Blue White Game Preview: Offensive backfield

Happy Valley will roar once again this weekend, with the gathering of 70,000-plus Nittany Lion faithful to watch the annual Blue White Game. In advance of this weekend's action, I'll breakdown what we already know about each player and position, and what we should expect to see from them on April 25.

Let's dig in. First up, the quarterbacks, running backs and fullbacks.

QUARTERBACKS

• No. 17, Daryll Clark. Redshirt Senior. Starter.

What we already know: Penn State hasn't been able to enjoy this kind of confidence in its quarterback in more than a decade, if not longer. Clark emerged from his spot as career backup, to be named first-team all-conference last season, with one of the best TD-INT ratios you could ask for (19-6).

What to expect: Going into the Blue White scrimmage, fans can take comfort in knowing that Clark doesn't have to even play, if it weren't for the 70,000+ fans demanding they see some Penn State football on April 25. He could throw 33 percent with a pick or two, and I wouldn't care less. That's because of this next guy...

• No. 12, Kevin Newsome. Grayshirt Freshman. Backup.

What we already know: The prospect of Newsome using this year to learn from a All-Big Ten quarterback, then potentially having a full three years as a starter, should give us immeasurable hope for the future at quarterback. But until the season begins, we'll just have this one game to really see him live. I'm not sure this outing will hurt him in any way, as he's only been on campus for a few months, longer than the regular true freshmen. Newsome is a bit lankier (6-3/215) than Clark (6-2/235), but is reported to have better (yes, better) mobility and arm strength. But we all know that accuracy is what matters most in the offense Penn State runs. It was Clark's bout of inaccuracy that ultimately cost Penn State the Iowa game last year.

What to expect: Newsome will get most of the reps at quarterback in the Blue White Game, which will give the fans a lot to go by. Even if he has a bad day, I think there won't be such an outcry of worry about him, as he's not the only option on the table. Plus, most fans know that this is just one scrimmage, and the regular season is a very long time away. Newsome just has to show that he can complete a few important passes, and use his mobility to escape the certain pressure the defensive line will put on him. Decision making and escape ability is the most important thing to look for.

• No. 11, Matt McGloin. Redshirt Freshman. Backup.

What we already know: Not much, other than Joe Paterno is making McGloin out to be another Paul Cianciolo. That might not be a bad thing. Cianciolo was a great career backup, who really stepped up (Michigan '06) when the team needed him. McGloin reportedly has great arm strength, and can complete his fair share of passes. He's also a half-year ahead of Newsome.

What to expect: McGloin could end up with the most attempts and yards between the three main quarterbacks. We've heard all the reports about his arm strength, but should be curious to see how he handles himself in front of 70,000 people.

• Others to note: No. 15, John Kelly; No. 16, Shane McGregor. Both Freshmen.

What we already know: Next to nothing. Well, other than their jersey numbers. We could see these two in action on April 25, but it will be more symbolic than anything. Paterno and the staff want to get everyone out there at some point.

What to expect: They should have fun. Kelly and McGregor could go their entire careers without playing a regular season down, but they will be part of something very few people have ever been. Be sure to cheer these guys when they do well.

RUNNING BACKS

• No. 22, Evan Royster. Redshirt Junior. Starter.

What we already know: The guy's good, really good. Considering he wasn't used to grind out 30 carries a game, he frequently made the difference between a one-dimentional offense and what we saw last year. Royster went out of the Rose Bowl with an injury after just a few carries, and his absence was felt the rest of the afternoon. Against teams like Oregon State, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan and Ohio State, Royster kept the defenses guessing, while opening up options for the passing game. He's the co-MVP going into the fall.

What to expect: A light day. Royster won't get a lot of carries. However, he might get more than fans think, with the absence of Stephfon Green and Brent Carter due to injuries. Like Clark, no one should be concerned about seeing Royster tear up the field.

• No. 3, Brandon Beachum. Sophomore. Backup.

What we already know: Beachum played sparingly last season, most of his 28 total carries coming in the first four games. His season game high was eight carries for 43 yards and a touchdown in the opener, followed by 12 and 39 yards against Syracuse and Temple, respectively. Beachum is not a rocket like Green, but he has a good downhill style, ala Tony Hunt. He enrolled at Penn State early, in January 2008, giving him a leg up on most of the other 2008 class. Due to Green's and Carter's injuries, Beachum is listed as the No. 2 tailback.

