Matt Freed, Post-Gazette LaRod Stephens-Howling has had a strong spring for Pitt but still will have a lot of competition in the fall at running back. Click photo for larger image. Springflings Pitt When: 1 p.m. today Where: Heinz Field Tickets: Admission is $5. Students with ID admitted free. TV: FSN Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. April 22 and April 26 (tape delay). West Virginia When: 12:30 p.m. today Where: Mountaineer Field Tickets: Admission is $5. Students with ID admitted free. TV: 4 p.m. ESPNU (tape delay)

Pitt will finish spring drills today with the annual Blue-Gold spring football game at Heinz Field.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said the spring has been productive and that the Panthers have improved greatly over the past month. But, while most spring games are geared towards pleasing crowds, Wannstedt is more interested in finishing up strong with a good day of practice.

That's why the format for the game will be more like a scrimmage than an actual game. The Panthers won't break up into two teams. Instead, the first-team offense will work against the first-team defense and the second and third teams will work against each other.

"I think it is important for us to go best against best," Wannstedt said. "You only have 15 days of practice, and we need to take full advantage of every one. I'm just hoping we can make a few plays [today]. Whether it is a big play in the passing game, or Darrelle Revis making an interception or Clint Session making a big tackle -- we just need to make some plays."

Although the Blue-Gold game won't be an actual game, there are still plenty of things to watch.

There is an intense competition at all four of the defensive line positions, and several players have had an outstanding spring. One such player is Doug Fulmer, a redshirt freshman defensive end who has forged his way into contention for a starting job.

He is quick off the ball, tall, has great football instincts. The coaches are excited about his future. He is still a little light -- he weighs about 220 pounds -- but he has a good frame to add weight to, and coaches believe he has the potential to become a dominant player.

Session, who has had his best month of football since he arrived, is ultra-athletic and has always been a fan favorite because of his flair for the big hit. But he has been plagued by inconsistency and often missed almost as many tackles as he has made. This spring, however, he has played consistently at a very high level.

True freshman cornerback Jovanni Chapel enrolled in January so he could get a head start on learning the defense. He is a physical corner, who seems to have grasped most of his assignments and will clearly be in the mix to replace Josh Lay.

The offense has struggled this spring, but that has a lot to do with the fact that the defensive line has gotten the better of the offensive line most days.

Running back LaRod Stephens-Howling has had an excellent spring, and freshmen Cedric McGee and Oderick Turner are big-play threats who are trying to overcome their inconsistency at wide receiver.

Fullback Conredge Collins already has shown he can be a big weapon catching passes out of the backfield as well as running in short-yardage situations, and tailback Shane Brooks, a Duquesne High School graduate, is pushing Stephens-Howling for playing time.

"I think we have some players who are going to be a lot of fun to watch and people will enjoy," Wannstedt said. "And we're going full speed, full contact, so it will in essence be just like a game, except, we're going to put them in different situations and move the football around the field to make sure we get a good practice in.

"We'll start out with some kicking drills and do some individual drill work, which fans always seem to appreciate, then get right into the scrimmage.

"It should be a great day, a great way to put an end to what I think has been a very good spring."