The last Q&A from Paul Zeise for a few months. Topics include the defensive line, the size of the d-line, potentially redshirting John Pelusi, a question from RKohlberger (who just happened to e-mail me the link today) and this question.

Q: What is your take on the receivers and running backs?

Zeise: The fullback position is in great shape with Conredge Collins, but the tailback position to me is still a big question. LaRod Stephens-Howling is a great player, but I’m still not convinced he is an every down back. Shane Brooks showed some skills, but I’m not sure how fast he is as compared to the defensive players he’ll face. And Kevin Collier might be the second coming of Barry Sanders, but he’ll still be a freshman.

The receivers are a good group and I think by the time it all shakes out, could be a strength of the team. Oderick Turner can be very good, Kinder and Delsardo are consistent and the freshman class is loaded. Here is one name to remember from this recruiting class — Tamarcus Porter. From everything I know about him, he could be a big-time player.

The other part of the running game is still how the O-line does. If the offensive line can’t open a hole or even a crack, no back is going to do much.

There was also a question on how backup QB Bill Stull looked. Zeise called him inconsistent, which as he notes is not unexpected. It does segue nicely to this article from earlier in the week on Stull.

“This isn’t a story, it is a fact; I feel better right now about our quarterback position than at any point that I did last year,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “Tyler and Billy Stull both have a firm grasp on what we’re trying to do as an offense and, anytime you have guys like that, it will give you a better chance to score points

“[Stull] has gotten bigger, he’s gotten stronger and he has progressed physically and mentally since last year and that is a good sign. It is always nice to see a kid work hard to get better. Billy has, no question.”
…
“I think there is a different pressure,” Stull said. “I have always wanted to play in my hometown. I have the chance now and I think there is some more pressure because people recognize your name.

“When you have some success in high school around here, people always say, ‘OK, now what are you going to do in college?’ I feel that now and I understand that. It seems like that is the way it is playing football around here, you know, with the pressure and everything. But, I like that; I like that people want to push you to succeed.”

It will be something to keep an eye on in the fall, how much time Stull gets to play in games.

I don’t have a lot of sympathy for either side of this battle.

For 20 years, the owner of Tailgaters Bar in Harmar and his tailgating team partied in lots between PNC Park and Heinz Field. That changed last year, when a lot attendant told Paterak his pre-game festivities were taking up too much room, he said, “and forced us to park the motor home next to another motor home where we couldn’t open the door.”

Alco Parking Corp., which operates all the lots between the two stadiums, is trying to rein in super-sized tailgating parties by requiring oversized vehicle parking passes. Beginning next football season, Steelers fans with vehicles requiring more than one space will have to buy season parking passes for $1,440 — the equivalent of four spaces for each of 12 home games. That’s the equivalent of $120 per game. Single-day sales, however, will no longer will be available for oversized vehicles.

The Steelers currently have 10 home games scheduled — two in the preseason and eight during the regular season.

It was unclear last night why Alco listed 12 home games.

“Every year, I’m accused of killing tailgating,” said Merrill Stabile, Alco president. “It’s really a matter of crowd control.”

During past Steelers seasons, drivers of recreational vehicles, campers, vehicles pulling trailers, limousines, large trucks and others that don’t fit into a single space purchased multiple parking passes for $30 a space. The buyers decided how many to buy.

Many bought fewer spaces than their mammoth wagons could fit — most RVs need four — and then argued with lot managers who tried to collect for all spaces used, Stabile said.

Now, I have no doubt that the Alco people are not about “crowd control,” they are about making as much money as possible. Not even up for debate. They do their best to over-stuff as many vehicles into a lot as possible for the biggest price they can charge.

Having said that, tailgaters who want to park in the premium areas have to make a choice. Either sacrifice some space (or more cash) or sacrifice the convenience of being able to stumble into the stadium from a shorter distance.

I’m sure this will also have some impact for parking for Pitt games.

We tailgate at one of the lots that is further away (though it really doesn’t seem that big of a distance), and find it gives us more space to spread out. Our group has at least two cars, so we do the whole thing where we park and leave a space in between to set up the chairs, grill, coolers and table. Of course, the lot is rarely completely packed by the time we head into the game.

