PITTSBURGH — The message delivered by Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti to their quarterback was a strong one following the 31-3 loss to Miami: Get better, or changes might be made.

Tino Sunseri got the message.

As the Panthers (3-3, 1-0 in Big East) head into their second conference game Saturday against Rutgers (4-2, 1-0), Sunseri isn't the cautious, apprehensive quarterback he was only a month ago. He's improved greatly in a short time, and so has the Pittsburgh offense.

Since being benched against Miami after going 8 of 15 for 61 yards, Sunseri has completed 59-of-86 passes for 722 yards, six touchdowns and one interception during a close loss at Notre Dame and easy victories against Syracuse and Florida International.

"It looks like Sunseri is really starting to feel comfortable in that offense," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "Unfortunately for us, it kind of times up right when we are playing them."

By spreading the ball among eight receivers the last two games, Sunseri is taking some of the pressure off running backs Ray Graham and Dion Lewis to carry an offense that was run-heavy when the season started.

"The most encouraging thing to me is that he's protecting the football," Wannstedt said. "He's getting the ball out quick under a lot of pressure and he's not forcing it. When you can come out of the game and not have any turnovers, we're going to have a chance to win every week."

Wannstedt cautioned when the season started that Sunseri needed time to settle into the position. The redshirt sophomore threw only 17 passes last season, getting precious little work behind all-Big East quarterback Bill Stull.

Pitt's difficult nonconference schedule didn't help, and the losses to Utah and Miami may have shaken his confidence; Utah won 27-24 after Sunseri threw an interception in overtime.

Sunseri started looking more comfortable while hooking up with Jon Baldwin on nine completions for 111 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame. Sunseri followed that up by throwing for four touchdowns against Syracuse, each one to a receiver who made his first career touchdown catch.