The PG's Paul Zeise on what Pitt must do to improve on their 6-6 record from last season and earn a bid to a bowl game:

This seems to be the bottom line every year and too often the team has sunk with poor line play. Three returning starters, led by senior left tackle Jeff Otah, whom the coaches believe could become a high NFL draft pick, give this line a chance to be good. Sophomore right tackle Jason Pinkston has improved. The question is at center, where senior Chris Vangas likely will start. If he struggles, the top candidate to replace him would be senior Mike Mc-Glynn, who started at right tackle the past three years.

The defensive line must begin to show the fruits of Dave Wannstedt's recruiting efforts:

Another old story has been the defensive line's inability to match up physically with the bigger and stronger offensive lines in recent seasons. Wannstedt has made shoring this area his top priority, and he has brought in talent by the boatloads -- the Panthers have 17 scholarship defensive linemen -- the past two years. The Panthers have every key lineman back and the addition of tackle Tommie Duhart, redshirt freshman end Greg Romeus and freshmen Tony Tucker and Jabaal Sheard should give the Panthers plenty of depth. If this unit plays well, the defense could be Pitt's best since 2002.

QB Bill Stull must improve weekly:

Last season, the Panthers had an experienced quarterback and finished 6-6 mostly because the team around Tyler Palko had serious holes. This team has fewer holes, so it has a chance to be better -- provided the quarterback plays consistently well. Stull does not have the strongest arm, but he is a steady player who throws the ball consistently well and makes good decisions. He also is a tough, hard-nosed kind of player who has earned the respect of his teammates as their leader. And he has the tools to be successful, considering the Panthers' stable of receivers, tight ends and running backs. Also, the coaches will make sure he doesn't feel the pressure to have to win games, particularly early in the season. They have constructed a quarterback-friendly offense that calls for him only to manage the game. If he does that, he'll be fine; so will the Panthers.

RB LeSean McCoy must be a factor:

The Panthers' starting tailback again will be LaRod Stephens-Howling, but, at his size (generously listed at 5 feet 7, 180 pounds), he is not capable of handling the workload of most featured backs. Stephens-Howling has been slowed by a number of nagging injuries over the year. McCoy, 5-11, 210, is a dynamic combination of power and speed. If he can share the workload with Stephens-Howling, both players likely will be far more effective late in games and late in the season. McCoy has been sensational in camp and also has proven he can run between the tackles as well as around end. If those trends continue, he will give the Panthers' rushing offense, 78th in the NCAA last season, a much-needed lift.

LB Dorin Dickerson must be a factor:

Dickerson was the McCoy of last season, a heralded recruit who was supposed to carry the offense. It never materialized, as he was injured in training camp and never fully recovered. In the offseason, he was moved to linebacker, and the coaches are counting on him becoming an impact player almost immediately. Dickerson (6-2, 225) has great size, but he also is one of the best overall athletes on the team as well as one of the team's fastest players. The coaches are hoping that athleticism translates into a playmaker.