Preview, Game 1: No. 22 Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina

Before I start, you should know that I've tried harder this season to boil down my previews to real meat-and-potatoes football analysis. I felt last season's previews were too long-winded. This year, I'm going for bing-bang-boom insight, which I hope makes things more enjoyable for everyone. With that, I give you the first game preview of the 2008 Penn State football season... Let's Go, State!

Kickoff: Sat., Sept. 30. 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Weather Forecast: Chance of AM Rain; Warm.

Host: No. 22 Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: (2007) 9-4 (4-4, Big Ten)
Last Game: Won Alamo Bowl 24-17 vs. Texas A&M

Injuries: LB Sean Lee (ACL - out season), DE Devon Still (ankle - out season), S Nick Sukay (foot - out season)
Key Players: (offense) RB Evan Royster, QBs Daryll Clark/Pat Devlin; (defense) S Anthony Scirrotto, DE Maurice Evans
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season, 372-125-3
Season Statistics: (2007)
Offense - 193.8 rush/206.3 pass/30.3 points per game
Defense - 93.8 rush/214.5 pass/17.5 points per game
TO Margin - +0.15

Why PSU will win -- The rushing game: Penn State is in better shape here than most think. And the funny thing is, it's not even because the backs are fantastic. The Penn State offensive line will completely dominate the Coastal Carolina defensive front, opening big holes the whole game. On top of that, PSU's conversion back to the 2005 spread-style offense should make up for any cohesion the offense may need to build during the first few games. PSU has few faults on offense, but those few will be covered up nicely by the spread attack. Passing efficiency: The PSU quarterbacks won't light up the board, and none of us expect them to. What the PSU coaches, fans and media expect to see are signal callers managing the game, reducing turnovers, and occasionally launching a long bomb, but only when it's sure to work. Watch for a lot of catch-and-run against CCU. This PSU offense will control the ball, keeping it away from CCU, making the defense look really good.

Visitor: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (I-AA/FCS)
Record: (2007) 5-6 (3-1, Big South)
Last Game: Won @ Charleston Southern, 41-2
Injuries: Tyler Campbell (ankle - questionable), Jamie Childers (illness - doubtful), Leon Goodwin (shoulder - doubtful) and D.J. McNeill (ankle - doubtful), Marlon Campbell (knee - out), Andre Ford (knee - out) Tommy Fraser (hamstring - out), Myron Rogers (knee - out, Dominique Whiteside (foot - out)
Key Players: (offense) QBs Willy Richardson/Zach MacDowall, K Justin Durham; (defense) DE Phillip Oboh, S Dominique Davenport
Head Coach: David Bennett, 6th season @ CCU, 39-17 (13th season coaching, 102-34 overall)
Season Statistics: (2007)
Offense - 207.0 rush/156.3 pass/28.7 points per game
Defense - 218.9 rush/141.4 pass/26.1 points per game
TO Margin - +1.36

Why CCU will win -- Turnovers: Penn State won't lose this game, but CCU could keep it scary for at least a half. Forcing either of the PSU quarterbacks to throw a pick or two could thrust a wrench into the game plan in a hurry. Penn State wants to sub-out its starters by halftime, and if CCU can keep things in doubt as the teams are heading into the locker rooms, it should be considered an accomplishment. Converting 3rd downs: Coastal Carolina has to keep the clock moving, and PSU's offense off the field. CCU won't be able to hang with PSU in a shootout, but the longer CCU has the ball, the better. And if CCU can move the ball, it will take out an already apathetic PSU crowd.

What will happen: Coastal Carolina isn't Appalachian State, and Penn State isn't an overrated Michigan team. PSU will roll early, and the stadium will empty by mid-third quarter. The rain will dampen any festive mood in the crowd, but the Lion faithful will leave happy.

Prediction: No. 22 Penn State, 45 - Coastal Carolina, 3

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Blue & White Roundtable: Kickoff Edition

This season-opening BWRT is brought to you by William F. Yurasko.

Partners in crime:
There is No Name on My Jersey
Tangled Up in White and Blue
The Nittany Notebook
Nittany Whiteout
Black Shoe Diaries

1. What are you optimistic about this season (Anthony Morelli running out of eligibility does not count)?

Beating Michigan and going to the BCS. I know, there's a lot of Kool-Aid mixed in with that, but hey, the question asked what I was "optimistic" about. So there it is. I really think Penn State can make an at-large BCS bid, if not win a share of the Big Ten title. I don't see the Lions going undefeated, but one loss doesn't rule out really big things this season.

2. What are you pessimistic about this season?

Beating Michigan and going to the BCS. Wow, what a cop-out. But no, seriously, I am really freaking worried about the Michigan game this season. How many times over the last 12 years have PSU fans said "well this year, we have to beat Michigan," only to find themselves in a post-game state of shock. Although going to the BCS is a great goal, and totally possible, there's also a strong chance that PSU won't go to the BCS if it loses more than one game.

3. Who is the most important player on either side of the ball?

Safety Anthony Scirrotto. What? Yes, if Scirrotto can play a whole season the way he did in 2006, all questions about the PSU secondary will be quickly answered. Joe Paterno just said his defense has to force more turnovers, and Scirrotto is the guy to make that happen.

Lightning Round

How many games are you going to this season?

I know I'm going to the Michigan State finale. I'm also working on the Illinois game (best chance so far) and Indiana if the mood strikes me right. I like tailgating in the brisk November air.

Do you have Big11Ten Network?

I just ordered it last week, and it's great!

Where is Coastal Carolina located?

In the creepy, creepy South and near the ocean?

What record will Penn State have on January 9?

11-2. PSU will win it's bowl game, either the Captial One Bowl, or a BCS bowl.

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Poll Results: Butler Leads Receivers, Again

It was like picking your favorite child, but voters tabbed Deon Butler to lead PSU's veteran stable of wide receivers for the fourth consecutive season. That's not to take away from the incredible careers of Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood, as any team in the nation would love to have just one of them. By a slim margin (48-44%), the voters predicted Butler to come out on top.( Later today: My week 1 game picks for the Big Ten (hosted by the Big Ten Bloggers). Just so you know, I didn't go with any wacky winners, but I did pick a certain team wearing winged helmets to beat up some Mormans.

And be sure to vote in the new poll: This week's PSU game winner.

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PSU Official Depth Chart Released

I'll have more on this tomorrow or later tonight, but for now, dig in...

QUARTERBACK
17 Daryll Clark (6-2, 235, Sr/2) or
7 Pat Devlin (6-4, 221, Jr/3)
15 Paul Cianciolo (6-4, 220, Sr/1)

TAILBACK
22 Evan Royster (6-1, 211, Jr/3)
21 Stephfon Green (5-10, 194, So/4)
32 Brent Carter (6-2, 211, Jr/3)
37 Joe Suhey (6-1, 220, So/4)
25 Brandon Beachum (6-0, 221, Fr/4)

FULLBACK
33 Dan Lawlor (6-2, 245, Sr/1)
44 Larry Federoff (5-11, 237, Sr/2)

TIGHT END
82 Mickey Shuler, Jr. (6-4, 250, Sr/2)
80 Andrew Szczerba (6-7, 252, So/4)
10 Andrew Quarless (6-5, 250, Jr/2)

WIDE RECEIVER
2 Derrick Williams (6-0, 199, Sr/1)
5 Graham Zug (6-2, 182, Jr/3)
20 Devin Fentress (5-10, 174, Sr./2)

WIDE RECEIVER
3 Deon Butler (5-10, 170, Sr/1)
6 Derek Moye (6-5, 202, So/4)
9 Kevin Cousins (6-3, 207, Sr/2) OR
27 Chaz Powell (6-1, 201, So/4)

WIDE RECEIVER
24 Jordan Norwood (5-10, 171, Sr/1)
83 Brett Brackett (6-6, 234, Jr/3)
8 James McDonald (6-2, 201, Sr/2)

LEFT TACKLE
76 Gerald Cadogan (6-5, 314, Sr/1)
73 Dennis Landolt (6-4, 303, Sr/2)

LEFT GUARD
64 Richard Ohrnberger (6-2, 296, Sr/1)
50 Mike Lucian (6-2, 296, Sr/1)

CENTER
57 A. Q. Shipley (6-1, 300, Sr/1)
68 Doug Klopacz (6-3, 287, Jr/3)

RIGHT GUARD
61 Stefen Wisniewski (6-3, 294, So/3)
65 J. B. Walton (6-3, 297, So/4)

RIGHT TACKLE
73 Dennis Landolt (6-4, 303, Sr/2)
77 Lou Eliades (6-4, 313, Jr/3)

LEFT DEFENSIVE END
48 Maurice Evans (6-2, 262, Jr/2)
56 Eric Latimore (6-6, 262, So/4)

ONE-TECHNIQUE TACKLE
85 Ollie Ogbu (6-1, 298, Jr/3)
92 Chima Okoli (6-4, 298, So/4)

