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Pitt Football Camp Notebook: 8/11

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UPDATE (5:11 PM)-

It’s a wide-open situation at wideout for Pitt after starters Quadree Henderson and Jester Weah because of the absences of Tre Tipton (injury) and Aaron Mathews (personal reasons).

Maurice French has been taking reps with the first team, but Ruben Flowers and Rafael Araujo-Lopes have been active, as well as true freshmen Darian Street and Michael Smith. Check out some shots of Pitt’s young receivers taking passes from today’s practice.

Rafael Araujo-Lopes hauls in a pass. — ALAN SAUNDERS

Darian Street turns upfield after catching a pass. — ALAN SAUNDERS

Freshman wide receiver Michael Smith secures the ball after a catch. — ALAN SAUNDERS

Max Browne (4, left) and Thomas MacVittie (7, right) throw passes to receivers. — ALAN SAUNDERS

Ruben Flowers sprints downfield after catching a pass. — ALAN SAUNDERS

Maurice Ffrench hauls in a catch along the sideline. — ALAN SAUNDERS

UPDATE (4:10 PM)-

Freshman Carson Van Lynn seems to be settling into his role on the defense. Here he is performing a pass rushing drill.

Van Lynn is 6-foot-5, which can be a benefit and a detriment to playing defensive end. Redshirt freshman Rashad Weaver, who is also 6-foot-5 explains:

“(Defensive line) coach (Charlie) Partridge is always talking about my freakishly long arms,” Weaver said. “I have long arms, even for my height. That’s definitely an advantage for me. A disadvantage is always making sure you have a low pad level and bringing your hips through with everything you do, whether it is tackling, bull-rushing or anything like that. But long arms and long steps are definitely an advantage for me in the pass rush.”

Teaching tall defensive ends is something that Partridge should be used to, because the Panthers have a ton of size in that room. Besides Van Lynn and Weaver, Patrick Jones is also 6-foot-5 and Deslin Alexandre, Keyshon Camp, Kam Carter, Allen Edwards, James Folston, Dewayne Hendrix and Shane Roy are all 6-foot-4.

UPDATE (1:07 PM)-

Players interviews from Friday included freshman offensive tackle Jerry Drake, who told a hilarious story about rooming with Avonte Maddox during training camp. Redshirt freshman Rashad Weaver thinks all but three people on the defensive line can dunk a basketball. Redshirt sophomore Jay Stocker thinks the defensive backfield has a new attitude. Check them out:

UPDATE (11:37 AM)-

Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge works with freshman linebacker Albert Tucker at Pitt practice. — ALAN SAUNDERS

With less of an emphasis on contact, Pitt worked on some ball skills on Friday, with defensive players focusing on rushing the passer and finding loose balls in the backfield.

Check out the sights and sounds from the Panthers Friday tune-up.

UPDATE (11:00 AM)-

The Panthers are practicing in lighter-than-usual attire today, with no shoulder pads and minimal contact as the team prepares for its second scrimmage of camp on Saturday at Heinz Field.

Here’s head coach Pat Narduzzi before practice No. 10:

UPDATE (10:13 AM)-

UPDATE (9:58 AM)-

https://twitter.com/coachconklin/status/896006363465342977

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
 
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