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Football
Big Ten Preview - Number three - Penn State
By Tony "88" GerdemanPredicted Finish 10-2 (6-2)
Two-Cent Overview
The Nittany Lions will be breaking in an entirely new starting backfield, but they'll be choosing from experienced candidates. The receivers have been here since Penn State joined the Big Ten and the offensive line returns four starters. The defensive line loses some defensive tackles to attrition, but there are still playmakers here. The defensive ends will get to the quarterbacks and the linebackers will be able to clean up any messes left. There are three quality candidates for two cornerback spots and the safeties will be manned by veterans as well. The special teams should be a plus as well, though kicker Kevin Kelly is only 9-24 on field goals from 40 yards and beyond.
Schedule
Aug. 30 Coastal Carolina (W)
Sept. 6 Oregon State (W)
Sept. 13 at Syracuse (W)
Sept. 20 Temple (W)
Sept. 27 Illinois (W)
Oct. 4 at Purdue (W)
Oct. 11 at Wisconsin (L)
Oct. 18 Michigan (W)
Oct. 25 at Ohio State (L)
Nov. 8 at Iowa (W)
Nov. 15 Indiana (W)
Nov. 22 Michigan State (W)Goal
Big Ten Championship. The depth and experience is here on both sides of the ball, and as long as the quarterback situation doesn't doom them, they can match up with any opponent on their schedule.
Five Questions Looking For Answers
1. Will the quarterback job be won, or just be given to somebody?
2. How good can the running back tandem of Evan Royster and Stephfon Green be?
3. How does this defense replace linebackers Sean Lee and Dan Connor?
4. Is this Joe Paterno's last season?
5. Why not?Something To Look For
The "Spread HD" offense. This is what Jay Paterno has dubbed the new offense being run by the Nittany Lions. He explains it as the "next generation" of the spread offense, and if anybody is qualified to guide something that is "next generation", it's Jay Paterno.
Returning Starters
Seven on offense, eight on defense and both kicking specialists.
Best Player
Defensive End Maurice Evans. Evans started as a true sophomore last season and responded with 12.5 sacks. He is now stronger, smarter and more experienced, so there's no telling what kind of havoc he is going to wreak on the Big Ten this season. The opposing offenses will always have to know where Evans is, which should allow the defensive tackle on his side to have a bit easier time than normal. Evans is the type of defensive end that makes everybody on the team better.
Second-Best Player
Center A.Q. Shipley. As a redshirt freshman in 2005, Shipley started out as a reserve interior lineman before being asked to move to defense for the final five games, where he proceeded to notch a couple of sacks. Fortunately for the Nittany Lion offensive line, he was moved back to offense as a sophomore and has been the starting center ever since. He has carried the same tenacity that he had on defense over to offense and it gives this veteran offensive line an identity that they all try to live by. He is the unquestioned leader of this unit.
Best Chance For a Big Loss
At Ohio State. Penn State hasn't won in Columbus since 1978, and since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten, the Buckeyes have beaten them in Columbus by a combined score of 197-51 in seven meetings.
Most Important Game
Michigan. The Wolverines have won nine-straight against the Nittany Lions and with the current situation in Ann Arbor, if Penn State can't beat Michigan this year, they may as well call it quits when Joe Paterno does.
Best Road Game To Pack Up The Family Truckster And Travel To
At Iowa. Imagine the arguments you could get into discussing who the most renegade program in the Big Ten is.
Best Reason They Won't Be Undefeated
They play Ohio State and Michigan. If you skipped the two blurbs about their history with the Buckeyes and Wolverines above, you may want to go back up and read over them.
Best Reason They Will Be Undefeated
They are very good up front on both sides of the ball. Even though two defensive tackles with starting experience were booted from the team, they still return two defensive tackles who have also started several games in their careers. Jared Odrick (seven starts last season) and Ollie Ogbu (six starts) will likely comprise the first team, and both are very talented. However, behind them there are depth issues. The defensive ends are explosive and disruptive, and there is good depth here. Penn State can roll out four defensive ends throughout the game, and all will contribute. And then there's the offensive line featuring the return of four starters. Three of those linemen garnered post-season recognition last season in center A.Q. Shipley (1st Team All-Big Ten), left guard Rich Ohrnberger (2nd Team) and left tackle Gerald Cadogan (Honorable Mention).
Game They Shouldn't Lose, But Could
At Iowa. Who knows what to expect from Iowa, but one thing we do know, at some point this season, they will play a complete game and chances are, it'll come when we least expect it.