What to expect: After painfully watching every tick of the Rose Bowl, it became glaringly obvious that a good third-string running back isn't something to take for granted. That is precisely why Beachum's development this spring and summer is paramount to the team's success this fall. I will be very curious to see how Beachum performs this Saturday. He will be running up against the first-team defensive front, which is one of the best nationally going into the season. I'm not expecting him to run all over the defense, but he can take pride in his play by just gaining positive yards and helping move the chains. If I find myself looking deeper, his pass blocking will tell a lot about where he'll end up this fall.

• Others to note: RB No. 24 Derek Day. Redshirt Freshman, walk-on.

What we already know: Nothing. He was good enough to make the team as a walk-on, which is more than most of us can say.

What to expect: He'll get his fair share of carries in the Blue White Game, particularly due to the injury-plagued unit he's a part of. He'll have lots of fun out there.

• Out with injuries: No. 21 Stephfon Green and No. 32 Brent Carter, the No. 2 and No. 3 backs in 2008, are both rehabbing injuries.

FULLBACKS

• No. 37 Joe Suhey. Redshirt Sophomore. Starter.

What we already know: Suhey is the most experienced of all the fullbacks going into this season. He carried the ball nine times for 26 yards, in both a tail- and fullback role last year. It's been reported he plays like Matt Hahn did two years ago, in a hybrid-FB style. Suhey is a bit quicker than the average fullback, and catches the ball well, but doesn't have the brute strength of a Dan Lawlor or BranDon Snow.

What to expect: I want to see him catch the ball more. But really that's up to the coaches who call the plays. If Suhey is in fact like Matt Hahn, then he should be used like Matt Hahn. A good, versatile fullback is a potent weapon for a team still developing its wide receivers. Plus, adding him to the passing game would be a nice little wrinkle to get the fans going on Saturday.

• No. 23, Shaine Thompson. Redshirt Sophomore. Backup.

What we already know: Thompson came from the same school (JFK in the Bronx) and team as Stephfon Green. His position could switch again, as he played linebacker last season for the foreign team. For the spring, he was moved to fullback and has actually turned heads. Reports came out this week that he's made some defenders look silly, and could play a bigger role the rest of this off season. He did not accumulate any stats since his arrival at Penn State.

What to expect: Reserve running backs live and die by their ability to pass block, and Thompson is a prime example. If he wants to see playing time this fall, he'll have to solidify his blocking abilities. Thompson is currently at fullback, which means his running skills will come in handy some this weekend, but one sure way to gauge his progress at that position will be in his blocks.

• No. 44, Larry Federoff. Redshirt Senior. Backup.

What we already know: Federoff transferred into Penn State after playing at Edinboro for two seasons. He has been a good sport about his role on the team.

What to expect: Even though he didn't play all four years at Penn State, he's still a senior, and that means something at Penn State. He'll get his playing time in the Blue White Game, but don't expect a huge role this fall.

• • •

Next up...
Tuesday: Tight Ends and Wide Receivers.
Wednesday: Offensive and Defensive Lines.
Thursday: Linebackers and Defensive Backs.
Friday: Special Teams. Last minute updates.
Saturday night: Report from the game, photos, etc.

I'm also finishing up the updated .pdf version of the eligibility depth chart, that you'll be able to take with you to the game. Expect it to be ready tomorrow afternoon.

*Have something to say about this post? Let your voice be heard, in the ZN Message Forum!

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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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Top backs

I’ve taken serious issue with many things on ESPN.com, SI.com, CBSSportsLine.com and many others. But this one has got me going. Not that he’s the utmost authority on college football, but SI.com’s Cory McCartney felt he’d take another shot at ranking the top-10 running duos in 2007 college football. When you read his list, keep this in mind:

“Before we begin, let's remember the cardinal rules: this is about running backs only -- no running quarterbacks, fullbacks or all-purpose wide receivers that take the occasional handoff -- and it has to be a legit tandem, not just one guy with monster numbers.” – McCartney.

You’ll see he frequently breaks his own rules by selecting the players he did. Here’s his list, along with my own comments on each entry. I compiled the stats. I took only the names he provided, and they are his exact selections, nothing else. Enjoy.

