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As promised, here is the final Q&A of the recruiting/offseason, though it seems as though the offseason won't end. As most of you know, Pitt lost another assistant coach - Charlie Partridge to Wisconsin - last week which means just as it seemed like the staff was full, Dave Wannstedt has to go find another assistant with special teams and defense experience. Other than that, the next phase is all of the new coaches will watch as much film as possible, the holdover coaches will also watch film and at some point, once they figure out who is healthy and who is going to need more time to get healthy, they will put together two depth charts - one that is a workable depth chart for spring football and then one that is, at least a rough sketch of what the depth chart might look like in the fall. Then it is on to finalizing the schedule for spring football, taking a few days to rest and before you know it, we'll all be back here discussing practice.

So keep the questions rolling in and we'll get started again with Pitt football Q&A's some time around March 20, depending on what the official first day of spring drills are.

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Q: Do you think it is really as simple as Pitt winning equates to reasonable attendance this year? And, by reasonable I mean 50 thousand fans at Heinz Field?

Eric Zybyk, East Liberty

ZEISE: Yes, I think when Pitt has had winning seasons and played big games, the place has been sold out, particularly recently. There were large crowds at the end of the 2004 season when it became clear that the games had a BCS berth riding on them. I think Pitt is going to do a good job of trying to market and sell tickets for the football season -- which will go on sale Sunday -- but the key is winning. Pitt has a decent schedule this year and a team that should be equipped to win, which means the crowds should be much better than they've been.

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Q: Do we read more into the various assistant coaches leaving this offseason, or is this just the nature of the business. I would have suspected previous years would have generated more offseason movement, but with the sudden positive outlook of the program, what gives with 5 coaches leaving?

Josh Newark, York, Pa.

ZEISE: There isn't much you can read into it - these things happen all the time because assistant coaches are generally nomadic and have to be if they want to continue to move up the chain and achieve their goal of becoming a coordinator or head coach. And guys have different reasons for leaving so when it comes to Pitt's staff. I think each individual situation was different. Paul Dunn was fired because the line struggled so much. Aubrey Hill went to Miami because of a personal family situation -- that is where he is from. Paul Rhoads went to Auburn because he knew he needed to make some kind of move if he ever wants to become a head coach. That was obviously a great situation for him - going to the SEC - and the $170,000 raise probably didn't hurt, either. Once Rhoads left it was only a matter of time before Partridge left to spread his wings as well. Charlie was Rhoads trusted sidekick (in fact, I'd expect Partridge would play a big role on Rhoads first staff if he ever gets a head coaching job). And it was always very clear that Chris Ball was a short-timer when he came in as he had been ready to and trying to make a move up the coaching chain for a long time and that's what he did. So really, collectively, yes, losing five coaches seems like a big deal but when you break down why each left, it is all just a part of life as assistant.

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Q: What do you think, best guess, the-2 deep looks like at receiver, given the WR's they brought in this class and some of the known talent that is returning with the likes of Porter, Williams, and Kinder. And how is Kinder recovering will he be part of spring ball?

Jon D., Oakland

ZEISE: I think it is very clear that the top three receivers will be Oderick Turner, Derek Kinder and T.J. Porter. Obviously Maurice Williams will be ready to step up and get a lot more time and Aundre Wright will become a big factor and Cedric McGee is still going to fill his role as the physical, steady, consistent guy. That tells me the three freshmen coming in have a long, hard fight to get onto the field.

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Q: Have you been able to see any film on Cross? Is he a QB that can run (McNabb, Culpepper) or a RB that can throw (Vick)? Do you get the impression he will be a gimmick QB or will he be a full time starter?

Also, any ideas on how the staff plans to use Saddler?

Jim Raible, Irwin, Pa.

ZEISE: Well if you are looking for video of Cross, check here.

And if you watch that video, you'll see he can throw the ball very well. Now, I do think he'll at least begin as a gimmick-type player but if he can throw the ball well and move the offense like it seems he can, it wouldn't shock me if he wins the job outright. I'm sure he has a long way to go to understand and learn the offense, especially given how well versed both Pat Bostick and Bill Stull know it and can run it, but his physical tools are impressive and if he can become a legitimate dual-threat in the conventional offense, obviously he is the kind of weapon Pitt coaches wouldn't want to take off the field. I'm sure we'll have a much better idea after spring drills. As for Saddler, I'd say he will definitely be a contender to start at both returner positions this year and if he wins them and he gets to play some, then he'll probably be used in other roles as a slotback and whatnot.

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Q: I don't like that we lost Stoudt-I thought he had the biggest cannon of the group. However, I think the junior college kid starts next year. What is your prediction?

Dante G., Darby, Pa.

ZEISE: I got out of the prediction business when it comes to the depth chart a long time ago because ultimately the beauty of football is that jobs are won and lost on the field. Coaches can tell you who they think will win the job and who they'd like to win the job, but until they get out on the field, you just never know. I think if you look at the way things played out last year and who is coming in and who is coming back I'd say this -- If Bill Stull is healthy, 100 percent, can grip a ball, etc., etc., -- then he and Pat Bostick would battle for the starting job. And like I said, Cross will be immediately be given some role and could earn a much larger one if he shows he can throw the ball and pick up the offense. I think it is clear Kevan Smith has to be considered a long shot at best and I don't see any scenario where Tino Sunseri will be the starter this year and if he is, that could be very bad news for the Panthers. Not because he is not a good player, but rather, because it means none of the veteran guys distinguished themselves. So in short, here is my unofficial handicapping of Pitt's opening starter odds: Bill Stull 3-to-1; Pat Bostick 3.5-to-1; Greg Cross 5-to-1; Kevan Smith 13-to-1; Tino Sunseri 38-to-1.

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Q: With Phil Bennett as the new defensive coordinator, do you see Pitt's D as being that attacking, aggressive unit we saw in the second half of last year, or is Bennett's more of a read and react philosophy? Also, is Dorin Dickerson staying at LB?

Sean Beighley, Shaler

ZEISE: From what I understand, Dickerson might be a tight end/H-back kind of player by the time spring football is over but a lot of that depends on how the depth chart shapes up at both positions and what position he seems to fit in best. So stay tuned on that one. As for Bennett, he has a very similar philosophy to Wannstedt -- play aggressive, be dominant and play physical, but try to generate most of your pressure with the front four. So I don't know if we'll see the kind of blitzing we saw in the WVU game but I do expect the defense to continue to be aggressive and get after quarterbacks because the defensive line is likely going to be the best in the Big East and certainly the best defensive line we've seen at Pitt in quite some time.