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As soon as it was mentioned that Greg Cross ran for a 17-yard touchdown on his first college carry, Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh had a glib response.

"You guys were right all along," Cavanaugh said. "We should have been playing him all season."

Cavanaugh is well aware of the catcalls from Pitt fans wondering why it took three games to get the fleet-footed quarterback involved in the Panthers' offense and what has happened to the direct-snap Wildcat package.

The instant success of Cross, coupled with the Miami Dolphins unveiling the Wildcat for six plays that accounted for 119 yards and five touchdowns in ending the New England Patriots' 21-game regular-season win streak Sunday, has only opened Cavanaugh to more second-guessing.

Yet, Cavanaugh stood by his convictions Wednesday that Bill Stull deserves to be Pitt's starting quarterback, that Cross will be used when situations allow and the Wildcat isn't the answer to what ails an offense that ranks last in the Big East in rushing yards per game (123.3).

After spending 25 seasons in the NFL as a player and coach, Cavanaugh believes the Wildcat isn't going to last long in the league.

"If you pull that out of nowhere - much like our Michigan State game last year - it's tough to adjust to. It sounds like (the Dolphins) got some big plays out of it," said Cavanaugh, who spent 11 seasons as an NFL assistant coach, eight as an offensive coordinator. "I'm sure it's not going to be the rage. I'm sure every team in the NFL has asked for a copy of that game and is going to watch it and start preparing for it. I'm sure that's what Miami wanted to do, spring it on somebody and make them prepare for it."

That's not to say Cross won't become more involved in Pitt's offense, possibly out of the Wildcat.

Cavanaugh said the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior from Brunswick, Ga. - who spent the past two seasons at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College - will be used in "specific" situations like he was against Iowa.

Cross entered the game in the first quarter alongside Stull on a third-and-6 at the Iowa 17. When the Hawkeyes showed a passive look, Stull went in motion and Cross moved over to take a shotgun snap. Right guard John Malecki blocked the defensive tackle, center Robb Houser took out the middle linebacker and the perimter was sealed as Cross dodged four defenders on his way to the end zone.

Although Pitt hasn't unveiled the Wildcat this season, Cavanaugh didn't dismiss the notion that the Panthers could use it when the time is right. Where LeSean "Shady" McCoy took the snaps out of the unbalanced formation last season, Cross is more likely to handle them this time. But Cavanaugh warned that the Wildcat won't replace the West Coast as Pitt's base offense, mostly because of the physical pounding the quarterback endures.

"I would think the best way to do that is with a real athletic quarterback who you don't mind running the football because he's going to get hit - a lot - but he's got the ability to pull the football out and throw it," Cavanaugh said. "I think (Cross) is probably more adept at running the Wildcat right now. He's more of a good runner. You expose your quarterbacks to hits that Shady's used to taking, not a quarterback. If you're going to do it and you mix it in for four or five snaps a game, you do it. If it becomes a bigger part of the offense, you're probably better off with a back."

Not if McCoy has anything to say about it.

"I don't want to do that no more," McCoy said. "A guy like Greg, who can run and pass, he can do that. You can put me and LaRod (Stephens-Howling) with him. We can do more damage. ... "It hasn't been called yet, but if it is we'll run it."

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