This is [thankfully] the last day of fantasy football camp. Translation: They aren't going in full pads so they aren't tackling and the team is split up so many of the freshmen haven't faced the varsity players yet. Starting tomorrow we will get a much better feel for this team and for what it is and isn't capable of. The Panthers will be in full pads and will no longer have split practices. The big thing is the Panthers will be able to start tackling and full-contact blocking.

This morning's practice provided the coaching staff with yet another scare -- Bill Stull went down with a thumb injury (as it turns out, he split his thumb open because he hit a helmet of one of his linemen), but he is going to be OK. The bad thing, however, is that he was not able to finish practice and so they were forced to use walk-on Andrew Janocko for the rest of the practice (Kevan Smith is in the afternoon) and that limited what they were able to do with regards to the passing game.

There is some good news -- Pitt coaches are expecting Pat Bostick to return to campus on Sunday.

Q: Every year we're told the offensive line is improved and every year they struggle. Is that where we are again?

Mark Schilajew

Huntingdon, Pa.

Zeise: Well, the line did improve some last year from the year before and now, with basically the same group back, you'd think it would improve again. But that's just it -- I've now covered this team for six seasons and the line has never been anywhere close to as good as it was my first season -- 2002 -- so I have learned to take a wait and see approach. Again, I think Jeff Otah will be good, I think C.J. Davis is solid and it looks like Joe Thomas is starting to live up to his pre-college hype. The center spot is struggling, but Chris Vangas is working hard to become more consistent. Jason Pinkston had a great spring and is talented, but he is still basically a first-year starter, so he could have some growing pains. The wild card to it all is Mike McGlynn -- he must get healthy and prove he can play either guard or center at a high level. If he does, it really solidifies some things.

Q: What is your impression of the linebackers so far?

Randy DeMichiei

Butler, Pa.

Zeise: Remember, as I said earlier, this is still fantasy football time so we'll learn a lot more over the next few days. Early indications have been that the linebackers will be better as a unit than originally thought. Dorin Dickerson seems to be settling in a little and each day he seems to be playing a little faster, which means his understanding of the position is improving. Shane Murray is small, but so was Brian Beinecke and he was a great player and Murray has many of the same traits -- he is one of the smartest players on the field, he is a lot more athletic than people give him credit for and he is a tough guy. The same can be said about Scott McKillop and Adam Gunn, who is actually currently a starter at the outside linebacker spot and is having an outstanding camp. So again, it is early, but it looks like the linebackers might not be the weak link everyone anticipates. That being said, check in a week or two once I get to see them play in the pads and scrimmage a few times.