SRB: What is the status of the Greg Cross injury?

Paul Zeise: I don't think that it is serious. Dave Wannstedt said that he could have put him back into the game if he really needed to. It would seem like he will be able to play and I watched him throw around a little yesterday and he looked fine.

beerman0303: Any word on McKillop's NFL prospects from scouts or your personal opinion?

Paul Zeise: From what I gather, he seems to be a third round kind of guy at this point but that is very preliminary. Draft projections at this point are a little silly because (a) you have no idea who and how many underclassmen will apply and what positions they will play (obviously if 20 underclassmen linebackers declare for the draft it could change things) (b) none of these prospects have gone through physicals and timing tests and all of that and (c) you have no idea which top prospects will still be healthy come combine time. So a lot can change.

frustratedfan: Paul: This year's team is still an enigma to me. The South Fla. win was wonderful but I don"t think USF had their best outing and Pitt was certainly aided by some key penalty calls. I don't want to be negative, but am still not impressed. Your thoughts??

Paul Zeise: I think this team is doing what we thought it would do -- grind out wins and improve every week. There were a lot of new players coming into the season or players in new position but we also knew that Pitt had a lot of talent in a lot of areas. I think the Panthers are growing up before our eyes and I'd expect them to get better each game. Yes, South Florida didn't play its best game -- but neither did Pitt. The Panthers are a hard working team and they are a team that wants to get better so I'd say hang in there for a few more weeks before you write them off.

theWellHungarian: I couldn't help but notice last Thursday's night game the constant reference to how great the crowd was & on TV it did look & sound good, but then when the cameras did cutaways, you could see that the upper levels had been covered. I am a Pitt fan & alum and am embarrassed when I watch a home Pitt game on TV. It looks like a high school game. Why doesn't Pitt do the same thing USF did at their (NFL) stadium & close off the upper levels. With clever camera work, it would at least look like Pitt had a good crowd, rather than seeing a bunch of yellow seats.

Paul Zeise: I don't think this is an issue -- who cares what the crowd looks like. Just win some games and fans will come. I'm telling you this much -- teams that have to constantly brag about how many fans they have are losers because it isn't important. The Miami Hurricanes dominated football for about 15 years -- and they had a lot of empty seats on most nights when they weren't playing a big-time opponent. Pitt can sell tickets if the Panthers put a good product on the field that people are excited about. There is no reason to go to WNBA-like gimmicks to try and sell or at least create the illusion that you are selling, tickets.

JoePa_Fears_Pitt: How often will Baldwin be on the field against Navy?

Paul Zeise: I'm sure he will see a lot of playing time. He was on the field a lot against South Florida, who has a much better defense than Navy and he did just fine. I know it has been frustrating to some degree that he has had to work so hard to get on the field but I have to say it has been somewhat of a refreshing change for this coaching staff to make these guys prove they deserve to be on the field. Too often over the past few years certain freshmen were made promises during recruiting, were then thrown on the field and they weren't ready to play or they developed a sense of entitlement. Joe Thomas comes to mind -- how much would coaches and Thomas love to have that redshirt season he never got. So to me, although we'd all like to see Baldwin play a lot, at least he has been made to prove he deserves to belong there and I hope that is a model for every freshman from this point forward.

Homey: At what point do you think the Big East will add Central Florida? It seems necessary since the conference is the smallest numerically (in football), and could definitely use another Florida connection, with huge enrollment and a new stadium.

Paul Zeise: Central Florida? For what? What does that school add to the conference? I know that the school has made a commitment to getting better academically and athletically in order to try and make a case to receive an invitation but in talking to some of the people within the Big East, there is a feeling that they are not real sure what Central Florida adds. It doesn't add a recruiting area or a substantial television market (I mean, for goodness sakes UCF is probably at least the third choice for programming behind Florida and Florida State in Orlando), it isn't a top basketball program like Memphis -- I'm just not sure what it brings to the table. I understand the Big East probably needs a few more football teams but the conference presidents are consistent in saying they will only add teams if it makes the conference better -- and I'm not sure UCF makes the conference better -- though that C-3-PO-lookalike mascot thing riding on a horse would clearly be one of the better mascots in the Big East.

