Review: No. 5/7 Penn State 28, Syracuse 7

The Big Ten fought hard this weekend, but failed to come up with the big wins needed. Penn State, while unimpressive, had no real trouble dispatching Syracuse in Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions beat the Orange 28-7, rolling up a 21-0 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In today's game review, we'll break down Penn State's unit by unit performance.

Offense

• Offensive Line: The pass protection was once again outstanding, even with some extra pressure being sent by the Orange. But the run blocking struggled mightily, again. I don't care if there are nine in the box. Against teams like Akron and Syracuse, there is no excuse for such a lack of a ground attack. At one point, a bunch of the starters were taken out to try some other personnel. Penn State scored that drive on a 12-yard Royster run, the only rush touchdown of the game.

I'm not sure this problem will turn out as big as most fear. The coaching staff knows that if Penn State had to run the ball, it would happen. Syracuse and Akron have loaded the box on every series, and not all teams the Lions will face this season will do that. Eventually, someone will try to stop the pass attack. Good luck with that.

Stats: 2.2 yards per rush; 2 sacks (-21) allowed

• Receivers: When Daryll Clark wasn't being pressured into throwing early, the receivers played well again and made all the catches they should have. The unit wasn't nearly as dominant as it was against Akron. Graham Zug (6/79, TD) led all receivers, and I really liked the involvement of tight ends Andrew Quarless (3/35) and Mickey Shuler (1/1, TD).

Splitting wide RB Evan Royster (2/61, TD) will obviously give opponents another threat to worry about. His quick slant touchdown catch in the first quarter was a tough grab and a great run. It was a great matchup by the coaching staff, and worked to perfection. But outside Royster, the receivers overall were unremarkable this week.

Stats: 16 receptions, 167 yards, 2 touchdowns

• Running Backs: It shouldn't be forgotten that Syracuse does have some play makers on the defensive line, and stacking the line of scrimmage compounded Penn State's run game problems. The Lions' ground numbers were a bit skewed by the two sacks (-21 yards), but not enough to excuse the pathetic final ground total.

Evan Royster (12/41, TD) and Stephfon Green (8/26) were not able to find any holes up front. Even when the holes were there initially, Syracuse was able to close them quickly. Penn State's running backs did a decent job, considering those conditions along the line. So, as the offensive line goes, so goes the running production.

Stats: (RB/QB only) 34 attempts, 80 yards, Touchdown

• Quarterbacks: Daryll Clark (19-30/240, 3 TD, INT) faced a real pass rush for the first time this season. His numbers took a bit of a hit as a result. On the positive side, Clark was not sacked all day, despite the increased pressure. There were a few passes thrown into tight coverage. Clark needs to be careful not to press so much, but that will come.

Kevin Newsome (0-0/0) is a different story. In only his second game as a Nittany Lion, he was sacked twice and lost a fumble that was turned into the only Syracuse score. It did look like Syracuse was going to get after Newsome if it killed them, and it worked. The coaching staff has to work to get Newsome into the games earlier, because frankly, I don't yet know what to make of him.

Stats: 19-30, 240 yards, 3 touchdowns, INT, 2 sacks, fumble lost

Defense

• Defensive Line: Jared Odrick (6 tkl, 2 TFL, 0.5 sack, tip pass for INT) is on his way to the 2009 All-America team. Through two games, Odrick has made 10 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two half-sacks, and this week tipped a pass that was intercepted by Nate Stupar. But that only tells half the story, as Odrick has been a force in nearly every quarterback hurry, and sucks up two or more blockers on running plays. But you can't underestimate the effect of having a guy like Ollie Ogbu (3 tkl, 0.5 TFL) at the other tackle spot. Right now, Penn State has the pair of defensive tackles in college football.

Penn State's defensive ends also put together another nice day. Jack Crawford (4 tkl), Eric Latimore (tkl, TFL, 0.5 sack) and Kevion Latham (tkl, TFL) kept the pressure up on Syracuse QB Greg Paulus, and were key in limiting the Orange to 65 net rush yards.

