The Lions' secondary in a familiar place

Tom Bradley has been here before. The man is not only in charge of the team's defense, but the cornerbacks and secondary. As preseason camp inches closer (begins Aug. 10), Bradley knows all too well the challenge of having to completely rebuild a secondary that loses all four senior starters from the previous season's Big Ten Championship team.

In 2004, Penn State's pass defense was ranked No. 6 nationally at 162.3 ypg, while the Lions were No. 4 in pass efficiency defense with a 99.8 rating. Penn State allowed only five touchdown passes all season, with just two coming in the eight Big Ten contests. That unit only lost one starter, Andy Guman, but he was replaced by a former starter, Chris Harrell.

The next season, 2005, the unit slipped a bit statistically, allowing 211.7 ypg and 11 touchdown passes. But those numbers were mostly due to opponents' frantic garbage time passing as Penn State rolled to easy blowout wins. The secondary also grabbed 16 interceptions, and held opponents to just 5.8 yards per attempt.

With all the starters off to the NFL (all four were either drafted or FA), combined with the loss of 3/4 of an elite defensive line (93 ypg), the defense looked shaky at best going into 2006.

But Bradley pulled off a remarkable feat. The defense was not only as good as the 2005 edition, it actually improved. Penn State allowed a paltry 284.5 total ypg (87 rush ypg and 197 pass ypg) which was even better than the 2004 defense. The 14.4 ppg allowed in 2006 was Penn State's best mark this decade, until last year's defense matched it.

So, we know Bradley can do this. He's done it before. But there is a twist this time around -- Penn State now has the benefit of four years' worth of top-notch recruiting behind it, when in 2006, the talent level depth still left much to be desired.

The defensive line, despite the recent losses, still has plenty of VHTs (a little Phil Steele action for ya) in the two-deep and the best DT duo in the Big Ten, and the linebackers return the best group in five years.

The secondary will remain the main concern for Bradley and Joe Paterno, but all the doom and gloom could be premature, just as being overly optimistic would be.

AJ Wallace and Knowledge Timmons have been around the program a long time. Wallace was rated as the No. 1 corner out of high school, and has started six in his career. True soph D'Anton Lynn is another VHT, who played in almost every game last season.

Penn State brought in five defensive backs in this year's recruiting class, which should give the overall talent here a shot in the arm.

Although Bradley doesn't directly coach the safeties (Asst. Kermit Buggs), this group must be in lock-step with the corners this year.

Drew Astorino filled in as the third safety (PSU uses 3 safties instead of a nickelback) last year, and also started three games. Behind him is soph Nick Sukay, a VHT who has been caught by the injury bug. Sukay is now healthy and ready to push for Astorino's spot.

Penn State's HERO (SS) position is an open race, but VHT soph Andrew Dailey (former LB) is now leading. Behind Dailey is junior Cedric Jeffries, who has seen action in 26 games. The wildcard in all of this is VHT true frosh Gerald Hodges, who saw significant time in the spring game, and who the coaches are very high on.

At last week's Big Ten Media Days, Paterno told reporters, "We're going to have to take some young people and put them in key spots. There will probably be a couple of kids I haven't seen play yet. But that will go on for a while."

Looking at Penn State's defensive backfield, it's hard to imagine Paterno's comments were directed elsewhere.

You will also be able to find this article on PhilSteele.com soon!

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Review, Game 11: Penn State 34, Indiana 7

I’ll go through each unit and the coaching, sizing up how each one performed against the Hoosiers.

OFFENSE :: C

Line – Can we start asking ourselves, "where the hell has this line gone?" Daryll Clark had a bit more time to throw this week, but still not enough, considering it was Indi-freaking-ana! Clark was sacked, twice. Pat Devlin was sacked. Not only was it bad to surrender that kind of pressure on the passers, it came from the worst possible place–the blind side. Gerald Cadogan has taken a big step back the last two weeks, consistently getting beat by speed-rushing ends. And when he does keep them off the passer, he's ususally holding them, drawing the penalty. Tackles and TEs coach Bill Kenney better get on these guys' cases this week. The run blocking as a whole still needs fine tuning, which is ridiculous at this stage of the season. I'm not sure, but it looks like Mr. Kenney's boys, especially the tight ends, could use some blocking drills, pronto. Moving Stefen Wisniewski and Rich Ohrnberger back to their old guard spots worked better. I'm not eve sure why they did that for Iowa, as even the Big Ten Network announcers this week said it was a bad idea, and that Penn State regretted the move. That begs the question, then, "why didn't Penn State's coaches switch the two back at halftime of the Iowa game?" We'll never know, moving on.

