99 thoughts on “2020 Camp Videos: Day 1”

  1. won’t have a chance to watch these videos until later today but wanted to respond on a comment yesterday that I believe Maestro made about a redshirt freshman OL not being expected to step right in with no game experience.

    While that thinking certainly makes a world of sense and there is nothing like game experience … but on the other hand, I would have to think that any young OL who practiced on the scout team last year versus Pitt’s varsity DL got themselves some very valuable experience.

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    1. This may be true wwb, and I appreciate the unbridled optimism. But let’s think about this. When is the last time a redshirt freshman OL saw significant action and was effective? Just because they are going up against the D line doesn’t meant they are getting the coaching to develop or implementing technique

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        1. That’s probably right. He was pressed into service and did okay his r Frosh year. And yet if I dug up the comments from this very blog about how we had to start a redshirt freshman (and a walk on no less) and what that said about the state of the offensive line…

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          1. Imagine……. I’ve been wrong about many of my opinions in my life and owned up to it but haven’t heard many saying they were wrong about Jimmy. Good thing he wasn’t reading the POV 4 years ago or he would have quit the team. He believed in himself an that is what it takes.

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          1. How about Brain O’Neill who redshirted in 2014 and then in 2015 … from Pitt Bio

            2015: Switched from tight end to offensive tackle in July to fortify depth at the position following the offseason injury to Jaryd Jones-Smith…went on to play in all 13 games, starting the final 12 contests…in his first career start (at Akron, Sept. 12), played left tackle in place of the injured Adam Bisnowaty…started the balance of the season at right tackle.

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            1. The exception to that rule but yes, a r Frosh the stepped in and performed well.

              So what you are saying is that since 2014 – in the last six years – we’ve had two r Frosh beat the odds and step in and be productive. Shoot we’ve probably had 20 offensive lineman cycle through the program in that time. I’ll go along with that and say yep…Goncalves has a 1 in 10 chance. And if he does step up, well then Big B and WWB you guys will he officially awarded bragging rights and I’d also like to join you on a trip to Vegas.

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          2. Was a true Frosh when he first saw the field. Was terrible his first year. Rapidly improved in subsequent years if I remember correctly

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  2. Pitt’s current recruiting class slipped to # 30 in case anyone cares – three teams to note that are better than us in the Rivals rankings – Wisconsin # 18, Virginia # 20 and Rutgers # 21.

    The Bates video is worth the time to listen to – I’d lyke to believe everything he says – his optimism makes me believe he’s sipping on some brown “mon kool-aid”.

    The D’s improvement started when Bates arrived in Pittsburgh. Note to Heather: find a way to keep Bates and Partridge. They represent Pitt very well.

    The gates may not be locked, but the bubble is sealed.

    H2P!

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    1. Heather would only be able to do so much to keep those guys. You need to go higher to find the people to find the money and knowing Pitt the cash won’t be there. If the money is there Gallagher certainly won’t spend it on football.

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  3. A nice job by the players and coaches on these interviews. Coach Bates is awesome.

    We’ve heard each year how Kenny is making great progress and tearing it up. He’s had some good games but some duds too. I think Krull could make a big impact – and maybe we finally get a consistently good KP… (But the key for KP is still going to be finding two OTs who can give him time in the pocket…)

    These guys want this so bad – going to be tough if the season gets de-railed…

    Go Pitt.

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  4. The quality of the production is 100% better than before, with no trains and other background noise etc.
    You can actually hear the questions and answers.

    Let’s hope they can actually play football this year, so much potential on this defense.

    It seems the coaching staff really doing a great job overcoming obstacles and having a mature team should make a difference, even more than otherwise.

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  5. Great interviews and great job Mike

    Good point gc about the better production, much better.

    KP’s mustache looks like crap but he does sound even more confident that ever, a true leader

    The players do a great job in interviews.

    Rick, this is a really good recruiting class. Not interested in where the”experts” pin them

    If this PITT team doesn’t get the chance to show what they can accomplish this year then that would be total classic PITT SOP luck.. As much as I can’t stand the term SOP.

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      1. KP must have had on his helmet on with a face shield? Hell he can grow lamb chops as long as he performs on the field.

