In no particular order, Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti credits coach Dave Wannstedt, quarterback Bill Stull, running back Dion Lewis, tight end Dorin Dickerson, the other playmakers, the offensive linemen, the offensive coaching staff, the ball boys and even former coordinator Matt Cavanaugh for their roles in the team's surprisingly effective offense and its 6-1 record, No. 20 ranking and first-place standing in the Big East Conference.

I'm here on the eve of the big game against South Florida at Heinz Field to cover Cignetti's one glaring oversight.

Frank Cignetti has done a heck of a job.

I remember writing in February, when Cavanaugh left to become the New York Jets' quarterbacks coach, that no offensive coordinator could make a significant difference for Pitt as long as Stull was quarterback. Well, I was way wrong.

I know, it's shocking.

Stull has gone from below-average to the best quarterback in the Big East and the seventh-best in the country, based, at least, on his 159.39 passing-efficiency rating. Cignetti insists that's all on Stull, who really does deserve most of the praise. But this also is true: "Billy nestled in next to Frank and absorbed every word," Wannstedt said. "The progress Billy has made with him has been unbelievable."

Cignetti, still humble, said he -- the Pitt team, actually -- has benefited from the offensive foundation that Cavanaugh built and from the tough experience Stull endured last season, his first as a starter. But, clearly, Cignetti has figured out how to get the best from Stull. Forget Stull's sparkling passer rating and 14 touchdown passes with just three interceptions; Cignetti deserves to be assistant coach of the year in college football, solely based on how he rebuilt Stull's confidence after last season and kept the kid going this season after he was booed by the Heinz Field crowd during the first series of the first game.

From the start, Cignetti told Stull exactly what he expected:

"One, be a great, decisive decision-maker. Trust what you see and let 'er rip.

"Two, protect the football. The quickest way to lose is to turn it over.

"Three, throw with accuracy. Throw the ball to spots. That starts not just with trust that the receivers will be where they're supposed to be, but with trust in the protection system."

Part I has been easier for Stull because of the video study he has put in. "He has a total understanding of where his starting point is on each play," Cignetti said. "It's very evident he's going through his progressions and not just locking in on one guy. He gets to two, three, even four at times."

That was evident on the big fourth-and-3 pass to tight end Nate Byham for 7 yards against Connecticut. He was Stull's third option. It also was clear on the 3-yard touchdown pass to Lewis in the Youngstown State game. He was the fourth option.

Parts II and III have been honed during hours and hours on the practice field. In one drill, Cignetti has Stull throw to spots to his receivers over a kicking net that is designed to simulate linebackers dropping into coverage.

That hard work paid off when Stull threw a 17-yard pass to wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin on a third-and-9 play in the fourth quarter of Pitt's 24-17 win Friday at Rutgers. Off balance and under a heavy rush, Stull appeared to throw the ball up for grabs. But he put it where only Baldwin could catch it.

"To the untrained eye, Billy might have looked careless," Cignetti said. "But that's exactly what he's trained to do. That was a money play."

Said Stull, grinning: "Roll the ball over the red net."

Cignetti also has done a nice job calling plays that get all of Pitt's playmakers involved. There's Lewis, just a freshman, who has been a sensational find and is averaging 131 rushing yards per game, third-best in the country. There's Baldwin, who is averaging 19.6 yards per catch. Recently, there has been wide receiver Mike Shanahan, who had two big catches against Rutgers.

Then, there's Dickerson, a real revelation as a senior. If you want to blame Cavanaugh for something, blame him for not finding more ways to utilize this kid. Dickerson's eight touchdown catches lead the country.

"Wow! He's like icing on the cake," Cignetti said. "I can put him on the line as a tight end, in the backfield as a fullback or split him out as a wide receiver. There's no dropoff with him at any of those spots. The matchups he creates against linebackers and safeties and the flexibility he gives us in the play-action passing game is unbelievable."

Put it all together, and you get an offense that is averaging 33.3 points per game. No, it isn't the same offense that put up zero, zilch, nothing, nil, nada against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl last season. But it is the offense that Wannstedt had in mind for Pitt all along.

"I wouldn't be here if Dave and I didn't share the same philosophy," Cignetti said. "We believe you win with great defense and special teams and with an offense that doesn't just score enough points, but protects the ball. You do that with balance. You do that with a physical, downhill running game."

And you do it with an efficient quarterback.

Give Stull, Lewis, Dickerson and the others credit, to be sure. Just make sure you save a bit for the offensive coordinator who has made more of an impact than anyone could have imagined.