SRB: Is Shane Murray still nicked up or was Wanny truthful when he said it was just a nickel package issue?

Paul Zeise: I think Shane Murray isn't as healthy as they are letting on and it is clear he is struggling to get back to 100-hundred percent with his knee but Wannstedt wasn't lying -- Elijah Fields, Andrew Taglianetti, Antwuan Reed, Ricky Gary -- all of those guys were in the game a lot more than they will be for the rest of the season in what is called the bandit package -- basically a dime package. Pitt played almost exclusively that bandit package in the second half and Austin Ransom is a better fit for that role than Murray is because Ransom is a converted safety/receiver. Murray will continue to fight through this thing but I don't know that he'll ever been 100 percent healthy this season.

JoePa_Fears_Pitt: Is Stephens-Howling a possible Sunday player in the future, with his play-making abilities, versatility, and special teams experience...or is he too small?

Paul Zeise: I think so -- what is the guy's name that plays for San Diego (I think he is from Kansas State) -- something like Darren Sproules -- how big is he? I don't think he's that much bigger than Stephens-Howling and while Stephens-Howling isn't going to be an every down back in the NFL -- with his speed and quickness and heart - he could return kicks be a guy out of the backfield on third downs and whatnot -- the only thing he needs is an opportunity and I am sure Dave Wannstedt will do his best to make sure that he gets one.

SRB: Have you had a chance to speak with Adam Gunn lately?

Paul Zeise: Briefly, and he is doing well considering what he has gone through. He seems to be in good spirits and I've spoken several times to his dad and his dad said that he's going to make a full recovery so that's the good news. It is a shame he's lost his senior year of football -- but he is a very bright kid with a good education and his future is bright in whatever endeavor he chooses.

Winning_Cures_All: I have seen on some message boards from USF Fans saying that Pitt did a great job coaching in that game....Did you think you would ever hear such a thing this year?

Paul Zeise: Yes,because there have been moments -- I thought the coaching staff coached circles around West Virginia's last year. And frankly I thought they did a great job of outcoaching Cincinnati last year as well. So it isn't a shock, we just haven't seen enough of these moments over the past few years so hopefully the trend will continue.

P.I.T.T.: Paul, in your opinion, how much of last year's defense's trouble with the Navy option was scheme and how much was execution? What's your take on how to go after that offense?

Paul Zeise: I'd say it was a lot scheme. I thought the plan was bad from the start and the staff never made an adjustment to it. I think the only way you can play that offense is attack it and I thought the game plan was passive. I'd even say you have to do some things to blow up the middle - in fact I was talking to a high school coach who often faces McKeesport (who runs a triple option) and he was saying that the way to go is a five-man line because you have to make an effort to stop the fullback dive play and then live with your skill guys stopping the QB run or the option. He said if you can't stop the fullback dive, forget about it. So I guess my answer would be attack Navy and don't let Navy attack you.

Winning_Cures_All: Do you think it is a little soon for all these people to start annointing Pitt the team to beat in the BE?

Paul Zeise: No because they are 2-0 and they just beat "the team to beat" on the road. I understand Pitt is a few weeks removed from losing to Bowling Green and West Virginia is still West Virginia -- but Pitt just beat South Florida and gets WVU at home so unless the Panthers implode -- they are the team to beat.

P.I.T.T.: Paul, how has the focus/morale/etc of the team been during this bye week? Does it look like this team is ready to start firing on all cylinders?

Paul Zeise: It seems like this is going to be an interesting game because the Panthers were rolling, had some momentum and were focused and ready to go and now they are off for a week -- so it is hard to keep their attention as they are all thinking about going home for the weekend or whatever. Next week will be very interesting in seeing how the coaches get this team motivated again to pick up where it left off.

Winning_Cures_All: If I was Greg Cross I would be pissed that I came to Pitt...Why else would a JUCO player transfer to D1-A other than to get the chance to actually play?

