As Pitt's spring football practice ends today with the annual Blue-Gold game, there are more questions than answers about the Panthers.

	Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Tyler Palko rolls out during the start of spring football practice at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side. Click photo for larger image.

That's not a surprise, considering how many key players were out because of injuries or participated in only light drills for a variety of reasons.

Pitt has at least eight vacant starting spots on offense and between four and six on defense. There also will be competition for the place-kicking duties and a new punter. Beyond that, coach Walt Harris' major rebuilding project also will feature countless freshman and sophomores vying for key backup spots.

But almost no positions have been won and few, if any, major advantages were gained this spring.

Take for instance the quarterback derby between sophomores Luke Getsy and Tyler Palko.

They have been engaged in an intense battle for the starting job vacated by Rod Rutherford. Coaches have had a chance to watch them perform, but both have spent most of their time running for their lives behind a patchwork and painfully inadequate offensive line.

"It is very hard to get anything done when you don't even drop back before you are already being chased out of the pocket," Harris said. "So it is hard to say either guy got a fair chance because we've had so many linemen miss time that we couldn't get anything going. That being said Tyler has done some good things this spring, and I thought Luke was very competitive last week when we scrimmaged.

"We've gotten a chance to watch them in 7-on-7 and 1-on-1 drills, but those evaluations have only so much value because that's not how the game is played."

The offensive line has been an area of major concern all spring. Not only has it been difficult to evaluate the offense because of the line's shortcomings, but it also has been almost impossible to evaluate the kickers because a majority of their field-goal attempts have been blocked. And while the defense has looked great at times, it might have looked that way because the offense was so inept.

Meanwhile, the list of injured players seemed to grow each day.

Starting left tackle Rob Petitti, a first-team all-Big East selection and likely preseason All-American, missed the entire spring with a shoulder injury. Center Justin Belarski has been out with a foot injury, and Matt Maiers, expected to be in the hunt for the starting job at left guard, also has missed time.

And the offensive line's depth was further depleted when tackle Jason Capizzi and guard Zach Slates, both expected to push for starting jobs, transferred.

Harris was asked if there were 10 healthy linemen to divide into two teams for the spring game today, and his reply spoke volumes of the Panthers' plight.

"We'll have ten bodies," Harris said. "I'm not sure all of them would necessarily qualify as linemen for various reasons, but we'll have enough guys to play the game."

Other key players who have not participated in spring drills or won't participate today are freshman receiver Greg Lee, senior receiver Princell Brockenbrough, running back Marcus Furman and senior defensive tackles Charles Spencer and Dan Stephens.

But some young players have taken advantage of the absences to make a good impression.

For example, redshirt freshman tackle Mike McGlynn, who would have opened the spring as the backup right tackle had Petitti been healthy, played left tackle all spring and might have played his way into the starting lineup at right tackle ahead of junior Dale Williams.

Overall, Harris has been impressed with his defense. He said the defensive line seems to be getting off the ball quicker and stronger and the linebackers and secondary have been solid as well.

The Panthers, however, lack experience, particularly at cornerback, so Harrisis reserving final judgment until fall.

"We have some talent, and I like the athleticism we have in the secondary," he said. "I think we have a lot of guys who love to play football, who want to play football and who are all coming along.

"But it is all inexperienced talent so we need to hope they all have a great summer and come back ready to compete at a higher level."