THREE-TECHNIQUE TACKLE
97 Abe Koroma (6-3, 312, Jr/3)
91 Jared Odrick (6-5, 303, Jr/2)

RIGHT DEFENSIVE END
47 Josh Gaines (6-1, 273, Sr/1)
5 Jerome Hayes (6-2, 248, Sr/2)
44 Kevion Latham (6-2, 252, So/4)

INSIDE LINEBACKER
43 Josh Hull (6-3, 239, Sr/2)
53 Chris Colasanti (6-2, 240, So/3)

'FRITZ' OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
46 Tyrell Sales (6-2, 238, Sr/1)
34 Nathan Stupar (6-1, 233, So/4)

'SAM' OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
15 Bani Gbadyu (6-0, 223, Jr/3)
18 Navarro Bowman (6-1, 228, Jr/3)
42 Michael Mauti (6-2, 228, Fr/4)

HERO
9 Mark Rubin (6-2, 220, Sr/1)
4 Knowledge Timmons (5-10, 187, Sr/2)

FREE SAFETY
7 Anthony Scirrotto (6-0, 197, Sr/1)
28 Drew Astorino (5-10, 191, So/4)
29 Cedric Jeffries (6-2, 215, Jr/3)

RIGHT CORNERBACK
10 Lydell Sargeant (5-10, 190, Sr/1) OR
1 A. J. Wallace (6-1, 197, Jr/2)

LEFT CORNERBACK
11 Tony Davis (5-10, 192, Sr/1)
6 Willie Harriott (5-8, 185, Sr/2)
35 Jesse Alfreno (5-11, 195, Jr/3)

KICKER
23 Kevin Kelly (5-7, 164, Sr/1)
36 Collin Wagner (5-9, 170, Jr/3)

PUNTER
41 Jeremy Boone (5-9, 178, Sr/2)
49 Ryan Breen (6-2, 194, So/4)

HOLDER
41 Jeremy Boone (5-9, 178, Sr/2)

KICK SNAPPER
50 Andrew Pitz (6-3, 238, Sr/2)
44 Larry Federoff (5-11, 237, Sr/2)

KICKOFF RETURNERS
1 A. J. Wallace (6-1, 188, Jr/2)
2 Derrick Williams (6-0, 194, Sr/1)

PUNT RETURNERS
2 Derrick Williams (6-0, 194, Sr/1)
7 Anthony Scirrotto (6-0, 192, Sr/1)

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P.S. I know U., 2008 – Part 4, Defense and Special Teams

Today I’ll go over the defensive backfield, and the specialists at Penn State. Then on Monday, we’ll look at the coaching staff. This won’t be full of messy stats (even though I do love them, oh so much), but it also won’t be straight opinion. This is just to get everyone in the loop when it comes to the key figures for 2008. Hope you enjoy P.S. I know U., 2008.

As before, I’ll describe each player in one of three ways - Great, Good, Decent. ‘Great’ indicates that player is a sure starter, and should get all-conference or All-America. ‘Good’ means that player is a solid starter, someone the team can rely on to do the job. ‘Decent’ goes to many of the backups who will see time in the rotations. I figure there isn’t a player on the two or three deep that is below decent, or PSU is in real trouble.

Part 4, Defense and Special Teams - Defensive Backs, Kickers and Punters

:: Defensive Backs :: [1st Team] A.J. Wallace, Lydell Sargeant, Tony Davis, Anthony Scirrotto (S), Mark Rubin (S) [2nd Team] Drew Astorino, Willie Harriott, Knowledge Timmons, Cedric Jeffries, Nick Sukay

[1st Team]
No. 1. A.J. Wallace [CB, Jr., 6-1/188] – Great. A.J. could become the most prolific kick returner in PSU history with two seasons of eligibility left. Oh yeah, and he’s a pretty damn good cornerback, too. We all know about Wallace’s importance to PSU, so I won’t go on. He’s an All-American returner and All-Big Ten candidate at CB. 2007: Played 652 snaps. 33 tkl, 1 int, 3 fr.

No. 10. Lydell Sargeant [CB, Sr., 5-10/186] - Good. Sargeant lost his job to Wallace following the Ohio State blowout. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad corner. Lightening fast, and much more experienced this season, Sargeant should compliment Wallace nicely. Lydell was also a surprising third on the team in tackles last season, so I expect him to return to his early-season form. 2007: Played 809 snaps; 70 tkl, 1.5 tfl, 2 int.

No. 11. Tony Davis [Nickel Back (NB), RS Sr., 5-10/195] - Good. Davis has been moved around several times in the backfield. He began as the backup to Alan Zamaitis in 2005, then took over the spot in ’06. In ’07, he was moved to safety, but came down with appendicitis, forcing him to sit out the Ohio State and Purdue games. Tony was a much more valuable player in the secondary than he was given credit for, grabbing an interception at Illinois, and was great in run support. Plus, let’s not forget his game-changing fumble return for a TD against Tennessee in the ’07 Outback Bowl. While he’s not listed as the starting cornerback right now, that doesn’t mean we won’t see a lot of Davis throughout the year. He’s too good to sit the bench. I expect to see a rotation of the corners similar to the defensive ends, subbing and flipping on almost every play. 2007: 29 tkl, 1 int, 2 ff.

No. 7. Anthony Scirrotto [Saf., Sr., 6-0/192] - Great. I don’t care how many people are calling him overrated, Scirrotto is still one of the best safeties in the Big Ten. He had a down year in ’07, after his conference leading six interceptions in ’06. Still, he was a major force in the PSU secondary, and should return to ’06 form. 2007: 65 tkl, 1 tfl, 3 int, 1 fr.

No. 9. Mark Rubin [Saf., RS Sr., 6-3/216] - Good. I will never forget watching the 2004 Indiana game, as true frosh Mark Rubin made a diving, one-handed grab on third-and-long for the first down. PSU won the game, and that catch was a crucial play in the victory. A year later, PSU got all the WRs it needed, and Rubin injured his ankle, requiring surgery and ending his season before it even began. He then moved back and forth from WR to S. Then last year, he planted himself as the full-time backup to Tony Davis. When called upon for the OSU and PU games, he did well. Not great, but was serviceable. Rubin grew up a lot last year, and I think he’ll be an important part of the ’07 edition of the PSU secondary. 2007: 32 tkl, 1 tfl.

[2nd Team]
No. 28. Drew Astorino [Saf., RS Fr., 5-10/190] - Decent. You can’t get away from the buzz surrounding Astorino. Joe Paterno, the staff, and the fans have been just gaga about his potential coming out of spring and summer practice. We’ll see. He’s a former dual-sport star in football and basketball out of Edinboro, Pa. Drew made a big splash at the B/W Game this April, when he logged six tkls, and an int. He should get plenty of mop-up duty this year. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

No. 6. Willie Harriott [CB, RS Jr., 5-8/183] - Decent. Not blessed with size, Harriott makes it all up in speed. He was one of the “speed guys” who came in to PSU in ’05, but redshirted that year. He’s now setting himself up for 2009, when openings at CB will be there for the taking. He’s an experienced player for PSU, but won’t contend for the starting job this year. Harriott has played in games each year at PSU, mainly on special teams. That should continue this season. 2007: Played 48 snaps; 4 tkl, 1 pbu.

No. 4. Knowledge Timmons [Saf., RS Jr., 5-10/186] - Decent. Timmons, besides having the coolest name at PSU, would frequently jaw with Justin King about who was the fastest player on the team. He’ll join players like Harriott this year trying to move up in the depth chart for ’09. A special teams player, he’ll usually line up at gunner. In 2006 at Notre Dame, Timmons could have recovered a muffed punt deep inside ND territory, but rather than just falling on it, he tried to pick it up and run. He lost the ball, and it went back to ND in a 41-17 blowout loss for PSU. He should be better this year, with more experience, and more motivation to concentrate only on school and football. 2007: Played 92 snaps; 5 tkl.

No. 29. Cedric Jeffries [Saf., RS Soph., 6-2/210] - Decent. Jeffries actually saw considerable playing time last year as a RS frosh. He’s listed as a backup LB and S, but I’ll go with S for this purpose. He has great size and speed to go along with it. He should make more than a few tackles this season, as I expect him to rotate in and out of the lineup during meaningful plays. With more teams running spread-style attacks in ’08, guys like Jeffries could emerge as important depth behind the starters. Chances are that he’ll complete the move to LB before the season’s over, but he has a better chance to see the field at S. 2007: Played 154 snaps; 4 tkl.

