it instead of just guessing. I know both safety positions, so it makes it easier for my job."
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Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Opening statement:
"Good morning. We have a beautiful day. It was like 61 degrees when I drove in this morning. I'm out of the dorms, which is a good thing. I had a good night's sleep at home. Yesterday's [practice] was off. We had a tremendous scrimmage on Saturday at Heinz Field. We got 130 plays in. I was happy at the things our offense and defense did as the head coach that day. It was a great scrimmage—very physical, great attention to detail. We saw some guys that we wanted to see make plays at Heinz Field on game day. The kickers did an unbelievable job and special teams were solid. Overall it was just a productive day. Today, we've got a two-a-day schedule. We'll see how this first one goes. We're looking for quality."
On potentially giving the team tonight off:
"Maybe. I think we've got a pretty mature football team right now that is focused. I like where we are. I like the attitude we took in the scrimmage. It was physical and one of the best scrimmages we've had here as a staff in my opinion. It was crisp, clean and came out pretty good."
On the clarity at backup quarterback:
"Everybody did some good things. From Nathan [Peterman] all the way down to [Thomas] MacVittie and Bo Schneider. We saw some good things. We still have two more weeks for clarity. There was good and bad out of everybody. Nathan was really sound. We're still searching."
On the growth of the freshmen defensive tackles:
"They look pretty good. [Amir] Watts has impressed in camp and shown some really nice things. Sometimes freshmen are the ones who get exposed when you go into a different atmosphere but they stepped their game up at Heinz Field. [Rashad] Wheeler did a nice job as well. I thought they all did a nice job."
On how this freshman class compares to previous years:
"They are about as good as what we've had. If you come in and you can help us as a freshman, that's pretty good. So I would say they go to the top of the list."
On beginning to make final decisions on the depth chart:
"There's been a lot of depth chart decisions made, but then again there is still another week of camp and a scrimmage on Friday. We try to make depth chart changes every day they are in pads. We want them to go out there with the attitude that 'I'm getting better today and I'm going to beat somebody out.' I like when our kids have to see that up-and-down variation. That will continue this week."
On the performance at the scrimmage by Jester Weah:
"Early in the game he made a nice over-the-shoulder catch that he needs to make and he did. There were a couple more catches that he can make as well, so he just continues to get better and he can be a big-time receiver. I think his confidence is as high as it's ever been. It's up there."
On specific games where the lack of offensive line depth last year factored in:
"There was never an exact point. Maybe the second half of the season we weren't as crisp as we needed to be. But there wasn't a [single] game. Look at the nine-minute drive against Georgia Tech; that wasn't a time where you said 'they need a break, we should get them off the field.' They converted on consecutive fourth downs and kicked a game winner. There was never an exact point, but maybe in the bowl game when [Alex] Officer went out and you had a guy coming in for the first time who didn't have the game experience that you would like him to."
On getting out of the scrimmage healthy:
"We had a couple bumps and bruises but nothing major. So I feel really good about that."
On the reps at the running back position:
"James [Conner] lined up and got a few carries. I talked to him prior to camp and told him that we weren't going to wear him out. Before the scrimmage I said 'James, get in there. I don't want to keep you in there all day, so don't make me. Let's get in, let's be sharp, and let's get you out of there. Let's get to September 3rd.'"
Running Backs Coach/Special Team Coordinator Andre Powell
On James Conner during Saturday's scrimmage:
"He ran the ball really well. He really cut it loose. We are really encouraged by what we saw on Saturday."
On James Conner being the top running back going into season:
"He's done a good job. We've been really selective on his number of reps and all of those sort of things. But he has earned the right. He's a talented guy, and he has a lot of skill. So he's the top guy—no doubt about it."
The advantage having a talented kicker and punter:
"Specialists are a little bit goofy by nature. So when you get those mature guys, you don't have to watch them as much. They go out there on their own and do their work. They are smart from the standpoint of knowing when they have kicked too much, so they don't wear themselves out too much. To have mature guys there is big."
On young players that are going to make an impact on special teams:
"I think Tre Tipton is going to do a good job for us. I think [Jay] Stocker has a chance to help us. Those are two guys that really stood out. [Anthony] McKee Jr. has some work to do, as well as Saleem [Brightwell]. I've been pleased with the young guys. Some of the true freshman are not ready yet, but they will be talented down the road. I sat down last night and made a list of how many guys I will have available to me on special teams. My number was 53. I'll have 53 guys available to play on special teams, and I don't think that number has ever been that high."