Player People Are Expecting Too Much From
Quarterback Darryl Clark. Now that the Nittany Lions are going back to the type of offense that they used in 2005, and Darryl Clark is a quarterback with mobility, the Michael Robinson comparisons have been flowing. Before we anoint Clark, let's remember that this is the same guy that couldn't beat out Anthony Morelli for the last two seasons--or at least wasn't allowed to. And let us also not forget that Michael Robinson's 2005 season kind of came out of nowhere and with no expectations. Darryl Clark hasn't been afforded the same luxury. He will play well, but the fact that he will constantly be compared to Robinson will be a disservice to his contribution.
Player People Will Be Pleasantly Surprised By
Running Back Evan Royster. We got to see a little bit of Evan Royster last season as a redshirt freshman. In a backup role, he finished with 518 yards rushing and five touchdowns, averaging a team-high 6.3 yards per carry. This season his role obviously increases, as it should. Royster is big, fast and extremely smooth when he's running. He is a quality north and south runner and doesn't waste a lot of time looking from side to side. If he doesn't rush for over 1,000 yards this season, it was simply by design, because the talent is definitely there.
Best Newcomer
Running Back Stephfon Green. If Royster doesn't rush for 1,000 yards this season, Stephfon Green will be the reason why. Green looks to be the ultimate change of pace back in this offense. He is supremely fast, as evidenced in Penn State's spring game when his first touch went around the end and down the sideline for a 57-yard touchdown. Green's ability demands carries, but how many carries he can handle may be a question--he never had more than twelve carries in any high school game.
Something They Do Well
Stop the run. Penn State hasn't allowed an average of more than 100 yards rushing per game since 2004. With the losses up the middle of the front seven, it will be a major challenge to continue such a feat. However, there is a lot to work with, and while it may be a work in progress, you can expect the finished product in November to be much better than the version we will see in September.
Something They Don't Do So Well
Get yards after the catch. For the most part, the wide receivers on this team are basically chain-moving possession receivers. There is little yardage gained after the catch and it's been that way for a while now. Much of this can be pinned on a quarterback who's accuracy was nomadic at best. In the offense we will see this year, which will feature more precise routes and, perhaps, shorter routes, more will be required of the receivers after the catch. In a spread offense, many times, all a receiver is asked to do is beat one man after the catch. The Nittany Lions should be able to do this, they just haven't really shown the ability to do it consistently yet.
What's Improved?
The quarterbacking. Addition by subtraction. As a mobile quarterback, Darryl Clark doesn't have to just stand there and take a sack when his receivers don't get open--he can run. And even if his accuracy wanes, the fact that he's not a statue with a pulse automatically makes this offense better.
What's Gotten Worse?
The linebacking. Nobody loses linebackers like Dan Connor and Sean Lee and comes out the better, not even a university that datedly calls itself "Linebacker U". The only starter from last season to return is outside linebacker Tyrell Sales. Sales has talked about becoming a leader this season, and so far, things seem good. But the games haven't started yet, and there are still plenty of questions here.
Anything Else We Should Know About?
Middle Linebacker Josh Hull grew up 25 miles from Happy Valley and dreamed of becoming a Nittany Lion. He decided against going the lower division route and instead chose to walk-on at Penn State. Last season as a redshirt sophomore, he backed up Dan Connor in the middle and also saw spot duty at both outside spots. He was finally given a scholarship this summer and is currently looking like the opening day starter at middle linebacker for Penn State. (Who would have ever thought it would be somebody's dream to one day meet Chris Wells head-on at the line of scrimmage?)
Anything Else?
Wide Receiver Derek Moye. With a gaggle of receivers who are 6'0" and under, Derek Moye is the exception. At 6'5", Moye poses a problem that no other wide receiver on this team does. If tight end Andrew Quarless is not reinstated, Moye could become the big target down the middle of the field the team needs, and perhaps also an easier target to find in the red zone.
One Prediction
The Nittany Lions will beat an SEC team in their bowl game...again.
Did you know (Media Guide factoid)
In its history, Penn State has had 91 first team All-Americans -- many of them actually deserved.
Coach Speak
What Joe Paterno says when asked about Joe Tiller's retirement: "But he knows, he keeps telling me he wants to fish. I said, 'Fish? For crying out loud! You catch three of them, you look at one and they all look alike, what the hell?'"
What Joe Paterno means when asked about Joe Tiller's retirement: "I hate fishing and everything it stands for. Unless, of course, there were no two fish that looked alike. Then it would be fun."
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