Paul Zeise: You can begin sending in questions for our live Pitt chat now and I will begin to answer them promptly at noon. Thanks as always for participating in the Pitt chat.

Schmev22: Paul - Can you give us an update on how the players who departed last year are doing in their respective NFL camps?

Paul Zeise: Well we won't know anything until Saturday evening when all of the teams cut down their rosters. It looks like Dorin Dickerson (Texans) and Nate Byham (49ers) will make their respective teams but the other guys - Malecki (Browns), Mick Williams (Bears) and Aaron Berry (Lions) will have to sweat it out. There may be one or two more but I know those five are clearly fighting for roster spots

Bryan: Paul, Utah will be starting a JUCO transfer at left tackle. I know JUCOs can be productive (i.e. Jeff Otah), but is there any reason to believe that he'll be able to contain Romeus?

Paul Zeise: I don't much about him. I'd say this - even Jeff Otah, who was a first round pick and one of the best players to come through Pitt in a while took a few games before he really settled. I think it is obviously a very tough assignment for the kid but the Utes have four returning starters on the line so I'm sure they'll be able to give him some help and the team is well coached so they'll do some things schematically to protect him.

Gary Christopher: My concern is not Geno's ability to perform at QB this season as you alluded to in your analysis today as it is more the OL performance and their ability to open holes for our skilled people and protect Geno from another injury and so he has time to distribute the ball. What say you?

Paul Zeise: I think you mean Tino, as in Tino Sunseri, and yes, I've said several times I expect him to play well enough to give Pitt a chance to win. I don't expect this to be a rerun of the early part of the Panthers 2007 season, which featured some of the worst quarterback play in the history of college football. Tino will be good enough, the question is will he have time to throw and more importantly will Utah's pass rush be slowed by the Panthers running game. That's the million dollar question -can Pitt's offensive line get it done in the run game. If Dion Lewis gets loose tonight, the passing part of things becomes much, much easier. I also think that if Dion has some success it is bad news for Utah because they'll have to sell even more out to stop him and I already love the matchup of Pitt's receivers (tall and fast) versus the inexperienced and in some cases short secondary of the Utes.

PittDC: How is the team's mood right now? Do you get any kind of feel?

Paul Zeise: The last two days before we left to come here - I am obviously right now in Salt Lake City, a beautiful place by the way -- I'd say this, these guys are really anxious and getting antsy to go hit someone and just play a game. Camp wore them down, it was a tough physical camp and so I expect them to come out of the gate flying high. Whether they can sustain that intensity, well, that will tell the tale of the game but they do seem ready to go.

Tim: With the Steelers game going on at the same time as the Pitt game, will Hillgrove be announcing the Pitt or Steelers game?

Paul Zeise: Rob King is here to do the play-by-play of the Pitt game. Hillgrove is at Heinz Field for the Steelers game. Can't wait to see how many snaps Big Ben gets.....or not.

Tim: What do you think are the keys for Pitt to win this game and to have a successful season?

Paul Zeise: Like I just wrote - the offensive line has to be able to provide the run game with some holes. If that happens and the Panthers can run the ball, I really like their chances against anyone on the schedule. I don't know that they can beat teams strictly with Tino throwing the ball, in fact I think that might be a recipe for disaster right now. But if they can run the ball with power and consistency, they are going to be tough to beat because I expect the defense to be pretty good and like I said, I like Pitt's receivers against just about any secondary.

Tim: I really like Pitt's new Nike Combat jerseys that were released yesterday. Thoughts?

Paul Zeise: They look to me like one of these high school all star game outfits but I do think that the gloves - which have "Pi" on one and "TT" together look pretty cool. I'm OK with them but WHY WOULDN'T THEY JUST PUT THE SCRIPT ON THEM!!! Sorry, I just had to......

Tim: Should us Pitt fans be confident with Tino Sunseri at quarterback this year? I think he could be a strength of this team. Thoughts?

