How about some insight on Pittsburgh. The biggest questions on the offensive side of the football for the Panthers is the new QB Tino Sunseri and 3 members of his offensive line. Here’s a good read from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on those issues from Monday. Sunseri will be making his first career start at Rice Eccles on Thursday night. If he has any success much of the credit will go to his Offensive Coordinator, Frank Cignetti.

Here’s a quick scouting report on the Panthers, their roster and schedule.

I’ve been calling RSL matches since Day One with this franchise and I’ve seen and called some very tough losses and disappointing results, but nothing like what happened tonight in Mexico City.

RSL was on the precipice of doing something that had never been done in American Soccer and Champions League History…Winning on Mexican Soil. Never had an American or MLS team won in Mexico. And after 75 rain soaked minutes in Mexico, RSL led 3-1 and looked like it would not only make history but make it 6 pts in 2 matches in Group A play. What happened over the final 15 minutes and change can either be called one of the great comebacks or collapses in recent memory depending on your perspective.

Cruz Azul scored 4 goals in the final 15 minutes and stoppage time to defeat RSL. Afterwards Head Coach Jason Kreis was shocked and disappointed at what he saw transpire South of the Border.

“That’s gravely disappointing, and it’s not like our team,” said coach Jason Kreis of the collapse. “After we went through a good end of the season last year and won the championship, I feel that we’re a mature team that typically doesn’t make mistakes like that.”

The good news (if there is such a thing in a 5-4 loss) is that RSL was the better team and outplayed Cruz Azul for the first 75 minutes of the match, the bad news is that they couldn’t finish off the match, with a 2 goal lead in the final 15 minutes.

As it now stands, everyone in Group A has 3 points after two rounds of play. Each Team holding serve at home. RSL heads back into league play Saturday night against Toronto FC. It will be interesting to see how RSL rebounds mentally on the road,  North of the Border.

With 7 days remaining until the opener against Pitt next Thursday I wish I was talking strictly about the game, but I want to set the  record straight on a couple of Utah newcomers that have been “dissed” by a local media member, who should know better. First up is JC transfer and starting Left Tackle John Cullen. Contrary to what some have said (not me) Cullen has had a good fall camp for the Utes. He steps into some big shoes left by Denver Bronco Zane Beadles, but with that said Cullen (according to multiple coaches I spoke too) has done everything that has been asked of him by the Coaching Staff. Is he a finished product yet? No, not yet. But he is the best guy for the job and the Coaching Staff expects big things this season and next from Cullen. The Coaches hope that Cullen can add another 15 lbs to his extremely athletic frame as the season goes along.

The 2nd Player is Walk-On Wide Receiver Griff McNabb. McNabb, who was a break out star in the Spring, has continued where he left off in the Spring by catching everything thrown his way and making a difference on Special Teams in Punt Returns. McNabb won’t likely crack the Top 3 receivers, but expect him to be among the Top 5 or 6 and play a role in the Utah Passing Game this season.

Now a quick thought or two on the Pitt Panthers…The Utes will face the best combination of Defensive Ends in the Country in the opener, with Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard.  If you’d like a little info on that Pitt Defensive Line, here’s  good read for you…

Ute Freshman Kenneth Scott had surgery on his ankle. The rehab will likely last most of the fall. Scott will likely be ready for Spring Football.

Just a quick reminder for you…The Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show makes its 2010 debut next Tuesday at 7pm at Trolley Square. Come on out have some dinner and drinks and talk some Utah Football with Coach!

My friend and colleague, Chris Tunis, died Monday afternoon following a valiant and long battle with Cancer. Tuner, as most of us called him, never let the horrible disease take his kindness or spirit from him. Just a couple of weeks ago I saw him and his wife Julie at the SLC Jewish Community Center. It was apparent that the Cancer had ravaged his body, but not his mind or spirit. As always, he greeted me with a smile and asked how I was. It was never about work or himself, always about others. Chris couldn’t wait to tell me how anxious he was to get back to calling the University of Utah women’s games on ESPN 700 this season. You see, Tuner was the rarest of breeds in the modern media game, he didn’t care about fame or fortune. Nope, for Chris it was about the love of radio and being around the games, coaches and kids.