No. 26. Nick Sukay [Saf., RS Fr., 6-1/202] - Decent. Sukay has been hampered by nagging injuries, but should be good to go by the Big Ten opener against Illinois. I was really hoping to see him and Chaz Powell emerge as the two safeties after this season, but Powell moved to WR, and Sukay will have to wait for his chance. Although not as highly rated out of HS as Powell, Nick offers good instincts and football smarts. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

:: Specialists :: [1st Team] Kevin Kelly, Jeremy Boone, [2nd Team] Colin Wagner (K), Ryan Breen (P)

No. 23. Kevin Kelly [K, Sr., 5-7/164] - Good. Kelly has endured an up and down career. But contrary to the fan base’s opinion, he’s been very consistent in the three years he’s kicked for PSU. Sure, everyone knows his game-winning kick in the ’06 Orange Bowl. But not many people really grasp that this kid is great at finding the end zone. He’s carried the rock to pay dirt twice already, one for a key 2-point conversion at Michigan in ’05, and scored a TD on a fake kick at Michigan State last year. If the coaching staff stays smart, they’ll use that fake kick play again. I think Kelly will go down as one of the best kickers ever at PSU. 2007: Scored 110 points, 20-26 FG, 44-45 PAT, 1 TD.

No. 41. Jeremy Boone [P, RS Jr., 5-9/184] - Great. PSU won’t overtake places like Tennessee for “Punter U,” but the Lions have made a strong case with the last two boomers. In 2006, Jeremy Kapinos was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, and finished out a stellar PSU career. In came Boone, and fans’ anxiety was quickly quelled. Boone is a candidate for Academic AA this year, and was named to several All-Big Ten teams, including a few 1st Team selections. 2007: 59 Punts for 43.0 ydpp, 25 punts inside 20-yard line; Ray Guy candidate.

No. 36. Colin Wagner [K., RS Soph., 5-9/170] - Decent. Wagner actually kicked two PATs last season in the opener against FIU. He made both. While he’s not pushing Kelly out of his job, he provides a great sub, should Kelly need a break. Received many honors as a HS K, and played in the Big 33 Game. 2007: 2-2 PAT.

No. 49. Ryan Breen [P., RS Fr., 6-2/194] - Decent. Breen will have some tough shoes to fill once Boone graduates. But then again, when Jeremy Kapinos left, we all thought the same thing. PSU has gotten very good punters in recent years, and Breen seems to fit that mold. He’s a big kid with a strong leg, and should provide a good backup. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

(Ed. Note--I was going to cover the return specialists, but since I've already gone over those players, I'll just list them here: KR-A.J. Wallace; PR/KR-Derrick Williams; Backup PR-Anthony Scirrotto.)

Coming Monday: Part 5, Coaching Staff.

P.S. I know U., 2008:
Part 1, Offense
Part 2, Offense (cont’d)
Part, 3 Defense

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P.S. I know U., 2008 – Part 3, Defense

I’ll go over the two and three-deep this week for the Penn State offense, defense and special teams. Then on Monday, we’ll look at the coaching staff. This won’t be full of messy stats (even though I do love them, oh so much), but it also won’t be straight opinion. This is just to get everyone in the loop when it comes to the key figures for 2008. Hope you enjoy P.S. I know U., 2008.

As I did in Part 1 and Part 2 , I’ll describe each player in one of three ways - Great, Good, Decent. ‘Great’ indicates that player is a sure starter, and should get all-conference or All-America. ‘Good’ means that player is a solid starter, someone the team can rely on to do the job. ‘Decent’ goes to many of the backups who will see time in the rotations. I figure there isn’t a player on the two or three deep that is below decent, or PSU is in real trouble.

Part 4, Defense - Front Seven

:: Linemen :: [Ends] Maurice Evans, Aaron Maybin, Josh Gaines, Jerome Hayes, Eric Latimore, [Tackles] Jared Odrick, Ollie Ogbu, Tom McEowen, Abe Koroma, Chima Okoli

[Ends]
No. 48. Maurice Evans. [DE, Jr., 6-2/264] – Great. Consensus All-America in ’07, Evans is on his way to PSU history. He’s one of the players I won’t go into with too much detail, as he’s one of the most recognizable players in the nation going into this season. Barring any problems, he should continue his freakish dominance of opposing quarterbacks. 2007: 54 tkl, 21.5 tfl, 12.5 sks, 5 ff, 1 fr.

No. 47. Josh Gaines. [DE, RS Sr.., 6-1/275] – Good. Who doesn’t like Josh Gaines? His humble demeanor off the field is far from his play-making ability on the field. He and Evans frequently flipped positions, constantly keeping opposing offenses guessing. He’s a very productive member of one of the best defensive fronts in all college football. Gaines should be a candidate for post-season honors on the conference level. 2007: 40 tkl, 5 tfl, 2.5 sks, 1 qbh, 1 ff.

No. 5. Jerome Hayes. [DE, RS Jr., 6-2/246] – Great. If it wasn’t for the injuries, Hayes might have become one of the best pass-rushers in the Big Ten. On of the smartest moves this coaching staff has done in a long time is move him from LB to DE, as his speed and strength is just unblockable. In a weird twist of fate for me, when I was in Mt. Sinai hospital last summer, one of the orderlies working with me was Jerome’s father-in-law. Nice guy. 2007: 17 tkl, 3 tfl, 2.5 sks.

No. 59. Aaron Maybin. [DE, JR Soph., 6-4/236] – Good. Maybin burst onto the scene last year when he plowed into Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. He went on to sub behind Evans and Gaines, eventually earning more playing time when Hayes went down. Maybin was named to several All-Freshman teams, and adds a great deal of depth to the end spot. When he wasn’t at end, Maybin played special teams. He should take a more involved role this fall. 2007: 12 tkl, 4.5 tfl, 4 sks, 1 ff.

No. 56. Eric Latimore. [DE, RS Fr., 6-6/262] – Decent. The coaching staff raved about Latimore all spring, saying his towering stature could help him knock down any pass thrown his way. He starred in both football and basketball in HS, which shows in his good agility to get through blocking schemes. He’ll be a great backup this season. 2007: No Stats Accumulated

[Tackles]
No. 85. Ollie Ogbu. [DT, RS Soph., 6-1/292] – Good. Ogbu was a major factor in coach Larry Johnson’s DL rotation last season. He was also named to several All-Freshman teams following the year, and could very well contend for All-Big Ten honors in ‘08. He’s not the biggest tackle you’ll see, but he is extremely quick and elusive. Ogbu gave teams like Wisconsin, Ohio State and Texas A&M fits when trying to block him. He was a real pleasant surprise last year. 2007: 18 tkl, 10 tfl, 1 sk.

No. 91. Jared Odrick. [DT, Jr., 6-5/308] – Great. Odrick complements Ollie Ogbu in that Jared uses his brute strength and size to over-power the opposing linemen. It was really unfortunate last year when he dislocated his ankle against Indiana, as he was really emerging as one of the outstanding tackles in the Big Ten. He was an Army AA with Evans, A.J. Wallace and the departed Chris Bell. Even with the injuries, he’s played in 19 games the last two seasons, starting seven last year. Odrick should be an unquestionable candidate for All-Big Ten honors. 2007: 16 tkl, 4 tfl, 2 sks, 1 blk’d kick.

No. 97. Abe Koroma. [DT, RS Soph., 6-3/316] – Good. Abe is one of Joe Paterno’s favorite linemen, as he constantly praised his work last season and this spring. It’s almost a shame how well PSU has recruited the DL recently, as guys like Koroma could start for 100 other FBS schools. Luckily for PSU, he’s in Happy Valley, and could become a great member of this DL rotation. He won the Jim O’Hora award this spring, for his exceptional attitude and work eithic. 2007: 7 tkl, 0.5 tfl, 1 fr.

No. 55. Tom McEowen. [DT, RS Soph., 6-4/274] – Decent. McEowen has been bitten by the injury bug during his time at PSU. He first saw action in 2006, but left mid-season. Then, during winter ’07 workouts, he tore his ACL. Amazingly enough, he recovered in time to play last season. I look for Tom to become a key factor in this year’s rotation, as he played in five of the last six games in ‘07. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

No. 92. Chima Okoli. [DE, RS Fr., 6-4/287] – Decent. You’ll see a lot more of Chima as 2008 progresses. He was redshirted last season, but made some noise coming out of spring practice this year. Okoli wasn’t a super-recruit like some of the others on this line, but he’s had a great work eithic so far, which should guarantee the coaches will find him some time on the field. He’s one of the great “depth” guys coach LJ has to work with. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

:: Linebackers :: [1st Team] Tyrell Sales (Fritz), Bani Gbadyu (Sam), Josh Hull (Backer), [2nd Team] Navorro Bowman, Nate Stupar, Chris Colasanti, Mike Mauti

[1st Team] (Ed. Note-There are a lot of ‘decent’ grades in the LBs, but that’s only due to inexperience. The talent is definitely there.)
No. 46. Tyrell Sales [‘Fritz’ OLB, RS Sr., 6-2/233] – Good. Sales is one of those guys who works very hard, without much recognition for it. That’s not to say the coaches don’t appreciate him. It’s the fan base that has grown to love its All-American LBs year after year. Sales isn’t Posluszny, Connor or Lee. But he’ll be a major stabilizer on defense this year. He’s played in every game since his redshirt-frosh season (2005), and has 86 tkl, 7.5 tfl and 3 sks over three years. The lone returning starter, Sales’ experience should make a huge impact on an otherwise green linebacking corps. 2007: 50 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 3 sks.

