Pitt's New Safety Rotation Taking Shape in Spring Practices

With so many new faces in the secondary, the Pitt Panthers' new rotation is beginning to take shape.

PITTSBURGH -- Erick Hallett and Brandon Hill are gone, off to chase their dreams of playing in the NFL after completing decorated careers as Pitt Panthers. They leave safeties coach Corey Sanders with a difficult job as spring practices end and fall training camp looms. 

Just as Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford gave way to Hill and Hallett, Hill and Hallett will give way to the next Panthers safety tandem. According to head coach Pat Narduzzi, there's a host of defensive backs who could contend for playing time come September. Florida transfer Donovan McMillon and underclassmen Javon McIntyre, P.J. O'Brien and Stephon Hall have risen to the top of Narduzzi's mental, unofficial depth chart and all are candidates to start. 

“We got four safeties who are playing well right now and he’s the new guy but he’s playing well," Narduzzi said. "There’s good competition back there. We got guys who can play."

There is obvious talent in the back end but after proving you can do it once, Narduzzi expects the to be able to do it regularly. He's looking for the most consistent members of that position - everyone can make plays but it's about who can master the playbook enough to be an every-down weapon.  

The progression has come slowly, with each of those top four stepping into new roles and environments. Some positional distinctions are materializing, with McMillion - who looks like he could make a smooth transition to linebacker if need be - spending most of his time at the boundary safety position, while McIntyre broke out as a free safety towards the end of last season and Hall and O'Brien cross-training at both spots. 

“That’s the great thing Coach Sanders and Coach Collins do for us," McMillon said. "There are so many opportunities to play with other guys. I love playing with Javon at free, P.J. at free or Stephon at free - he just likes seeing who works with who better and what different sets work. A third down fit might be better with someone else than a first down. So it’s just exciting that we all move places and compete with each other and make each other better.”

McMillon, despite being the oldest of the bunch, has the most to learn. He's the new kid on the block and has been taking cues from Hall, McIntyre and O'Brien. This group has a specific goal in mind - to achieve a level of competency with the scheme that they can coach themselves. Hill and Hallett had spent so much time in the system that they could make reads and adjustments independently. Their successors are a long way from that point, but are on their way. 

“I know Coach Sanders had two vets back there last year," McMillon said. "So it’s not teaching us to do one thing and always doing that, but mastering the defense so that we have range to make our different checks and be able to do what B Hill and Erick did last year. I think it’ll come with time.”

So there is some uncertainty about who will be on the back end when the season opens in September, but there's confidence that the Panthers have options. While there isn't much starting experience, cornerback M.J. Devonshire, who has played his fair share of snaps, can see that the maturity and knowledge which were sure things when Hallett and Hill roamed the safety spots hasn't disappeared with new blood.

"There's a maturity," Devonshire said. "They bring the classroom out to the field and it's not a lot of [missed assignments]. That is a big thing."

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