This is the final week for spring football so I'll continue to answer questions through the weekend and then finish up on Monday or Tuesday with a Q&A to wrap up the spring and look ahead to the fall. Keep the questions rolling in over the summer and we'll get started again in early August. And a quick summary of my thoughts from what I've seen probably are best captured in this story I wrote for Monday's paper -- -- And just to add to what I wrote - I wouldn't worry too much about the quarterback situation as I believe it will get resolved and the Panthers will be good enough at that position to win. It is just a matter of finding the right fit and the right balance between the starter and how much they use the special packages to take advantage of the talents of Greg Cross. The offensive line, well, I have to wait until all the pieces are in place in order to have a better feel for it but so far, I'd say it is an area of concern.

Q: Given the state of the offensive lines depth, do you think the coaching staff can afford to be lenient on the injured veterans during camp in order to have a capable line for the season?

Andre Cummings, Greensboro, NC

ZEISE: C.J. Davis and Jason Pinkston are coming off surgery, so neither of them are really ready for full-contact drills. Both are doing as much as they can, but I would say given the state of the offensive line - the LAST thing you can afford to do is lose a starter during the spring. And in the long run, it might pay off because they younger guys are getting a lot of reps and a lot of individual coaching and opportunities to learn and improve their techniques. And while Pinkston is not very experienced and could use a lot of work, Davis is a three-year starter so he'll be fine come the fall.

Q: I have not read much this spring about Shane Brooks, Kevin Collier, Tony Tucker and Myles Caragein but anticipate they will be in or close to the 2 deep; can you provide some insight as to their performance this spring and where you see them falling on the depth chart this fall?

Thomas Link, Pittsburgh

ZEISE: Shane Brooks is the back-up fullback like he was last year and actually has been serving as the starter because Conredge Collins is out with an injury. Collins will be back by training camp so Brooks will return to his back-up role. Kevin Collier is battling Shariff Harris for the third tailback spot behind LeSean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling. Tony Tucker is the fourth defensive end right now which means he'll be in the rotation in the fall and he's in line for steady playing time. Myles Caragein is probably still a third-string guy because the defensive tackle position is so deep, but he's only a redshirt freshman and coaches think he has a big future because he is very talented. It really is an ideal situation for Caragein because he's not going to have to be a playmaker this year while he is still learning and growing and getting stronger - and he'll have three seasons to compete for a starting job.

Q: Why are you trying to sugarcoat the fact that some Pitt players got in trouble? Had they been Penn State players, you'd have written big stories about them. And don't you find it odd that a nobody reserve safety is kicked off the team while the starting tackle is "still being investigated."

George Jones, Bellefonte, Pa.

ZEISE: What have I sugarcoated? All I did was report the facts. And what have I ever written about Penn State's troubles? I'm not sure I've written word one about any of the incidents involved with that team, in fact, because I don't cover Penn State. Further, every situation is comparable and speaking only on the case of the two Pitt players in question - Sherod Murdock and Jason Pinkston -- no charges have been filed by the police. They might ultimately be filed, but they have not yet. So there is nothing to sugarcoat about any of it and coaches have taken appropriate action given the set of facts presented to them. All of these situations need to be handled by reporters delicately, particularly when there is not a police report involved because then you are reliant on second-hand information and speculation and if you get it wrong you open yourself to a lawsuit. Believe me, if I thought the Pitt coaching staff didn't act appropriately based on what I know about both incidents, I'd be writing about it.