Receivers – I thought they had a good day. The best play called all day was the TE Drag to Mickey Shuler for a big gain on third down. Penn State was able to get its receivers in open space more this week, something we haven't seen since the first half of this season. Derrick Williams had probably his all-around best day as a Nittany Lion (123 rushing/receiving yards, 2 TDs), while Deon Butler finally grabbed a touchdown (and passing Bobby Engram as career receptions leader at PSU), and Jordan Norwood made up for his bad day at Iowa, with 7 catches for 69 yards this week. I'm already getting choked up thinking about these guys graduating.

Quarterbacks - Clark looked more like Zack Mills than the quarterback once known as Daryll Clark. There was little zip on the ball. The two times he threw long, they were under-thrown (one was bailed out by Williams' great TD catch, the other was intercepted). He was nervous in the pocket, and made several mistakes. But overall, he got the job done, throwing for 240 yards and two scores. Like I said, it really brought me back to the "Zack Attack" days. You spend most of the game wondering why Clark can't play well the whole game. But it was alright, since Penn State never felt it would lose, even when leading by only 3 at the half. Overall, I thought it was a good cushion game for Clark, before the Big Ten Championship Game next week.

Rushers – You have to give Evan Royster credit. No, not for his outstanding running. But rather for dealing with the obvious lack of carries he's getting. For the last two weeks, he's been in a position to take over a game, but the coaches go to someone else, just when Royster's getting in his rhythm. But that aside, his 19-yard touchdown run was probably the best individual-effort play of the game. I would love to see Stephfon Green and Royster in the backfield at the same time. Green has been very effective, and while he didn't gain super stats against Indiana (10 car, 30 yds), he got the job done as a sub for Royster. Imagine the aneurism Penn State could give opposing defenses, if Penn State lined up Royster, Clark and Green in the backfield, and then threw Williams in motion from the slot, just for fun?

DEFENSE :: A

Line – I thought the pressure put on Kellen Lewis was fantastic this week. Aaron Maybin registered his 12th sack of the year, while Jared Odrick was again a menace in the backfield. I know I've been praising Odrick's play a lot lately, but I really think he's the biggest factor–figuratively and literally speaking–on the defensive front for Penn State. Against Indiana he only logged three tackles, and one TFL, but he was constantly penetrating the IU offensive line, disrupting both the pass and run. He is easily a first-team all-Big Ten selection this year. Saturday, we also saw the re-emergence of Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma, who both made four tackles, with Evans getting one for loss. It's a big deal to see these two slowly returning to form, with Javon Ringer coming to town next week.

Linebackers – I don't know if it was just that Iowa had really good blitz protection, or Indiana is really that bad at picking up the pressure, but Penn State had much more success this game at putting pressure on Lewis. Josh Hull could still stand to be a step quicker, but remember that Lewis is a very fast quarterback, who's ankle sprain looked perfectly fine against Penn State. I was a bit discouraged by some missed tackles, and still getting jammed in the middle of plays, like on the 57-yard touchdown run. I thought the linebackers did a much better job this week, though, getting into position to make some good plays. Navorro Bowman might have had an interception, had the ball not been thrown full speed from ten yards away. I'd say the biggest problem I had was the shaky tackling. Again, something that can't happen against Michigan State.

Secondary – Has there been a better individual-coaching job than what the staff has done with Mark Rubin. I know, the interception was practically gift-wrapped for him, but Rubin was alert enough to make a huge play on the ball. Penn State held Indiana to 57 total passing yards, one interception and two sacks. Lewis completed 9 of 21 passes. Indiana came in averaging almost 200 pass ypg. This wasn't a very daunting test for the Penn State secondary, so there's not much learned from the performance. Indiana completed a few passes, but mostly when Lewis was on the run away from pressure, after the plays were broken. We can't be sure the defensive backfield can come through until the Spartans offense takes the field, unfortunately.

SPECIAL TEAMS :: A+

Kickers – Kevin Kelly missed a field goal. Oh well, he's still be outstanding this year, and should be first-team all-Big Ten. On top of that he contributed to the field position battle, dropping a pooch punt downed inside the two. Jeremy Boone boomed both of his punts for a 51-yard average. Kelly's kickoffs have also been a thing of beauty this year, usually nailing them just deep enough to force the returner to take them out, right into the teeth of Penn State's vastly improved coverage units.

Returners – Williams took a few that I didn't think he would, with one longer return being called back on a horrible block-in-the-back call. Indiana didn't score, so there weren't any real kickoff returns.

Coverage – Field position was key in the win, and it wouldn't have been possible without the Penn State coverage unit's hustle to get down the field, and in front of the kicks. Nate Stupar is easily the special teams player of the year (if there was one), having gotten a piece of another punt this week. Long snapper Andrew Pitz made the biggest play of his career, downing a punt inside the two.