No. 15. Bani Gbadyu [‘Sam’ OLB, RS Soph., 6-1/221] - Decent. Watching Gbadyu come on the last two games against Michigan State and Texas A&M really impressed me. He had some monster stops at East Lansing, even if the rest of the defense didn’t do so well. Reports from practice have him running faster than any other LB, which more than compensates for his lack of size. With so many teams on this year’s schedule running spread-style attacks, Bani’s speed will definitely come in handy. And like Sales, he’s a great student, earning Dean’s List recognition this past spring. 2007: Played 133 snaps; 6 tkl.

No. 43. Josh Hull [‘Backer’ ILB, RS Jr., 6-3/231] - Good. If you thought Gbaydu quietly made a big statement in ’07, take a look at Josh Hull. The coaching staff is falling all over themselves with this guy. He was instrumental in the bowl victory, notching 2 tkl and 0.5 tfl. Hull walked on at PSU, out of nearby Penns Valley HS. Due to the injuries to Bowman and Dontey Brown (no longer at PSU), Hull was officially inserted into the LB rotation prior to the win over Wisconsin, where he had 2 tkl and a pbu. I personally love his size, which will serve him well covering the middle of the field. Plus, he’s continuing the trend of great student-athletes at LB, earning Dean’s List all last school year. 2007: Played 292 snaps; 18 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 pbu.

[2nd Team]
No. 18. Navorro Bowman [OLB, RS Soph., 6-/228] - Decent. Bowman was in Joe Paterno’s dog house for a good long time this year, but could quickly work his way out. He had a great showing in ’07, but a mid-season injury slowed him considerably. The 2005 Maryland Player of the Year, Bowman was part of the excellent ’06 recruiting class. He’s very quick, and has a great nose for the ball, registering a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, pbu, and blocked a kick last season. That sort of production is needed without Sean Lee out there. 2007: Played 307 snaps; 16 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1 sk, 1 ff, 1 fr, 1 pbu, 1 blk’d kick.

No. 34. Nate Stupar [OLB, RS Fr., 6-1/220] - Decent. Nate’s father (PSU), three uncles (PSU) and grandfather (Tenn) all played college football. Stupar doesn’t have one things he’s particularly good at, but is one of the best all-around players at his position. I’m not sure if PSU is doing this purposely, but this guy is yet another fantastic student playing LB. He was named PA Defensive Player of the Year in ’06. I expect him to get a lot of playing time this season. 2007: No Stats Accumulated; recorded 6 tkl in both ’07 and ’08 B/W Games.

No. 53. Chris Colasanti [ILB, Soph., 6-2/232] - Decent. If there’s one guy who reminds me a lot of Posluszny, it’s Chris. He has fantastic size, and almost killed Derrick Williams this spring, leveling a hit so hard, D-Will didn’t get up for a few minutes. But the best part about the former super-recruit is that PSU grabbed him away from his home-state school, Michigan. He was one of only two true freshmen to play at all in ’07, which should indicate what the coaching staff thinks of his abilities. He should emerge as a co-starter in the middle by year’s end. Oh, and as if it wasn’t ridiculous enough, he’s yet another Dean’s List student playing LB at PSU this year, and could contend for Academic AA. 2007: Played 48 snaps; 3 tkl.

No. 42. Mike Mauti [ILB, RS Jr., 6-2/220] - Decent. I’m throwing Mauti in here because he did so well in the Army AA Game, and the coaches wanted to get him on the field so badly, they moved him to safety for the spring game. He may not see the field much this year, but redshirting a guy like this can only guarantee long-term success for PSU at this position. If he does play this year, expect a lot of special teams work. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

Coming Tomorrow: Part 4, Secondary and Special Teams

P.S. I know U., 2008:
Part 1, Offense
Part 2, Offense (cont’d)

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Programming Note

I'm pushing the last part of P.S. I know U., 2008 to Monday. I've been really busy with work lately, and have gotten a little behind preparing this series. My apologies. I will have the defense up tonight, as I said originally. However, I'm going to split up the last entry in the series. Special teams will go ahead tomorrow afternoon as planned, but the look at the coaches will have to wait until after the weekend.

Speaking of this weekend, I'm going to get all the pages and links updated, like the previews, poll archives, etc. So check them all out on Monday, too.

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P.S. I know U., 2008 – Part 2, Offense (cont’d)

I’ll go over the two and three-deep this week for the Penn State offense, defense and special teams. Then on Friday, we’ll look at the coaching staff. This won’t be full of messy stats (even though I do love them, oh so much), but it also won’t be straight opinion. This is just to get everyone in the loop when it comes to the key figures for 2008. Hope you enjoy P.S. I know U., 2008.

As I did in P.S. I know U., 2008 - Part 1, Offense, I’ll describe each player in one of three ways - Great, Good, Decent. ‘Great’ indicates that player is a sure starter, and should get all-conference or All-America. ‘Good’ means that player is a solid starter, someone the team can rely on to do the job. ‘Decent’ goes to many of the backups who will see time in the rotations. I figure there isn’t a player on the two or three deep that is below decent, or PSU is in real trouble.

Offense – Part 1 (cont’d), Tight Ends and Linemen

:: Tight Ends :: Mickey Shuler, Jr., Andrew Quarless, Andrew Szczerba, Jon Ditto

No. 82. Mickey Shuler, Jr. [TE, RS Jr., 6-4/250] – Good. The first time we really saw Shuler was against FIU last year, where he grabbed four passes for 54 yards and a score. With doubts about Andrew Quarless getting out of the dog house any time soon, Shuler provides a fantastic second option to start for PSU. Shuler’s father was a great TE for PSU in the 1970s, and went on to start for the Jets and Eagles. Mickey Jr. fits the TE mold that PSU is looking for, as he is strong in blocking schemes, but is also a good receiver. The coaches want to get the TEs involved more this season, and I’m looking for a really good year from Shuler. 2007: 7 rec, 91 yds, 1 td.

No. 10. Andrew Quarless [TE, Jr., 6-5/250] – Good. If only Quarless could stay out of trouble, he might have been off to the NFL following 2008. This guy is bursting with talent, has perfect size, but just can’t get his act together. When the season starts, he’ll likely be Shuler’s backup. But that could change quickly if he works hard to impress Paterno. As good as the PSU passing game can be this season, it could be even better with Quarless in the lineup. He’ll probably get spotty playing time early, but watch for the coaches to work him in more as the season goes on. 2007: 14 rec, 205 yds, 2 tds.

No. 80. Andrew Szczerba [TE, RS Fr., 6-6/262] – Decent. Think of Szczerba as the receiver-version of Stephfon Green. Andrew impressed many in the B/W Game. But we have to remain grounded on guys like them. That’s not to say he won’t do well this season. Szczerba is a great size for the position, and from what we saw in April, he also has great hands. He’ll surely get playing time this year, but more likely than not, it will be sparse. 2007: No Stats Accumulated, but had 5 rec, 65 yds in the B/W Game.

No. 88. Jon Ditto [TE, RS Fr., 6-3/227] – Decent. Ditto has been flipping between TE and WR since arriving at PSU in Jan. ’07. I’ll go with TE this time. After his recovery from shoulder surgery which caused him to redshirt 2007, Ditto seems ready to contend for the lead backup behind Shuler and Quarless. Jon has been a Nittany Lion for two full workout cycles (winter/spring ’07, and winter/spring ’08), and has a significant edge when it comes to knowing how the team operates. I don’t see Ditto in the lineup much this season, outside of mop-up duty. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

:: Offensive Line :: [1st Team] Gerald Cadogan (T), Dennis Landolt (T), Rich Ohrnberger (G), Stefen Wisniewski (G), A.Q. Shipley (C), [2nd Team] Nerraw McCormack (T), Lou Eliades (T), Johnnie Troutman (G), J.B. Walton (G), Mike Lucian (C)

[1st Team]
No. 76. Gerald Cadogan [LT, Sr., 6-5/314] – Great. I don’t believe Cadogan gets enough praise for the job he’s doing. This could be PSU’s best offensive line since 1994, and Cadogan is one of the leaders. He played four sports in HS, football, track and field, swimming (yes, swimming!) and some basketball. In his first season as a starter, the offensive line averaged 193 rushing yards per game. Most of those yards were to the left side. He was also Academic All-Big Ten for the third time. 2007: Played 998 snaps, tied for second-most on the team.

No. 73. Dennis Landolt [RT, RS Jr., 6-4/303] – Good. Prior to 2007, Landolt was AA Levi Brown’s backup, until Cadogan took over that spot. In high school Dennis didn’t allow a single sack in three years, earning a top-20 rating from Rivals.com. Landolt should excel again on the line, and will could be one of only two returning starters in 2009. 2007: Played 998 snaps, tied with Cadogan for second-most on the team.