Paul Zeise: Well that's life -- what can you do? To quote that Colorado coach "This is Division I football, this ain't intramurals, man." In other words a lot of great players at lower levels get to Division I and aren't able to get on the field. Cross will get his chances to play and he will see some playing time but Pitt's coaches need to do what they think is best for the team.

Memory_of_Terrelle: Do you think the difference in the USF game was that Pitt came out throwing downfield (finally) and that opened up the running game. That, and the fact that the receivers were hanging onto the ball?

Paul Zeise: I think the receivers catching was a big part of it -- and yes throwing down field has opened some things up for the run game. By the same token -- the run game's revival has made it possible for a lot of things to happen in the passing game. It all works hand in hand -- and it all starts up front where the offensive line seems to be blocking much better and allowing all of it to take place.

Winning_Cures_All: If Shady continues to keep logging solid performances what %chance to give to him going pro/staying after this year...I would say 40/60 unless they make a BCS bowl...if they make and win a BCS bowl i think it looks more like 90/10

Paul Zeise: I'd say he is likely going to go if he finishes the year strong -- just the read I get on him, though things could change.

MPM: I don't know if you would call him the team MVP for the season so far, but how important has Conner Lee been to this team?

Paul Zeise: Well obviously when you have a kicker who can score points for you even when the offense isn't clicking -- that enables you to stay in games and that enables you to stay close enough to come from behind and win. The fact that he has been nearly automatic is a security blanket for the coaching staff -- they know once they get inside the 35 or so they have a great opportunity to score some points.

Winning_Cures_All: Do you think it could be a problem that Pitt may be favored in games from here on out? It seems like some of the best performances come when they are double-digit dogs.

Paul Zeise: No, I think if it is a problem than Pitt is focused on the wrong things. Don't forget there have been a number of games Pitt was a double-digit underdog in that the Panthers got blown out of -- so that shouldn't be a factor. And I think Pitt would have been favored in most of its games -- outside of UConn, WVU and Notre Dame anyway and I'm not sure that really changes much at this point.

PittDC: Paul, are you hearing about any red shirt freshman that are sticking out at practice or in their weekly scrimmage they have?

Paul Zeise: Well apparrently Antwuan Reed was the man, so much so that he has earned his way on the playing field. Other than that, not much from the scout team but I don't usually really start asking until later in the season when we begin looking ahead to the spring.

JoeD: Should Wanny dump Cavanaugh for a new Offensive Coordinator plus bring in a QB coach at the end of the year? Cavaugh has never done well is in career as nfl coach and is not doing well as college coach..

Paul Zeise: Depends on how the season unfolds -- if the team wins out and goes 11-1 why would Wannstedt make any changes? The offense has been very good the past two weeks so just let the season play out before we start firing coaches.

Shady4WorldPeace: Paul, after lasts weeks performance, do you think that the offense has turned the corner and will continue to open up the playbook and take full advantage of the weapons they have. There is no reason that with the talent on offense, that they could not put up 30+ points per game

Paul Zeise: I agree -- I think the offense will continue to improve as Bill Stull improves, so like I said, just stick around and see what happens over the next few weeks before we write the book on this season.

laker44: Paul, What's the deal with super athlete Buddy Jackson?

Paul Zeise: He is very inconsistent and he hasn't yet learned the whole idea of the difference between being hurt and injured. In other words, he is young and he is still finding his way in this world of Division I athletics. He has yet to develop a consistency in his performance and he has yet to show an ability to fight through minor nagging injuries and not let them keep him out of practice. He's going to be fine, he just needs to mature a little.

subway: Where you surprised by how well our defense shutdown the SF offense last week?

Paul Zeise: Not really because it was a similar game plan to what worked against WVU. I mean, once you figure out how to slow down those spread offenses AND (a major AND) you have the athletes to do it, you have a chance. You aren't going to stop them, but you can at least keep yourself in the game. That's all the time I have, thanks for the great questions and join me next week when we will break down the Navy game.