Pitt’s training camp is closing with a clear theme: the offense has been making the loudest noise, but the defense hasn’t been backing down.
After 16 practices and two scrimmages, the Panthers are heading toward Week 1 with a roster that still has some sorting to do, but also a growing list of positives. The offense has flashed big-play ability and kept the ball clean.
Quarterback Mason Heintschel has kept moving forward. On the other side, the defense has kept the pressure on with competition and turnovers.
The two scrimmages were the best measuring sticks Pitt got all camp, because they were the closest thing to game day. They weren’t official games with scores attached, but they did give the coaching staff a real chance to see who could handle live situations.
In the first scrimmage, Pitt put roughly 110-120 live snaps on the field after several practices of buildup. The goal was to create something closer to a real game setting, and the defense made sure it stayed competitive. The secondary and linebacker groups have been battling for roles, and younger defenders have used those reps to make their case.
The second scrimmage told a similar story in one key way: the offense kept winning. Pitt’s offense came out on top in both of the major camp scrimmages, and the unit has paired explosive plays with ball security.
That’s been one of the most encouraging parts of camp. Heintschel has continued to grow, while the offensive line has put major emphasis on protecting him.
The running backs and wide receivers have also added to the options the staff can work with. Just as important, the scrimmage gave coaches another chance to sort out starting and rotational jobs under pressure.
Heintschel’s progress has been one of the clearest signs of camp. He said his grasp of Bell’s offense is basically “night and day” compared with last season, and that comfort has shown up in the way he’s playing.
The first scrimmage also gave Pitt a glimpse of what the run game might look like when it hits. Freshman running back Damon Ferguson Jr. ripped off an approximately 50-yard run, and Pat Narduzzi made it clear that it got his attention: “Damon is impressive.
He’s going to play for us this year.”
That kind of praise matters in camp, especially for a freshman trying to break through. Ferguson’s run gives Pitt another young player to keep an eye on once the season starts.
The defense has had its own moments, though, and not just in the first scrimmage. Shawn Lee Jr. came up with a turnover, and Cameron Lindsey has continued to show he can force fumbles.
In the secondary, Josh Guerrier, Allen Bryant and Cole Woodson have all taken snaps at safety as the staff works through the best fit on the back end. Cruce Brookins has also stood out as a steady veteran presence, giving the defense a dependable leader while younger players keep pushing.
That competition across the roster has been one of the biggest takeaways from camp. Young players are challenging veterans.
Jobs are still open. And the staff is getting closer to figuring out what this team will look like when it opens the season.
There’s still one last stretch of camp left, but the calendar is starting to point straight at Miami (Ohio) and the September 5 opener at Acrisure Stadium. Pitt still has details to clean up before game week, and Narduzzi knows camp success alone won’t matter once the games count. The Panthers have to keep sharpening the depth, keep the mistakes down and carry this pace into the regular season.
For now, the signs are there: the offense has won both scrimmages, Heintschel looks more comfortable, the young guys are pushing, and the defense keeps forcing the issue. The work is almost done. The real answers come next.
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