MPM: What is the status of Mike McGlynn for Saturday's game? Will he be available if someone is injured?

Paul Zeise: He was cleared for contact just this week, so he is way behind and coaches are saying that they aren't going to put him out there and risk losing him unless they are very certain he's ready. The hope is that they won't need him this week and thus he'd get another week to heal.

SDWC: Paul, assuming Bill Stull handles the QB job adequately this season, do you expect him to continue as the starter next year? As 2008 seems to be a targeted breakthrough year, that would mean 2 years of inactivity for Bostick. Perhaps a redshirt is a possibility for this year?

Paul Zeise: Yes, if Stull is good this year, he'l be the starter next year. I would think a redshirt is the best possible solution for Pat Bostick at this point. He's just too far behind right now and frankly he needs to just sit back and get acclimated to the whole college life and being away from home and Division I football without the pressure of having to win games. I look at the situation with Tyler Palko -- he redshirtted one year (actually his second season) and was the back-up for one year and when he took over in his third season, he was ready to go. He was experienced and mature as a redshirt sophomore and had three years as the starter. In the long run, that's the best way to go, I think.

Deke: Do you think think McCoy will be the starting RB at some point this season?

Paul Zeise: Not unless LaRod Stephens-Howling gets hurt or McCoy is so much better than Stephens-Howling they really aren't left with a choice. The coaches think way too highly of Stephens-Howling to just throw him aside like that. I could definitely see a scenario, however, where Stephens-Howling starts but McCoy gets the majority of the carries.

Pitt_er: When will Doug Fulmer be ready to play? Is he possible for red-shirt?

Paul Zeise: No, he already redshirtted one season (his first season). Coaches are hoping to get him back by Oct. 1st in time for the stretch run of Big East games. If he gets back and Greg Romeus and Jabal Sheard come along like coaches hope, the Panthers will have a very formidable group of defensive ends.

Deke: Despite losing Revis,Blades and Session to the NFL, do you think the defense will be better this season because of the improved depth on the D-Line and both safeties are healthy?

Paul Zeise: I do think the defense will improve -- and let's face it, after watching Connecticut, West Virginia and Louisville combine to put up about 135 points and like 1,500 yards in the final three games of the year I'm fairly certain there is clearly plenty of room for improvement -- for a number of reasons. You mentioned one -- the line is (or at least should be) better, the safeties are much better and the linebackers I think as a group will be much better than anyone is giving them credit for. I really think this group of linebackers could be as productive as last year's group.

Deke: Is the offensive line a concern? Or specifically, the interior O-line?

Paul Zeise: The entire offensive line for as long as I have covered Pitt has been and will be a concern until they prove otherwise. This year, you'd think the tackles will be fine but both of those guys have been banged up throughout camp. You'd also think the guards would be OK but both of those guys have been banged up as well. And center has been very inconsistent throughout camp. This is an area I have said consistently -- I have no idea how good they are until we see them perform on Saturdays. I think they have the talent to be pretty good, but I'll take a wait and see approach before I make any definitive statements about them.

Pitt_er: With players like Porter and Robinson, does the 5 yds make them more dangerous on kick-offs?

Paul Zeise: Absolutely. I think that's a very overlooked edge Pitt has -- return specialists. Aaron Berry will be very good returning punts and Lowell Robinson and TJ Porter and Mo Williams and Aundre Wright are all capable of taking kick-offs to the house every time they touch the ball. With less touchbacks and a little more room to operate -- assuming teams will still kick-off deep -- the Panthers will indeed get a few touchdowns out of their return units.

PittProf: Also regarding Bostick, I left the country right after he left school for "personal reasons", and when I returned, he was back in practice. Did we ever learn why he left and if that should be a concern? I understand personal issues are personal, but I wondered what was made public about the situation, which was concerning to all of us Pitt fans to say the least!

Paul Zeise: He was just dealing with some issues that are indeed very personal and private in nature. But he is working through them still and provided he manages and monitors them along with all the other pressures of being a college kid and a football player, he'll be fine.

telly: How many people are expected at the game on Saturday?

Paul Zeise: Well I know that I bought four tickets so my kids could go so the attendance will be at least 00,004.........No seriously, I think with the opener, the fact that the Steelers are off, it is supposed to be a nice night and ding, ding, ding --- there are fireworks (but no racing sandwiches, alas) which are far more important in this town than anything that happens on the field --- the crowd should be fairly decent, perhaps 40,000 or so.

fralic_rules: Should we expect a breakout year from Dorin Dickerson at LB, or will his learning a new position slow his impact? Looks like Wannstedt is building a speed D like he had with the Canes in the late '80s, does in have that potential to be dominant in 2008?

Paul Zeise: Dorin Dickerson I think because his talent level is so high, will be a guy who comes along very fast. The questions about his toughness seem to have been answered as he has shown time and time again at camp that he'll stick his head in and try and knock someone out. He'll start slow I'd think but he will improve each week. As for your second question, the defense next year will be very fast and given that every player in the front seven except Clermond and Chris McKillop is coming back, it should be dominant but again, a lot can happen between now and then.

ShadyForHeisman: Paul - What do you think of Dorin Dickerson moving to LB? It's a shame to waste all that speed and natural ability at the LB position. I would have loved to have seen what he could have done a WR for Pitt? I guess he wanted to play that badly that he lost his redshirt last year and changed positions this year.

