Paterno presser quick hits

Joe Paterno was surprisingly jovial at his first weekly press conference of the season. While he gave the typical "we have a long way to go" angle to most questions, Paterno was uncharacteristically direct in most of his answers, including giving the media what they wanted to hear. Let's go over some of the more interesting points from today.

• Jerome Hayes is just fine. He's been kept out of the lengthy stuff, to avoid becoming too tired. He's playing in a stand-up defensive end role.

• AJ Wallace is hanging around the dog house door, and could come out soon. He might play Saturday, but definitely won't start. Joe explained why:

"I'm not sure what we're going to do with A.J. I had put some rules down that he had to get certain grades, which he got in the summertime. I had to put some other rules down. He's abided by them. He may end up playing some on Saturday. "

• In Joe's first opportunity to talk about the secondary, he didn't say they were lousy.

"
I think the other corners will work out to be good. None of them have had a lot of experience in ballgames except for Wallace, but they're healthy and they've been getting better all the time. So I think they'll be okay... But it will be a challenge for the secondary."

That's about as much praise as you'll hear from Joe during the preseason, especially about a unit that has been universally seen as a liability.

• Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain is very good. Joe knows this. So should everyone else who watch the game Saturday. Not only does he return his receivers, but nearly the whole offensive line.

• Joe's been rooting for Andrew Quarless to live up to his potential. Now, he might actually do it.

"Andrew Quarless, hopefully he's grown up. He did a lot of silly things when he first came into the program. But, so far so good."

• Like he did with the secondary, Joe actually had positive things to say about the development of the offensive line.

"I think the offensive line's made great strides. But, until they get in the football game, until they have to make some adjustments...The tough thing about an opening game is you're not quite sure what you're going to see."

He said that at this point, things are looking much better, but not perfect.

• Joe is still worried about the backup quarterbacks.

"One of the problems we have in an opening game is we're not quite sure what they're going to get defensively. So you have to throw a lot of stuff at them (the QBs). "If they do this, we do this. If they do that, we do this." That kind of stuff."

He had "I hope we don't have to play them for real" in his voice.

• Gotta love how he described how he feels about this year's receivers, who have a big job to do.

"[Y]ou can carry on intelligent conversation with them and make the right kind of adjustments."

Basically, they're young, but have the talent and minds.

• Joe didn't want to commit to anything, but we'll probably see Green and Royster in the same backfield.

• Chaz Powell and Stephfon Green will return kickoffs, and Evan Royster (yes, Royster!) will return punts, along with Drew Astorino. My money's on Astorino to handle most of the duties.

• He's still not sure if Chris Colasanti (or anyone) will redshirt this year. Right now, though, he's listed as the second-team linebacker behind Navorro Bowman.

• Brandon Ware (DT) broke his foot, and will be out a while, but maybe not the whole season.