Over the past few weeks, Pitt safety Jordan Whitehead — who has moonlighted on offense in the Panthers’ past two games — has spent a little bit more time with running backs coach Andre Powell.
Powell joked Tuesday, that might not be a good thing.
“I tease, I say I coached him for seven minutes the first week, he scored two touchdowns [against Notre Dame],” Powell said. “Pretty good. This week, I must’ve coached him down, [because] he didn’t score.”
Powell said he and Whitehead usually spend about 15 minutes together before position meetings every day before Whitehead returns to his home in the defensive backs room.
While Whitehead appears to have added a new element to the offense with his speed and big-play ability over the past two weeks, Powell said the key is keeping things as simple as possible.
“He’s just a fast guy,” Powell said. “We try to get him the ball, put him in space and try not to overcook it. Just let him go.”
Whitehead agreed that learning even a simplified offensive playbook has been the most challenging part of his two-way experience. He has four rushes in each of Pitt’s past two games and occasionally has been used as a passing target, as well, though he has yet to record a reception.
“[It’s] a short week, quick couple of days, learning the plays and getting in on offense,” Whitehead said. “That’s probably the hardest part, remembering all that and then the defensive adjustments.”
Physically, Whitehead said he has put an extra emphasis these past few weeks on taking care of his body and getting in the training room when he needs to. Even small details like getting enough sleep — no small feat for a college student — can make a difference Saturdays.
“If you don’t take care of your car, you put bad gas and oil in it, you’re going to have a problem with it,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “He’s keeping his body fueled and maintaining the product.”
Whitehead also has taken a small step back in his role as the starting strong safety to help with the wear-and-tear, though he still estimated he played “probably like 95 percent” of Pitt’s defensive snaps Saturday in a 31-13 win at Duke.
“I was sore after the game just because it was after the game,” Whitehead said. “My body’s getting healthy again this week. I’ll just keep getting in the hot tub, getting treatment and I’ll be good.”
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NOTE — Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes expressed approval for the Steelers’ plans for a $10 million renovation to their South Side practice facility, which is shared with Pitt. Barnes noted that the Panthers will specifically benefit from a renovated hydrotherapy area, a new lobby, as well as an overall facelift to the indoor practice field.
“Absolutely, as [Steelers president] Art [Rooney] was looking at those renovations, he and I sat down and he walked me through what he was doing, and we looked at somewhere where we might partner,” Barnes said. “That’s what this is.”
Sam Werner: swerner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @SWernerPG.
First Published: November 18, 2015, 5:00 a.m.