COACHES :: B

I'll admit, it was better, but not good. Penn State shouldn't have had any problems with Indiana. We should have been watching Devlin, Green, Brandon Beachum and James McDonald for the entire second half, not the first-teamers frantically trying to put the game away like it was some upper-echelon BCS team. I said earlier that the play-calling did a better job of getting guys open, but still not the way Galen Hall and Jay Paterno were getting them open during the first half of the season. Where's the "Spread HD" that was once all the rage in college football? Penn State rumbled for 400+ yards against Indiana, but it should have been somewhere around 500+. Sorry, I know it was raining. I was there, wet, cold and frustrated. But Penn State should have been able to handle Indiana like a championship team would. I'm going to give Penn State a mulligan this week, considering it was the first game after that gut-wrenching loss in Iowa City, Clark was still getting back into his groove, and the weather was extra-Pennsylvania-autumn crappy. These Nittany Lions are good, and can win a championship. So let's see it.

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Review, Game 10: Iowa 24, Penn State 23

The Nittany Lions laid a big, fat, rotten egg at Iowa. I really don't want to do this review, as this is the most painful loss since Michigan 2005. But, I intend to do my best. I’ll go through each unit and the coaching, sizing up how each one performed in Iowa City.

OFFENSE :: D

Line – How many times have we heard the phrase, "It all starts up front," when analysts spoke of Penn State's success this season? Well, it has to stand true in losses, as well. This loss began in the trenches, on the very first drive. The Iowa defensive line, especially the interior linemen, had no problem scorching through Penn State's front wall. There's been a lot of talk about Rich Ohrnberger and Stefen Wisniewski swapping spots, and the disaster which ensued shortly thereafter. The middle of the Penn State offensive line was the force and strong point of attack all year, but in one single outing, it all came crashing down. With it, so did the Penn State offense as a whole. Just to illustrate how poorly the offensive line performed last week, let's look at the "Opponent TFLs." Games 1-9: 3.7 TFL per game; Iowa: 7 TFL! That's nearly double the number off negative-yardage plays made by a Penn State opponent.

Receivers – I'm going to leave Derrick Williams out of this. He was used as a utility player, not a pure receiver. Now, on to the group of Penn State football players who claim to be wide RECEIVERS! It's one thing to struggle to break coverage, or get open, or gain a lot of yards after catch. But it's an entirely different monster when the receivers can't even make the catch. Daryll Clark received a lot of undue heat for his play, when really, no one else helped him out. This was very evident on the perimeter and downfield. Was there a more painful play than the Jordan Norwood drop on third down? I don't think so. Another surprisingly pivotal display of incompetence was Andrew Quarless. It wasn't so much his receiving that sucked–even though it really did last week–but rather his blocking was horrendous, mainly on the goal line.

Quarterbacks - Clark took all the blame, as most leaders do for their team's loss. But I really think Clark played a decent game. He had no protection, ridiculously bad play-calling, and receivers that wouldn't catch the ball. Would I have liked to see Pat Devlin come in for a series, considering Penn State wasn't running the quarterback at all? Of course, but I'm not sure it would have mattered. After the first three plays–all passes, into the wind, with horrible blocking–Clark was never in a rhythm, something he thrived on in the previous nine games. Even during the Ohio State game, Clark played a clean game, even if it wasn't impressive. Iowa got to Clark, and Clark got to himself. I think the critics look too deeply into the interception, as it was he only real mistake Clark made in the passing game. I know, it was at the worst time. But you can't blame this loss on Clark, and neither should he.

Rushers – Give these guys credit, they had less help than did Clark and the passing game. Evan Royster was recently named a Doak Walker Semifinalist, and the Iowa game just reinforced why he's viewed as one of the best. Again, I don't mean to harp on this, but with virtually no blocking help, Royster did a fantastic job Saturday, managing to gain 90 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. His lost-yardage total was a season-high 17 yards lost. And what's with Stephfon Green? He's averaged 9 yards per carry the last two games (6/54), but the offensive staff hasn't given him more touches (season-low, 7 tot. touches, last two games). With two of the best running backs in the conference, Penn State sure knows how to waste their talent. Now on to Williams. I loved the game-plan the staff installed for him, but I wish it was incorporated into the Spread HD, rather than push it aside. The "Williams Factor" was one we've all been waiting for, but didn't expect it to smother the rest of the regular offense. Combine those two, and these next two games (and bowl game) will look more like the first nine.

DEFENSE :: D

Line – The down linemen couldn't shed run blocks to save their lives at Iowa, and it completely killed any chance at stopping Iowa's Shonn Greene. But it wasn't just the run defense, as the pass pressure never materialized when Penn State needed it most. Aaron Maybin was a non-factor in this game. It was one of only two games (the other being Illinois) in which he didn't record a sack, and it really hurt the defense. I thought things were going to turn around when Jared Odrick blasted his way through the line so fast, Iowa's Ricky Stanzi was sacked before he even completed his drop. This was the first game all season where the defensive line looked really tired in the fourth quarter. Could it be that all those losses up front have finally come crashing down on Penn State? Maybe not, but maybe so.