No. 64. Rich Ohrnberger [LG, RS Sr., 6-2/296] – Good. Rich has come a long way since he took over in October ’06. Down against Ohio State that season, Ohrnberger made a critical false start on 4th-and-goal on the OSU 1-yard line, forcing PSU to settle for a FG. That memory is burned into my mind. But now, all I have is admiration for Rich, as he’s matured into one of the best guards in the Big Ten. Like Evan Royster, Ohrnberger played lacrosse in HS. 2007: Started 12 of 13 games, only missed Michigan start.

No. 61. Stefen Wisniewski [RG, Soph., 6-3/294] – Great. If you listen to the coaches and the media, Wiz sounds like the next Marco Rivera. He might be. Unseating starter Mike Lucian last season nearly shook the ground in Happy Valley, as we all know that doesn’t happen often. The best part about Stefen is that he’s one of the smartest football players at PSU, and his physical abilities are far beyond the average sophomore. Wisniewski’s father and uncle both played at PSU and the NFL. His uncle, Steve, was selected All-Pro guard with Oakland eight times. 2007: Became first freshman to start on the O-Line since 1999.

No. 57. A.Q. Shipley [C, RS Sr., 6-1/300] – Great. This will be Ship’s third season as PSU’s starting center, and he was elected captain for 2007. A All-Big Ten selection last year and this preseason, A.Q.’s value is immeasurable. He came to PSU as a standout defensive lineman, winning nearly every central-PA football honor his senior HS season. Shipley first saw time in 2005, and in 2006 moved to center. He should repeat as an All-Big Ten selection, and should also contend for the Rimmington Award and All-America honors. 2007: Played 997 snaps, started 26 consecutive games (‘06/’07).

[2nd Team]
No. 75. Nerraw McCormack [LT, Sr., 6-5/292] - Good. McCormack has a distinct advantage in that he came to PSU with a ton of playing experience at Nassau CC, in NY. The coaches like his swift and fluid blocking ability, which should earn him some playing time. Nerraw went to HS with Stephfon Green and LB Shaine Thompson. 2007: Played 31 snaps against FIU, Wisconsin and Temple.

No. 77. Lou Eliades [RT, RS Soph., 6-4/309] - Decent. Eliades was highly recruited out of south Jersey, and has earned praise from the staff and Joe Paterno himself. He was forced to sit out the final half of 2007 with a stress fracture in his foot that required surgury. I can see the staff getting him much more playing time this year, as he’s a possible candidate to move to LT next season to replace Cadogan. 2007: Played 68 snaps against FIU, and Buffalo through Wisconsin.

No. 74. Johnnie Troutman [LG, RS Fr., 6-4/318] - Decent. A member of the vaunted 2006 recruiting class, Troutman enrolled early in 2007, and has two full workout cycles with PSU. Johnnie fits the new mold for PSU OLs, as he’s tall and big. That’s not to say slow, but during the early 2000s, PSU came under scrutiny for its small OL. Many blamed that for all the losses. Even though it wasn’t true, PSU started gobbling up bigger, faster OLs. Troutman was one of them. He’s a definite future starter. 2007: Redshirt season.

No. 65. J.B. Walton [RG, RS Fr., 6-3/293] - Good. Walton had a tough time getting to PSU, as he enrolled at the Milford Academy for one year. But now that he’s off his redshirt season with PSU, he should compete right away from playing time behind either of the starting guards. J.B. was highly recruited out of Maryland, where he was a highly decorated defensive player. The coaches have spoke highly of Walton’s strength in workouts and on the practice field. 2007 Redshirt season.

No. 50. Mike Lucian [C, RS Sr., 6-2/290] - Good. Lucian was the victim of Wisniewski’s amazing ascension to the starting RG spot. Mike earned the starting job after John Shaw got injuried prior to the Buffalo game last season. Unfortunately, he was also brought down by injury, a mild concussion against Wisconsin. Should something happen to Shipley, Lucian is more than capable of filling in without the line missing a beat. Midway through 2006, he shifted from defense to offense. 2007: Played 552 snaps.

Coming Tomorrow: Defense

Last time in P.S. I know U., 2008:
Part 1, Offense

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P.S. I know U., 2008 - Part 1, Offense

This is a new feature I wanted to do, since the season is coming up so fast. I’ve decided to go over the two and three-deep this week for the offense, defense and special teams. Then on Friday, we’ll look at the coaching staff. This won’t be full of messy stats (even though I do love them, oh so much), but it also won’t be straight opinion. This is just to get everyone in the loop when it comes to the key figures for 2008. Hope you enjoy P.S. I know U., 2008.

I’ll describe each player in one of three ways - Great, Good, Decent. Great indicates that player is a sure starter, and should get all-conference or all-america. Good means that player is a solid starter, someone the team can rely on to do the job. Decent goes to many of the backups who will see time in the rotations. I figure there isn’t a player on the two or three deep that is below decent, or PSU is in real trouble.

Offense - Part 1, Backs and Wide Receivers

:: Rushers :: Evan Royster, Brent Carter, Stefon Green, Brandon Beachum, Dan Lawlor (FB), Larry Federoff (FB)

No. 22. Evan Royster [TB, RS Soph., 6-1/212] - Great. Don’t think I’m jumping the gun on this kid. He’ll be running behind the best offensive line in the Big Ten this season, and has a great supporting cast. He reminds me of Larry Johnson. He’s a smooth runner, but will punch you in the face if he has to get the extra yardage. And as we saw against Wisconsin, Purdue and Texas A&M, he can break a game wide open on any play. Fortunately for Royster, he doesn’t have to wait until his senior season to show off, as did LJ. 2007: 82 car, 513 yds, 5 tds.

No. 32. Brent Carter [TB, RS Soph., 6-2/211] - Good. I was really impressed by Carter’s running ability against Michigan State. In fact, I’ll go so far to say that if PSU let him run more on that last drive, the team would have scored. Although Carter isn’t an every-down tailback, he’s more than capable to carry the load when needed. He’ll be a valuable asset to PSU this year. 2007: 11 car, 43 yds.

No. 21. Stephfon Green [TB, RS Fr., 5-10/189] - Decent. Fans are going to get on my case about this one, but I’m hesitant to say Green is the be-all-end-all at the position. We haven’t seen him play against real competition, but I’ll admit I’m excited about him. He’s a speedster who can out run almost anyone. More than likely, he’ll be utilized as a multi-purpose player, not unlike Derrick Williams in 2005. No stats in 2007, but had 12 car, 87 yds, 1 td in the B/W Game this April.

No. 25 Brandon Beachum [RB, GS (gray-shirt) Fr., 6-0/212] - Decent. Ok, so I went four-deep on the running backs. From what I’ve heard, Beachum is more of a power/third-down running back. And while PSU is generally getting away from the power-back style, there’s always room for a guy who can pound out four yards every time he gets the ball. I’ve only seen HS clips of Beachum, and he fits the mold of Tony Hunt. No stats in 2007, but had 7 car, 55 yds, 2 rec, 12 yds in the B/W Game.

No. 33. Dan Lawlor [FB, RS Sr., 6-2/244] - Good. Lawlor wasn’t exactly flashy on the field, but he dished out some wicked blocks for Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster. PSU has drifted away from the power-I, but you can’t underestimate the value of a good fullback. Lawlor’s also got a brain, as he was Academic All-Big Ten in 2007. 2007: 9 car, 37 yds, 1 td.

No. 44. Larry Federoff [FB, RS Jr., 5-11/237] - Decent. We don’t know a whole lot about Larry, except that he transferred from Edinboro University. He has been reported to have really good lower-body strength, which should bode well if he gets playing time as a blocking back. 2007: 2 car, 2 yds.

:: Wide Receivers :: Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood, Brett Brackett, James McDonald, Kevin Cousins, Derek Moye, Graham Zug

No. 2. Derrick Williams [WR, Sr., 6-0/194] - Great. I won’t go into the “Big 3” (Williams, Butler and Norwood) so much, since pretty much everyone knows them thoroughly. But I have big hopes that Williams will return to his 2005 form. At the tail end of last season, the coaches moved him back to the slot, and he had 260 yards and a touchdown grab over the last four games. 2007: 55 rec, 529 yds, 3 tds.

No. 3. Deon Butler [WR, RS Sr., 5-10/168] - Great. He’ll most likely lead the team in yards for the fourth straight season. Butler has been PSU’s biggest deep threat since 2005, and as long as the staff gets him free, he’ll perform as well as always. 2007: 47 rec, 633 yds, 4 tds.

No. 24. Jordan Norwood [WR, Sr., 5-11/177] - Great. Norwood made his mark by catching anything that came near him in 2005, and has been one of the most consistent members in the receiving corps. His numbers have never been amazing, but defenses have a hard time figuring him out. 2007: 40 rec, 484 yds, 5 tds.

