Q: What are the chances we see the problems with the secondary cleaned up before the Cincinnati game? Is it largely a communication/assignment recognition problem that the coaches can clear up, or is our secondary going to remain a relative weakness against the pass?

George Stamets, Pittsburgh

ZEISE: Well the good thing about Cincinnati is the Bearcats run that spread stuff with a lot of receivers and a lot of empty sets -- so that means the Panthers will be forced out of their base defense and into the sub-packages, like the nickel, the dime, the bandit, the buck. All of those packages include fewer linebackers and linemen and more defensive backs and, frankly, Pitt plays those packages better than the base defense. And one of the things about those packages is there are enough defensive backs out there that there is usually safety help over the top, which is why the Panthers have rarely given up big plays out of those packages. The same will hold true against West Virginia as the Panthers will be spread out and forced to use kids like Elijah Fields, Andrew Taglianetti and Irv Brown and go to the three-man lines or one-linebacker packages. So the next two games, I don't think it should be much of a problem because I think the personnel groupings will favor Pitt against spread formation teams. Now, the real test will come against Connecticut because the Huskies have more of a power running game scheme and a great running back which means Pitt will be forced into its base defense for most of the game, especially on early downs. It is then when we will really know if some of this stuff has been cleaned up or not because the Huskies will no doubt take some shots down the field against Pitt, especially after what has happened the past few weeks to the secondary.

Q: I don't understand how the same guys can call the Bowling Green and Rutgers game and then call games like South Florida, Notre Dame and Louisville. Why is the coaching staff so clueless sometimes and right on point other times?

Tom Tupa, Pittsburgh

ZEISE: I think all coaches tend to outthink themselves from time to time and that's usually when you see bad games. I don't think it is unique to this coaching staff; a lot of other coaching staff's have the same problem. A great example, if you ask me, was the play calling by Penn State in the fourth quarter against Iowa, it seemed like they were trying to get tricky and outfox Iowa instead of letting that fabulous running back win the game. And Penn State has a very good coaching staff, I just think they had an off day. It happens, and that's the best explanation I can tell you. The Bowling Green game, I think they psyched themselves out about how good Bowling Green actually was (instead of lining up and knowing they were the better team and playing with the confidence of a team that is superior) and the Rutgers game, for whatever reason, they convinced themselves that the Scarlet Knights, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, were going to try to run the ball down their throats. That doesn't mean it is a bad staff or even a clueless staff, just a typical staff that had a few bad days and I'd bet mostly because they likely didn't trust their instincts.

Q: Although there has been talk of LeSean McCoy going to the NFL, it seems to me that he reverts to the "trying to hit a home run every time" mentality a little too often. Do you think he would be better served staying around another year to "refine" his technique and discipline, or would staying be a non-factor in his draft status?

Chris Zeise, Knoxville, Tenn. (Note: The writer is Paul's older brother)

ZEISE: No, I don't think that another year would mean much to McCoy's stock because a skill guy with his production will be measured mostly by how he does at pro-days and combines and whatnot. He's obviously fast enough, he's been productive and he's proven he can get tough yards and make big plays. He'll be a high draft pick and I know Pitt fans don't want to hear it, but if he finishes this year strong and Pitt gets to a nice bowl game, there is really no reason at all for him to come back to school. One thing to remember is he had a serious injury once -- his senior year in high school -- and it put his career on hold (even though it probably worked out for the better) -- he doesn't want to go through that again, I assure you. If he leaves he will be drafted very high. And I'll tell you this to calm your fears: Unless everybody who has watched practices and camp and whatnot is wrong, Pitt's running back situation will be in good hands next year with Chris Burns and Shariff Harris. I don't think either is McCoy, but Burns especially is very, very good.