Aug. 11, 2007

Coach Wannstedt Saturday (8/11) News Brief
Highlights of the First Day in Full Pads
Watch Player Interviews

PITTSBURGH -

Dave Wannstedt
Training Camp Day 5
August 11, 2007

First Day with Full Pads:
We saw some very encouraging things and then some things that take you back to square one. The encouraging thing was the effort and the performance from some guys, who I think, will have a chance to help us - LeSean McCoy, Aundre Wright and Tommie Duhart. We might get some starts from a few of the newcomers. The discouraging thing was the penalties. We had quarterback exchange problems. To be practicing for four days and have that, it is ridiculous. We have some new kids and the center position is somewhat new to John Bachman and Greg Gaskins but after this many practices, we should not put the ball on the ground. That takes the wind out of your sails when you make a nice run or a great play on defense and then all the sudden you get in there and fumble the snap. Those are things you work on in junior high, not college. We are going back to the basics because we have to get those things corrected. We have to make sure we take care of the little things first.

On The Battle at Running Back:
Shariff Harris is more explosive and might be the strongest of all the backs we have. I thought Conredge Collins did some nice things. He can come out and make some plays. He is off to a good start. He is more mature, in better shape and he is hungrier.

On Depth at Tailback:
For the first time, we have a few guys back there. We are going to have to run the ball so that is a good thing. We have to go through the offensive line. It will take a couple days. Skill spots, you can form somewhat of an opinion before they put the pads on, but with the offensive line, it takes a couple days.

On LeSean McCoy's Performance:
I thought he did a nice job. That was a good start.

On Darrell Strong:
Darrell Strong did a nice job. Nate Byham did a good job too. Tight ends should be a position of strength for us. I think with Darrell Strong we wait and see. We keep giving him opportunities and he is working hard. Now it needs to happen. He has three months left as a Pitt Panther and he needs to decide what to do.

On Derek Kinder's Injury:
Derek Kinder did get hurt today. I am not sure to what degree. It was a non-contact injury. He caught the ball, made a cut and he is getting X-rays right now. It is his knee.

On Bill Stull's Injury from Friday:
He wanted to go (full strength) today. He got a few stitches on the top of his thumb and he put a glove on. We just thought that if he went out there and threw today and banged it taking a snap, it would set him back. Tomorrow we will see how it is. If it were up to Billy, he would have gone. We wanted to give him a day for it to calm down.

On Maurice Williams:
He can do a lot of things. I think the thing that impresses me most is that today, he gets hit early and his hand swells up. He goes in to get it X-rayed and it is not broken. He comes back out and puts ice on it for 20 minutes and then makes three plays at the end of practice. That is very unusual for any player. What's encouraging about that is that he is a freshman. More than his athletic ability, I just like his toughness.

On Pat Bostick:
I have not spoken to him (today), but we have had contact with his dad. Rob Blanc has had a conversation with them just to follow up and make sure everything is okay. We are just going off what his dad says and what the kid says and expect him back here in the very near future. When, how, what - I am not sure.

On C.J. Davis:
C.J. got a little burner today. He came out for about 10 minutes and then went back in.

Coach Wannstedt Saturday (8/11) News Brief Highlights of the First Day in Full Pads Coach Wannstedt Day 4 News Brief Coach Wannstedt Day 3 Morning Brief Coach Wannstedt Day 3 Afternoon Brief Coach Hill Training Camp Remarks Coach Ball Talks About Thatcher and Phillips Coach Gattuso on the Defensive Line and More

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