Stats: 2.2 yards per rush allowed; 19 tackles, 4 TFL (-7), Sack (-2)

• Linebackers: Even with a surprisingly dominant defensive line in front of them, Penn State's linebackers continue to steal the show. Senior captain Sean Lee (13 tkl, 3 TFL, sack) had probably his half as a Nittany Lion. He was in on two of three stops, including a TFL, in Penn State's third-quarter goal-line stand, and came up with a huge sack in the fourth as Syracuse was driving towards the Penn State red zone.

Fan-maligned Josh Hull (11 tkl, INT) put together another fantastic day as the team's second leading tackler. Adding to Hull's quality day was Nate Stupar (5 tkl, INT), who was Johnny on the Spot intercepting a tipped ball and taking it down inside the five. Penn State's linebackers have been brilliant in pass coverage this season. Also getting some action was Bani Gbadyu (3 tkl), who seems to have planted himself as the first sub-in linebacker this season.

Stats: 32 tackles, 3 TFL (-17), Sack (-13), 2 INT

• Defensive Backfield: Aside from AJ Wallace (tkl) slipping and missing out on a sure interception, the secondary was very quiet, but did its job in workman-like fashion. Drew Astorino was money on run and short pass defense, coming up and making key open-field tackles all day. Nick Sukay (4 tkl) came up as the second tackler in the secondary.

Although right now it hasn't been an issue, it would be in Penn State's best interest if the secondary made a couple more impact plays during the game. But if nit-picking is all you can do here, then everything is really just fine.

Stats: 18 tackles

Special Teams

• Kicking/Punting: Jeremy Boone (50 ypp) was booming all day, with a long of 55, two inside the 20, and one downed at the one. In a game where Penn State benefited greatly from field position, Boone was key. On kickoffs and field goal kicking, Colin Wagner (no FG att) kept everything where it was supposed to be.

• Returns/Coverage: For another week, Penn State has failed to generate anything substantial on punt or kickoff returns. Royster slipped on his only punt return, while Zug took one for 10 yards. Devon Smith returned the opening kickoff for 19 yards. Syracuse's Mike Jones had some success on kickoff returns for the Orange, with Jones taking one out 39 yards before being stopped. I don't think this will be an issue as the season goes on, but it's something to keep in mind.

• Overall: Syracuse is night-and-day better than it was in 2008, on both offense and defense. Not many teams will move the ball on Penn State this season, but Syracuse did well enough going into a tough environment. What surprised me the most was Syracuse's ability to stuff, pressure and battle Penn State's offense. The Orange took full advantage of the Lions' offensive line problems, and came up with a huge fumble as Penn State was going into the end zone. Clark had much less time to throw this week, and Penn State could barely get anything going against Syracuse's eight and nine-man fronts.

Joe Paterno said last week that his players thought the game was over at halftime, so they got lazy in the second half. This week, Penn State was forced by Syracuse to play hard for nearly four quarters. It was the best thing that could've happened to the Lions this season. Penn State, not matter how talented the players are, is still a work in progress on both sides of the ball, and needed a challenge before the conference slate opens in two weeks, and Iowa just crushed Big XII member Iowa State 35-3.

• Did you notice...

Looks like our grievances were heard by the Penn State branding department. This week, the pumped in stadium music was drastically cut down, with the Penn State Blue Band prominently featured all game long. There was no I Like To Move It, Don't Stop Believin', or Sweet Caroline. It was refreshing, very refreshing. It felt like Penn State football again.

Thank you Penn State. You showed that you listen to your fans.

• Official Stats, via GoPSUSports.com:

Full Box Score

Post Game Quotes

Post Game Notes

More below the fold...

Penn State Gameday: Syracuse

Your Penn State football gameday headquarters.


Pregame

• Preview: Syracuse at No. 5 Penn State
• Penn State depth chart (as of 9/11)
• Blue White Roundtable :: Syracuse
• Interview with Orange::44
• Official Game Notes
• Penn State Roster
• Joe Paterno's Press Conference
• Poll Results: Syracuse at Penn State
• NCAA 10 Simulation: Syracuse at PSU
• Big Ten Pick'em: Week 2 2009
• ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 2 2009

Postgame

• Review: No. 5/7 Penn State 28, Syracuse 7

More below the fold...