Linebackers – Penn State wasn't getting any pressure up front with just four rushers. So they rushed five and six, yet still couldn't get pressure. This has quickly become a disturbing pattern for the 'backers. Not only that, but Josh Hull, Navorro Bowman and Tyrell Sales were frequently jammed up by the tackles and tight ends, sealing off the edge for Iowa's Greene. One of the few bright spots was Sales coming up with a pick, but we have to remember that Stanzi threw that ball into about four defenders. If one of our guys didn't pick it off, it would have been truly pathetic. And what the hell happened to Bani Gbadyu? He wasn't a world-beater at linebacker (he did lose his starting spot to Bowman), but he hasn't registered a single stat or played a down in three weeks.

Secondary – Like Clark on offense, the secondary has been taking a lot of unjust heat for the Iowa loss. Three plays stick out, all in the fourth quarter. Lydell Sargeant dropped a sure-interception. One play later, broken coverage allowed an Iowa touchdown. Then, on the final drive, Anthony Scirrotto went up over the receiver's head, trying to intercept the ball, but was flagged for interference, keeping the drive alive. Yes, they were all horrible plays at the worst times. But overall, the Penn State secondary played up to it's own talent level. In the beginning of this year, many worried about the secondary and the linebackers. So we shouldn't be surprised when either of those two groups fail to win games for Penn State. No single unit, or player can be blamed for this loss, especially the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS :: A

Kickers – Kevin Kelly probably wishes he only had to kid PATs, but he came through on every kick. He could end up as a Groza finalist. Jeremy Boone had a so-so night, averaging 33 net yards per punt. He did his job.

Returners – Boy, Penn State could have used a spark. But there was none to be found in the return game this week. Although this group of Williams and Chaz Powell didn't do anything good, they didn't do anything bad, either.

Coverage – Penn State gave up one big return, a 27-yarder, but overall did a good job. I'll throw the kick-block unit into this part, just because I had to have it somewhere. But looking at the final kick by Iowa, it was eerily similar to the Minnesota 1999 game. It looked like Penn State had the height, the leverage and the speed to block it... but no.

COACHES :: F

I don't even know where to start with the coaching staff. I said after the game that this loss had "Joe Paterno written all over it." I might have been a little off with that angle. This game had Fran Ganter written all over it. I remember hearing Ganter say years ago, "We don't do a lot, but what we do, we do well." You know what that translates into? We don't adjust. That evil reared its head once again Saturday. It brought back horrible memories of the Michigan 2006 game, when Penn State seemingly refused to call screen plays to combat the UM pass rush. Then, when a screen was finally called, Tony Hunt takes it for a touchdown. Where was that at Iowa? If there was ever a need for screens–inside, outside, bubble, whatever kind–it was last week. Royster didn't catch a single pass, and Green grabbed only one, out on the flat. These two guys were built for screens, but none were called. Damn, I'll even take those dreadful bubble screens to the wide receivers. I don't mean to drag on about screen passes, but I really believe it could have made a significant impact on the offensive production last week. On defense, I have nothing to really say. Penn State bent. Penn State broke. That's not Penn State.

*Ed.- Now that this is done (finally), I'll have the full Indiana Preview up later today.

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Review, Game 8: Penn State 46, Michigan 17

Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from Penn State's win over Michigan. The Wolverines put a quite a fight for the first half, but just couldn't hold on to the momentum. Penn State, on the other hand, showed why it's the No. 3 team in the nation, taking a ton of Michigan's best shots, but still recovering to win going away. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week's monster game at Ohio State.

OFFENSE :: A

Line - AQ Shipley's errant snap to lead off the game seemed to set the tone for Penn State's first quarter, but we should look past that (it was just as much Daryll Clark's fault). The offensive line had a good game against Michigan. I wasn't pleased with how well Michigan pushed back the line's surge early on, but Dick Anderson and Bill Kenney adjusted very well, and soon had the line bowling over the hapless Wolverine defensive front.

Receivers - I can't complain about this unit, as the offense's early woes had nothing to do with the receivers. In fact, I thought this was the best game of the year for Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler as a group. What really impressed me was their down field blocking, which was absolutely key to Evan Royster's 174-yard day. The tight ends didn't do much in the game, but they only had a few passes thrown their way.

Quarterbacks - Clark had his worst quarter of the season, but stormed back with what could have been his best three. His numbers weren't through the roof, but he has once again showed why he's the leader of this football team. The best thing Penn State could get out of the quarterback position is what Clark offers. He kept his team cool and collected, didn't turn the ball over in the passing game, and moved the chains. I was very pleased to see Pat Devlin get into the game, even if it was late.

Rushers - Penn State could have run Royster 30 straight times if it wanted to, and Michigan wouldn't have been able to stop him. We all know Royster is one of the best backs Penn State's had recently, so I'll talk about the rest of the run game. I'm not sure what the Penn State coaches were trying to do when they ran Stephfon Green up the middle so much. If you want to run down the clock, Green can do it, but with outside runs, where he can get to the edge.

