Pitt’s 11th training camp practice brought the usual August mix of coaching points, position battles and a few clear themes that keep surfacing as the fall gets closer.
The loudest message from Pat Narduzzi was about the smallest details. Asked whether daily progress can eventually show up in the win column, he tied that idea to the little habits that often get overlooked.
"No question about it. I don't care if it's cleaning out your locker, getting the ball snapped faster, getting your receivers and running backs set… If you take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves."
That mindset fits with the way Narduzzi talked about his defensive ends, too. He said the group has stood out through camp and pointed to a four-man rotation of Jimmy Scott, Isaiah Neal, Zach Crothers and Jaeden Moore. He also mentioned true freshman Reston Lehman and Josh Pittman as players who have shown enough to keep pressing for snaps this season.
On the linebacker side, Davin Brewton made it clear why he believes Pitt is the right place to build something lasting.
"My standard is to be great - that's always been the standard here at Pitt. You came here to make a legacy for yourself," Brewton said.
"Everyone in that linebacker room is trying to make a legacy for themselves. We're competing every single day and making each other better."
Brewton, one of Pitt’s Ed Conway Award winners in the spring as the most improved defensive player, said he’s still pushing for more. He described the work as both personal and collective, with an emphasis on learning the defense well enough to play faster and lead more effectively.
"I've been working hard every day - trying to push my linebacker room, the defense and everyone on the team," Davin said. "I'm trying to take that leadership role more personally and drive everybody while continuing to understand the playbook, gain the knowledge and play fast on the field."
He added, "I've been embracing that middle linebacker role. You have to be a hard, gritty, vocal dude. And that's what I'm trying to do."
The run game was another topic that drew strong comments from both Narduzzi and Synkwan Smith. Narduzzi said Pitt believes it has taken real steps forward there during the offseason, both in the personnel and in the structure of the offense.
"I think we made some major improvements in the offseason (in the run game) - not only personnel wise but structurally," Coach Narduzzi said. "We know for us to win a championship, we have to have a better run game."
Smith echoed the idea that speed and experience can help the offense take another step. He said he’s been learning from the veterans around him and trying to process the game quicker.
"I've been learning and taking notes from the older guys in the room, understanding the game and playing faster."
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