Hard-hitting Blades to anchor Pitt’s linebackers

Dave Wannstedt has not made too many positional changes since taking over Pitt’s football team… Dave Wannstedt has not made too many positional changes since taking over Pitt’s football team last January. One of the few he has made, however, appears to be paying off dividends to his veteran defense.

During spring practices, he moved junior linebacker H.B. Blades from the outside to the middle linebacker spot. Successful practices indicate that the adjustment was swift and painless for the reigning first-team All-Big East selection.

“When we moved him to the middle linebacker spot in the spring, I knew that he was our most experienced linebacker, and I could see after two days that he was a very instinctive player,” Wannstedt said. “I was hoping that he would be the type of leader in the huddle that everyone said he was in the past, and he’s really done a great job. He’s kind of the quarterback of that defense and he backs it up with his play.”

Not only is the Florida native regarded as a nearly unanimous preseason first-team All-Big East candidate, he has also been named to the Butkus Award (presented annually to the nation’s best linebacker) watch list, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player), and has also received various other accolades, like Street ‘ Smith’s Big East’s “Hardest Hitter.”

Worthy of the praise is Blades, who was named the team’s defensive MVP last season, a year in which he gathered 108 total tackles, 10 of which went for a loss, to go along with two sacks and three interceptions. Wannstedt says he will be looking for Blades to not only continue his stellar play, heightened by recent weight loss, but to take the reigns of his defense, something nobody has had to tell Blades to do.

“In every scrimmage that he’s been in there, he’s led us in tackles, and our middle linebacker should lead us in tackles,” Wannstedt said. “If he’s not leading us in tackles then we’ve got a problem. Last year, I was told he was a player that would get tired some and I think that the weight loss helped him. He’s playing 10 to 15 pounds less than he was a year ago, and I know he’s much less than what he was in the spring. It’s really helped his quickness and endurance and he’s a guy that plays.”

With Blades roaming the middle, it’s sometimes easy to forget about Pitt’s trio of other returning veterans who have helped shore up a unit that was devastated by the run two years ago. J.J. Horne is the leading candidate to fill in at the Will linebacker spot, which takes the weak-side, while Clint Session, who played middle linebacker last season and is a preseason third-team All-Big East selection, will vie for time at the Sam or Mike linebacker spots. But Wannstedt does not expect his being moved to alter his level of high play.

“We’ve got some great competition,” he said. “Clint Session is not going to sit on the bench for anybody. I mean, he’s in there competing every day.”

Heading into Saturday’s season opener against Notre Dame, Wannstedt, like he is with all positions, is trying to not only fill a starting lineup card, but to provide depth behind each starter. It is linebackers’ coach Curtis Bay’s job to separate the good from the best.

“We are very solid as a group with some depth,” he said. “We are looking for the best four or five guys to play. We have at least five guys who have played a lot of football, and it’s time for them to step up and lead the defense.”

Vying for time will be a large number of underclassmen looking to break into bigger roles. Sophomore walk-on Keith Malley and redshirt freshman Adam Gunn will be pushing Horne and junior Brian Bennett at the Will linebacker spot, as has been the case all preseason. Providing depth in the middle will be redshirt freshman Scott McKillop and senior walk-on Doug Roseberry, while Derron Thomas and Tyler Tipton will compete for time at the Sam position.

And even more like Pitt’s other positions, the depth chart appears again to be top heavy. The likely starters have more experience, while those who will fill the depth chart are relatively young. But one thing is for sure: Wannstedt isn’t too concerned about age when penciling in his lineup for Saturday, but rather about who will be ready for the Irish.

“I’ve always believed that you play your best guys,” he said with a very serious look on his face.