MPM: Against South Florida, we saw the defense play mostly nickel and dime packages instead of their base defense. Do you anticipate Pitt?s defense to do something similar against Navy?s triple-option offense? May we see an extra down lineman or linebacker instead of a corner or safety?

Paul Zeise: I sure hope there is something a little more creative than what went on last year. I don't know, the defensive coaches have been using the phrase "base defense" awful lot this year so we will see. I would expect that the dime package using Elijah Fields as hybrid linebacker will be used some but it will be interesting to see how Phil Bennet attacks this offense. Last year Pitt did no attacking and got shredded, so something needs to change.

SDWC: Paul, some of the things I've read about Navy and comments from Pitt players & Wannstedt, you'd think that Navy should be playing for the BCS national championship, as unstoppable as they are being made to appear. How much of this is just typical hype? I know they have a winning record, but this is Navy, this game should not be that close.

Paul Zeise: I think Navy really has Pitt worried because of their style of offense and the fact that they beat Pitt last year so they have a lot of confidence. Navy's offense enables the Midshipmen to negate any real or imagined physical limitations it has -- and they run it so well that it is very true -- if you don't stop them on first down and let them get into second and short they will get first downs and kill the clock and and beat you. So Pitt's coaches and players are genuinely worried about this game, I can promise you that.

MOJO_in_HD: How would you compare Scott McKillop with two other LBs from the past: Gerald Hayes and Jerry Olsavsky?

Paul Zeise: I'd say Gerald Hayes and Jerry Olsavsky are two of the best defensive players Pitt has ever had and that is a lofty comparison. Scott is very good player and he is very productive and he is one of the smartest football players Pitt has had. He is a very good, but to be in that category he has to step into the NFL and have a nice career first

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: What happened to Greg Webster and Dan L-something from gateway. Pitt seems to have poor depth at linebacker.

Paul Zeise: Greg Webster suffered from an illness and eventually dropped out of school (I think he resurfaced at Cal Pa.) and Dan Loheyde is a medical hardship as he was medically not able to continue playing.

BozoTheSmiz: How many yards do you expect for Shady this week?

Paul Zeise: If he doesn't have 150 yards at least I think it is a bad sign for Pitt. He needs to get rolling and take the pressure off of the quarterback to make plays. Pitt's offense really has to be sharp in order to match scores with Navy.

JoePa_Fears_Pitt: Navy lost to Duke, then beat Wake Forest. How did that happen? What has changed with the team, personnel or scheme-wise, since they lost to Duke?

Paul Zeise: Not to sound like Dave Wannstedt but Wake Forest I think had six turnovers in that game. And if you have watched Wake Forest, that might be the worst offensive team with a winning record in college football history -- so for that team to overcome six turnovers against anyone it would be impossible.

PittDC: I will be in attendance on Saturday, can I expect to see Conredge Collins get his touches like at South Florida?

Paul Zeise: He should be a part of things -- he will get a few carries, he had nine last year against Navy -- as the power run game is what worked very well for Pitt last year in the Navy game.

Panther-Pride: Paul, Will Pitt be able to stop Navy's fullback on 1st down on Saturday ?

Paul Zeise: If I knew the answer to that -- I'd be headed to Vegas with pink slips and things.....Put it this way, if they can or do stop him I feel very comfortable in saying the Panthers will win the game. If, however, we are watching Navy lineup in second-and-3 all night, well, it is going to be a long trip back from D.C. for Pitt fans, that's for sure....

MOJO_in_HD: Why is Pitt not on the front of the PG's sports page more often? Doesn't the Post-Gazette cover Pittsburgh sports teams?

Paul Zeise: Pitt has been on the cover of the sports section plenty. But by the same token, three years of losing, mediocre and dull football has made it a tougher sell. Pitt is winning right now and if they continue to win, they'll be on the front. But last week for instance, we had two Penn State stories on the front and only one Pitt -- well Pitt was off and Penn State is ranked No. 6 in the country and were playing at Wisconsin on national television. I can tell you without hesitation that Pitt is our No. 1 priority in college sports -- but the Panthers have to do their part and that means not losing to teams like Bowling Green and making it to bowl games. I mean -- think about this -- Pitt is playing Navy on Saturday and one team has been to five consecutive bowl games, the other has missed bowl games three in a row. Can you guess which team is which?

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: I think this game against Navy is going to tough. Triple-Option seems more like disciplined and smart linebacker play and with inexperienced outside linebackers, it could get ugly. What are your thoughts?

Paul Zeise: I agree -- Pitt's linebackers have looked lost at times this year but I'll tell you this -- the defensive line needs to show up before the fourth quarter. The defensive line needs to step in and beat some blocks and make some plays in the backfield and get Navy in bad down and distances. If that doesn't happen, it really doesn't matter what else takes place because it will be hard for Pitt to make enough plays to win.