No. 83. Brett Brackett [WR, RS Soph., 6-6/235] - Decent. After the Big 3 receivers, PSU fans seem to be at a loss. Now that Terrell Golden (unfortunately) and Chris Bell (fortunately) are gone, it will be up to guys like Brackett to step up. It’s been a while since a PSU receiver has been this tall. He’s a former three-star quarterback out of New Jersey, who came to PSU alongside Pat Devlin. He made the switch to WR last spring. The offensive staff has been raving about Brackett’s hands, and his ability to get open near the goal line. I see a lot of post patterns from the slot position for this guy. 2007: 1 rec, 16 yds.

No. 8. James McDonald [WR, RS Jr., 6-2/198] - Decent. This year’s recipient of the Red Worrell Award, given to the player who made the biggest contribution to spring ball, James is hoping to get more reps this fall. He was one of those “fast guys” from the 2005 recruiting class, but sort of fell by the wayside once the Big 3 emerged. McDonald fits the mold of a great WR, with his height and speed advantages. I’d be surprised if PSU didn’t find a way to get him catches this season. 2007: 1 rec, 10 yds.

No. 9. Kevin Cousins [WR, RS Jr., 6-3/205] - Decent. Cousins was a former sprinter turned WR, another “fast guy” from 2005. Unlike the Big 3, however, Cousins has amazing size to go along with the speed. He’s been battling injuries for a while, but has a solid shot at the backup spot behind Butler. Look for both Cousins and McDonald to shine in 2009. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

No. 6. Derek Moye [WR, RS Fr., 6-5/196] - Decent. I’m tempted to list Moye as Good, but we haven’t seen what he can do. He towers over opposing cornerbacks, and has the added benefit of speed. He’s not lightening on grass, but he has a good top speed. If PSU has one WR that looks to be the future of the passing game, it’s Moye. The staff said they want to get him on the field this fall no matter what it takes. We’ve heard that one before from them, but somehow, I believe it with Moye. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

No. 5. Graham Zug [WR, RS Soph., 6-2/196] - Decent. For some reason, I remember seeing Zug on the field a lot last year. Maybe it was because he was the only white receiver (sorry PR people, but it’s true) out there. He’s seemingly shown enough talent to get live snaps. He showed a bit in the B/W Game this year, but like so many others from that game, you can’t get a real feel for Zug from that scrimmage. He seems like a career backup, but good enough to play every game. 2007: 1 rec, 8 yds.

But who will get them the ball?

:: Quarterbacks :: Daryll Clark, Pat Devlin, Paul Cianciolo

No. 17. Daryll Clark [QB, Sr., 6-2/231] - Good. He may not be Michael Robinson, but he might be just as good overall. Clark has--from what little passing we’ve seen him do--a better arm than M-Rob, but isn’t quite as fast. His mobility has lofted him to the presumptive starter position, but it’s a tight battle right now. Clark, right now, is a senior, but he’s working things out with the NCAA clearinghouse, where he might be given another year of eligibility. 2007: 66%, 31 yds.; 12 car, 78 yds, 2 tds.

No. 7. Pat Devlin [QB, RS Soph., 6-4/222] - Of course, when I said Clark had the best mobility of the QBs, that didn’t mean Devlin can’t scoot if he has to. Well, I guess when all we have to compare to is Anthony Morelli, a bag of cement has good mobility. Devlin has a great arm, and the coaches have been gushing over him. I’d personally like to see him get a good deal of significant playing time this season, because unlike Clark, Devlin has three full seasons of eligibility remaining. Imagine what PSU could do with a steady QB for that long. 2007: 0-2, 0 yds.

No. 15. Paul Cianciolo [QB, RS Sr., 6-4/219] - Decent. Many of us remember Paul from his 43-yard screen pass to Tony Hunt in 2006 against No. 4 Michigan. After that, though, there’s not much. Cianciolo is a typical PSU guy, who goes to class (Academic All-Big Ten 2007), and patiently waits his turn to play. He may not get the chance to start in 2008, but he offers invaluable stability at the position behind Clark and Devlin. Paul also played baseball for PSU, serving as a pretty good reliever and earning one save. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

Coming Tomorrow: Offense - Part 2, Tight Ends and Linemen

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First Look: Michigan State Spartans

There’s a team up north that is ready to blow up. No, it’s not Wisconsin. Nor is it Michigan. Why, it’s lowly old Michigan State. I’m not sure why, but I’ve hopped on the MSU bandwagon this season. No wait, I do know why. John L. Smith was the worst thing to happen in East Lansing since, well, there’s not much worse. He had a lot of flash, but was a bit too looney for the Spartans. Then in comes Mark D’Antonio. Former Ohio State defensive coordinator, former Michigan State assistant, fantastic head coach at Cincinnati. But most importantly, Michigan State is finding its identity once again. Punching opponents with the running game, playing disciplined defense, and led by a senior quarterback, this team is on the verge of something big in 2008.

1. Wait, is that Bill Bel... naahhh -- Mark D’Antonio never smiles. That’s a good thing for MSU. I haven’t seen a turnaround in team attitude like this since I started following college football. Under John L., MSU was all over the place with no direction. Quite the opposite under D’Antonio. In his first season, he managed to take a down-trodden program, known for its late-season implosions, and push them hard enough to reach the post season. No coach of the year awards, no fancy offense along the way. MSU did it by strapping it on and playing until the final whistle sounded each week. Sometimes that wasn’t enough (Michigan meltdown?), but other times, it worked like a charm (Penn State’s meltdown vs. MSU?). Almost half of MSU’s losses were within a touchdown. If D’Antonio can keep his players believing that MSU is no longer the little brother in Michigan (even though MSU lost in ’07), those close losses will turn into wins.

2. Ball catchers, anyone? -- All the parts would have been there for a fantastic offense, if WR Devin Thomas didn’t bolt early for the NFL and TE Kellen Davis had another year of eligibility. But, Thomas did, and Davis didn’t. So where does that put MSU going into 2008? Just fine. QB Brian Hoyer threw for 2725 yards and 20 touchdowns in ’07, and has the ability to match those numbers again, even without his primary targets from last season. Of course, this will largely depend on the production MSU gets out of senior RB Javon Ringer (1447 yds/6 tds ’07). Without bruising FB Jehuu Caulcrick (872 yds/21 tds ’07), can Ringer carry the load along? There’s no reason he should have trouble as the main guy. The offensive line is very solid, and should open enough holes. Yet if there’s one side of the ball no one will be paying attention to, even though they should be, is the defense. This is much more experienced that first thought going into ’08. The secondary returns three starters and the linebackers are quick and smart. Those two units were the cause for frustration last year, but should impress this season.

3. Schedule “Bears” down -- I’ve already called for Michigan State to pull the stunner at Cal to open the season. We’ll see how that one goes. But there’s much more to the ’08 slate than meets the eye. Even the two lightweights, Eastern Michigan and Florida Atlantic could give MSU fits. Ok, so maybe EMU won’t be so bad, but you know D’Antonio’s staff is quietly worrying about FAU. There are no breaks for MSU this year. Following Cal, EMU, and FAU, is a visit from Notre Dame. Away at a very dangerous Indiana team, homecoming against Iowa, then at Northwestern, all look like winnable games before the big showdown with Ohio State in East Lansing. Depending how that first stretch goes, MSU could actually be favored going to Ann Arbor the next week. If the Spartans don’t secure a bowl bid by that game, it could get ugly. MSU has to wrap up the season against Wisconsin and Purdue, then travel to a revenge-hungry Penn State crowd, where MSU hasn’t won since PSU joined the Big Ten.

Next week's First Look: Penn State's Bowl Options

-First Look: Indiana Hoosiers
-First Look: Iowa Hawkeyes
-First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes
-First Look: Michigan Wolverines
-First Look: Wisconsin Badgers
-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Season heating up

As we all get ready for some college football, there's much to talk about. Tomorrow I'm releasing my Week 1 Top 25. Then all next week will be jam-packed with previews, beginning with the final First Look team preview, Michigan State. On Tuesday, I'll go through each Penn State unit: offense, defense, special teams and full look at the 2008 PSU coaching staff. Of course, there will most likely be some posting in between these, so make sure to check in with Zombie Nation every day for Penn State Football at its Finest!

Coming this weekend and next week:

Tomorrow [Aug. 16] - ZN's CFB Top 25 - Week 1 2008

Monday [Aug. 18] - First Look: Michigan State Spartans

Tuesday [Aug. 19] - PS I Know U: Offense

Wednesday [Aug. 20] - PS I Know U: Defense

Thursday [Aug. 21] - PS I Know U: Special Teams

Friday [Aug. 22] - PS I Know U: Coaching Staff

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First Look: Indiana Hoosiers

How crazy has college football gotten the last few seasons? Indiana went to a bowl game last year. Not since 1993 have the Hoosiers gone to the post season. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the program. Head coach Terry Hoeppner--following a long battle with a brain tumor--passed away last summer, but he still left a strong footprint with the Indiana players, coaches and fans. Lost in other, more mainstream story-lines, Indiana’s bowl appearance was probably the biggest feel-good story of 2007. When Bill Lynch took over, he made it a priority to fulfill Hoeppner’s team motto to “Play 13.” He did just that. A 7-6 record doesn’t mean much for most other schools, but when a program endures 12 losing seasons, 17-41 record the previous five years, and the loss of its beloved leader, 7-6 seems about as good as 13-0. Now the question remains going into 2008: what’s next for the Indiana Hoosiers?

