4-1-Zoo: News & Notes To Start Training Camp

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) -- Pitt training camp is underway and the team's depth chart is already starting to become clear.

Coach Todd Graham talked in length about position battles and his expectations throughout the team on both offense and defense. Here's a quick roster breakdown to get you prepared for what to watch for in training camp…

- Graham said he's happy with the conditioning level of the team. He said the players were able to get to the conditioning level of his team at Tulsa in just one year, which he said proves players are buying in to the system. Graham added that the team arrived and worked with a "big time sense of urgency," which has helped speed the process and learning curve along.

- Bryan Murphy will redshirt because he is academically ineligible. He'll join the transfers and other redshirts and work in practice. "There's no such thing as sitting out," Graham said.

- Brandon Lindsey will show a couple different looks on defense at the line of scrimmage. When Pitt is in the 3-4, he'll be standing up — the 'Panther' position. When Pitt goes to a 4-3, Lindsey will be a down lineman as a defensive end. Lindsey says he feels stronger and faster than he's ever been. Graham wants to use Lindsey against opposing team's weaknesses so that he can attack and penetrate the backfield to force turnovers and losses of yardage. So if there's a weaker player on the right side of the opposition's offense line, Lindsey will be implemented on that side, and vice versa. Graham wants all his defensive players to fit and feel comfortable in different schemes/positions.

- Kevin Adams will switch from outside linebacker to the 3-back, which is a halfback in Graham's offense. A redshirt sophomore, Adams will add a little more experience to the backfield, although he's not experienced at that specific position. Behind starter Ray Graham at running back is fifth-year senior Zach Brown as the only other back with college experience.

- Linebacker Dan Mason and fullback Derrick Burns are both still out as they recover from injuries. Both are attempting to return to camp but are not cleared to practice with the team.

- Wide Receiver Brendon Felder's NCAA waiver was denied and he is not in camp.

- Incoming freshman Steve Williams had surgery and will be out for the season with a redshirt.

- Trey Anderson is a walk-on quarterback and could fall in at that position in the depth chart. Pitt currently has three quarterbacks listed on its roster — Tino Sunseri, Mark Myers and Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez is suspended for the first two games of the season, though, leaving Pitt shorthanded at quarterback early on in the year. (I apologize if the spelling is wrong on Anderson's name. He's not yet listed on the Panthers' roster.)

- Graham said every position on the team will be up for competition, but he noted the offensive line as one in particular. He seems to like Jordan Gibbs and Lucas Nix on the outside. As for the interior, there are a lot of questions. Graham said Chris Jacobson could be a swing man depending on Ryan Turnley's performance in camp — if Turnley does well at center Jacobson will move to guard; if not, Jacobson can assume the center position as well.

- On the defensive line, Graham said as many as seven — possibly eight — men could see time in any particular game. That all starts with how Pitt chooses to approach the opponent — in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. Graham said he thinks the experience and overall quality of depth on the defensive line is the best on the team.

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Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Bl0g
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com