Pitt held its final scrimmage before the Blue-Gold Game yesterday at the South Side complex and it was another example of the Panthers' defense having its way with the offense.

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Looking ahead

• What: Pitt Blue-Gold Game, the traditional end to spring practice.
• When: 6 p.m. Saturday.
• Where: Heinz Field.
• TV: WPCW & NFL Network.
• Admission: Free.

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However, there were a few bright spots for the offense. Most notably, junior quarterback Greg Cross, who led two scoring drives and showed flashes of the type of dual-threat weapon he can become as coaches continue to develop offensive packages for him.

Cross, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior college transfer, rushed for 14 yards on five carries and completed 3 of 6 passes for 50 yards. He also ran for a 4-yard touchdown and connected with Maurice Williams for a 28-yard scoring pass.

Cross, who is an excellent athlete, was brought in specifically to be a dual-threat quarterback in the Panthers' Wildcat package and some spread formations, but yesterday he was effective in the Panthers' standard West Coast offense.

"He did some really nice things today, for three weeks he has just been learning," offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh said. "We've tried to put him into situations where he is doing the things he knows how to do because he is obviously not where [the other quarterbacks] are as far as knowing things. But, his package is expanding every week. And every time he gets the ball in his hands he is a threat, because he can run and he is now starting to show he can pass it.

"It was good to see him have the kind of day he had, it will do a lot for confidence. He hasn't had a lot of work throwing it, but today we let him show some things and he still has some mechanical flaws and some things he has to work on, but he is working on them and he's improving."

Cross' first drive was impressive yesterday because it was the first time the Panthers scored a touchdown and he did it against virtually the entire Pitt starting defensive unit. Cross' touchdown run was a quarterback draw but he had an impressive 10-yard run on a bootleg in which he made a number of defenders miss and picked up a first down.

Like Cavanaugh, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt was impressed with the day Cross had and said that it is clear the Panthers will be able to get some production out of him in the fall if they are able to put together the right packages to utilize his talent.

"Greg showed up today," Wannstedt said. "It was his day to get some work and he responded well both running the ball and making a couple of throws.

"I think what we're seeing is he might be more of a gamer than a practice player. I mean, when he goes through the drills, he looks OK, but when the lights come on and the live action starts, he seems to have a knack for making plays. We just have to be wise in how we use him and figure out how he best fits in."

Two other offensive players who had outstanding days were receivers Aaron Smith (3 receptions, 49 yards, TD) and Williams (7 receptions 89 yards, 2 TDs). On defense, the ends as a unit played well again and redshirt freshman linebacker Greg Williams had six tackles, one for a loss.

But the offensive line struggled again and the Panthers failed to generate a running game as Cross was the second-leading rusher.

"The concerns about the offensive line are still something we need to focus on and need to work on," Wannstedt said.

"It is tough to generate long drives when you keep giving up negative plays. We are not running the ball the way we need to and we can't use the excuse that LeSean [McCoy] and LaRod [Stephens-Howling] are not in there getting enough carries. We've got to find a way to block people and run the football and we're not doing that right now."