1. Lynch’s encore -- It was hard not to get caught up in what Indiana did in 2007, but I challenge anyone to name a tougher coaching job than in Bloomington last season. Lynch was rewarded with a head coaching contract, but the university must be patient with its new coach. This team is loaded with juniors and sophomores, which sets up nicely for a major run in 2009. Lynch is no stranger to being the head man, after leading Ball State to the MAC championship in 1996, and the MAC West title in 2001. He was also the offensive coordinator at Indiana for the last two seasons, and was the key architect of the Hoosiers’ potent spread-style attack. Now, if only Lynch can sure up the defense...

2. Speaking of defense -- Junior end Greg Middleton, Jr. emerged as the NCAA’s sack leader in 2007 with 16, on his way to 1st-Team Big Ten honors. The scary thing about this front four for IU is that three return on a line that logged more sacks than any other in Indiana’s history (42). This team will need every one of those sacks in 2008. With the loss of two very good corners in Leslie Majors (6 pbu, 2 int) and Tracy Porter (4 pbu, 6 int, drafted by Saints), quarterback pressure will make or break the entire defense this year. But all is not lost if the defense doesn’t shut out opponents, which is what used to be necessary (but never happened) for the Hoosiers to win. 2007 was the first year since 2001 in which Indiana actually outscored its opponents (305-298 in ’01, 412-370 in ‘07). Since the offense looks to remain a strength, the defense has to merely prevent the other team from lighting up the scoreboard.

3. Missing the Buckeyes -- Like Iowa last week, Indiana manages to miss out on playing Ohio State and Michigan in 2008. Ok, so not playing Ohio State is a very good thing for IU, but missing Michigan could be missing the chance to finally beat the Wolverines. Beyond that, nothing really jumps out about Indiana’s schedule for this season. There’s no reason the Hoosiers shouldn’t romp through their first three against 1A newcomer Western Kentucky, Murray State (AA) and Ball State. While the Cardinals look to be a good team in 2008, Indiana should get by just fine. Playing Michigan State at home in the Big Ten opener, followed by a trip to Minnesota, then home vs Iowa and at Illinois, IU’s realistic goal is to come out 1-3. That would set up IU for homecoming against Northwestern, then home against Central Michigan and Wisconsin before finishing the season at Penn State and at Purdue. The final stretch doesn’t look as promising as the beginning of the season, but pulling out a win or two (Northwestern and/or CMU?) and getting to 5-7 would keep IU respectable going into a promising 2009 campaign.

Next Week's First Look: Michigan State Spartans

-First Look: Iowa Hawkeyes
-First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes
-First Look: Michigan Wolverines
-First Look: Wisconsin Badgers
-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Big Ten is slow, lumbering and outdated. The SEC is fast, agile and popular. Not exactly. If Ohio State returns to the national championship this year and wins it, they will have played in, and won more BCS title games than USC since 2002. No other team can claim the kind of success Ohio State has had over the last six seasons. There are the elite coaches, but very few come close to what Jim Tressel has done in Columbus. The scariest part is that 2008 could be the best season for Ohio State in decades. If this squad plays up to its potential, and comes close or beats USC in Los Angeles, you’ll see the Buckeyes in the BCS title game for a third straight season. There is no team in America less respected than Ohio State, and it could come back to haunt those nay-sayers.

1. Tressel Ball, now in HD -- In 2002, Jim Tressel used his tried and true philosophy of using defense and special teams to eke out 14 wins and a national championship. There was no superstar quarterback, so gaudy offensive stats or bloated point totals, just wins. Since Justin Zwick was basically booed out of his job following Ohio State’s 2005 loss to No. 2 Texas at home, Ohio State has been known as not only an defensive team, but a team that could light up the score board and out-score you. Tressel has adapted to what the personnel has given him, and in 2008, the cupboard is bursting at the hinges. He’s lost to Michigan only once, and should notch his seventh win over the Wolverines this year. Even more impressive, Tressel lured away the nation’s top recruit last year, Terrelle Pryor, who was set to start right away if he were to commit to Rich Rodriguez and Michigan.

2. Better than 2007? -- Last year, Ohio State wasn’t ready, or mature enough yet as a team to compete for the national title. Not after losing Heisman winner Troy Smith, two NFL wide receivers, and a star running back. They surely needed a year to build team chemistry and develop the raw talent. Unfortunately, in a way, for Ohio State, teams choked big time at the end of last season, and the Buckeyes were thrust into the title game. This season it won’t be a fluke. Chris “Beanie” Wells (1609 rush yds, 15 TDs) is back, and quarterback Todd Boeckman returns after a fantastic first season as a starter (63% comp, 25 TDs). Butkus winner James Laurinaitis (121 total tackles) leads a veteran defense which gave up only 12.8 points per game in 2007. Joining him is underrated linebacker Marcus Freeman (109 total tackles), and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (4 INTs, 3 PBU).

3. Michigan? Who cares -- In any other season, the annual meeting with Michigan would be Ohio State’s biggest game. In 2008, it all comes down to the road trip west. Visiting USC in The Coliseum has spelled L-O-S-S for dozens of opponents the past six seasons. Ohio State wants to buck the trend. After two sure wins to open the year against Tressel’s old school, Youngstown State, and Ohio University, the USC game seems to be the only test until October. Following USC, the Buckeyes get layups against Troy and an improved Minnesota team, both at home. Then the tough stretch begins, with a visit to Camp Randall, then home against Purdue, away at Michigan State, and wraps up hosting Penn State in a night game. Get through October undefeated, and the Buckeyes are looking at their third straight trip to the BCS championship game. Don’t expect Ohio State to struggle with the final three games at Northwestern, at Illinois and hosting the Wolverines.

*Editorial Note to Readers: I didn’t want to harp on the obvious story line this season for Ohio State: the possibility of a third-straight loss to the SEC in the BCS Championship Game. I’m planning on a feature post dedicated exclusively to this possibility, so we’ll wait until then to tackle that issue.

Next week’s First Look: Iowa Hawkeyes

-First Look: Michigan Wolverines
-First Look: Wisconsin Badgers
-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Poll Results: Fans Say PSU Headed to Double-Digit Wins in '08

Penn State fans are expecting nothing less than a 10-win season in 2008. With more than 100 votes in, a small minority of fans (16%) said the Lions will finish the regular season with only nine wins. However, none of the other choices of 10 (38%), 11 (26%) and 12 (19%) wins received a majority of the votes. It's still encouraging so see the Penn State fanbase so optimistic about 2008. When was the last time Penn State had to replace a senior quarterback, a senior running back, and a senior All-American linebacker, yet fans are counting on 10 or more wins? This season could go a long way in proving if Penn State has truly fallen from the elite, and that 11-win 2005 season was a fluke. (Ed.- I stopped this week's poll short because I wanted to get the fans' reaction to ESPN's irresponsible, sensationalist "journalism." Not that I have an opinion on the issue or anything. (Cough, Bullshit! Cough)

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More lines released for PSU/Big Ten

In addition to the three lines released earlier this week--Oregon St. (-2.72), Syracuse (-25.74), and Temple (-15.04)--CollegeFootballPoll.com posted today the remaining lines for Penn State and the Big Ten. It really shouldn't be much of a surprise to fans that CFP is predicting Penn State to finish at 10-2. However, with Wisconsin slated to finish second--Ohio State is first--this would relegate the Lions to the Capital One Bowl. Basically, this entire season could come down to the October matchup with the Badgers, in Madison. Talk about must-see TV.

Here are some more thoughts on the latest lines:

The opener against Coastal Carolina is listed as a 36.25 spread favoring the home team. Following the three predicted wins against OSU, 'Cuse and Temple, Illinois rolls into town. The CFP computers, though, don't like the Illini in that match at all, listing PSU as a 9.62-point favorite under the Beaver Stadium lights. The next week, PSU travels to Purdue, where the Lions are a 4.34-point favorite. Now, that's not a huge spread, but it's more than a field goal, so I'll take it.

The first predicted loss is to Wisconsin in a night game at Camp Randall Stadium. If you think about it, the 4.33-point underdog Lions could pull this one out. You'll see why in a minute. First, the best line of them all. Penn State is an 8.20-point favorite hosting Michigan. Again, I know this is very early, and CFP changes its lines right before each game, but to start out as an 8-plus-point favorite is just outstanding. Lines mean nothing once the game kicks off, but they do count for something.

As I said you'll see, a 4.33-point underdog status at Wisconsin isn't all that bad when you consider Penn State is already listed as a 15.76-point underdog in Columbus. But don't panic yet. I'm not so sure this is a sign the Lions are going to be weak in 2008, as much as Ohio State is going to be really, really, ridiculously good. Losing to the possible No. 1 team will still keep the Lions high in the rankings. It's just a matter of preventing the blowout CFP predicts.

