Spring is here, and so is Pitt football

The spring is traditionally known to sports fans as the time for March Madness and the start… The spring is traditionally known to sports fans as the time for March Madness and the start of baseball. Football, many think, is a long time away.

Still, college football is on the horizon.

And, after last season’s ups and downs, no one knows exactly what to expect from the Pitt football team when Bowling Green comes to town on Aug. 30.

But with two weeks of spring practice behind them, the Panthers, who are returning 17 starters in the fall, are starting to get an idea.

Quarterback

The battle for the starting quarterback position is just beginning to heat up.

Bill Stull, now healthy after injuring his right thumb in last year’s opener against Eastern Michigan, has been running the first-team offense and doing a solid job.

Right behind Stull, sophomore-to-be Pat Bostick has been taking about the same amount of snaps.

Bostick, running the second team, emerged as the starter last season after Stull was injured and redshirt junior Kevan Smith struggled as Stull’s replacement.

Wannstedt said Bostick lost about 17 pounds in the offseason and, so far this spring, it has shown.

Bostick has displayed a new mobility not shown last year.

He has been able to escape the pocket and duck away from defenders on several occasions, while also unleashing a stronger arm than last year.

“He’s moving around better than he ever has,” Wannstedt said of Bostick.

Smith and junior college transfer Greg Cross have been limited as far as their snaps go, but Wannstedt said both are still in the running for the starting job.

Cross, a running threat, has struggled with accuracy so far in the spring. Still, Wannstedt said Cross is learning a new system and is improving every day.

“It’s open right now,” Wannstedt said of the quarterback position.

“I’m not down on any of them. [But] if I were to say who I am most pleased with today, it’d probably be Billy Stull.”

In the Trenches

While trying to figure out which quarterback is going to be taking the snaps on opening day, figuring out who’s going to protect him has been even harder.

Pitt’s offensive line is by far the most inexperienced and vulnerable unit on the team.

Losing seniors Mike McGlynn and Jeff Otah, two NFL prospects, has left the Panthers with questions lingering over the line.

Junior Joe Thomas, who played right guard the past two seasons, is now making the transition to right tackle.

That means he’ll be isolated with a defensive end every play and will have to work on his quickness and agility to keep up.

Nevertheless, Thomas is the only healthy offensive lineman with starting experience.

Thomas played right tackle in high school, but Wannstedt said the position change is still tough to do at this level, and it may take some time to get used to.

Another question mark on the offensive line is at center.

The exchange between the quarterback and center became a major problem, especially early in the spring, as John Bachman and Robb Houser both struggled at times.

But Houser, a transfer from Butte Community College in California, did show some improvement as the week went on.

“I’m pleased with Robb Houser,” Wannstedt said.

“Right now, Robb is really the guy who’s been the most consistent.

Defense

As it was last year, the Pitt defense looks fast and strong.

All three starting linebackers are back, including Shane Murray, Adam Gunn and senior-to-be Scott McKillop, who led the nation in tackles last year with 12.58 per game.

McKillop is on watch lists for several prestigious trophies and awards, including the Lott Trophy, which is given to college football’s “Defensive Impact Player of the Year,” and the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is awarded to a lineman or defensive player who lines up within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

But even with all the attention, McKillop said he hasn’t taken any time off.

“I can’t just settle for where I’m at,” he said.

“I’m excited for the rest of spring ball and summer to get better as a defense and personally for myself.”

Along with the linebackers, the defensive line has been extremely solid all spring, constantly getting pressure on the quarterback and plugging any holes that emerge.

Greg Romeus and Mick Williams have both had great springs and look to already be in top form.

McKillop said the defensive line is what really brings the unit success.

“They make my job a lot easier,” McKillop said. “It all starts up front.”

Spring practice continues Tuesday afternoon at Pitt’s practice facility on the South Side. There will be two more weeks of practice, ending with the Blue and Gold scrimmage on April 19 at Heinz Field.

First scrimmage

Pitt’s defense dominated its offense in the first scrimmage of spring practice. Sophomore-to-be safety Dom DeCicco had an interception and a blocked field goal on a day when the defense had its way with Pitt’s offensive line. The defense recorded five sacks on the day.

Pitt ran 85 plays in the scrimmage, and the offense scored three touchdowns.

Stull and Bostick each threw one interception. Stull was 9 of 15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Bostick was 7 of 11 for 66 yards and a score. Smith was 6 of 8 for 32 yards and Cross threw just one incomplete pass.

Star running back LeSean McCoy, a sophomore-to-be, played just two series. So did McKillop.

“I would have been extremely disappointed if the defense didn’t come out there and play like they did today,” Wannstedt said. “Obviously, the defense pretty much shut us down today. Offensively, we had a tough time blocking those guys.”