Paul Zeise: I don't think they are wasting his ability in fact I think they are really putting him in position to be a star by the time he graduates. It is a position they needed some speed and athleticism. They finally have some linebackers who look like linebackers -- he is 6-2 and every bit of 225 -- and I'm telling you, he's not better at receiver than the guys they have playing that position now. He might have been an exciting running back, but he wasn't going to be a superstar receiver, that much was evident in watching him play that position. The guy you should really be excited about on offense is freshman receiver Maurice Williams -- this guy is going to be a superstar.

PittProf: Any update on Pitt finding a kick-off specialist? That could be a real problem if they have to go with what I have seen on their roster so far.

Paul Zeise: Yes, they auditioned a bunch of guys -- students with a dream I suppose -- who walked on and tried out the other day and from what I saw none of them could beat me in a kicking contest and that's not good, so I am going to assume that the search is still on. And I think Dave Brytus can kick the ball deep enough that it won't turn into a big issue provided the special teams guys cover the kicks well and make the tackles when they arrive at the guy with the ball.

PittProf: Hi Paul! While at the Pitt fan fest last week, I watched Pat Bostick with a lot of interest. I noticed that he has an unusual throwing motion, almost more like throwing a baseball than a football. Should that be a concern? Have the coaches mentioned it publicly?

Paul Zeise: His throwing motion is to say the least unconventional. But he has a very quick release and I think that is all coaches are concerned about. I do think they'll work with him in the offseason on that motion because he will get it batted down some times since the ball doesn't come up all the way above his head and thus is lower than it should be when he releases it. But he has a really compact motion and that's why his release is so quick.

Deke: Will it be considered a successful season if Pitt goes 7-5?

Paul Zeise: Yes, provided the five losses aren't embarrassing -- i.e. five losses where they give up 500 yards of offense and local totally overmatched. I think for it to be a major success, however, this team needs to find a way to beat a team they aren't supposed to beat.

fralic_rules: Some of the local media (especially Madden) don't seem to give Stephens-Howling his due as a quality RB. Isn't the combo of LaRod and what McCoy brings to the table give Pitt the potential of a devistating rushing attack if the O-Line comes thru?

Paul Zeise: Yes, that could be a devastating one-two punch. And I think most people understand LaRod Stephens-Howling is an excellent football player and quality running back. He's going to be a big part of what Pitt does this year. You are right though, it is all about the O-line.

fralic_rules: Has Wannstedt found anyone off of the Pitt soccer team or on campus to be the kickoff specialist or will the current group get the job done with the new rules?

Paul Zeise: No, I answered this a little earlier -- they have had and will continue to have open try-outs but so far it hasn't been very promising.

BrunoDC: Who was the biggest question mark entering training camp, that is now the most solid in your opinion? Linebackers? McCoy? Stull? Someone else?

Paul Zeise: Linebackers hands down. I thought in the spring this unit would be very, very mediocre at best and probably not even that good from what I saw. But I'll tell you, Shane Murray is a very smart and physical football player, Scott McKillop is much better than anyone could have imagined and Adam Gunn and Dorin Dickerson are both playing very well right now. These guys as a unit, I would expect, are going to really shock a lot of people. Stull is about what I thought he'd be -- he's tough, he's a fighter and a winner, he can make throws under pressure, his arm won't overwhelm you but if he gets protection and help from the running game, he'll be able to lead the team to a lot of wins.

fralic_rules: Even with the inexperience at QB with Stull, as long as Cavanaugh puts him in position to manage games, with all of the playmakers on O, is this the year Pitt's offense causes a lot of damage in Big East games?

Paul Zeise: Again, it all starts up front, the O-line has to get it done. If the O-line doesn't get it done, this offense will be putrid. But if the O-line is good, there are indeed enough playmakers on offense that it could be a very dangerous unit. So that's why I say, I have a decent idea about the defense and how good it will be -- the offense, because of the questions about the offensive line, I'm going to wait and see.

Deke: Has Chris Ball been a good addition to the defensive staff?

Paul Zeise: Absolutely. I think for a number of reasons. The kids love him, he's a fiery guy but he's a good guy and he's not a fake and kids know the genuine thing when they see it and they respond to it. He's also an excellent football coach and I'll tell you this -- he also brought some much-needed fresh ideas to a defense that is in search of a boost. He's been an excellent addition to the staff.

telly: Will Big East football add more teams to the conference in the near future?

Paul Zeise: Not any time soon. Mike Tranghese told me point blank -- there is no interest among the schools to add a ninth member for football. So the league in its present form could stay for a long time.

ShadyForHeisman: Paul - How much should we be concerned about Bill Stull's inability to throw the deep ball? You've seen him in practice - how does he look in that regard?

Paul Zeise: He hasn't connected on a lot of those throws but he has had some success so I think it is just a matter of timing and getting into a rhythym with his receivers. Like anyone else, he just needs experience. I wouldn't be too concerned yet -- if it is week 6 and we're talking about the fact that he can't throw those deep balls and hasn't connected on many of them, then it would be a concern.

Sandlot_Wizard: Of the Panther's last two recruiting classes which have been very good, are there any players who were highly recruited who now just don't look like Div. IA calibre players?

Paul Zeise: Tell you what, someone asked me this question for my Q&A which I will post later today and I wanted to go through both classes name by name before I answered. So in short, check back in when my Q&A goes up and I'll have a solid answer for you. Hey thanks for all the great questions and for tuning in. Let's do this again next Thursday and every Thursday after it at noon. And if your question didn't get answered, send it through to my daily Q&A and will get it done.....