I met Chris Tunis 9 years ago when I moved to Salt Lake City. I worked at KSL Radio at the time, one of the stops along Tuner’s career path. He reached out to me and introduced himself early on and in typical Tuner fashion offered his assistance in helping me in my transition to the market. Over the years we became colleagues and friends. I can honestly tell you that as good and honest a media guy as he was, he was a better person. In my 9 years here in Utah, never a negative word have I ever heard uttered about Chris Tunis. I can’t tell you how rare that is today in our business or anyone’s.

54 years is simply too short a time for someone, who was so kind and had so much to give. But I’m thankful (like everyone who knew him) to have had a portion of those 54 years in my life. Thank you for your friendship and professionalism Tuner. I’m a better person for having known and worked with you.

This morning I got my first look at Star Lotulelei, the JC Transfer DT. He’s is enormous and Kyle Whittingham says he’s lost more than 30 lbs in the last couple of months. Lotulelei was on the stationary bike most of practice today and still has a few things to do to before he can get on the field.

Special teams locked in right now. Joe Phillips was perfect (4-4) FG’s with a long of 48 yds. Nick Marsh will handle kickoffs and missed his only FG attempt. Sean Sellwood has had a strong camp punting the ball too. In the return game, Whittingham says he’s got 3 he’s looking at with kickoffs-Smithson, Dunn, Brooks and on punts it’s just 2 guys right now: Smithson and Griff McNabb (who might have the best hands on the team).

Players that Impressed this morning-

1. Terrance Cain-Has been so very good through the entire fall camp. Again today was on the money. (14-18) 227 yds and 2 TD’s.

2. Devonte Christopher-Is beginning to look like the play maker we’ve expected him to be. He made a 45 yd catch in traffic today, taking the ball away from the defender. He would be #4 on my WR depth chart right now, behind Brooks, Matthews and Smithson.

3. Chad Mannis-The converted QB/Linebacker, continues to have a solid fall camp. Big Interception of Jordan Wynn in the end zone.

If you’d like to listen to post scrimmage interviews they are up in the audio vault at espn700sports.com Today’s interviews include: Lamar Chapman, Eddie Wide, Kyle Whittingham and Kalani Sitake.

I got my first look at the newest Ute, Wide Receiver Dexter Ransom. Ransom is the biggest WR on the roster right now at 6-4 220 pounds. Ransom’s story is very similar to that of former Ute Gabe Long. He was committed to Arizona, but due to grade complications he wasn’t able to get in with the Wildcats in enough time, so when the scholarship wasn’t there he contacted Morgan Scalley, who had recruited Ransom at Blinn Community College. Ransom played one season with Terrance Cain at Blinn CC. He told me he runs at (4.5) 40 yard and expects to be up to speed with the Utah Offense in just a few days.

Injury Issues for the Utes:

WR Kenneth Scott injured his right ankle/foot in practice this morning and was on crutches by the end of practice. He was joined on crutches by Damien Payne and JJ Williams.

Tomorrow with be Utah’s final “Double Day” practice session. The Utes will hold their final scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday at Rice Eccles  Stadium.

Audio from this morning’s practice is available in the audio vault at espn700sports.com. Today we have Kyle Whittingham, Sealver Siliga and Dexter Ransom.

On the offensive side of the football, it was a good Monday for a couple of veterans of the Utah Offense. For the first time in Camp this fall, I saw the big play ability of Devonte Christopher, who caught a long TD pass. Christopher is still in the top 6 WR’s right now according to Coach Whittingham. Matt Asiata also made his first big appearance of Fall Camp, with some impressive runs and runs after catches this morning. It’s the first time this fall that I’ve seen the explosiveness out of Asiata that we saw before the injury last year.

Tuesday will see the Utes in their 2nd scrimmage of the Fall. Expect the starters to see more reps and time on Tuesday morning according to Kyle Whittingham.

Audio from today can be heard in the audio vault at espn700sports.com. Today we have Kyle Whittingham, Griff McNabb and Brian Blechen

Jordan Wynn and the 1st team offense looked sharp in 11 on 11 drills. Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata shared reps with the 1st team offense. The Top 3 Wide Receivers continue to be Brooks, Matthews and Smithson. Whittingham had the officials calling things tight in the secondary this morning and as a result there were a ton of flags on the field against the secondary. Coach Whitt said that he had seen too much grabbing and clutching by the Utah Secondary over the last few days of practice.

Players that caught my eye this morning

1. Jordan Wynn-He’s the #1 QB on the depth chart, but I thought he was exceptionally sharp this morning in both 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 drills.