NCAA 10 Simulation: Syracuse at Penn State

We continue the NCAA 10 simulations this week, with Syracuse visiting Penn State. I did adjust the rosters, depth charts, and starters for this week, for both teams. So, this is about as accurate you'll get with a video game.

The game was simulated (CPU vs. CPU - I had no involvement) 10 times, in cool, breezy, rainy weather. The widest margin was 59-14; the closest was 41-31.

Full results below the fold.

44-10 PSU
44-25 PSU
59-14 PSU
41-31 PSU
24-3 PSU
29-6 PSU
41-13 PSU
46-3 PSU
45-24 PSU
38-9 PSU

Next week: Temple at Penn State.

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Poll Results: Syracuse at Penn State

So, last week was a cute story. Syracuse pushed a pretty competitive Minnesota to the brink, fighting hard till the last whistle. But this week is another story. The Orange must travel to Beaver Stadium, and play Penn State. In this week's poll, it was a landslide in favor of a Nittany Lion win.

Full results below the fold.

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Preview: Syracuse at No. 5/7 Penn State

Kickoff/TV: Sat., Sept. 12, 12 p.m. ET/Big Ten Network (Craig Coshun, Glen Mason and Charissa Thompson)
Weather Forecast: Mild, showers possible.

Host: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs Akron, 31-7
Injuries: LB Navorro Bowman (Groin - Questionable), DT Brandon Ware (Ankle - Out), DB Jacob Fagnano (Ankle - Out), DE Pete Massaro (ACL - Out Ssn), LB Mike Mauti (ACL - Out Ssn)
Key Players: (offense) QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, WR Derek Moye; (defense) DL Jared Odrick, LB Sean Lee, LB Navorro Bowman
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 44th season at Penn State, 384-127-3; 23-11 bowl record
Series Record vs SU: Penn State leads, 41-23-5
Season Statistics:
Offense - 136.0 rush/379.0 pass/31.0 points per game
Defense - 28.0 rush/158.0 pass/7.0 points per game
TO Margin - (-1)

Penn State, on paper -- Last week's final 31-7 score was very misleading, as Penn State rolled nearly uncontested to a 31-0 halftime lead. QB Daryll Clark set a school record with 254 first-half passing yards, including three touchdowns. The defense was much more stout than even the most optimistic reports predicted, allowing only 28 rushing yards and holding QB Chris Jacquemain to only 158 passing yards, 40 of which came on a broken coverage after a PSU fumble. Penn State's defense and offense worked together like a machine through the first half, out-gaining the Zips 344-8!

On the negative side, Penn State did only rush for 136 yards and one touchdown against an active Zips front. Take away the fake punt that gained 37 yards, and Penn State really only rushed for 99 yards, something that's been a sticking point with the media this week. The Lions offensive line had some trouble with Akron's 3-3-5 defense, especially in the second half when Penn State went to the ground more to run the clock.

Visitor: Syracuse Orange
Record: 0-1 (0-0, Big East)
Last Game: Lost vs Minnesota, 23-20 (OT)
Injuries: TE Nick Provo (Shoulder - out), LB Ryan Gillum (Shoulder - out), S Dorian Graham (Shoulder - out ssn), S Ryan Ahern (Knee - out ssn)
Key Players: (offense) QB Greg Paulus, RB Delone Carter, WR Mike Williams; (defense) DT Arthur Jones, S Mike Holmes
Head Coach: Doug Marrone, 1st season at SU, 0-1; 0-0 bowl record
Season Statistics:
Offense - 90.0 rush/167.0 pass/20.0 points per game
Defense - 112.0 rush/248.0 pass/23.00 points per game
TO Margin - (E)

Syracuse, on paper -- The Orange opened 2009 with a hard-fought loss to Minnesota in a nearly-sold out Carrier Dome. Usually a loss would be the worst outcome for a team, but not so much here. Syracuse fans have been looking for a team that shows life, and this one had it last week. After two quick touchdowns by the Gophers, Syracuse looked to be on the ropes and headed for another blowout loss. But the defense stiffened and the offense clicked. Led by some gutsy plays by QB Greg Paulus, Syracuse took the lead before halftime. The problem for the Orange was that it didn't lead when it mattered most, as time expired in overtime. Paulus' OT interception was the game, but fans still cheer their team after the final gun.