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  7. Some encouraging comments about the added speed on offense — at RB, WR and TE. Seems Pitt has done a decent job lately of finding a couple speedy guys — QH, Frenchy, Shocky, and now these freshmen…

    Dietrich Jells!

    Go Pitt!

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      1. Jells could fly and was fun to watch.

        (But I remember one play at Pitt Stadium where he flew down the sideline and the deep ball bounced off his helmet. Ouch!)

        Go Pitt.

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  12. Pitt is doing everything right to prepare for the season, but they will need to have teams to play against. Syracuse, for example, is a bit worrisome. Miami Ohio will do the right thing to protect players against COVID since the Pitt game is really important to them money wise.

    On the recruiting front, I just don’t see how colleges such as Rutgers with their history of mediocrity can out recruit Pitt. Pitt can find a way to keep Bates and Partridge until they start getting ranked and maybe win another division title or get 10 wins. If these guys get another change at a head coaching job, it’s good bye Pitt.

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  13. Very impressed with the mid set of the players and the effort to deal with current circumstances

    Feeling kind of proud of our guys and coaches, especially when compared to say Rutgers that lost their team to a house party.

    No way to know what might happen but the overall preparation and team education seems stellar.

    My guess is they are getting a lot of help from UPMC, the School of Public Health and other Health Related Schools.

    The guys seem well aware of the methods needed to protect themselves with on-line classes etc. Hopefully, this is universal because it only takes a couple of knuckleheads, well you know….

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  14. the next domino is teetering…..

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  15. If the season is cancelled…. Probably going to happen after 1-2 weeks if that does that mean we finally can play someone at QB other than Pickett next year?

    There goes the Narduzzi 10 wins. Back to the 6-7 win plateau. Maybe in another 5 years we can hope for 10 wins. I mean to have the possibility for 10 wins in a weak Coastal in 10 years is probably Narduzzi’s ceiling anyway.

    Pitt probably stands to make more money if there is no season than if there is considering 20k only attend games. If they are smart they play WVU or PSU in week 1 at a Neutral site.

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    1. Same here. Just got news of my brother who works on health care. I’m not in a good mental state now. This virus sucks.

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  17. Well if PITT only plays 7 games and they win 7 games? I guess Narduzzi only won 7 games this coming season? Actually this makes total sense to me. Manipulated statistics strike again.

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    1. They won’t play the season is my point and there is no proof Narduzzi would of won 10. The schedule was pretty weak and it was possible but not now.

      The pressure the media will put on them to cancel will be huge and the ACC will fold. SEC I think plays but that is because they won’t cower to media pressure and cancel culture.

      Nothing manipulating, I’m saying even in the best possible year for Pitt football minus the year we beat Clemson this team was supposed to be good and now that prospect goes away. Most teams reload, aka Clemson but for Narduzzi he strikes possible gold every 5 years so we will have to wait again is my point. He hasn’t built a reload type program, he built a every few years have a shot at 10 games but the norm will be win 6-7-8.

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      1. PITT doesn’t pay out the bagmen anywhere close to what the Clemson’s of the world do. The field is not level.

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      2. I agree with much you say but most are returning next year on offense, and while many defensive seniors will be leaving, there are a lot of underclassmen who saw much PT …. Morgan, Alexandre, Baldonero, M Willams, Hallet, Davis, etc With the incoming defensive players, it shouldn’t take another5 years to reload

        also agree that 10 wins was not a guarantee.

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      3. If there is no season then most seniors will be granted an extra year while other like Ford; Weaver will still opt for the NFL. I could see Hamlin back for a sixth season and having Kenny back will be beneficial. Tipton will not be granted a seventh season I can guarantee. Guys who had their redshirts blown last season will gain that season back thank the good Lord.

        In these times Pitt finds itself in a terrific situation with stability with a coach who wants to be at Pitt. Knowing the Pitt administration if there is football in 2021 it will be Narduzzi’s last after eight wins and the BoT ready to make news for a day by firing Pat then making a cheap hire with another coordinator who has no balls.

        How can Pitt reload when it does’t cheat and has a phony desire to want to be big winners?

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      4. Without fans and a good TV contract I doubt they could even break even on travel expenses.