2. Brad Clifford-The Tight End, who is battling Kendrick Moeai for the #1 spot, made a long TD grab and out ran the safeties to the end zone. Clifford, who had 2 TD catches in the scrimmage Thursday, continues to play well in camp.

3. Matt Asiata-For the first time in this Fall Camp, Asiata has jumped out and stood out running the ball on the edge. Asiata’s strength and toughness is rarely in question, but today he showed good burst on the outside.

4. Luke Matthews-Got behind the defense on multiple occasions and made some good grabs in traffic today.

5. Boo Andersen-With JJ Williams out with a foot injury. The Sophomore from Alta HS seems to be making the most of his chances. Made a couple of big plays against the run and got after the QB’s well too.

Whittingham lightened things up at the end of practices today. Allowing the linemen and returners to try to catch balls launched out of the JUGGS Machine from roughly 90-100 yards away. After each lineman and return man missed the ball, Brandon Burton caught the final attempt and kept the team from running “gassers”, which Whittingham said they were going to run anyway.

Injury Issues

1. JJ Williams-Foot injury. Continues to wear a protective boot. Whittingham hopes to have him back sometime next week.

2. John Cullen-Knee soreness. Practiced in the Pit today. He’s day to day.

3. Latu Heimuli-Has a sore foot.

Nothing new to report on the academic status of Star Lotulelei, the JC Defensive Tackle from Snow College. Whittingham hopes to have some news soon.

You can listen to Coach Kyle Whittingham’s post practice comments in our audio vault at espn700sports.com

It’s not often over the course of a season that you get an extremely meaningful and potentially nasty match in Major League Soccer, but I think tonight’s match at Rio Tinto will be just that. Real Salt Lake (2009 MLS Cup Champs) host the Columbus Crew (2008 MLS Cup Champs). RSL also happened to eliminate the Crew from last year’s playoffs on their way to the MLS Title. This hasn’t sat well with Columbus, who have had nothing good to say about RSL and their Championship.

The Crew are a team beat up with injures right now. Robert Warzycha will not have the services of Robbie Rogers, Andy Iro, Eddie Gaven, Gino Padula or Brian Carroll. RSL should be at full strength tonight.

Here’s my guess at the Columbus lineup: GK Hesmer, DF Francis, Brunner, Marshall, Hejduk, MF Ekpo, O’Rourke, Moffat, Renteria, F Schelotto, Lenhart

Pre Game coverage at 6:00 and kickoff at 7:00 tonight on ESPN 700.

Guys that didn’t see action today included Sealver Siliga and Jeremy Brooks. Whittingham held them out just because he knew what he had in them. Matt Asiata was in uniform but didn’t carry the ball in the scrimmage.

Only a couple of injuries of note. Offensive Lineman Tavita Stevens went down in a red zone drill with a right leg injury. After the scrimmage, Kyle Whittingham said he didn’t believe is was a serious injury and that Stevens should be just fine. Also, linebacker JJ Williams is dealing with a slight foot injury, but should be just fine too.

Players that stood out in the Scrimmage:

1. Wide Out Reggie Dunn-6 catches 83 yards and a touchdown. His speed and hands are outstanding. He is also in the running to be on kick and punt returns.

2. Wide Out Griff McNabb-5 catches 75 yards and a touchdown. The Spring sensation continues to impress. Jordan Wynn looked to him on five straight plays in the 2 minute offense.

3. Tauni Vakapuna-Fui’s little brother had a 92 yard TD run, with a total of 123 yards on 7 carries. Whittingham loves the kid and thinks he would be the 4th running back right now.

4. TE Brad Clifford-2 TD catches and the best tight end in today’s scrimmage.

5. Damien Payne-The Freshman came up with one of the few defensive highlights of the morning, with an interception of Griff Robles.

Random Notes:

1. Shakerin to0k most of the 1st team reps at running back today. He looked very quick and explosive in space. Eddie Wide saw early action then spent most of the rest of the scrimmage watching.

2. Kicker Joe Phillips continues to be rock solid. His day included a 49 yard field goal in live action.

3. Talking to Defensive Coordinator Kalani Sitake after the scrimmage, he told me that he’s a big fan of the offense and isn’t disappointed in his defenses’ effort. He’d just like to see a few more big plays.

Audio from today’s scrimmage is available in our audio vault at espn700sports.com. Players include Luke Matthews, Brad Clifford, Zane Taylor and Kyle Whittingham.