DEFENSE :: B-

Line - Where was the line for those 12 minutes Michigan held the ball in the first quarter? It brought back bad memories of 2003, when Penn State couldn't stop any team's run game. While I think a "B-" was harsh for the defense as a whole, this unit cannot have another start like this, and it clearly overshadowed the fantastic game the front seven played after that first quarter. The defensive line couldn't suck up blocks, and allowed the Michigan linemen to reach the linebackers, creating huge holes for Brandon Minor and Steven Threet. I expect the staff to work on plenty of block-shedding drills this week.

Linebackers - This unit was just as much at fault for allowing Michigan to run right over Penn State early on. On this level, however, it was just a clear lack of tackling that doomed the defense. The one play that stuck out to me was on Michigan's first drive, facing 4th-and-1. Navorro Bowman and Jared Odrick (of all people, too) slammed the ball carrier a full yard short of the first down, but failed to follow through. Had Penn State stopped Michigan on that drive, things might have been very different. They can't miss tackles this week. To be fair, the substitutions sending in Bani Gbadyu and Mike Mauti were great moves, and really sparked the line backers to step up their play overall.

Secondary - The back four/five were making too many touchdown-saving tackles, but did very well overall. Michigan's quarterbacks were just as much of a help to Penn State as Anthony Scirrotto and Tony Davis were, but coverage was tight through most of the game. There was some soft coverage, which led to some chunks through the air, but those were few and far between. Penn State's ability to shut down any chance Michigan had to make a comeback, started with the defensive backfield. I expect a much, much bigger test for this unit at Ohio State.

SPECIAL TEAMS :: A+

Kickers - Jeremy Boone out-punted the best punter in the Big Ten, while Kevin Kelly kicked his way to Big Ten Player of the Week accolades. Not a bad day for the kicking specialists.

Returners - Chaz Powell has emerged as a good replacement for AJ Wallace, and Derrick Williams had a so-so day. I guess we can't ask for a kick return touchdown every week.

Coverage - This is where Penn State has really stepped up its game this season. For the second straight week, the special teams coverage and block units played out of their minds. From Nate Stupar's punt block and punishing hits, to Mike Mauti blasting into the returner, forcing the ball free. This is the most improved single aspect of Penn State's game from last year to this year.

COACHES :: C/A+

The first half get's the C, while the second half gets the A+. Michigan gained 199 yards in the first quarter, but only 92 after that. Tom Bradley wasn't afraid to sit Josh Hull and Tyrell Sales, and it worked. The only big problem I have is that it took a 17-point run for Penn State to finally adjust. I can't really complain much about the offensive game-plan, because the offense was just fine once the defense finally slowed Michigan. This was a big wake-up call for Penn State's players and coaches. The Nittany Lions were out-coached and out-played for nearly a half, and it could be the best thing to happen to Penn State all season.

*Ed-Tomorrow morning, I'll post my top 25.

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Penn State wins, 48-7!

Penn State just blasted Wisconsin tonight in Madison. Here's some initial thoughts. I'll have the full review tomorrow.

The Good: The defense really showed up tonight. In a hostile environment like Camp Randall, you have to keep the opposing offense out of synch. Penn State did that tonight with a great pass rush, and the help of guys like Lydell Sargeant (2 picks). Aaron Maybin established himself as a First Team Big Ten selection, and if he keeps this pace, should be All America. On the offensive side, there were no big mistakes after the first possession. Evan Royster, the line, and the receivers all played great. But Daryll Clark IS Penn State right now. The first drive of the second half really defined this game for Penn State, driving down the field like a machine for a TD. Derrick Williams could just be the best return man Penn State’s ever had. Oh, and who is that No. 23 kicker kid? Can’t be Kevin Kelly, right?

The Bad: The first drive of the game, Penn State looked very shaky. That can’t happen at Ohio State. Derrick Williams dropped an almost sure TD, and Clark fumbled the snap on the next play. On defense, I wasn’t at all happy with the 85-yard drive Wisconsin put together in the second quarter. Allen Evridge should escape the pocket and get so many yards against PSU, but he did. Think Terrelle Pryor will have much trouble doing that?

Overall: This was a great win on the road in one of the toughest places to play. The offense looked like a championship-caliber unit, while the defense looked even better. Penn State hasn’t been this impressive through the first seven games since 1994. I’m not exaggerating. 1999, 1997, 1986 and the rest can’t compare to the complete dominance Penn State has exercised over its first seven opponents in 2008. I know there are a lot more games to play, but I’m getting really excited.

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Penn State wins, 20-6

Penn State survived today on the road against Purdue. Here's some initial thoughts. I'll have the full review tomorrow.

