Defense controls spring football practice

Following Thursday’s practice, there are only four more practices before the Pitt football… Following Thursday’s practice, there are only four more practices before the Pitt football team’s spring game on Saturday April 12. Head coach Walt Harris hopes the team will tighten things up by then. Following a sloppy practice, he was not very happy.

“No, we didn’t play well, especially on offense,” he said. If the team wasn’t playing well because it’s the end of the spring, “then we are in for a long season,” he added. “We are going to play against a lot of people who are going to make things difficult on us. It was a very, very poor day.”

Harris’ concerns on the offense are well-founded. Besides three big plays, the Panthers’ defense dominated most of the drills and scrimmage time. The defense, led by senior Lewis Moore, controlled the early scrimmage time, forcing two fumbles and several false start penalties by the offense.

The defense was also in the backfield all day long. Several times quarterbacks Rod Rutherford, Tyler Palko and Luke Getsy were forced to scramble and just throw the ball away, if not take a sack.

Offense shows potential

Even though the defense was in command, the offense did have its moments. Three big plays, one of which stemmed from a scramble, helped the offense score three touchdowns on the day.

Returning starting running back Brandon Miree opened the scoring after he took a handoff left, and cut back right heading to the pylon. Miree was knocked out of bounds 63 yards later by Shawntae Spencer and Bernard Lay. Miree would score two plays later.

The Panthers’ second score was also a 2-yard run by Miree, but the only difference was how the ball got to the 2-yard line. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald received a reverse and proceeded to cut back up the middle, then spun and left Malcolm Postell behind him as he traveled 40 yards down to the two.

Involving Fitzgerald more in the offense seems to be the plan, and it makes sense since he is the biggest returning threat.

“You’d be crazy [not to get the ball to Fitzgerald]; we are going to try to get the ball to him, Kris Wilson and Brandon Miree all year,” wide receiver coach J.D. Brookhart said.

Look for a lot of reverses his way and several wide receiver screens during the spring game.

The final, and perhaps most entertaining play of the day, came from backup quarterback hopeful Luke Getsy. Getsy was chased, flushed from the pocket as most of the quarterbacks were all day. This time however, instead of throwing the ball away, Getsy flung a shovel pass in the direction of running back Jawan Walker. Walker took the pitch and went 45 yards down to the 2-yard line. Walker would score on the next play from the 2.

Injury update

On the injury front, it does not appear now that defensive back Marcus Furman will be playing at all this spring. Furman suffered a hip injury and will require surgery in order to get ready for next year.

“Furman is out, he is going to have some kind of surgery on his hip, we think he has got something torn,” Harris said.

Sophomore defensive lineman Troy Banner also appears to be out for the whole spring after injuring his hamstring. Harris was very pessimistic about his return.

“I don’t know, hamstrings sometimes take a while,” he said.

In practice on Thursday, hopeful starting inside linebacker Joe Dipre hurt his left knee during individual drills. The extent of the injury is unknown, but Dipre was carted off and did not return to the practice field. Harris did not hear anything about his status.

Harris shares thoughts on Howland

As a coach who has been rumored to be considered for other jobs in the past, Harris had a few words about another Pitt coach who, unlike himself, did not decide to stay.

“I have always been a Ben Howland fan. What the man, his staff and his team did, they played tremendously and coached tremendously,” Harris said. “He put us on the basketball map. We will be forever in debt to him at the University of Pittsburgh. If he feels like this is the best thing for him and his family, and his future, then I’m glad for him.”