The Pitt Panthers will practice in full pads for the first time today, which means when they line up it will provide the first real glimpse of the depth chart.

One luxury the Panthers had going into camp was that there were few positions with true competition for a starting job, so the main questions were who makes the two-deep and who is relegated to scout-team duty.

That's why, through the first four days of training camp, the coaches have moved some players to different positions and put the emphasis more on teaching techniques and installing schemes as opposed to getting the team prepared to play games.

Pitt has used a split-squad format (one group in the morning, the other in the afternoon) in order to maximize the amount of individual and small-group instruction each player receives and give every player as many repetitions as possible.

But now that they are going in pads and at full speed, coaches will try to solidify the depth chart and build chemistry among the starting units as they look towards the opener against Bowling Green Aug. 30.

"Honestly, we'll work that out," offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh said of the depth chart after practice yesterday.

"We'll come together and discuss our ideas, and I'm sure there will be a little bit of juggling ... but the advantage of these four days is everybody gets all the reps.

The offensive staff will have some tough decisions to make, particularly about the line.

The starters at the three inside positions will be left guard C.J. Davis, center Robb Houser and right guard John Malecki, but the two tackle spots are not locked up.

That's because the most talented tackle -- and the guy coaches desperately want to see win a starting job -- Jason Pinkston fell behind because he missed so much time with a shoulder injury and other issues.

Pinkston likely will win a starting job eventually, but he has been battling to unseat either Joe Thomas or Jordan Gibbs, and Cavanaugh said he faces an uphill battle.

"He is a guy who last year was slated as a starter and started a few games before his shoulder injury took him out of the lineup and he had to sit out," Cavanaugh said of Pinkston.

"He is a little behind the eight ball because he missed so much time and wasn't able to practice all spring, but I think he gets the message right now that he is working with the second unit and he has to work his way up to that first unit.

"Ideally, he'll come on and start dominating people like he can and get back into the starting lineup."

The rest of the offensive lineup seems fairly settled as Bill Stull has won the quarterback competition and most other positions are filled by veterans.

On defense, the two battles for starting jobs are at corner, where Buddy Jackson and Jovani Chappel are dueling, and safety, where Dom DeCicco is competing with Elijah Fields.

At this point, Chappel and DeCicco appear to be solidly in the lead.

The competition for one defensive end spot could have been intense as sophomore Jabaal Sheard tried to unseat redshirt junior Doug Fulmer, but Fulmer has not recovered from his knee injury and has not been able to practice while Sheard has had an impressive start.

Pitt will practice in full pads today, tomorrow and Monday. The first scrimmage . will be held Tuesday afternoon, and the results of that scrimmage will play a major role in formulating the depth chart.

NOTES -- Pitt received a verbal commitment from Carl Fleming, a 6-foot-1 safety from Reisterstown, Md., yesterday. Fleming was on campus during an unofficial visit, watched Pitt's afternoon practice, then committed to the Panthers. He is the eighth recruit for next year. Fleming, also had offers from Connecticut, Buffalo, Delaware and Eastern Michigan, has been recruited as an athlete but likely will be a cornerback or safety. ... Fulmer (knee) and wide receiver Derek Kinder (knee) sat out of practice for the fourth day, but receiver TJ Porter (turf toe) returned and participated in live drills. ... One freshman who stood out yesterday was former Central Catholic standout quarterback Tino Sunseri, who threw a perfect strike to Nate Byham for a touchdown in team drills.