Submit your Pitt football question

Spring football is here and it is in full swing but since I had some basketball responsibilities, I didn't get to see the first couple of practices. That is why I waited a week to get started with the Q&A. I now have seen the team practice a number of times, watched them scrimmage and talked to the coaches so I have a very good feel for what this team has to offer.

In general, spring football is more of a dog and pony show than anything because any player that is counted on to be a starter is going to be held back some -- so the younger guys can get reps and also to avoid costly injuries -- and anyone that is injured even a little is going to be held out all together.

That being said, several players have really stood out to me. Jason Pinkston, for one, can become a standout tackle. He has really jumped out among linemen and his athleticism and strength are easy to see.

Shane Brooks seems to be running harder and seems a little quicker as well -- he could be a factor in the backfield, particularly since he is also getting reps at fullback.

T.J. Porter and Darrell Strong both seem to have decided it was time to try to maximize their potential and both have had an excellent run thus far in the spring.

Marcel Pestano looks like he might become a star and Derek Kinder just keeps getting better as well. Corner Aaron Berry is feisty and physical and more importantly an excellent shut down corner.

A lot of people have talked about Greg Romeus's talent and there is no doubt about it -- he is physically one of the most gifted defensive linemen I've seen in a Pitt uniform, perhaps since the 1980's. That being said, he is still very small and he still needs to work on his technique and learn how to play in order to be effective.

That is my early impression so start sending me questions and I'll continue to give you my thoughts every Friday for the next three weeks.

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Q: Do you think keeping on staff and then moving Paul Rhoads from secondary to linebacker coach is a good move or not? Do you think Paul Rhoads likes the move?

Dave Y., Hawley, Pa.

ZEISE: The move gives Paul Rhoads a chance to be involved more in the run defense as well as the pass defense. This is the model that Dave Wannstedt has used ever since he has been a head coach or coordinator and everyone on the staff seems more comfortable with it. This has enabled Wannstedt to hire Chris Ball as secondary coach, and I think he has been tremendous for this team. And talking to the players and watching some of the things he's been working with the players on, he is going to be a major asset. I have talked to a number of coaches and all of them tell me the same thing -- Rhoads is an excellent football coach.

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Q: Do you agree with the move of Dorin Dickerson to linebacker and do you think this will be his permanent position?

Matthew Hamerski, West Chester, Pa.

ZEISE: I agree with it only because I don't see how he could break into the lineup any other way, especially if LeSean McCoy is as good as advertised. That's not meant to rip Dorin -- it is actually praising the depth and talent the Panthers have begun to stockpile at both running back and receiver. If McCoy isn't capable of taking a big part of the tailback load this year or if he doesn't make it for whatever reason -- then maybe there is an opening for Dickerson at tailback.

Linebacker is wide open -- I'm not sure anyone has a spot nailed down right now and with Dorin's size and athleticism, if he learns his assignments and the defense quickly I'm thinking he has to be a serious contender for a starting spot. This is clearly his best chance to play.

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Q: Is John Simonitis going to be awarded a sixth year?

Dan Polinsky, Camp Hill, Pa.

ZEISE: No, his appeal was denied which means his Pitt career is officially over.

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Q: How badly will Pitt miss the three players that were suspended, especially if they don't return?

Mark Schilajew, Huntingdon, Pa.

ZEISE: Tommie Campbell had potential but his off-field nonsense grew tiresome and really became a distraction. Here is a guy that runs a 4.3 40 and couldn't beat out Brian Bennett, a guy who was a warrior but because of so many surgeries and injuries and knee problems, probably ran about a 5.3 40. The bottom line is Campbell might have been able to help the team if he were committed, but his attitude was poor, his work ethic was worse and he never seemed like he really cared enough to improve himself. Corey Davis was probably at the back end of the pack -- and would have moved further back with some of the new kids coming in -- at defensive tackle and like Campbell, he never really maximized his potential.

Elijah Fields already has returned from his suspension. He is another one who needs to decide this -- does he want to be a great one (and clearly he has the ability to be special) or does he want to be just another guy with loads of potential who 20 years from now is telling stories about what could have been.

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Q: Why is Pitt's football team so bad every year?

Evan Birchfield, Waynesville, N.C.

ZEISE: Well let's see they went to five bowl games in a row, then they spent the past two years hovering around .500 while they reload with a new coaching staff. Clearly they haven't been USC but they haven't been Temple, either. I've said this before and I'll say it again -- wait until after the 2008 season to make your judgments on this coaching staff. By then it will be fair to judge them. I am of the opinion that this team will be better in 2007 than most people expect, but I'll touch on that at a later date. Still, they will be awfully young.

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Q: When is the spring game?