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      5. Why is it that you and only a few others know this? I’ve always said, he’s a 9 win ceiling coach. Not a bad guy. Good for compliance and gpa’s and service projects. Not so good for top 20 rankings.

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        1. Pitt finished with 2 Top 20 rankings in the last 30 years. I think 8 or 9 wins is just fine (but of course would luv to see10)

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          1. I’d sell my organs to a foreign national for consecutive top 15 finishes. That might kill me but whatever.

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        2. When Pitt offers Urban Meyer 5 for $50 million then I’ll believe it is ready to win. Pitt can’t even hire a proven coach like Louisville did with Satterfield because it won’t pay out of the gate. It has lived by the “show us what you got coach, then we’ll talk” contract. Bad way of doing business.

          I’m not ready to start over with some ball-less game day coach with one foot out the door when he sees how awful Heinz Field truly is on game days.

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    1. You cannot blame him. He is highly rated by pro scouts and will go in the first or second round. By the time he has to report to his pro team there should be a vaccine and he will not have to be worried about any possible long term effects from the Virus.

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      1. Did he test positive or is this just precautionary? He’s kind of a heavy guy (OK, fat) and NFL teams may be wary of his conditioning.

        I don’t see how the NFL will be able to have a Combine next year at the usual time if more conferences opt to play in the Spring. Unless it’s in June and the Draft is in July. This could knock Twyman out of the 1st round IMO since NFL teams aren’t going to roll the dice on a guy who won’t be in shape to play right away.

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    2. Maybe he has an underlying med condition….. he’s no Aaron Donald….. would love to dial it back to really being college ball…. but time marches on… quit bitch’n BigB

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  20. Good think there are four other tackles in the rotation: Green, Danielson, Clancey and Bentley.

    Once the B10 says it is cancelling we will only have the SEC on Saturdays this fall with the NFL surely to have games in prime time later in the evening.

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  22. Big fan of Kancey! He’s not up with Twyman yet but he has the potential to be even better. Good luck to Jaylen.

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  23. Waiting for spring means hoping for a vaccine which may make sense.

    If the ACC decides or is forced to go that way, how many other guys opt for the Pros?

    The South has more Covid than the midwest right now, it appears to be slowing down a little,

    but who knows what happens in the fall, or in a month. If there are outbreaks on campuses does it make sense to ball?

    The videos were very positive, but this B1G development puts a whole new spin on things.

    Does spring football means two football seasons in one year? Lots to consider.

    Twyman doing the right thing for him. It is too bad for Pitt but just may be a mute point, in a few weeks.

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    2. Yeah, I can hear your point there Biggie. Not happy about it but know the details, next man up. I would never turn my back on my team including the POV team!

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  25. Pete Thamel@PeteThamel
    1h
    Just spoke to a MAC assistant coach. He said that teams have already begun to attempt to poach the top players on their roster. Such is the reality of the MAC’s decision. “There’s going to be a lot of unintended consequences,” he said.

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  26. We need to have a team meeting at Red5A … time to develop our POVHerd immunity…!!!! I’ll bring the southern BBQ and slaw!!!!! Let’s Get’r Going PITT…..

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  27. Can’t help but wonder how many careers will be ruined by this COVID virus. Many players who could ultimately stick with an NFL team at some point will never get the chance. Some above average college players will be recruited over and lose their chance to start. Players like Twyman could have used another year of college ball to refine their game and move up in the draft. He will be lucky to be a middle round pick now…

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    1. He’s a second rounder with a strong performance in Indie. Pass rushers are paid a premium and are in high demand. He has no upside playing this season. And he owes Pitt and us fans nothing. Good for him.

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      1. I think I agree more with Tex on the basis that he received a lot of 1st and 2nd team All-American mention. Even if he is a third rounder, it would be a good move IMO

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    2. Agree…. not enough experience…. got more PT last year because of the injury to camp…. there needs to be a league/ mechanism for athletes like Twyman to pursue their NFL goals… why ruin what is supposed to be COLLEGE ball so 1-2% can play in the NFL….. we were so blessed to watch are heroes go the full 4 years in the 70’s-80’s……

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      1. Don’t forget about Roberto jogging out to right field for seventeen years. They don’t make em like that anymore.

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  28. I wish JT the best – sad yo see him go. Lock the gate on your way out.

