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Q: I was able to attend the ND/Pitt game this past weekend. I had a question about a specific play that I thought could have been the turning point. I believe it was 27-9 and Ricky Gary was just taken off the field due to injury. It was 3rd and 16 or so. Pitt, for the first time the whole game, only rushed 3. N.D. ended up picking up the 1st down and eventually scored a touchdown. Did we go to only 3 rushers because they wanted to provide max coverage because two CBs were out. What was the thinking? At the time, I thought it was a horrible decision because we were dominating their line.

Chris Tabay, Hamilton, N.J.

ZEISE: No, that was just their standard dime package (it is officially called something else by Pitt but it is a dime) and in that package they have the three-man rush and either five or six defensive backs depending on the other team's packages (three or four wides). And it is a package that has worked well for them to be honest. I think way too much is made about the fact that they don't blitz or that they go to these coverage packages. Every so often the other teams, especially teams with the kind of firepower Notre Dame has, will make some plays. But the Panthers defense has been pretty good down the stretch and if you notice has given up very few big plays, particularly in the passing game, the past five or six weeks. They get sacks, they cover well, they keep the ball in front of them and they do it without having to overextend themselves with blitzes when they don't need to. Sometimes you need to bring pressure, but Pitt, this year, with that defensive line, has proven week in and week out that it can finally play the style of defense Dave Wannstedt prefers and have a lot of success. Now, against WVU, we might see a few more blitzes, just because that is what has been successful against the Mountaineers the past two years, but even in that game, I doubt it.

Q: I see a really positive trend in the maturity of this team Paul. I have noticed in this six game win streak, the team has had less penalties. Aside from the absurd 4 or 5 pass interference calls against them in the Syracuse game has this team matured through this year?

Andy Burtt, Monroe, Ga.

ZEISE: Yes, the maturity factor is key to the success. And while there are a lot of signs of it on the field -- the lack of penalties, the composure, the lack of panic, the lack of making key mistakes and turnovers -- where it really shows up is during the week. This team is all business. A lot of us media types often say this team is one of the most fun Pitt teams to watch in recent history - but one of the most boring to cover. And by boring, I mean, they are focused, they are serious and they don't say much of anything during the week. It is just all business with this group. They practice hard, they are focused and a couple of the guys who are seniors have set the tone by making it clear that anything less than a Big East championship will be a failure.

Q: I have one more about the Big East BCS berth -- If Pitt loses to WVU, then beats the Bearcats, how could we get the BCS nod? Even if we beat Cincinnati, wouldn't the Bearcats still be higher ranked than us in the BCS standings with only one loss? The same type of scenerio happened when Pitt won the Big East game at South Florida to win the Fiesta Bowl berth.

Joe P., Pittsburgh

ZEISE: No it is not the same as 2004 for this reason -- if Pitt loses to WVU and beats Cincinnati the Panthers and Bearcats will stand alone atop the Big East with 6-1 conference records. The number one tie-breaker for a TWO-WAY tie is the head-to-head matchup so Pitt would win the tie-breaker via a win over Cincinnati. In 2004, there was a FOUR-WAY tie so the tie-breaker became the BCS standings.

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