Hayes Clark, Philadelphia

ZEISE: It is Saturday, April 14th -- I think it is going to be at Heinz Field, probably around 1:00 in the afternoon, but nothing official has been announced yet about the site and time.

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Q: Who do you think is the front runner for the quarterback job?

Scott Byrom, McKees Rocks

ZEISE: Well, based on what I have seen Stull is ahead of Kevan Smith. But I am of the opinion that it won't really begin until Pat Bostick is in camp and frankly, I really believe if Bostick grasps the offense quickly and shows he can be effective moving the team and making good decisions, it will be his job to lose. That's just what I've deduced from conversations I've had and observations.

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Q: There are three top 100 recruits in Western Pennsylvania -- Terrelle Pryor (Jeannette), Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa) and David Posluszny (Hopewell) -- what are Pitt's chances of getting them?

Pat Perri, Bakersfield, Calif.

ZEISE: Don't forget Gateway's Shane Hale, Montour's Christian Wilson, Trinity's Andrew Sweat and Thomas Jefferson lineman Lucas Nix, who I think is Pitt's best shot at a top 100 recruit. In fact, I'll be shocked if Nix doesn't sign with Pitt.

Out of the other six blue chippers from this area that I just mentioned -- Pitt's best chance at getting one would be Baldwin, that is assuming he wants to play football. He is being advised to play football because it is his best shot, but he apparently likes basketball more right now.

From what I know they have a very slim chance at Pryor because he apparently wants to be close to home (though Columbus is only about 2 1/2 hours away and I hear that is where he is likely headed), but Pitt has no shot at Posluszny (likely Penn State or Notre Dame), no shot at Hale (likely Big Ten, and I've heard Michigan is his front runner) and Sweat is also looking more and more like he will be a Buckeye before it is all said and done.

In short, I would be shocked if Pitt landed more than two out of these seven. If they bring home more than that, it would be an unbelievable recruiting win for Dave Wannstedt.

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Q: What do you think the offense will be like this upcoming season?

David Werner, Millis, Mass.

ZEISE: This offense has the chance -- if the quarterback is capable of making the throws and running the show with any level of competence -- to be the best one Pitt's had in a long time because of its balance. I think the offensive line has continued to improve in Wannstedt's two years and if John Bachman can step in at center and play the way coaches think he can, it should be the best line Pitt's had since the 2002 group. The tight ends are going to be very good, even if Darrell Strong isn't as focused as he needs to be. Nate Byham should take the next step, and John Pelusi is an excellent blocker. The receivers are outstanding.

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Q: Can you please tell me what MBA genius in Pitt's marketing department devised these new season ticket policies? Basically I have had season tickets since 1973, and I have been rewarded by having to pay twice as much as new season ticket holders!

Dave D'Antonio, West Mifflin

ZEISE: I'm guessing you got a look at the new season ticket plan. If you are a new season-ticket holder you get one ticket for $199 and a second for $10. If you are a current season-ticket holder renewing, you still must pay $199 for each ticket. I understand your frustration with it and you feel like you are being taken advantage of and guess what -- you are.

Do you know why?

Because you are a fan that Pitt can count on. The same way a bank will give a new customer a toaster while you, who has been banking there for years, gets nothing. Pitt's biggest need is to grow its fan base, to get new fans and more fans into the building. There is only one way to do that, especially with this year's home schedule -- offer a discount and hope the new people like the product.

But Pitt still needs to pay the bills and that means it still has to make sure its tickets have value. That is a very sticky situation, but the university is hoping fans like you can "see the forest for the trees" so to speak and realize that bringing new fans will only help the program.

In short, your loyalty is to Pitt and you are going to buy tickets regardless if they are discounted or not and Pitt knows this. Pitt's problem, however, isn't its loyal fan base it is finding a way to grow its fan base so I don't blame them for trying to be creative in their marketing strategies. Ultimately the Panthers need to start winning, but short of that, how else do you expect them to sell tickets?

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Q: Do you think the new ticket plan will cause a spike in season ticket sales? And do you think the Big East might rotate Pitt's marquee opponents Rutgers, West Virginia or Louisville so that at least one of them is coming to town every year?

Ron Anderson, Lincoln, Neb.

ZEISE: I do not know if there will be a spike, but if Pitt can just maintain the same levels as the last few years until the Panthers start winning again, that would be a moral victory for the marketing people I think. And to answer your second question -- outside of West Virginia -- who is to say what game will be Pitt's marquee match ups in five years? Louisville and Rutgers could stink and South Florida and Syracuse could be the top two teams in the conference. So really, there is no reason to rotate opponents -- this just happens to be a bad cycle for Pitt because the two good teams, along with Pitt's biggest rival, are all in the same home-away rotation right now.