    JT should not be allowed back into the Pitt bubble until this season is over. May be next week or next year.

    Sorry to be so cold, but I too would not turn my back on my team. JT technically has 2 years of eligibility left – if by chance an injury does happen, he comes back one last time.

    It could be a family financial decision. I truly do wish him well, but don’t hang around this team – move on. Don’t by chance be the COVID-19 carrier that ends Pitt’s season.

    NEXT MAN UP! Danielson, Green, Bentley, Kancey along side K.Camp.

    H2P!

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    1. Jaylen stated in his announcement “I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season and…return home to be with my family.” so it does not appear that he plans on hanging around Pitt football and football players. I agree that non-players should not be permitted to hang around, work out in the training facilities nor attend in-person meetings. Not as a punishment or shunning them because they opt out, but because they cannot be monitored as well and the less outside exposures, the safer the players will be.

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  29. Danielson May be the slowest guy I’ve seen in years, and NO quickness. Hope other kids can play. Think people like him cause he was local, but if we need to depend on him we’re in trouble. Heck, what am I sayin, acting like there will be a season.

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  30. They are saying JT will sign with super agent Drew R. These sleazy agents are out there looking out for themselves and throwing some money around. Like Ike always says. “Follow the money”

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  32. I disagree that there is no benefit for Twyman to play this year if there is a season. An extra year to get stronger, work with coaches and experience live competition beats working out on your own. I’m not buying that his staying home beats playing with his team mates this year.

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    1. The downside is he gets injured or fails to replicate last season. And Pitt isn’t known for strength and conditioning.

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  33. Tex, honestly, the threat of getting hurt is no excuse. If it were, Pitt has 7 potential draft picks who would sit out. Maybe half of Clemson’s team would sit out every year. Bottom line, football players play football..

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  34. Up all night again, anyone have an extra Mexican Quaalude or two you could send me? Kidding of course……. kind of… 🙂 …Good thing my buddy Markpt brought over a bottle of Honey Jack to help with the pain, if you can’t beat? Join it.

    Twyman is costing himself money imo.. His stock can only go down. Not saying it will but it sure ain’t going to go up by not playing.

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    2. Well that’s one reason to go the doc Ike…medical dispensation these days is a lot better than it used to be. Could be kind of groovy…

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  35. I read where Twyman is going home to be with family….should take that s holly off of him and go $hopping for a replacement…..my interpretation is he is no longer interested in the PITT diploma so why continue to support him with a scholarship when it could go to a new recruit our a deserving “ walk-on?” Twyman no longer has “ skin in the game for our team- … it’s “ all about me “for Twyman..

    My Heel buddy,Frank, told me Carolina has lost 3 so far…

    Would love to see Div. 1 use the service academy model….let the NFL start a minor league…that would end this BS ….let all the wanna be NFLers head there… “ no more , classes, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks and the BAGMAN can take a walk!!!!

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  36. Biggie, as the great Alice Cooper sang…”schools out for EVER”
    Chilling on the beach at Myrtle with the family. Never been here. I’m an OBX guy but could not find a dog friendly place to rent there for this week.
    Ike, come on down buddy…we have room. The ocean will lull you to sleep 💤

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    1. Fran, I miss the ocean, I really do. Like I mentioned last week, my oldest boy is down in Duck NC right now, I doubt I ever see and smell the ocean again. Heard there was a earth quake down there somewhere? Turn 65 today. woopie

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      1. Ike – the earthquake was in Sparta, NC. 51 magnitude. Was out in my shed looking for something that would fix my lawn tractor.. Heard a boom & a small shake. Some of the finely stacked trash started to make noises & noise lasted for 10 seconds.

        Sparta is within 150 miles of me, In the foothills of the NC mountains. Quake nearer to me than the coast.

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  37. Twyman, as well as Ford and Jones, could have opted for the draft last year. Instead they chose to stay.

    Now they are in a position where their immediate future is a mystery. Will there a shortened version of college FB, or any FB at all …. once the season starts and facing other teams that travel, what effect will it have on the spread …. once the school year starts and the players are around the public, how susceptible will they be?

    This is not what they bargained for when they chose to stay at Pitt. Not at all. To say that any of them is now a traitor is silly IMO

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