PITTSBURGH — Pitt decided to brave the elements in a return to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Tuesday morning, the first practice since Saturday’s scrimmage, and it was a windy, rainy morning.
It certainly wasn’t ideal conditions, and the players had their fair share of mishaps in the wind and rain, but football is played all year ’round. There have been a few cold, wet, rainy games in Pittsburgh over the last couple of seasons — better to practice outside and experience it in the spring before stepping onto the field in the fall.
It was another practice in which five periods were made available to the media, with no live work, and it was a slower day following last weekend’s scrimmage. The defense donned the blue jerseys, signifying a win in the first scrimmage of the spring, and by all accounts, it’s a thoroughly convincing performance.
There’s not much to write home about from Tuesday’s session. The quarterbacks rotated as usual, and the wideouts struggled a bit with the conditions.
Damar Hamlin was in attendance Tuesday, hanging out with Pat Narduzzi and taking in the activities, and it’s perhaps fitting with how there were a few new ‘takeaway’ stickers on helmets in the secondary. Donovan McMillon and Jesse Anderson each boasted new stickers, which were not there before Saturday’s scrimmage.
The safeties in particular have been an impressive unit this spring. The trio of McMillon, Javon McIntyre and P.J. O’Brien Jr. are established, but Anderson and Cruce Brookins are making a lot of noise, too. If likely starter Ryland Gandy can have a cornerback or two step up around him (someone like Tamon Lynum or Rashad Battle), the entire backend could be a strength.
Pitt has Pro Day Wednesday, so there won’t be anything going on tomorrow, but it will be interesting to see how practice unfolds on Thursday.