On his depth in special teams:
"You have to be smart. Some of those guys are starters on offense and defense. You can't have [Jordan] Whitehead playing snaps on defense and then 20 snaps of special teams. For example, you'll have him start the game on a kick-off and he might not again until the end of the game. But the way we coach things, they all get the same amount of reps. Certain groups of guys are trained together. For example, on kick-off I have all the units train together. So if we are two deep, a three has to be able to play a one and a two will have to be able to play a three. We gain depth that way."
Linebackers Coach Rob Harley
On how close he is to figuring out the depth chart at linebacker:
"We're not close yet—not anywhere close yet. It's a credit to these guys who are making it really hard on me. We're going to roll guys. That's the nature of the spread offense. We're going to have to roll guys in constantly to keep them fresh. Guys are on the edges; the ball is on the edge; the ball is on the perimeter; guys are running fast. We're going to be playing six guys, and it's going to change weekly. Those guys know it, and they're working. Again, it's a credit to their effort that I can't set the depth chart yet."
On if he has the top six linebackers determined yet:
"That's also in flux. There are two weeks left. I won't get anywhere near set until [next] Monday. We're rolling guys in, and we're changing guys around to see what works. It's kind of like line changes in hockey. You're trying to see who works well together. Who makes the most plays together? Who's productive together? Who communicates well together? We're doing that right now. We've still got two weeks left. It's close, but we're just not there quite yet."
On if he will rotate players in both the base and sub-packages:
"I'd like to. I think it's a feel thing too. I think a large part of football is who's hot? Who's out there? Who's got a flow of the game? Who is playing well that game? I never want to be stringent and say, 'That's what our depth is,' but if a guy is hot and a guy is really blitzing well that game, it's our job to make sure he gets on the field to make a play."
On if he's been seeing big plays out of the freshman regularly:
"Yeah, you can see it. The one thing that we did is that we brought in some big dudes. Big, physical guys that can run. We're seeing them make some plays in the blitz game. You're seeing them around the ball, which is good. They're affecting people because of their size and their speed, which is good."
On if he feels like they are well prepared to face a lot of teams that run the spread offense:
"I feel good about it. We're going to roll guys. We're always going to have a chance, even without depth, that we're going to make changes, and we're going to do some things. We're always going to be able to formulate our defense to fit whatever we're facing. Obviously, it's a luxury to be able to have three seniors in my room that are like extra coaches. So when we do have that depth, they're coaching these guys up on the side line. I think we'll be alright."
On Linebacker Bam Bradley rotating between the Money and Star positions:
"We're really rotating more than just him. Guys are rotating in and out. We want to see how guys work together because the communication may be more than the physical. It's how they communicate. We're not talking defensive calls. We're saying, 'What's the offense going to do?' Which one of them has the tip? How good is one of them at reading offenses? We're plugging guys in and just seeing the flow of it."
On how Elijah Zeise has been doing:
"He's doing well. Obviously, he's a brand new guy. You almost want to say he's a freshman, not even a redshirt freshman, for our defense coming over in the spring. But he's doing well picking it up. That's one of those guys, similar to our freshman, that relies a lot on his instincts and his athletic ability, which is awesome. All of that mental stuff is obviously my job to teach him and not mess him up and allow him to play fast and use his god given talent, which is the reason we brought him over, to play out on the edge. He's been impressive so far, especially being such a young linebacker at the position."
Placekicker Chris Blewitt:
On how important repetition is for him:
"That's especially big. It's just muscle memory, repetition. You just get used to it. It becomes second nature, really. That's really a big part of just getting the rhythm down with the snap, hold and the line."
On how you rebound from a bad day:
"With a bad day or a bad kick, you know it's not your normal. That's not what you do. It's just a fluke. You've just got to bounce back. You could have a bad kick, bad punt, bad snap, or a bad any play at any position. You've just got to bounce back."
On how much he pays attention to the mental part of his game:
"That's probably almost the entire part. It's really just the preparation behind it. Ninety-nine percent of what we do is preparation. All of those mental preparations like, 'Am I in the right spot? Am doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I keeping my body right?'"
