Panthers observations: Pitt's Pat Narduzzi expects Saturday scrimmage to 'tell us a lot'

Pitt will close out its second week of practice Saturday when the Panthers line up on the Beano Cooks Fields for the first intra-squad scrimmage of the summer.

“That will tell us a lot about what we have,” coach Pat Narduzzi said.

The second scrimmage is scheduled for Aug. 18 at Acrisure Stadium. The opener is Aug. 31 against Kent State at Acrisure.

Pitt’s home stadium is unavailable Saturday because of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason game Friday night.

Here are a few of the positions that will be under scrutiny:

• Cornerback, especially Ryland Gandy, the sophomore from Buford, Ga., has played well in camp by all accounts and appears to be in line for a starting job.

Gandy has been “steady through the process,” Narduzzi said. “He does his job. He’s trying to take over a new position of need, and he has continued to be consistent in what he does.”

• Special teams, especially incumbent punter Caleb Junko. Narduzzi said Junko “has been really good.”

“Every once in a while he’s going to miss his drops. He’s got a way of keeping those guys rolling and keeping them confident.”

Narduzzi said he told wide receiver/kick returner Kenny Johnson that he believes Pitt’s return game will be much improved. (Even though Johnson returned a kickoff 100 yards, tied for the longest in the FBS last season.)

The coach said there are some “little tweekings” special teams coach Jacob Bronowski has made to the unit.

Narduzzi said he has looked at the changes, which he didn’t identify, and said, “That makes a lot of sense. Why weren’t we doing that before? There are some special things that coach Bro is doing that I’m really excited about. I love our special teams meetings.”

Sophomore Rasheem Biles, who blocked three punts last year, likes the changes.

“This year, we’re really starting to teach it. Coach Bro is teaching the fundamentals of it,” Biles said. “Everything he brought to the team changed the culture of special teams. Everybody wants to be on special teams now because it’s fun. You get to make plays.”

Meanwhile, kicker Ben Sauls has been “excellent,” according to Narduzzi.

“He’s missed two, I think. Both of them have been ones when his plant foot slipped, once on the turf, once on the grass. I’m not sure he’s missed outside of that. He’s been as good as I’ve seen any kicker go through camp.”

Punt returns are currently handled by wide receiver Konata Mumpfield after M.J. Devonshire has moved on to the NFL.

• Running back and wide receiver where Narduzzi expects “multiple” players to contribute.

“Without question, with the tempo,” he said.

Running backs coach Lindsey Lamar is planning to get at least four backs — Rodney Hammond, Desmond Reid, Derrick Davis and Daniel Carter — on the field at different times.

Ball security drills on the penultimate day of the first full week of Pitt summer training camp. Scrimmage coming up Saturday. pic.twitter.com/JGkxUZnDq7

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 9, 2024