Syracuse looked to be greatly improved on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. DT Arthur Jones was a menace up front, usually requiring double-team blocks. That allowed a ton of pressure on Minnesota QB Adam Weber, who finished under 50 percent passing. The Gophers have a ton of offensive talent, and Syracuse shut them down cold. A big deal has been made of HC Doug Marrone's addition of a single-wing "wildcat" package, called the "Stallion." Against an unprepared Minnesota front, the single-wing worked, gaining about six-yards a pop. Orange fans should be worried though, as the offense was nearly non-existent after half time, and Minnesota's defense isn't nearly as good as Penn State's.

On the field -- Syracuse might come crashing back to earth this week. For all that's been made of Penn State's lack of a run game last week, remember, that was a big nit-pick. Practically every other part of the Lions offense was perfect, and the defense was lights-out fantastic. Syracuse took on a decent Minnesota team in the first game of the season, the best time to pull off an upset (just ask Michigan). In 2008, this matchup was non-competitive from start to finish. I don't expect it to be that bad again this year, but an Orange win seems unlikely. Penn State's defensive front seven could have its way with Greg Paulus, taking away valuable time to get the ball out to his receivers. And while Syracuse's defensive line looks to be a decent foe for the Lions offensive line, it won't be able to do the job alone. This game might not be a blowout by halftime, but it will be by the final gun.

Extra points -- Next to Pittsburgh, Syracuse is Penn State's most played opponent... Penn State has labeled the day "Classic Day," encouraging a throwback atmosphere to the 1960's... Syracuse will give the Penn State offense some headaches early, but not many... Greg Paulus won't break 50 percent completion rate... Delone Carter will rush for 100 yards... Penn State will notch at least three sacks... Daryll Clark will have a better game than last week... If it rains at all Saturday morning, the Blue Band won't march pregame... Attendance: 107,610

Prediction: No. 5/7 Penn State, 35 - Syracuse, 9

More below the fold...

'Cuse breakdown with Orange::44

Penn State hosts the Syracuse Orange this weekend, in what's been dubbed "Classic Day" by the folks in charge of marketing. Cute, but I'm more concerned with what's going down on the field, not in the stands. Penn State and Syracuse have played 69 times, as the Lions lead the series 41-23-5.

Today we'll hear from Brian Harrison, publisher of the fine Syracuse blog Orange::44. You may remember him stopping by last season. But what about 2009?

ZN: How badly did the Minnesota loss hurt? Or did it at all? What can the Orange team and fans take away from that game?

O44: Yes the Minnesota game hurt a little bit. When it is all said and done it is still a loss for Syracuse. However, this game was by far the most entertaining and competent game Syracuse fans have seen in the Carrier dome in a few years. More than anything, the game was encouraging and everyone took a small sense of relief from the game knowing that Syracuse may not be a great time, but that they are on the road to being a great time again.

ZN: Penn State handled a decent Akron team last week, 31-0 at the half. The Zips essentially picked their poison, committing to stopping the run and letting PSU shred them through the air (379 pass yards, 3 TDs). It actually worked, as PSU had trouble on the ground, and if it wasn't for the fake punt, wouldn't finished with only 99 yards rushing. How do you expect the Syracuse defense to attack the PSU offense, and what kind of success do you think the Orange will have?

O44: First off, I would love to see Syracuse play “decent” against PSU. I’d take “decent” any day of the week. All kidding aside, Syracuse attacking the running game will start with star NT Art Jones. He is a bone fide all star and a beast up front on the defensive line. He can penetrate the offensive line, or plug a lane. On top of that, LB Doug Hogue and DE Mikhail Marinovich made some nice plays in the first game, and will try to do the same against Penn State. They stopped the run behind the line of scrimmage on several occasions, so moderate run stopping success can and should be achieved by Syracuse.

ZN: Give us a breakdown of the most important unit-vs-unit match up going into this game.

O44: Probably the most important match up will be the Penn State wide receivers versus the secondary of Syracuse. Minnesota possess one of the best wide receivers in the nation in Eric Decker. While Syracuse limited him in the first half, he was occasionally unstoppable in the second half, allowing Minnesota to come within field goal range to tie the game and send it to overtime. The team will be looking hard at the film, and will most certainly adjust their coverage schemes and will be tougher to pass on this coming week. Obviously Penn State can do damage through the air, so it will be interesting to see if Penn State can throw the ball around and move the chains at will or if Syracuse can cause some drops and jar the ball loose with contact.