JoePa_Fears_Pitt: Paul, use your awesome pull to get this Navy game televised in the Pittsburgh market.

Paul Zeise: We're trying -- here is another bit of good news -- Comcast Digital subscribers with an HD box can watch the game on that MOJO channel that picks up the FSN Pittsburgh HD broadcasts of Penguins and Pirates games. So if you are used to watching Penguins and Pirates games in HD -- go to that same channel Saturday at 3:30 and you'll be able to watch the Pitt-Navy game.

MOJO_in_HD: Jason Taylor and Randy Holloway have an arm-wrestling match. Who wins?

Paul Zeise: Well Jason Taylor, because he's from Woodland Hills, which is somewhat close to Hazelwood, and Hazelwood is where the tough guys are.

MOJO_in_HD: Paul Zeise and Kevin Gorman have an arm-wrestling match. Who wins?

Paul Zeise: He does because he lives closer to Hazelwood than I do......

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: What has the better chance of happening? Wannstedt pronouncing my name right or Pitt winning this game?

Paul Zeise: Pitt winning this game. Heck, if you ever heard Dave try to pronounce Gus Mustakas's name you know he has no chance of saying the name of Navy's quarterback or coach correctly. But then again -- who does?

shady: Paul, we will see more vertical throws by Stull this week?

Paul Zeise: I would think -- this pass defense of Navy's is very bad, I think they are ranked like 107th against the pass and like 104th in pass efficiency. So Pitt should be able to get some balls down the field and make some big plays. And that doesn't mean just the fly patterns to Baldwin, I think there should be some opportunities to hit those 20 yard passes in the middle of the field to the tight ends as well.

Zap_Rowsdower: Is Erin Andrews hotter in person or on TV?

Paul Zeise: I have no idea who that is.

Pitt_Script: What are the chances Adam Gunn gets a sixth year? I say slim to none.

Paul Zeise: Not likely because he redshirtted his first season and it wasn't due to an injury. The NCAA has been funny about these rulings, though, so you never know, but my gut says he isn't likely to get an extra year. I will say the fact that it happened in the first or second game (I can't remember which) helps his cause because he is basically losing an entire season. It will be interesting to watch -- Mike Cook had a similar situation and he was denied, so we will see.

e_in_LV: Stull's mechanics look pretty poor at times. I recognize a wind up on some throws. Much like what we saw on Bostick last year. I have not even heard the staff acknowledge this, any thoughts?

Paul Zeise: I agree, sometimes he throws off his back foot, sometimes he short arms the ball but he throws the ball well when the game is on the line -- he is a winner and he is a guy who will stand in there and take the heat. That is why you don't hear the staff talk about his mechanics -- he is working on them and he is getting better at passing the ball, but he's winning games and he is making the throws he needs to make.

Panther-Pride: If Pitt wins the Big East this year, any chance of those two Gateway players changing their minds on Ohio State?

Paul Zeise: I would think so, from what I am told there is an outside chance that might happen with at least one of them anyway.

JoePa_Fears_Pitt: What's the over/under for touchdowns scored by Greg Cross this Saturday?

Paul Zeise: 1/2 ---- and I am taking the under. I just don't think coaches are going to use him that much in situations where he can score a touchdown. I am telling you they are very nervous about this game and generally that means -- sort of like going into the Bowling Green game -- we're going to see a relatively conservative game plan. I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am not.

e_in_LV: What happened to Buddy Jackson. I expected to see him on the field this year. Was he a little over-hyped in the spring?

Paul Zeise: He isn't consistent enough, he doesn't make enough plays and he still is learning how to play corner. Beyond that he had a number of nagging injuries that kept him out of camp for some days and he missed some practices with some bumps and bruises and thus he fell behind.

e_in_LV: Why did Cook kiss RR's butt in that article when he basically stated that RR was a snake and all parents should take caution with him?

Paul Zeise: I don't think he did that at all. I think his point was that whatever you think of Rich Rodriguez, he has proven himself to be a great football coach so Michigan fans should be patient because he'll turn it around.

e_in_LV: We will finally hear about Bostick's redshirt after this game?

Paul Zeise: No -- we won't hear about it until all the games have been played and he has not played in them. Coaches don't have to make a decision about a redshirt until the end of the season. What happens if Bill Stull gets hurt and is out for the season? Obviously Bostick would have to play -- so as long as he is sitting out, his redshirt is still intact.

Zap_Rowsdower: I really like the progress Bill Stull in making and I'm worried what may happen if he gets injured. Who gets the most practice snaps at 2nd team QB?

Paul Zeise: Pat Bostick would be the long term quarterback if Stull got hurt. Depending on the situation -- if it looked like it would be short term or one game -- coaches might use Kevan Smith and try to keep Bostick's redshirt intact.

