Pitt Football Practice Takeaways: Live From the South Side

The Pitt Panthers were in full pads on Monday for just the second time.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are inching closer and closer to real football with the introduction of full pads over the weekend. On Monday morning they were back in full pads and really, truly hit one another for just the second time of training camp.

"When it's live, it's live," Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said when asked the coaching staff had advised its players to hold back at all when tackling.  

Weather: 78 degrees with 82% humidity and dark clouds rolling over the facility as practice began. 

Dress: Full pads for the second time during summer training camp. 

Soundtrack: "Digits" by Young Thug, "No Flockin" by Kodak Black (which was cut short and sophomore receiver Jaden Bradley wasn't happy about it) and "When I See U" by GoonieGoon. 

Observations about fully-padded Pitt follow below. 

Full Pads, 'Real Football' Finally Arrives

Getting ready for practice took a little bit longer today for the Panthers, who added pads to their lower bodies for the second time of training camp. The introduction of full pads is both a welcome landmark along the road to a new season and a warning that practices will become more physically grueling. Mid-August heat will be compounded by the wear and tear that tackling imposes. 

With the players in full pads, Pitt coaches will get a better look at the offensive and defensive lines - two positions with experience and talent that hit one another more than anyone else on the field. 

"I see our offensive line getting better every day, as well as our defensive line," Narduzzi said. "There's some real battles going on, no doubt about it. ... There's some pounding going on up front." 

Daniel Carter Trending Towards Bigger Role

Whenever redshirt junior running back Daniel Carter has made an impact, it's usually been from the periphery - his key cut block on the final touchdown of the Coastal Division-clinching win over Virginia from a season ago being the most obvious example. But Carter appears primed to make a much larger, more direct impact on the 2022 Pitt offense, one which players and coaches claim will feature heightened focus on the run game. 

Carter, who's thrived in limited use as a full back, will continue to serve as a lead blocker for Pitt's deep group of tailbacks. Still, offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti and Narduzzi have said during training camp that Carter, winner of the 2022 Conway Award for most improved offensive player of the spring, is expected to make contributions as a tight end or what Narduzzi referred to as a "flex" player. 

"We've got Daniel Carter. Let's not forget about him," Cignetti said following the first day of training camp. "I'll tell you what, he's versatile. First off, he can be that big tailback and that fullback type. So Daniel's going to have some really good roles this upcoming season. 

Branson Taylor's Slimmed Frame Helping Him Standout

Redshirt sophomore tackle Branson Taylor is in an unenviable spot and has been for his whole Pitt career. He was a highly-sought after prospect coming out of high school but has found himself stuck on the lower rungs of the depth chart as the Panthers boast continuity in the trenches. 

But a new year has borne new opportunities for Taylor, who has earned praise from his coaches while competing for time against veteran offensive linemen. Taylor, a former basketball standout at Elyria Catholic High School in Ohio, said that he's slimmed down by about 10 pounds this offseason and is now listed at 310 pounds. He said a lighter load on his 6'5 frame has helped make him more athletic. 

"I've just been working," Taylor said. "I lost about 10 pounds this offseason, so I'm feeling a little quicker out there."

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