ZN: We talked about this last season, when PSU and the Orange met for the first time in nearly two decades. But last season, Penn State went into the Carrier Dome, where most of these teams' match ups did not historically take place (Archbold Stadium) in New York. Now, Syracuse comes into Beaver Stadium, where all of the teams meetings at Penn State took place (even in its old location, it was still the same structure). What does it mean for Orange fans to get to return to a place so historic to both teams? And do Orange fans have any diabolical plans for the Nittany Lion Shrine this time around?

O44: It is exciting, but tragic at the same time. It is similar to last season. Although we are happy that this rivalry game is being rekindled, there is a bitter feeling because this is not a team that can truly challenge Penn State like it could in the 80’s and 90’s. It should be a fun game however, as Syracuse has low expectations so they can open up the playbook and try whatever they want. It will also be a learning experience for this young team to play in front of that many people, and perhaps rekindle the rivalry personally for them. As for your statue, you’re lucky I’m watching this game at home, as the Pitt Panther has felt my wrath before.

ZN: How about a game prediction? How do you think this game will go, and what about the score?

O44: The game will probably go as most people expect, pending a huge collapse of everything Penn State knows, or an utterly perfect game from Syracuse that will include several turnovers and pick-sixes. Penn State will just be too much to handle for the program rebuilding. I’ll say it will be Penn State over the ‘Cuse 40 to 24.

Many thanks again to Brian! And check out my interview over at Orange::44 HERE.

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Blue White Roundtable :: Syracuse

Syracuse comes to town this weekend, but Penn State could face a tougher test than we thought. All that and more in this week's Blue White Roundtable. Also, we welcome two new participants this week: Nittany Lounge and Penn State Clips.

This week's usually unusual suspects:
W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Nittany Lounge
Penn State Clips

Blue White Roundtable - Week 2, Syracuse Orangemen

1. Coach Paterno says the biggest improvement in a team happens between week one and week two of the season. What area needs most improvement? What facet of play needs the least improvement?

Running game sucked last week. I know, I know. The passing game was lights out and Akron put all their defensive eggs into the rush defense basket. But still, Penn State shouldn't have had so much trouble with the Akron front seven.

The defensive front seven were great last week; better than I expected. It was a pleasant surprise that I don't think needs any improvement at all.

2. Syracuse is running what it calls the Stallion, a form of the Wildcat offense. It appeared to be effective against Minnesota. At one point during the Minnesota game, Syracuse had run the Stallion seven times, averaging over six yards per play. What does the PSU rush defense need to do break the Stallion?

The SINGLE WING works best against lesser opponents, or teams that aren't ready for it. Penn State has run the SINGLE WING in the past, and has had a week to study how Syracuse uses it. So, I'm not to worried about stopping it.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, just one game into this season. But, Penn State's defense looked so dominant up front, I'm not sure this won't be our best statistical rush defense in years.

Wildcat? Stallion? Single frickin' wing?

No thanks. I'll take Sean Lee and Jared Odrick.

3. Minnesota squeaked out a win against the Orange(men). What expectation does this create for Penn State when playing Syracuse? And perhaps more importantly since it is a conference game, Minnesota?

It was the first game of the year. Teams are sloppy. Syracuse was on the ropes early in that game, but then sputtered to a drip in the second half. Minnesota woke up after the break, but still wasn't all that impressive.

That being said. Penn State will look at Syracuse the same way they looked at Akron -- an opponent not to be taken lightly, no matter what the line is. As for Minnesota later this year, who knows? We're not even finished with September.

4. This week next year Penn State will be playing Alabama on the road. What do you think about State playing Bama instead of the Cuse? Would you rather be tailgating in Happy Valley and attending another FCS beat down? Or sitting at home watching the game on the big screen? Should the Big Ten play at least one OOC game per year with the SEC or Big 12?

