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Two days until kick-off and I still have a lot of questions about this Pitt team. I know the coaching staff is cautiously optimistic and the players seem to be very confident but I have to be honest, this is one of the most interesting years I have been on the beat. This team can be really good or really bad and anything in-between, depending on what happens with just a few positions. I can't remember the last time I went into a season without at least a good idea of how it is going to turn out. But I could make a solid argument that this team will win nine games and a solid argument that it will win only four. But as has been often said "that's why the play the games," so it is time to let the games begin.

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Q: Since it has been made clear that Dave Wannstedt is not on the hot seat, is Paul Rhoads at least on the hot seat? I mean, if the defense were to fail again, would the university at least force some sort of a shake up?

Jon Fetrow, Reading, Pa.

Zeise: Yes Rhoads is on the hot seat, as is the rest of the coaching staff. That is how these things happen -- the first step towards making a wholesale head coach change is to force a guy to change his staff. Wannstedt is clearly nowhere close to the danger zone, but if the defense doesn't show some signs of marked improvement someone on that staff will have to go and Rhoads would be the obvious choice. There is no way you could justify keeping him around, particularly if you are going to try and make the pitch to your fans that they must have patience with Wannstedt.

Greg Schiano, if you remember, was a bad season -- or even mediocre season -- away from a pink slip and thus he fired his defensive coordinator before the 2005 season and took over the defense and the rest is history. I think it is very telling that Rhoads got handed over the keys to the linebackers this year and thus it is all riding on his shoulders with nobody else to pass the buck to now since that group is a part of the run and pass defense. The linebackers, to a man, say they loved the move because they all think very highly of coach Rhoads. Frankly, he is very well respected and regarded as a good football coach but at some point he must produce results. If the defense improves, he'll be fine; if it doesn't, if WVU is putting up 50 points and 600 yards again he could be in big trouble.

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Q: Even though Wannstedt is not on the hot seat, do you think a loss to Eastern Michigan would at least turn the stove on underneath him?

Mike Heywood, Duquesne

Zeise: I think this whole idea of a hot seat is a concept that is misunderstood. Dave Wannstedt's job is not in trouble and if the team shows some signs of progress and is .500 or a little better, he'll be fine. Even 5-7 he'd be in no danger, though I'm sure some of the support he has from up on the hill over there in Oakland would start to erode. Now, if the team comes out and totally falls apart and it becomes a 2-10 season, then yes, he'd clearly be on the hot seat and need to win big in 2008 to survive to see 2009. If that happens -- the wheels fall off -- some of his staff would have to take the fall and the pressure to turn it around next year would be tremendous while the margin of error would be slim to none.

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Q: What happened to Joe Thomas, promising young tackle from Ohio that we heard so much about? I've heard nothing about him this year. Is he hurt or did he just get beat out by Jeff Otah and Jason Pinkston?

James Fullen, Beaver Falls

Zeise: Joe Thomas started at right guard for the final seven games of last season and he is the starting right guard again this year. He is going to be an excellent player and a fixture on the Panthers offensive line for the next three seasons. He has certainly been every bit as good as advertised and if he stays healthy he'll finish his career with roughly 45 starts. He is doing fine.