The Good: The defense was spectacular today, nearly getting the shut out. I felt some of the penalties were unnecessary, especially in pass coverage. But the PSU secondary played very aggressive today, and penalties happen. I was very impressed by the rush defense, holding Kory Sheets to only 59 yards, effectively turning Purdue one-dimensional. On the offensive side of the ball, Penn State didn't blow anyone away, but there were no turnovers (a few came close though) and Daryll Clark had a very efficient day. What can you say about Evan Royster and Stephfon Green? Not much, other than that they're both really good, when used correctly. PSU used them correctly today.

The Bad: What was with that field today? Both sides were slipping and sliding all over. Most noticeably was Rosyter and Green losing grip on their cut-back runs. I think the offense would have put a lot more points on the board if it wasn't for the slippery field. Oh well. Penn State gave up a few sacks, mainly coverage sacks, but still worrisome. I could get on PSU's case today, particularly the offense, but I won't.

Overall: Joe Paterno's leg is starting to worry me. But that's all I'll say. This was a big performance by Penn State today, considering it was picked by some as a let-down week. Like I said above, I could pick on a lot of specific things, but right now any win is good for Penn State. I'll be at a wedding the rest of the night (I'm in Northern PA right now), so I can't really watch any more games. But I'll give PSU a great chance to win in Madison next week.

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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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Ohio State will do that to you

I'll have the First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes up later today. However, since I hated writing about the one team that PSU has a very slim chance of beating I'm getting married this Saturday, I won't be posting the remainder of this week, unless something ridiculously important happens in Penn State football. Other than that, I won't be back here until Monday, the 4th. At that point, a new poll, First Look, and a weekly roundup will be posted. Also, probably Friday, the 9th, I'll have the first of three Penn State team breakdowns for 2008. The first part will look at the Penn State defense: depth chart, key players, etc. The entire month of August is like Christmas-freaking-Eve.

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More on Phil Steele's magazine :: Defense and Unit Rankings

I already covered the offense in the first half of coverage. Now, we'll turn our attention to the defensive rankings, as well as the unit rankings. But first I wanted to mention where PS predicts PSU will go bowling... The... Rose... Bowl. I know, I know, he predicted PSU would go to the Orange Bowl last year, but who cares? This is a new year, and I'd take the Rose Bowl over the freaking Alamo Bowl any day.

Now for the individual defensive rankings. Maurice Evans came to Happy Valley as an All-American, and now he's looking to leave with the same honor. PS ranks Evans as the No. 3 overall DE going into 2008. As I said earlier, he's also the No. 17 overall NFL Draft prospect for 2009, should he declare. Unfortunately, neither Josh Gaines or Jerome Hayes make the list, but it's expected. Gaines is a solid player, not fantastic, and Hayes was injured. Nothing lost there. However, surprisingly PS ranked THREE PSU DTs in the top 60 in that position: Phil Taylor (No. 36), Jared Odrick (No. 55) and Chris Baker (No. 56). Should Baker get out of the dog house, these rankings will hold true, and PSU should have the best rotation of linemen in the country.

Now to the linebackers. Let's get it out of the way. Sean Lee's injury sucks hardcore, but PS still sees fit to rank him as the No. 8 overall OLB for 2008. I guess that's looking at him as if he wasn't injured. But Tyrell Sales pleasantly makes the list, as a very respectable No. 37. That's a bit higher than I thought he'd be, but who's arguing? The out lier in the LB rankings is Chris Colasanti, who has shot up the charts to a No. 38 ILB slot. That could make for an interesting summer for PSU fans that aren't so pleased about Josh Hull jumping Colasanti on the depth chart this spring. We'll see how that plays out.

AJ Wallace, after only a few starts in 2007, makes his appearance as the No. 11 cornerback. Prior to 2007 PS had Wallace as the No. 12 CB, so it's not much of a stretch to figure he's improved, even if slightly. In the middle of the secondary, PSU fails to land a free safety on the board, but that's partly due to Mark Rubin taking over the main role for Tony Davis. I'm sure had Davis been back at FS, he would have been ranked in the top 44, as he was in 2007. Anthony Scirrotto is looking to get back to his 2006 form, and PS thinks he can do it, placing him at No. 8 on the strong safety rankings.

On special teams, Jeremy Boone hasn't let down PSU's growing reputation for top-flight punters. PS has him at No. 10 nationally at his position. Returning punts, PS also has a Lion highly rated, with Derrick Williams coming in at No. 5. AJ Wallace also makes multiple appearances in these rankings, coming in as the No. 3 overall kickoff returner.

Unit Rankings:

I'm a little ho-hum about PS's unit rankings, mainly the quarterbacks. Usually, the team with the best QB has the best QB "unit." So really, there's no real stretch going on with this unit's rankings. It's basically an extended version of the individual rankings. PSU doesn't make the top 32. Florida has the best QB "unit" for 2008. For running backs, I'll give PS a pass, as none of the PSU backs have had more than a few games' worth of playing experience. Only one, Royster, has had any real playing time, yet PS couldn't rank PSU's backs this year for that reason. Look for PSU to take to the top 15 in this category in 2009.