Ok, I'll bite. Penn State needs to schedule an eastern rival every single season. I don't care how bad they are. If the other teams don't want long-term deals, fine. Set up four or five game series. Maryland, West Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College, Rutgers. Take your pick. Just get them on the schedule, NOW.

As for the rest of the OOC slate. I don't care if it's filled with MAC schools. But stop scheduling FCS opponents. If you want a crappy team to beat up on, there are plenty of fine FBS teams that are just as bad. I promise.

I'll still go to all the game I can, though.

Extra Points

1. The current line is -28. Cover or Not? No cover this week. PSU didn't even cover last week.

2. Does Penn State show up for the second half? Sure do.

3. True/False: Syracuse is a better opponent than Akron. True.

4. Fact or Fiction: Sue Paterno once painted the Nittany Lion statue orange. Fact.

More below the fold...

Paterno presser quick hits

At his weekly press conference Joe Paterno seemed to get more questions about Syracuse than Penn State. I guess with such a storied relationship between the two schools, that's bound to happen.

The media definitely wasn't at its finest today. There was no flow, no real conversation with Paterno. I realize he's not that fond of the media nowadays, but if you ask him the right questions, he'll sing like a bird. Oh well, on to the highlights.

• Answering a question about G Matt Stankiewitch and T DeOn'tae Pannell's first starts, Joe was less critical of the offensive line than I thought he'd be.

"We've got to be more consistent... We did a fine job with the pass protection early in the game, and then we got a little sloppy later in the second half, and the young guys got a little confused. There's no question about that, but they hung in there, and I think that game will be a good experience for them and it'll be much better this week."

• That tied in nicely with a later question, in which Joe actually referred back to the former. He was asked what is it about the week-one to week-two improvement that he has talked about in the past.

"...I think you've got build on that first game. And I've always felt that way, that we'll find out how good a team we're going to be by how much we improve this week... I think that's a big, big item for us, that we've got some kids...somebody asked me earlier about a couple of the offensive linemen."

• You just knew there would be a question about the 1980's and Joe's eastern football conference pitch. It took a while, but it was raised, and Joe took the bait. He said he isn't mad about it, but I really don't believe that.

"[I] had met with John Toner, who was the athletic director at Connecticut, Dave Gavitt, and we sat around, got a room in the airport in Connecticut, and we talked, and they wanted me to take Penn State into the Big East and, later on what they did with Notre Dame, just in basketball... I said, "no, I don't want to do that." I wanted the thing (all-sports conference). So I kept working at it, and then of course, the people that pulled the rug from us were the Pitt people. They ended up going in the Big East for the basketball. And they were the ones that...because we had five, six teams. If Pitt had come in, BC would have come in and Syracuse would have come in."

He sure does remember how that sh*t went down, huh? "pulled the rug..." Love it.

• Apparently, Joe didn't want to play freshman Devon Smith so much. But the coaching staff did. So, Joe gave the go ahead.

"...we debated how much we wanted to play him in the first game. I didn't want to put him on the kickoff team, but I got out-voted, and he did a good job there. We had made up our mind we were going to try to get the ball to him on the outside, not necessarily with the very elaborate passing lanes because it takes a while to get that kind of timing, especially when you're dealing with somebody who's not as tall as you'd like them to be. You've got to get them in the right spot. The timing's got to be good, and the quarterback's got to get used to throwing the ball to him."

A question later went back and touched on Joe's relationship with the staff, particularly on issues that he's out-voted on, like who to play or when.

"It depends on the mood I'm in. If I'm in a good mood, I'll give in. If I'm not in a good mood, I might be an SOB. No, I'm teasing a little bit now, but no, it depends on the situation. It depends on, sometimes I went in and just try to agitate the staff, just to make sure that they've considered a lot of different things..."

• On Jack Crawford against the Syracuse defensive front, which is a bit more talented than Akron's line...

"Jack's got to play his game...He's got certain responsibilities in any one of the defenses that we may call, and he's a bright kid and a really good athlete for a big man."

• Keeping with the defensive line, Joe, on Jared Odrick...

"he's a very fine football player, and the kind of guy that would make some other people good because he works so hard."

• On the most memorable moments from Penn State-Syracuse...