Arkansas – Darren McFadden (305/1727/15), Felix Jones (122/1114/11) - I really can’t argue with the Razorbacks as No. 1. And if you want to take it a step further, Arkansas fullback Peyton Hillis (57/327/2) was one of the best blockers in college football, and had that highlight run against No. 1 LSU.
Georgia – Knowshon Moreno (239/1273/12), Thomas Brown (129/706/9) – I don’t really know about this one. Once Brown went down, this was only a one-horse show. But for a while, it was a lethal combo.
Kansas – Brandon McAnderson (175/1050/16), Jake Sharp (138/788/7) – This was more true to the traditional running back double-punch. Both had great YPC (6.0 and 5.7 respectively) and rarely lost yards. Neither was a true starter, or a true backup.
Michigan St. – Jehuu Caulcrick (207/813/21), Javon Ringer (224/1346/6) – Trust me, I know how dangerous these guys can be. Possibly one of the most productive touchdown machines in the nation, the Spartans’ backs plowed over and through the opposition all season.
Oklahoma – DeMarco Murray (127/764/13), Allen Patrick (159/927/8), Chris Brown (142/561/8) – Imagine if Murray didn’t get knocked out for the year? He would’ve been on pace for a Heisman invite the way Adrian Peterson was his freshman year. But all Patrick did was step in and nearly bread a grand. They could be No. 1 running back stable with little argument.
LSU – Jacob Hester (204/1019/11), Keiland Williams (68/459/6) – This is purely political. LSU is hardly an offensive juggernaut and this running back corps is not even close to the top-10. They’re only up here due to the media’s love affair with the Tigers.
USC – Chauncey Washington (183/894/9), Stafon Johnson (89/569/5), Joe McKnight (84/415/2) – I don’t know if this is just a bunch of good running backs, or an offense without a go-to guy. I think it’s the latter, actually. Out of three blue-chippers, USC can’t find one that can carry the load.
West Virginia – Pat White (177/1185/14), Steve Slaton (210/1053/17), Noel Devine (60/519/4) – This is probably the most comprehensive backfield in football, in terms of running the ball. The Mountaineers have a quarterback that can scoot, a feature back and a slasher. When healthy, no team in 2007 disrupted the production.
Clemson – James Davis (191/992/9), CJ Spiller (137/656/2) – Talk about a major underachievement for 2007; coming into the season these two were supposed to race each other to the Heisman ceremony, but neither could get it going. This should have been the ACC version of Arkansas, but wasn’t by a long shot.
UConn – Donald Brown (157/749/8), Andre Dixon (160/809/3) – If you like equality, look no further than the Huskies’ backfield. I think this is more of a “Hey! Here we are!” kind of thing this season, rather than how truly good they were.

Auburn – Brad Lester (111/473/3), Ben Tate (188/856/7) – What, because they’re in the SEC, they’re automatically moved up a few notches? I don’t think so.
Fresno St. – Ryan Mathews (145/866/14), Lonyae Miller (125/571/7) – I really don’t what the hubbub is about here. The only good part is that they combined for 21 touchdowns.
Maryland – Lance Ball (172/763/12), Keon Lattimore (206/789/13) – This was a nice running tandem out of College Park, but nothing to lose sleep over. Yeah, deserves to be in the top-20.
Navy – Reggie Campbell (64/464/5), Eric Kettani (140/755/9) – Doesn’t make sense when there are SEVEN rushers with more than 400 yards for 2007.
Southern Miss – Damion Fletcher (266/1431/15), Tory Harrison (93/386/5) – Fletcher could play with any team, even in the SEC. However, when the next rusher has less than 400, there’s no “duo” aspect.
Texas A&M – Mike Goodson (139/646/2), Jorvorskie Lane (159/746/16) – Throw in quarterback Stephen McGee and you’ve got yourself a power-version of West Virginia’s tri-fecta.
Western Michigan – Mark Bonds (157/690/8), Brandon West (183/848/4) – All things considered—they play in the MAC—this is a pretty good set of backs to work with in any mid-major league.

Now, it’s my turn to vent. So, he’s telling me that certain players from a team in central Pennsylvania wouldn’t qualify above any on this list? Or, should I ask, why isn’t Penn State’s duo of Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster on this list?

Here would be my entry:
Penn State – Rodney Kinlaw (222/1186/10), Evan Rosyter (73/448/4) – Not only were both backups to start 2007, Royster’s best games came against some of the better teams. Experienced veteran met raw talent and got along quite nicely for the Lions.

Now compare those numbers to the rest of McCartney’s list. See anything wrong? So do I.

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