Paul Zeise: Again, if you are asking me is he going to be Dan Marino - or even Rod Rutherford of 2003 or Tyler Palko of 2004 - I don't know that is realistic. I don't know that he is going to be good enough, especially early, to carry the offense. He will need the help of the run game. But I do expect him to make some big-time throws and I do expect him to be able to move the offense down the field and not turn the ball over. He'll be good enough to give Pitt a chance to win early and then I think as the season wears on he'll become good enough to make some plays that win games himself.

Tim: Is Pitt gonna try and outman Utah all game with their running game or do you think theirs a possibility they come out and throw the ball all over the place with Tino?

Paul Zeise: I would be extremely surprised if Pitt came out and tried to throw the ball all over the yard, especially on the road. I think Dave Wannstedt's head would explode if Frank Cignetti walked into his office and said he wanted to come out in four wides and toss the ball. The strength of Pitt - and I know some fans believe it isn't very exciting - is that the Panthers under Wannstedt know who they are. They aren't going to trick you, they aren't going to try and get cute - they are going to line up, they are going to try and whip you on both sides of the line of scrimmage and they are going to try and grind you down with the run game. It isn't always fun to watch, but it has been effective. And I'd say with a new quarterback making his first start on the road, yeah, you can be pretty sure Wannstedt is going to play it close to the vest, especially early. If I am wrong on this, I'll admit it next week, but five years of up close and personal observation of this team tells me I'm not likely wrong. I'd expect a healthy dose of Dion with some safe passes mixed in, at least early in the game.

Tim: Dion Lewis' Heisman chances?

Paul Zeise: Well Pitt has to win at least ten games and games like tonight, which is against a quality opponent on national television, he has to shine. I give him about a 25 percent chance and not because I don't think he is capable. I just think there are built in biases against players from conferences which are not regarded as "a power conference". He'd have to be special to have a shot.

Tim: HAIL TO PITT!!!

Tim: Pitt is better than PSU this year by FAR. Right?

Paul Zeise: I don't know by far, but I do think if Pitt played Penn State this year they'd win and if they had played last year and maybe even late in 2008 the Panthers would have won as well. Of course, we'll never know because, well, you know. I always laugh at Penn State fans who declare definitively that their team is better than Pitt every single year -- it is easy to do when it never has to be backed up on the field. And we all know that it isn't Pitt who isn't willing to play.

Tim: Do you think Pitt has a chance to get to the national championship if they happen to win all their games this year?

Paul Zeise: If Pitt wins them all this year? There is no question in my mind that they'll be in the national title game unless there are two other teams from the Big 12, Big Ten or SEC who are undefeated. But I don't know that this year there is any team who will definitely go undefeated. If Ohio State gets past Miami I'd expect them to waltz through that annually overrated conference and get to the national title game but I could see everyone else in the top ten having a loss by the end of the season and if it comes down to an undefeated Pitt team and an undefeated Boise team, given their respective schedules, I can't see how anyone would put Boise ahead of Pitt..

James: Who is Pitt's most indispensible player?

Paul Zeise: Without question it is Jason Pinkston. There is no doubt in my mind if he goes down, this ship may be sunk. They just don't have another player who can step in at left tackle. It would be interesting if he went down, though, to see what the coaches would do. Would they put Jordan Gibbs, a guy with no experience who has not shown much since he came to campus, in there? Or would they move Gaskins over and use someone like Turnley or Lippert at guard? And for the same reason - no depth at all at the position -- the second most indispensible player on the team is Lucas Nix.

hankpoteat: has mike Shanahan dropped a pass yet?

Paul Zeise: Yes, believe it or not at one of the last practices of training camp he not only dropped one - he dropped two. Which is not usually what we expect from him. One of them would have been a tough catch but the other won hit him right in between the numbers. I wouldn't worry about it - that simply means he is human and his catch percentage is now about 99.9 percent as opposed to 100. He is a very good football player.

hankpoteat: did buddy jackson actually win the 3rd corner job, or is it his by default that no one else was any good in camp?