"I can still see Floyd Little running by me three times for three touchdowns on three punt returns, and he waved to me. (Laughs)... I can go back to I think it was '54, '55, we played at Old Beaver Field. We won it 21-20. They had Jimmy Brown. I think Jimmy Brown carried the ball 14 times for 140 yards, and Lenny (Moore) carried it 12 times for about 130 yards. In those days they didn't carry the ball 20, 25 times. They were two of the greatest running backs to ever play the game on that field."

• The cornerback situation could be better than we thought.

"I was pleased with Timmons. I thought Timmons played well, and I thought A.J. played well. And the other kid, (D'Anton) Lynn, did a good job at the other corner. So I think we were adequate."

That's about as much praise as any position got this week. So, looks like we're ok there for now.

• Navorro Bowman didn't practice yesterday, and might not play this week.

"...it's probably an outside chance as to whether he'll play or not Saturday."

• And now for the worst question all day. I mean, this was really terrible. If you know anything about Joe Paterno, he doesn't pay attention to things we football junkies do, like players that were made popular more by Xbox than their actual performance on the field.

"Q: Has the success of other small, really best players like Trendon Holliday at LSU and going back a few years, Gerald McNeil, did that make it a little bit easier to take a chance on [Devon Smith]?

JVP: I don't even know any of the players you're talking about. I really don't.

He really doesn't. And the reporter walked right into that one. As soon as the question was asked, I swear I physically cringed.

• All in all, it was one of the most boring press conferences I've watched in a long time.

More below the fold...

Syracuse game notes released

Penn State released the Syracuse at Penn State game notes. How big did this rivalry used to be?

THE SERIES: The Nittany Lions and Orange renewed their rivalry last year and are meeting in Beaver Stadium for the first time since 1990. Penn State owns a 41-23-5 series edge. The teams met every season from 1944-90. The 69 games against SU are second-highest among all PSU opponents, trailing only Pittsburgh (96 games).

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Tuesday Linkage is not freaking out about Mauti

Every Penn State fan cringed when news broke of Mike Mauti's ACL tear. But would I call it a "severe" hit to Penn State's linebacker situation just 19 days from the opener? Not at all.

The Nittany Lions have two legitimate first team All-America candidates returning. Most of the second string guys would start for 90 percent of all other FBS teams. One of the backups started all 13 games in 2008, and another has starting experience.

Bob Flounders headlined his article on Mauti as "Mike Mauti's knee injury severe hit to Penn State's linebacker depth." But is it really?

This puts Penn State in a frustrating situation, having to find another starter three weeks from the season. But this problem doesn't even compare to Sean Lee's ACL tear last summer.

Mauti has a redshirt year to use. The backups are better than most teams' starters. And Lee and Navorro Bowman are the other two starters. So, it's time to just chill out.

• David Jones is worried about "lookout blocks" this season. I hate to admit that I'm fearing the same. Walt Moody, too.

• Vinny Pezzimenti reminds us (not that we needed it) that Evan Royster is good. So are the linebackers.

• More on ESPN's top villains list.

• Syracuse QB Greg Paulus was named starter for 2009. While it won't make a bit of difference whether or not Penn State wins, it could make things more interesting.

• Syracuse announced it will play Notre Dame and USC at the new Meadowlands stadium.

• Akron held their first scrimmage last weekend.

• Dave Curtis still doesn't know what he's talking about.

More below the fold...

Poll Results: First Look '09 Syracuse

Here is the second weekly poll results from our First Look '09 series. This week: Syracuse's win total. Brian Harrison said last week that there "nowhere to go but up," and that seems to ring true here. Voters pegged the Orange as a three or four-win squad this season, but that shouldn't be a disappointment, as the take on a really good schedule.

Results below the fold.

Later today... First Look '09 Temple.

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Game times announced... crap, crap and crap

I get it. Penn State plays a creampuff non-conference schedule. But to relegate Penn State-Syracuse to the Big Ten Network? Wow. Although I must say this is a major coup for the BTN, and I respect them for getting the game. This game will generate more local buzz in the New York Metro Area than even the Ohio State -USC game (yes, I actually said that), due to Penn State's and Syracuse's HUGE alumni presence in the northeast.

More on this below the fold.

