All eyes on offensive line, linebackers, young running backs as Pitt approaches spring game

If you’re planning to attend Pitt’s Blue-Gold Game on Saturday — admission at Acrisure Stadium is free — you might want to see how and if the offensive line has improved.

In Pitt’s spring quest to get ready for summer training camp and set up the team for success in the fall, no unit is more important than the five guys up front, protectors of the quarterback, facilitators of the running backs.

Ryan Baer, a junior right tackle, will be one of the starters, joining (for the moment, at least) left tackle Jeff Persi, left guard Kendall Stanley, center Lyndon Cooper and right guard B.J. Williams.

Of course, all jobs at all positions are subject to change, with the opener against Duquesne still four months and three weeks in the future. But Baer likes what he has seen so far.

“I’m very excited with where we’re at,” he said Wednesday afternoon after players on the Blue and Gold teams chose up sides through a draft process. “We’re at a way better place than we were last spring. I think we’re cleaning up pass protection and getting a lot better in the run.

“We have a year under our belt of disappointing O-line play. The attitude had to change,” he said. “We brought in some really good transfers (Persi, Stanley and center Keith Gouveia). We realized we didn’t play good enough, and we had to change some things.”

The draft was designed to equalize talent at most positions, but all five offensive line starters will be on Gold team in hopes of retaining the continuity and cohesion coaches are trying to build.

“My freshman year (2022) was the last time we did the scrambled-up offensive line,” Baer said. “It’s hard playing with people you never played with.”

On the other side of the line, the Blue team will have defensive line veterans Nick James and Sean FitzSimmons at tackle and Jimmy Scott, Nate Temple and Maverick Gracios at end. The Gold line isn’t bad, with transfers Blaine Spires and Jaeden Moore at defensive end and promising holdovers Francis Brewu, Isaiah Neal and Jahsear Whittington at tackle.

The interior line battles between the Gold’s James and FitzSimmons and the Blue’s Cooper, Stanley and Williams should be interesting and, perhaps, even eye-opening for coaches.

“The holes that we were seeing this spring are a lot different than the holes we were seeing last spring a year ago,” said running backs coach Lindsey Lamar, who will be Gold coach.

Lamar’s guys in the backfield also will be interesting to watch.

With the intent to keep him healthy, All-ACC all-purpose back Desmond Reid (named second-team all-purpose All-American by five outlets) won’t play while younger players get long looks.

Lamar is eager to see redshirt freshman Juelz Goff, first-year freshman Ja’Kyrian Turner and senior Justin Cook in competitive situations.

Goff has a minor injury, but Lamar already likes the improvement he has seen after he ran for 31 yards on seven carries and caught three passes for 32 more in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at the end of last season.

“He’s really got a good feel for the offense. That’s the biggest part. I believe he’s mastered it pretty well,” Lamar said. “The injury was unfortunate, but I think he’s going to be fine. We’ll be smart with him.”

Meanwhile, Turner has displayed good speed while getting good experience in pass protection, usually the last aspect of the game freshmen master.

The spring has been beneficial to Reid, who has spent many hours with Lamar watching video and with teammates offering advice.

“When he’s done playing 15 years from now, he wants to be a coach,” Lamar said. “This is a great opportunity for him. While he’s coaching those guys, he’s also coaching himself. Des still meets with me every single day. We watch all his runs from the previous year and go through those and see what he could have done better.”

Linebackers coach Ryan Manalac will lead the Blue team, but he’ll still keep an eye on Gold middle linebacker Jeremiah Marcelin and star linebacker Cam Lindsey (Aliquippa).

“Cam’s come a long way, put on a good coat of armor,” Manalac said. “He’s got strength, and mentally he’s come a long way as well. He’s made some physical plays this spring.”

Manalac called Marcelin “a next-level intense guy. He brings passion to the game.”

“When an install goes out, what we’re implementing scheme-wise, I probably get 10-15 text messages that usually leads to a couple calls every evening (from Marcelin). Jeremiah was that detailed, wanting to know the ins and outs of everything.”

Manalac said Marcelin and Braylan Lovelace (Leechburg) are competing at middle linebacker.

“We’re going to need both of them,” the coach said.

An injury will keep linebacker Rasheem Biles on the sideline, and All-American linebacker Kyle Louis also won’t get extensive playing time as coach Pat Narduzzi tries to keep his best players upright.

But Manalac said he likes how both players have worked this spring.

“They want to be the best in the world,” he said. “They’re competing with each other. They’re competing every day. Those guys are in there early watching film, bringing guys with them. It’s not hard to keep those guys motivated. They want to be great.”

Note: Others sitting out Saturday will be cornerback Rashad Battle, center Ryan Carretta and wide receivers C.J. Lee, Deuce Spann and Poppi Williams.