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Q: I'm not for scheduling a bunch of cupcakes, but playing Utah on the road is a tough way to start the season. How do you think Tino Sunseri and the revamped offensive line are going to stack up against the Utes defense? How much of a factor is inexperience going to be?

Steve S., State College

ZEISE: Inexperience is going to be a huge factor at both quarterback and offensive line for the Panthers, with the exception perhaps of left guard Chris Jacobson.

To be honest, I'm less worried about Sunseri than the offensive line because Pitt's offense is such that the quarterback isn't asked to do much other than manage the game, protect the football and make a throw or two down the field to keep the defense honest. Two of Pitt's biggest wins in recent history were at WVU in 2007 and at Notre Dame in 2008 -- and between those two games the quarterback made a grand total of about four plays, and that might be being generous. As long as Sunseri isn't throwing the ball to the other team and he's giving his receivers a chance to make some plays, he'll be fine. That is all they are asking him to do.

The offensive line, well, with as much heat as they'll face from as many different angles as Utah will bring it -- let's just say it could be a long night at the office for guys who haven't seen it before.

Q: My impression from the reporting is that the offense is struggling to find itself. Could it be that in reality, the Pitt defense is really that good and once the offense faces a lesser defense, things will come together?

John Ogle, Waterford Works, N.J.

ZEISE: No, I don't buy that theory. Last year I did, but this year, with Greg Romeus out for camp, a relatively new starter at middle linebacker, Jabaal Sheard getting lots of reps and two new starters at defensive tackle, this defense was finding itself throughout camp as well.

The key to me is this --- there were plenty of plays to be made in many of the practices which weren't -- and that had nothing to do with the defense.

Now, if you want to tell me the offense will be better once the games begin because Dion Lewis and Jon Baldwin will play at full speed (both were extremely limited during camp for obvious reasons) I might -- might -- buy it. But I still need to see this offensive line rise to the occasion against a defensive front like Utah has before I am ready to agree with the premise that the offense will get better as the season goes on. I'm not saying it won't, but I am saying the jury is still out on it.

Q: Paul, you mentioned in one of your blogs about the depth of the offensive line. What about the depth of the defensive line this year? Is there much of a talent drop off between first and second team D-lines?

Kevin Oleska, Johnstown

ZEISE: The defensive line depth is as follows ...

There are four defensive ends -- Romeus, Sheard, Nate Nix and Brandon Lindsey -- who have proven to coaches they are capable of playing at a high level and being productive.

There is another defensive end, Justin Hargrove, who had a great camp but probably has to prove it in a game situation before he is trusted enough to be in the rotation and a sixth player, Shayne Hale, who has ability but the light hasn't seem to have gone on yet.

So there is clearly a rotation of about four guys at the two defensive end spots but obviously the drop from the first two to the second two is significant.

At defensive tackle, there are five players between the two spots -- Myles Caragein, Chas Alecxih, Aaron Donald, Tyrone Ezell and Tyler Tkach -- but I'll be surprised if the rotation goes that deep as Caragein and Alecxih are going to carry a lot of the load until the two younger kids, Donald and Ezell, are really ready.

So the depth is fine along the defensive line, and while the second unit is still pretty good, there is a clear drop-off from the first unit.

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