Brian: Is this the wrong game to bring out more Greg Cross? People are still foaming at the mouth to see him.

Paul Zeise: Seeing as how Pitt ran up and down the field against Navy last year? No, he could be a part of the game plan, though I'm not sure you need him if you can block the power and inside runs like they did last year and allow Conredge Collins, Lesean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling to run the ball.

Panther-Pride: Tell everyone to get Direct TV and you can watch the game on channel 613 !

Paul Zeise: Yes, you can but you need the sports package as well I think

Pitt_Script: Paul, what about getting the game on DirecTV without having to pay for the DirecTV Sports Pack? They are saying game is on CSNTV, not CBS.

Paul Zeise: The game is on channel 613 on DirectTV -- whether or not that is a part of the sports pack is unclear -- of course getting clarity from DirecTV is impossible since their customer service center is ridiculously bad. What a joke -- you can't get a human on the line and the one time I did he had no idea what I was asking him. This is why American business is going down the tubes -- because customer service is so low on the priority scale!!! If someone from DirecTV can call me back, I can let Pitt fans know the answer to whether you need the sports pack or not......

PittDC: How is Cameron Saddler's spirits and rehab going?

Paul Zeise: Oh he's fine -- he has a great spirit and a great attitude. He is one of most jovial and outgoing kids I have ever dealt with.

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: Pitt kickoffs seem to be horrible. Where is that kicker from last year's recruiting class?

Paul Zeise: He wasn't able to beat out the kick-off specialist so he is redshirtting. And the kick-offs have been short but for the most part directionally they have been good and have given Pitt a chance to cover them

Pitt_Script: Why didnt Pitt sit Shane Murray out for the year early on? They could have sat him out and he could have redshirted. Or did he use up his redshirt already? If he hasn't, that is two redshirts wasted (Shane Murray and Lucas Nix)?

Paul Zeise: He has already redshirtted so it wasn't an option. Like Gunn, I suppose they will ask for a sixth year but again, getting a sixth year is very difficult.

Shady4WorldPeace: Z-Man, do you feel that the added time off will help better prepare for the triple option offense that Navy runs?

Paul Zeise: I'm not sure -- last year they had extra time to prepare and well, the rest is history. I think sometimes you can get "knowledge overload" and you start thinking too much instead of just reading and reacting and playing football. I hope that isn't the case, but time will tell. I also think that the team had some momentum and now has been idle for so long they may come out a little rusty and that's never good.

Pitt_Script: It seems that the Pitt coaching staff opens up the playbook and doesnt play conservative when they are underdogs. However, when they are favored, they go in shell and back to their conservative ways. Why is that?

Paul Zeise: That is a great observation and question. I have no idea. I think it is a problem though that when you play teams you should blow out, you leave them in the game because you are so afraid to make mistakes. That's what happened against Bowling Green, let's hope there is not a repeat performance.

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: Out of the kids redshirting this year, which kids if any have been impressive?

Paul Zeise: The young corners, Jarred Holley and Ronald Hobby and Chris Burns are the names I hear the most among that group.

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: Is Bill Stull the automatic starter next year if this team finishes well or do you think it will be open competition again at training camp?

Paul Zeise: Yes, I think it would be very hard for anyone to beat him out in spring or training camp if he continues to progress. There is something to be said about starting a season with an experienced quarterback.

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: What happened to Tyler Palko? Is he still around the NFL?

Paul Zeise: I saw him yesterday at Pitt practice just sort of hanging around. I think he is going back to school to work on a master's degree while he is still working out and hoping for another shot at the NFL.

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: Since you have been covering Pitt, is this the most talented team you have been around?

Paul Zeise: No -- that 2002 team with Gerald Hayes, Rutherford, Fitzgerald, Kris Wilson, Shawntae Spencer, Torrie Cox -- you look up that team (and the 2001 team) and there were a lot of very good football players compiled on that team.

Kaipo-Noa_Kaheaku-Enhada: I seen a bowl projection of Pitt-Florida in the Orange Bowl. Even though I think this Pitt team is more talented then the fiesta bowl team, I think the results could be worse. What are your thoughts?

Paul Zeise: I agree -- Florida would not be a good matchup for this Pitt team.

P.I.T.T.: Paul, how about another pre-game Good, Bad, Ugly prediction?

Paul Zeise: Ok I'll give it a shot.... Good -- McCoy runs for a lot of yards and several touchdowns and Pitt wins by about ten. Bad -- Pitt needed to score 52 points because the defense couldn't stop Navy and gave up 42 -- and 350 yards rushing. Ugly -- The spread punt thing leads to another punt that is either blocked or run back for a score...... OK folks that is all the time I have, thanks for all the great questions, we'll chat next week.