Paul Zeise: That is a great question - because I know what the depth chart says but until I see it in a game situation, I'm not sure I really believe it. I think right now, he'll be the third corner in because he has more experience than K'Wuan Williams but don't be surprised if Williams eventually moves ahead of Jackson. I'm not saying Jackson can't get it done - with his talent he should be one of the best players on the team - but he is a guy who hasn't lived up to it yet. We just need to see a lot more from him and a lot more consistency, that's all. It would be a great development if he really began to live up to his potential because that would mean he is playing at an extremely high level.

Brian Kelly: Are you glad I'm gone from UC?

Paul Zeise: I'm sure Dave Wannstedt would say "no because we still have to play you every year!!!" LOL

Brad: Will the bandit package be used often tonight with Jason Hendricks playing the role that elijah fields used to play?

Paul Zeise: Actually the package we will see more of Andrew Taglianetti in that role. I think Jason "don't call me Jimmy" Hendricks will certainly figure in but I think we will see him more in the Buck packages which has two extra defensive backs. But Wannstedt has been pretty clear that the first guy in on those subpackages will be Taglianetti.

PittScript: How did Greg Cross go from winning most improved award in spring to not even making the top 4-5 WR's?

Paul Zeise: It is just hard to make that transition, particularly when you are competing against players who have played receiver their whole lives and who are pretty good. I think Cross is probably right now about the fifth receiver behind the top two, Saddler and Street. Does that mean he gets into the game tonight? I don't think so but maybe they have a package to take advantage of some of the things he does well and he'll get in for a few plays. I will say this - in the open field, he is as good as anyone on the team at making guys miss and that might be a skill the Panthers can take advantage of.

Tim: What are the chances that Pitt wins? Im going 60%

Paul Zeise: Yeah, that is probably reasonable. I'd say that a 60 percent chance on the road against a quality team is all you can ask for. It will come down to this - can Pitt protect the football and prevent the Utes from making the big play on defense.

hebrew hammer: Chances Paul Jones transfers to PITT?

Paul Zeise: I'd say that ship has sailed. Pitt has two young quarterbacks and another coming in and I just don't think there is anyone who really is in favor of that. I do agree Jones could be a candidate to transfer given the developments at QB up there but I think he'll likely have to look elsewhere for a landing spot.

Coach: Paul, I am more concerned with Pitt's play calling than their line. Coach Dave tend to get very conservative and I hope we don't see the old pattern of run-run-screen pass-punt...because a new QB will scare coach dave. Please tell me you think we will try to stretch the field and use our wide receivers as threats. Thanks,

Paul Zeise: I think they will take some shots but like I wrote earlier - Wannstedt is a proponent of being who you are and doing what you do best. And you know how the coach feels about turnovers - he believes that is the key stat in determining who wins and loses games. I just don't see him putting Tino in those kinds of situations.

Darryl: What's the potential that if things go badly at quarterback tonight, we see Bostick inserted to try to settle things down?

Paul Zeise: Great question. I'll say this - I think Tino Sunseri's hook will not be quick. I think he'll be given a chance to work his way out of whatever funk he is in. They see him as their quarterback of the future and so they are going to let him grow into that role. Remember the games really don't count until the Big East schedule begins.

HBGPITTFAN: Paul- do you see this as a low scoring game or a game that ends up 35-30?

Paul Zeise: This has been very fun and this is a good place to end. Every week people ask for my prediction on the game and every week I say the same thing - if I knew what was going to happen in these games, I'd live in Vegas and play golf at the Wynn every day!!! However, it is always fun to take a stab and so I'll say this - I expect it to be a lower scoring game than some people do. I see the Panthers playing valiantly and Dion Lewis having a big night while leading Pitt to a 24-20 win. Thanks for participating and come back again next week. Also, go to the Redshirt Diaries shortly as I am in the process of putting up all of your thoughts on the game watch spots for tonight. A lot of great suggestions.

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