PS took a stab last spring, ranking PSU's wide receivers No. 11. (yes, I have my 2007 preview right next to me, too) That's not the case in 2008. PSU comes up just short at No. 17, and I don't necessarily disagree with PS on this one. Everyone expected PSU to blow up the passing charts, but it never happened. I do think PSU should be somewhere near the top 15 WR units by season's end, though. Rounding out the offensive unit rankings, I can't remember the last time we saw such excitement around a PSU offensive line, and PS justifies why. He has the PSU OL at a lofty No. 10 in the nation. If this holds true, it looks like that BCS bid is well within reach.

Getting defensive, LSU still holds the top line spot, but PSU was not far behind at No. 2 in the nation! PS points out that seven of PSU's DLs have starting experience, and the tackles average 300 lbs. Not a bad thing to have going through that bad October schedule this season. The biggest disappointment for me was seeing PSU's linebacking corps fall all the way to No. 27. That's of course because of Lee's injury, so we have to take this ranking in stride. PSU will once again break the top 15 for this unit in 2009.

I'm not sure if it's just PSU's defense taking a big step back for 2008, or if other teams are just that much better, but like the LB rankings, PSU's secondary doesn't break the top 15--they get a No. 16 ranking for 2008--after coming in at No. 3 before 2007! I'm not so sure we'll see such a drop off, as Justin King wasn't nearly the impact player many hoped he'd be. It's not as big of a loss as many--apparently PS included--may think.

And finally, PSU's special teams get a boost this preseason, as PS ranked them No. 2 nationally! (have you figured out that I'm using exclamation points a lot, in honor of Phil) PS apparently feels PSU's special teams could make a huge difference in 2008, especially in the return game. There's no doubt in my mind that PSU could see as many as FOUR returned kicks for TDs in 2008.

One last note:

I noticed in this year's preview, instead of the team's ranking, PS inserted each game's attendance. I like that much better, as you had the rankings progression in two different spots last season. Plus, it's a good indicator of how a team performs, and what kind of crowd it can attract when visiting opponents' home fields.

PS also has PSU at the No. 5 Surprise Team for 2008. He thinks that if PSU can use the first few games to warm up the offense, mainly the QB play, then they won't be in such trouble come October. PS believes that if PSU can hold the losses down to one, there's a strong chance we could see the Lions in the national championship game. Of course, that would mean other teams would have to lose. But in case we forgot, LSU won the title last year with TWO LOSSES! 2008 is going to be so much fun.

*Check back all this week for more of my thoughts on Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preivew. Also coming this week: The Big Ten Bloggers All-Conference picks. And on Monday: First Look: Syracuse Orange(men). See you then!

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Bet you didn't know :: Lydell Sargeant was the THIRD leading tackler in 2007

Crazy, right? Someone had mentioned it a few days ago, and I honestly didn't believe it. I mean, come on, the guy got benched after getting torched by Ohio State. Yet, Sargeant made more tackles (70) than Anthony Scirrotto (65), Maurice Evans (54) and Tyrell Sales (50). He also picked off two passes--exactly the same number as Justin King. Arguably, Sargeant's picks were actually more important, especially the one against Wisconsin.


You have to give me a break, as there's NOTHING to talk about right now. And we all know that when there's nothing in the news, just bring up some stats and talk about how they're actually meaningful. (or, how you'd like them to seem meaningful)

If you want to take this one step further--and let it get a little more weird--with Connor and Lee not being on the field in 2008, Sargeant is actually our leading returning tackler. It's never good when you're leading tackler is in the defensive backfield, but I think in this case it's not so bad for Penn State. One of the biggest complaints we had about this defense in 2007, was it's ability to miss tackles at the worst possible time. Sargeant may have gotten embarrassed by the Buckeye receivers, but is that really so impossible to imagine?

Sargeant was benched after that game. But I had a bigger problem through the season with Justin King's performance, and lack of, in the big games. He was the one who just bounced off Illinois' Arrelious Benn--granted, with three or four other PSU defenders--giving up a touchdown in the process. That kind of stuff is embarrassing to Penn State, because if Tom Bradley can get the defense to do anything well, it's tackling the freaking ball carrier. I'm sure he's kicked some ass this spring.

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Penn State's recuiting rampage continues with No. 10

Defense continues to be Penn State's lucky star right now, as one of Maryland's top ends, Sean Stanley gave his word to play for the Lions next fall. Get BWI and FOS coverage on the newest addition to the program.

I'm too tired to write anything on this now. I'll have something tomorrow. G'night.

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PSU Defenders Highly Ranked by CFN

Tom Bradley is the most underpaid defensive coordinator in the nation. Whatever he makes, it's not enough. Just as Larry Johnson, Sr. is the most underpaid positions coach in the nation. Whatever he makes is not enough. Both need promotions--hint, hint.

