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Pitt receivers coach JJ Laster met the media this week to talk about the receivers, how they've done blocking in the run game, the plays they're making and a lot more. Here's video and a full rundown of everything he said. 245 rushing yards the other day. How much did you feel like the guys in your room contributed to that? Laster: Well, you know, it's a team effort. I tell my guys all the time: O-line, they block for first downs; wide receivers, they block for touchdowns. So that touchdown block, you know, we're being able to dominate on the perimeter and things like that. So, you know, it's a team sport. Everybody did a great job. The O-line, the running backs, tight ends, everybody contributed to those rushing yards. So we all did a great job. What are the keys as a wide receiver to being good at blocking? What does it come down to? What are the attributes you try to look for and teach your guys just to become good at blocking on the outside? Laster: First thing, you know, in that receiver room, you've got to want to. So we try to hang our hat on to being able to be physical and dominate the perimeter. The attributes that you have to have - you got to be tough, you have to be able to be tough and do the dirty work, sticking your face in there, get your hand placement right and finishing blocks. Like I tell my guys all the time, we want to dominate the perimeter and we want to finish blocks. So that's what the key is for us to work on. What's the strength that you think you guys have shown the most as a room and what's the thing that you guys haven't shown yet that you think is going to be really exciting? Laster: You know, obviously we can create some explosive plays and things like that, but we haven't had a chance to be able to, you know, catch it and run with it, you know what I mean? Little things like that. Creating YAC, that's another thing that we try to hone in on because we got a lot of twitchy guys, guys that, you know, can catch it and get vertical and different things like that. So, hopefully going on in the season, we'll be able to showcase those attributes as well. Who's been the fastest in your room this year? Laster: Right now, Malik Knight. You know, he has that long speed. He can run, but also Blue Hicks, he can also take the top off as well. So all those guys, you know, they're pretty fast, pretty twitchy. Those are the type of guys that we want. But the two guys that separates themselves is, you know, Malik Knight and Blue Hicks. In that week one game, Blue had a tough drop on what could have been a touchdown, but then he also rebounded with that crazy catch and tiptoed on the sideline to score later. How did you see him deal with adversity and respond to those types of moments? Laster: Well, he's a tough kid. The kid's been through a lot with his background and everything, so I could be able to get on him harder than I can some other guys just because of, the kid, the relationship that we have, but also the kid's been going through, you know, being from Miami, Florida, and different things like that. So just being able to hone in and push him and motivate him to understand that we can't have those drops. That's why I commend him and I'm proud of him being able to bounce back and going out and making a spectacular play that way. With the competition that comes and the talent that you have, are you kind of preaching that you want to see a guy step up and be that go-to guy? Obviously the yardage totals haven't highlighted that yet, but I'm sure you're encouraging, like, hey, we want one of you or multiple of you to go out and become a guy that Mason can go-to. Laster: Absolutely. I preach that every day. You know, the biggest word is consistency. Like, we've got to be consistent any time we step out on that field, whether you're blocking, whether you're running a route, or whatever it may be. So being consistent enough where Mason feels that he can trust you and know that, you know, 'If I get in a bad squeeze where I need to go ahead and just throw one up, I know and trust that this receiver's going to make that play.' So that's one of the things that we hone in on is making sure they're being more consistent day-to-day, whether it's blocking, whether it's running routes, different things like that. You mentioned consistency. The plays that Mason has made, especially the first three weeks when he has seen pressure, how do the receivers adjust to that on plays like that, where he's maybe moving around and bouncing off a few defenders and then finally moving forward? Laster: Well, we preach don't give up on a play, because you never know. The way Mason can get out of a pocket and scramble around to make plays, we all tell our guys, you know, scramble, get around, get your eyes around and don't give up on plays, because you just never know whenever it's going to be that one play that can help change the game for us. And that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to be game-changers, going out there and change the game. What's Bryce Yates done to develop and put himself in a position this season where he's becoming more of a contributor? Laster: Bryce is a great player. He's a guy that I trust. He's a guy - I've got to get him on the field more, just because of, you know, the way he carries himself, the way he goes over the plays, but also he never shies away of the moment. You know, he made a big third-down catch, and I always tell him, 'Bryce, I trust you. I know you're going to make a play.' So I'm just happy and proud of the way he gets himself ready for the games, the way he goes out there and compete. And like I said, he never, the moment's never too big for him. He always ready, and the sky's the limit for him. I'm proud of him. Bryce and CJ both play a lot in the slot. If you want those guys to be together, do you have a preference of one you would prefer to have in the slot, one out wide? Laster: No. It just all depends on timing and, you know, are we up, are we down, what are we calling, what personnel and different things like that. So I trust both of those guys. I know those guys are ready. I know those guys are game-changers, and I know those guys will go out there and play. So it doesn't matter who's in there first or who's in there second. I know those guys are going to be ready to play. Demetrice McCray got a lot of snaps on Thursday night. You know, how have you seen him develop, and what do you see kind of coming for him this season? Laster: Well, Demetrice, all camp, he had a great camp, great fall camp, making plays, making tough catches and different things like that. You know, as the season's started, he's been putting more time in in the classroom, staying up here late, going over plays and different things like that. So it makes it easier for me to put him out there because now I trust him and know that he can go out there and help us win. You know, last game he was able to get 20 snaps against Syracuse. So that was good to see him. But the more he continues to put in work in the classroom, put in work out on the field, the more reps he's going to be able to get. So he's just got to continue to keep taking care of his business on and off the field and the sky's the limit for him as well. Do you look with him, do you try to look for maybe extra opportunities for him to catch passes from Mason so they can get that timing and kind of get in sync with each other? Laster: Not really. I just let him roll. You know, we do have some different touches where we can get in the ball so, you know, they can be able to get a connection and everything like that. But, you know, not with Meat Shop; he just go out there and go play. And that's one of his nicknames is Meat Shop. We like him because he say she's always open. But, you know, I just love that kid. I love the way he works. And the sky's the limit for him as well. We were talking about the run blocking earlier. I think he had a big block on one of La'Vell's runs. You don't always see that of a freshman, right, who's ready to stick his nose in there. What does that say about him? Laster: He's a physical player, man, whether it's running a route at the top of your route or even blocking, you know, he does a great job of that. And like you said, we always talk about, you know, dominating the perimeter, winning our one-on-one battle, whether it's running a route or whether it's blocking. So we always preach winning that one-on-one battle regardless of the ball coming our way or not. So he's doing everything we ask him to do.