By Mr. Thursday Night
The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off a 10-2 season in which they were the most over-rated team in the country. A loss to Iowa and beatdown by USC exposed Penn State as the fraud that they were.
Coach Joe Paterno only returns four starters on defense, but that does not include linebacker Sean Lee. Lee was supposed to be the superstar on the defensive side of the ball, but missed the entire season with an injury. With Lee back in action and the return of Navorro Bowman and Josh Hull, Penn State will have one of the most dominating group of linebackers in the nation. What else would one expect from Linebacker U? The offensive backfield should be in good shape as well. Quarterback Daryll Clark and running backs Evan Royster and Stephfon Green are now proven players who are ready to take the next step.
The problem on both sides of the ball is in the trenches. Two of the four returning starters on defense are linemen, but this is a team that lost ends Aaron Maybin, Maurice Evans and Josh Gaines. Those three accounted for 19 sacks and an incredible 31.5 tackles-for-loss. What happens to the rest of the defense, especially the new and inexperienced secondary, when the front line cannot get pressure on the opposing backfield? The same problem can occur on the other side of the ball. Center A.Q. Shipley was a coach on the field and guard Rich Ohrnberger and tackle Gerald Cadogan were experienced linemen. Tackle Dennis Landolt is back and guard Stefen Wisniewski has the potential to be one of the best in the conference, but it is very possible that this line will need some time to come together.
The schedule is favorable for Penn St. with 4 non-conference cupcakes and getting Iowa and Ohio St. in Happy Valley. I've got the Nittany Lions pegged for 4-0, 6-2 in Big Ten play, good for a 10-2 mark and another New Years Day Bowl game.
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