On how he thought Saturday's scrimmage went:
"The scrimmage went well. There was a lot of energy behind it. Everyone was flying around. For as long as we were out there, it was definitely like a game atmosphere for us out there. Everybody was flying and we all had a really good day."
On if he and Punter Ryan Winslow feed off each other's performance:
"Yeah, I would say so when you see that one guy is doing well. It's the same thing with any aspect of the team. If the defense is doing well, then the offense is doing well. It raises everybody else's level of play. I'd say definitely seeing Ryan [Winslow] out there and then talking with him on the sideline about it, you can definitely feed off that energy."
On if his range is still expanding:
"I would say that my quickness has. For the range it just depends on the day and the conditions. Every day is different. You just have to prepare for what's at hand."
On if he could kick a 60-yard field goal:
"If I tell Coach [Pat Narduzzi] beforehand that the field and everything is good and the conditions are prime for that, we could probably hit one if we had to. It depends on the day."
Wide Receiver Jester Weah
On his over-the-shoulder catch during Saturday's scrimmage:
"It was a go route. I forgot who I went up against. I remember Nathan [Peterman] bombed it out to me. I was running and saw the ball, so I stretched out for it and I got it."
On what will make him stand out from the rest of the wide receiver unit:
"I'm a pretty fast guy. I have a big body. If I go out there and play my hardest, I can go out there and make anything possible."
On his relationship with Quarterback Nathan Peterman:
"Nathan [Peterman] is a like a big brother. He's a great guy and a great competitor. He wants to be perfect every time he is out there on the field. I love Nate. He is my guy!"
Punter Ryan Winslow
On how special teams performed in Saturday's scrimmage:
"I thought we had a really good scrimmage as a whole. Chris [Blewitt] made all of his kicks and I had some pretty good punts. We were pretty consistent all day, so overall we were really happy with it."
On if he is stronger than last season:
"I definitely think so. The weight training is helping a lot and they really cater to our needs especially, so I feel like I'm stronger and more flexible, which is huge. The recovery portion of this camp has been awesome for us. We're getting in there and doing all the extra little things we need to do so our legs are as fresh as possible. It has benefited us a lot."
On communicating with Placekicker Chris Blewitt after a bad punt or kick:
"Chris [Blewitt] was a good punter in high school and I kicked a little in high school, so we're always bouncing ideas off of each other. It's very important because we only get a certain amount of reps a game. It's important to learn from the mistake and bounce back to execute on that next play."
On how his playing experience helps him and Chris Blewitt:
"We help each other through talking, but it also comes back to the experience aspect. Chris [Blewitt] is going to be a four-year starter and this is going to be my third year starting, so we've been through the ropes and the ups and downs. It's all about communication, and I think we do a good job of that."
On the comradery with Chris Blewitt:
"I would say we are really good friends, same with Pat Quirin our snapper. We all hang out all the time during practice and even outside of practice, whether it's just playing cards hanging out or getting food. I think that's a key part of our comradery."
Defensive Back Jordan Whitehead
On staying humble to repeat his success from last year:
"I have tried not to think about that too much. I'm still only a sophomore and still have a lot to prove. Last year was a good season, but I always can do better. This year I'm trying to do way better than I did last year and keep working hard."
On having the bar set high this season:
"I would say it's not just for me, but for all of the defense. Last year they saw what we could do, so now the defense has way more pressure to perform compared to last year."
On how the secondary is coming together:
"It's looking good. We have Avonte Maddox, who is a returning starter, and Reggie Mitchell and Terrish Webb, who are also starters and seniors who have a lot of experience. In the corner spot, we have a lot of depth, there are a lot of freshmen that came in, and we have guys returning from last year. There are a lot of veterans back there, and I think they know a lot, so it just helps. And Coach [Renaldo] Hill played in the NFL so he brings a lot of knowledge to us."
On if he feels comfortable making defensive calls on the field:
"Definitely. It's easier when they come out of formation and I can make a call and feel confident with it instead of just guessing. I know both safety positions, so it makes it easier for my job."
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Players Mentioned
Tuesday, June 09
Thursday, May 28
Tuesday, May 12
Thursday, May 07

















