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Q: I'm curious if your early observations offer any hopes we'll be entrusted to open it up more. In short, under Frank Cignetti, where will Pitt fall between these two extreme offenses: the gold-standard unstoppable high-octane Oregon Ducks (whom Cig saw every year in the Pac-10), versus the snoozer Baltimore Ravens (former OC Cavanaugh's brain child)?

Terry Smith

San Clemente, CA

Zeise: I don't think it will be much different from last year, other than the play-calling in certain situations. I think Frank Cignetti will be a little more aggressive than Matt Cavanaugh in some spots and more conservative in others. The one main difference to me is going to be the number of touches the key playmakers get. Matt Cavanaugh's offense was from an NFL perspective, whereas you run the plays and whoever happens to be in the personnel group gets the ball. Cignetti is more from the college-perspective where the playmakers on every team are limited so you make sure that they are the primary targets regardless of the personnel groups.

Q: It would appear that opposing offenses will try to take our defensive line out of the game by using shotgun formations and quick three step drops to pass, then set up an occasional run. What do you think? Are our defensive secondary and linebackers good enough to handle this type of quick pass offense?

Dave Olson

Littiz, Pa.

Zeise: If teams are scheming to try and minimize the defensive line, Pitt has already won a major battle because it means teams are doing things they haven't done all season. And if they are going to three-step drops and releasing the ball early, it means they are likely in front of the Panthers secondary and linebackers and that means they aren't making big plays. Pitt's back seven are athletic enough and experienced enough that it will be hard to dink and dunk all the way down the field against them. So in short, I don't think that strategy will be a winning one against Pitt, particularly if you can't block Pitt's front four because it means they aren't running the ball very effectively.

Q: With such a strong defense and positive reports about the chemistry between Jonathan Baldwin and Bill Stull, what are the chances the Panthers see at least a New Year's Day bowl game?

Ian R.

Washington D.C.

Zeise: Pitt's chances of playing in a New Year's Day bowl I'd say are 20 percent -- as in, there are five very similar teams at the top of the Big East and really, the team which emerges is going to be the team which plays the best. The keys, like I said, for Pitt will be simple 1) consistent quarterback play and 2) a solid kicking game. I think if those two areas come together Pitt will have a chance to have a special season. This is a common question I've gotten but it is too hard to predict the future and give a definitive answer.