I worry about this because the tension seems to be increasing between the parking lot operators and the tailgaters, and I don’t like the odds that the police and politicians will side with the tailgaters. Tailgating has become a big operation, and for some extremely elaborate. The large majority don’t cause much of a problem.

At the same time, there seems to be a growing minority — or at least more awareness and attention given to them — of tailgaters who seem to treat the thing like their annual trip to see Jimmy Buffet. It’s their excuse (treated as if it’s some right) to get as drunk, stupid, bellicose and beligerent as they can. The game is just secondary.

I’m all in favor of the drunk part. I largely support stupid. Belicose and beligerant, however, are the problems. Those lead to the excuse for the parking lot operators and the police to crack down on everyone. That leads to further, insane neo-prohibitionist actions or cries for actions that is always “for the children.”

Everytime, some idiot runs on the field at a game or does something stupid in the stands, we have to hear the joyless sportswriters call for stricter and stricter alcohol bans. Because if it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t have stupid idiots at games. Just because they are on a deadline and can’t drink in the pressbox any longer, they think no one else should either. Mike Wilbon on “Pardon the Interruption” is the worst about this.

Stop beer sales after the 3rd quarter or after the 7th inning. Then it’s stop after halftime and the 5th inning. What happens when they get the full bans and people still do stupid crap? Then it will be calls for better policing in parking lots and at the gates. With or without alcohol, stupid people will do stupid things.

Both immediate and later for discussion. Another recruiting story on Hamady N’Diaye.

“Hamady N’Diaye had a great visit to Pittsburgh,” stated Stoneridge Preparatory School Head Basketball Coach Mike Mahoney. “He loved everything about it, especially the facilities. He thought their facilities were incredible.”

Hamady N’diaye has 25 scholarship offers. He has narrowed his choices to Pitt, Rutgers and Miami (FL). Scout.com ranks Hamady the 18th best center in the class of 2006. He has been a transient player moving from New Jersey to Florida to California.

“They really showed him a good time. He spent time with the coaches and players. I know they took him to a football practice and he thought that was really special.”

When asked about his impressions of Head Coach Jamie Dixon. Coach Mahoney replied, “He felt very comfortable with the entire staff. Of course he liked Coach Dixon. What’s not to like? He’s a great guy and Hamady enjoyed the time he spent with him.”

N’Diaye was expected to hold a press conference next week to announce his decision. Apparently his decision could come sooner than expected. “Hamady is going to sit down with his parents on Friday. He could have a decision at that time. I assume his decision will occur within the next day or so.”

As far as I understood things, Pitt only has one scholarship left to offer. N’Diaye may or may not have been formally offered, and Pitt is still waiting for word from Tyler Smith.

Smith and his family indicated before the start of the late signing period that they were going to take their time. So far there has been nothing to suggest he is going to announce in the next couple of days or even week.

Two players with different timetables for deciding where they are headed. If N’Diaye wants to come to Pitt, does Coach Dixon take him and give up on Smith? Or do they try to keep N’Diaye from deciding while waiting for Smith or simply take the risk to wait on Smith?

This weekend at Pitt is an AAU Tournament. Pitt gets to put its facilities on display for some top national talent.

This weekend, Western Pennsylvania basketball fans will get an up-close glimpse at the nation’s top-ranked junior when O.J. Mayo plays for the D1 Greyhounds in the Pittsburgh JamFest 17-and-under AAU tournament at Pitt.

Mayo, a 6-foot-5 guard from Cincinnati’s North College Hill High School, is a two-time Mr. Basketball in Ohio who is regarded as a future No. 1 overall NBA Draft choice.

“It’s exciting that he’s coming,” said Pryor, a sophomore swingman from Jeannette who plays for the Pittsburgh JOTS. “Him and his teammate (Billy Walker), they can play. It’s like NBA players playing in high school. I’ve watched him so many times. He just dominates people. It’s unbelievable. I want to play against him.”

Pryor might get his chance if the JOTS — which also features Schenley’s DeJuan Blair, Jamaal Bryant and D.J. Kennedy and Aliquippa’s Herb Pope — reach Sunday’s 4 p.m. final at Petersen Events Center.

Tickets for the game are $7, and if you are a fan of spotting people in the stands, this should be loaded with NCAA basketball coaches. The event is approved by the NCAA, so the coaches can attend. They just can’t have any direct contact with the players. They will be there with the express goal of being seen by the kids.