Finally, the last three games should be--according to CFP--a breeze. A trip to Iowa City (-9.87), and home against Indiana (-13.54) and MSU (-8.18) are all showing Penn State victories by comfortable margins.

Some seasons, you can almost see an upset game before it happens. There's always that one trap game just crying for the underdog to come through. This year seems different. Barring any Austin Scott-like trouble, or Jared Odrick-Jerome Hayes-Matt Hahn-like injuries, Penn State should easily reach the 10-win mark. So there it is, folks. If you wanted a don't-miss-this-game-unless-you're-on-fire game, Penn State at Wisconsin will be it.

*CFP has been freakishly accurate since its inception in 1993. From CFP: “The computer has picked the winner in 74.7% of all games played since 1993 (7,828-2,645) while beating the spread in 54.2% of those games (5,221-4,419)... The computer has predicted the national title match-up three times (1993, 1998 and 2005), and at least one contestant every year except 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2006. The team it picked to win the title did so three times (1993, 1998, and 1999), and lost in the title game four times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005).” Yeah, I’d call that freakish.

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Poll Results: Fans say PSU going January bowling

Expectations are soaring for this year's Penn State football team. With more than 100 votes in, Zombie Nation readers pegged Penn State to be 8-1 by the end of October. That one loss is most likely to Ohio State in Columbus, but a majority (66%) of voters pegged the Lions with that one loss (39%), or undefeated (27%). The less optimistic fans still greatly favored a 7-2 (24%) record over 6-3 (9%). With an easier November schedule, this could be the makings of a BCS at-large bid. Be sure to vote in Zombie Nation's next poll, "PSU's Regular Season Record," coming this afternoon!

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Early Point Spreads You Should Know

The leader in picking college football games, CollegeFootballPoll.com, has released its MAC, Big East and Pac10 previews. I don’t believe there’s a more accurate operation out there for setting lines and picking W/L records in college football. Sure, I love to read the hundreds of previews throughout the year, but when it comes down to game time, I’m checking the lines set by CFP’s computers.*

Not to say that I’m at all surprised, but Penn State is favored by relatively comfortable margins in three games released. The Lions are early 2.72-point favorites against the Beavers in week two, Syracuse is an early 25.74-point underdog in the Carrier Dome, while in-state rival Temple is an early 15.04 underdog for the Owls’ visit to Beaver Stadium in week four.

The only one of those games I'm a little concerned about is Oregon State. Now, I fully believe Penn State will win it, but I also agree with the CFP computers that it could be a very close game. I was really surprised with the Syracuse line. The Orange(men) won't go to a bowl game, not even close. But for CFP to set a line larger than 25 points, the Syracuse faithful should start bracing themselves for an ugly afternoon. This could set up a very interesting story line when the Fighting Illini come to town and Penn State is sitting pretty at 4-0.

*CFP has been freakishly accurate since its inception in 1993. From CFP: “The computer has picked the winner in 74.7% of all games played since 1993 (7,828-2,645) while beating the spread in 54.2% of those games (5,221-4,419)... The computer has predicted the national title match-up three times (1993, 1998 and 2005), and at least one contestant every year except 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2006. The team it picked to win the title did so three times (1993, 1998, and 1999), and lost in the title game four times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005).” Yeah, I’d call that freakish.

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First Look: Michigan Wolverines

You won’t find a more intriguing story line for 2008 outside of Michigan. Last season was considered by many to be a complete disaster, but lost in the mix were some very impressive highlights. The program is going into overhaul mode, with new uniforms, a new stadium, and most noticeably, a brand-spanking-new head coach in Rich Rodriguez. The offense will look vastly different than anything run in Michigan Stadium in the last, well, ever. The fans are preparing themselves for a worst-case scenario in 2008, but they shouldn’t worry too much. After all, this is Michigan, and even with all the problems, there are enough players to make this season at least palatable, if not surprising. I hate when people say “I can see this team going anywhere from [insert really bad record here] to [insert really good record here],” but in 2008, Michigan can only be labeled as completely unpredictable.

1. The “Snake Oil Salesman” -- Remember how pissed off Kirk Herbstreit was when Les Miles denied his interest in the Michigan coaching job? I’d be. Well folks, that was just the beginning, as no one could have predicted the firestorm coming when Rich Rodriguez shocked his alma mater and left West Virginia (60-26 record, 2 BCS bowl wins) in a cloak of secrecy for Ann Arbor. Any coach in the nation should be afraid to face RichRod on the field, but he’s never been so vulnerable as right now. Defections, staff shakeups and the graduation (and NFL Draft-entering) of some of the best talent this team had, will cause more than headaches in 2008. I don’t want to imagine how scary Michigan will be a few years from now. It could even happen next year, but for 2008, RichRod could lose some of his luster.

2. Starting from scratch -- Losing the career record-holders in passing AND rushing yards wouldn’t look good for this team even if Ryan Mallett (No. 1 recruit ’07) hadn’t transferred to Arkansas. Adding to Michigan’s stress is the mishaps of running back Kevin Grady, who didn’t know when to say “when,” and will most likely be in the dog house for the rest of this season. That leaves a very green running back contingent, but one that’s bursting with potential. Stepping in where Mallett should have been is probably Steven Threet. Although not as hyped as Mallett, Threet has great size (6’6”, 230) and has better mobility that Mallett. The defense loses its top four tacklers (358 total tackles), but the line returns intact and should take some pressure off the back seven. There are enough leaders on this side of the ball to keep things under control in 2008.

3. No more “Big House” -- Ok Michigan, you can still keep “The Big House” nickname, but you’re no longer the “biggest” house. Several thousand seats were removed from Michigan Stadium for renovations (actually, UM was sued because the stadium hasn’t been updated since the Ice Age, and didn’t have enough handicapped seating/accessibility). Unfortunately for the Wolverines, most of the toughest games come on the road, outside the friendly confines of Ann Arbor. However, opening with Utah, at Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Illinois won’t be an easy slate. Then, finishing out the season with trips to Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota and Ohio State, with home games against Michigan State and Northwestern sprinkled in, will present a formidable challenge for a Michigan team that could be looking for a break. With this schedule, even one key injury could spell disaster.

Next week’s First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes

-First Look: Wisconsin Badgers
-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Poll Archives

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First Look: Wisconsin Badgers

If you want to find a grossly under-appreciated football team, look no further than Madison, Wisconsin. Since 2004, the Badgers have gone 40-11 and played in FOUR straight New Years Day bowls against SEC opponents (UW went 2-2). What more does this program have to do to prove its national worth? Because of some really dumb BCS rules, Wisconsin was left out of the at-large picture in 2006, even with its 11-1 record and an upset of Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. Under Coach Bret Bielema, Wisconsin is looking more like the Badgers of the ‘90s. Hopefully for them, those ‘90s Rose Bowl wins will come again soon, too.

1. An ideal succession -- There hasn’t been a smoother transition from one coach to another than at Wisconsin. Barry Alvarez will go down as one of the game’s all-time great head coaches, and it looks like another one will follow right after. Bret Bielema seems to have actually improved the football program overall since Alvarez left in 2005, going 21-5 his first two campaigns and two January bowl games. Granted, it will take a lot for Bielema to bypass Alvarez in terms of career accomplishments, but he’s at least on the right track. Bielema is committed to maintaining Wisconsin’s smash-mouth style of football (which doesn’t mean “slow,” SEC fans), and one can argue there’s no need to change anything in the future.

2. The “‘backs” are back -- Under Alvarez, Wisconsin had been known for running the ball right down your throat, but the last few seasons of his tenure, production began to dip at the position. Then came in Brian Calhoun who blew up for more than 1600 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in 2005. No one was sure what would happen once Calhoun declared early for the NFL. Frosh running back PJ Hill quelled any anxiety, rumbling for 2781 yards the past two seasons. In 2008, the Badgers will lean on his talent more than ever with the departure of senior quarterback Tyler Donovan. Allen Evridge transferred from Kansas St. (was beat out by Donovan in ’06), and has some experience in Bielema’s system. But with guys like John Clay, Lance Smith and Zach Brown, don’t be surprised if Wisconsin uses a full three-deep running back rotation in ’08.

3. It’ll be a rockin’ Camp Randall -- Playing at Michigan, then home against Ohio State and Penn State in three straight weeks will give even the toughest teams headaches. Fortunately for Wisconsin, it’s tough enough to at least get through two of those games. I really doubt 3-0, but anything is possible when your team plays in one of the wildest environments in all college football. Other games to watch for will be at Fresno State, Michigan State, and at home against an Illinois team that upset the then-No. 5 Badgers in 2007. Wisconsin hasn’t gone undefeated in Big Ten play in, well, a really long time, and I don’t see 2008 being any different. However, getting through with only one conference loss, and Wisconsin could land itself in a BCS game.


Next week’s First Look: Michigan Wolverines (Homecoming)

-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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