Spring Pitt Football – Part 1: The Learning Curve
6 practices into spring drills and the stream of information coming out of Pittsburgh leads one to believe the Pitt football team is in the “baby steps” phase of scheme instillation. The offense seems to be coming along quicker than the defense at this point. While the defensive scheme is rather complex and more time is needed to fully grasp the idiosyncrasies of the playbook, major steps are being taken to go forward this spring.
The coaching staff, rather than trying to force too much information at once on the players, is taking it slow. The base schemes are the focus this spring. Learning the basics and the fundamentals is the Panthers’ current objective. By summer camp, the coaching staff will expand the playbook and expect more from the team.
The Pitt coaching staff has done one hell of a job of creating an aura of high energy in spring practice thus far. This can only yield positive dividends. The players are responding well to the new staff and the new increased expectations being placed on them. The playmakers are making plays, the new guys are getting their proverbial feet wet, and everyone seems to be getting better. We have yet to hear of anything negative transpiring on campus with this new Pitt football staff. Seems like the sky is the limit with this team and the ceiling is somewhere outside of the asteroid belt. What will happen once the season starts remains to be seen. Yet, for the first time in a long time, Panther fans are insanely optimistic and not so insane for being so.