CollegeFootballNews.com released its 2009 NFL Draft rankings for defensive players. Maurice Evans landed himself at the No. 2 overall defensive end going into 2008, his junior season. We can only hope he stays to become No. 1 overall in 2009, and a very high draft pick in 2010.

In an interesting twist--fully expected by any Penn State fan, though--Sean Lee was still ranked as the No. 7 overall outside linebacker prospect. We all know he blew up his ACL a few weeks ago and will miss all of 2008. That's saying something about Lee, considering most ACL injuries greatly tarnish any one's NFL draft ratings. Not Lee.

Now think about this. If Evans returns for 2009, and Lee makes a full recovery. Might Penn State be looking at possibly the best defensive end-linebacker tandem since LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown? Just a thought.

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Article of the day: The Future Penn State Coaching Staff?

I generally try to feature an article each day from another site. Usually they're from Penn State or Big Ten blogs, sometimes from other sites. Please check out the author's Web site. I always supply the link in the introduction.

I'm feeling like crap today, so I may only get an AOTD up. So, here it is. It's very interesting how quickly the Temple football staff is gaining recognition for their work, and Head Coach Al Golden is rewarding them accordingly. Even more interesting is the fact that most of them are Penn State graduates. This begs the question, "Is this the future of Penn State football?" We can only wait and see.

Three assistant football coaches receive promotions after DeLeone resigns
By Tyson McCloud

Longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno recalled Mark D'Onofrio as a strong leader when the former Nittany Lions linebacker played for him from 1988-1991. He also remembered that D'Onofrio, Temple's defensive coordinator last season, wasn't the easiest player to handle.

"D'Onofrio used to drive me nuts because of his temper," Paterno said after the Nittany Lions defeated Temple in November. "I was kidding him before the game . . . I said, 'Mark, you're the only guy I threw out [of practice] before stretch.'"

The 39-year-old North Bergen, N.J. native has come a long way since then.

On Friday, D'Onofrio was promoted to assistant head coach, while retaining his role of defensive coordinator and gaining additional administrative duties.

Two days later, quarterbacks coach Matt Rhule and Andrew Dees, the tight ends and offensive guards coach, also received promotions. Rhule, who will continue operating as quarterbacks coach, was named offensive coordinator, replacing George DeLeone, who resigned after two seasons as the Owls' offensive architect to become tight end coach for the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Dees will be in charge of the offensive line after serving as tight ends and offensive guards coach the past two seasons.

Under D'Onofrio, the Owls led the Mid-American Conference in five defensive statistical categories in the team's inaugural season in the MAC.

"What Mark has done with our defense between years one and two is truly exceptional; considering that we did not have any seniors on the depth chart," coach Al Golden said in a statement. Golden and D'Onofrio were teammates at Penn State and coached together at Virginia.

"Coach D'Onofrio is a brilliant coach, a tremendous motivator of young men, and widely considered amongst the best recruiters in the business," Golden said.

Rhule, who played at Penn State from 1994-1997, has a "tremendous overall conceptual knowledge of football," DeLeone said.

"He can continue and exceed the foundation that has been laid in the prior two years on the offensive side of the ball," DeLeone added.

Dees, 38, a three-year starter at Syracuse from 1988-1991, also received praise from the former offensive coordinator.

"Without question, he is the right choice to move Temple's offensive line to championship level play," DeLeone said.

Tyson McCloud can be reached at tyson@temple.edu.

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Norwood to Baylor?

Why doesn't this seem right to me? Why would he leave now? OK, so the pay would be better, he's a good coach and it could lead to bigger things--if he can do something no one's done at Baylor for a long time, win. Just seems kind of odd that he would leave one year before his son graduates as one of the better receivers in PSU history. We'll see where this goes.

BY BOB FLOUNDERS, The Patriot-News

Penn State assistant coach Brian Norwood has accepted the defensive coordinator position at Baylor, The Patriot-News has learned.

Several sources close to the situation confirmed Norwood's decision.

Norwood, PSU's safeties coach since 2001, recently traveled to Texas to discuss the possibility of joining Art Briles' staff, according to several sources.

Neither Norwood nor Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw returned The Patriot-News' phone calls Thursday.

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No. 14 PSU vs. ND update

No. 14 PSU 24, ND 10

End 3rd Quarter: Notre Dame has given up. There's no life, no effort being put forth by the Irish offense. A run play on 3rd and 26? That just proves Chuckie Weis doesn't think his team can win this game. I'm happy. Other than Anthony Morelli's dumbass moves in the first half, the offense was OK. The defense has been phenomenal, allowing 85 TOTAL yards in three quarters. PSU is showing why it is the better team. The mistakes have been eliminated in the second half, and the Irish just get worse. PSU can't let up. They need at least 10 more points. Will people shut up now about Derrick Williams? We'll see...

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It's Wednesday

What else do I have to do at work? Something productive? Yeah, right.

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