GoPSUSports.com: The Nittany Lions are playing their initial four games of the season in Beaver Stadium, starting with the Sept. 5 opener with Akron. One week later, old rival Syracuse will make its first visit to Happy Valley in 19 years, followed by a visit from Temple on Sept. 19. Penn State begins Big Ten play on Sept. 26, hosting Iowa for an 8:00 p.m. kick on ABC or ESPN.

With the announcement of the three season opening kickoffs, the start time for six of Penn State's contests this fall have been determined. The Nittany Lions will host Minnesota for Homecoming at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 on ABC/ESPN. On Oct. 31, Penn State will visit Northwestern for a 4:30 p.m. ET kick on ESPN or ESPN2.

I apologize for not elaborating on this topic today. It's deadline day, so I'm pretty swamped. I just happened to check the internets and saw the kick times announcement.

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First Look '09: Syracuse Orange

Following its traditional opening day bloodbath, Penn State will turn its claws of destruction to the visiting Syracuse Orange. The old rivals–arguably the hottest eastern rivalry outside of PSU-Pitt–met last year for the first time since 1992. Although the series renewal was signed when Syracuse was coming off a 10-2 season, this should be as much of a one-sided contest as it was in 2008. But what do we really know about the 2009 Syracuse Orange? Let's find out, in today's First Look.

Channeling the 'Cuse – If you just started watching football the last few seasons, it would seem absurd to find out Syracuse is No. 14 all-time in total wins (674-472-49). But the recent performance on the field is a far cry from what Orange fans are used to. Prior to the disaster known as Greg Robinson (10-37, '05-'08), there was Paul Pasqualoni ('91-'04) and Dick MacPherson ('81-'90), who combined to go 173-107-5, including five 10-win seasons, and an undefeated run (11-0-1) in 1987.

But now the program is at the bottom of the bottom... of the bottom. In comes former-Orangeman (the name changed to just "Orange" a few seasons ago) Doug Marrone. Marrone was a captain and three-year letterman at Syracuse, playing from 1983-1985 on the offensive line. He's been a successful position coach (OL/TE) at the college and pro levels, and led a pretty good offensive attack as the New Orleans Saints' OC ('06-'08).

Th Orange went defense with Robinson. Now, it's time to try offense with Marrone.

Looking for 44 – Although the surrounding cast was far from competitive on a national scale, Orange running back Curtis Brinkley had a quietly outstanding season in 2008, rushing for 1,164 yards and seven scores. The problem for Syracuse, is that he's gone this year. All is not lost, though, as junior Delone Carter steps in after leading the team in '07 with 713. He's been banged up since, but should be healthy this year.

If the offensive line (lost 2/5 from '08) can come together, the running game could be a focal point for this year's offense. Redshirt frosh Ryan Nassib will have some decent targets to throw to, as six of the top seven receivers return from '08, and add in '07 all-Big East performer Mike Williams after his suspension all last year.

Big Ten-lite – Joe Paterno's idea for Syracuse to consider moving over to the Big Ten might not be all that far-fetched. The Orange play three Big Ten teams (Minnesota 9/5, @PSU 9/12, Northwestern 9/19) on this year's schedule. The schedule sets itself up to be a real pain in the butt for Syracuse, with the possibility of player as many as NINE bowl-bound teams. However, Syracuse only plays four road games, and some of the toughest competition comes to the Carrier Dome.

The record may not look good once December rolls around, but remember that Syracuse is taking on easily the toughest schedule of any Big East member. Orange opponents went 98-57 in '08, and went 4-5 in bowl games. The goal this year, with this schedule, should be to be competitive in as many games as possible. Four wins would be admirable.

From enemy territory:

I asked Brian Harrison, Orange::44 blogger, about the 2009 team. He was a bit more excited than I'd expected, but looking at this year's team, he makes a good point: "No where to go but up."

"While Syracuse is most assuredly in a rebuilding year with a coach that can do the job, this season we take comfort in knowing actual improvement will be seen as there is a different guy with the headset on," Harrison said.

Yet, Harrison said Robinson's recruiting successes (or lack of) gives Marrone a lot of work to do, on and off the field.

"Syracuse is still just not as talented as they should be. They are getting better, but Syracuse is still burdened with the majority of poorly recruited players that [name redacted] left us," he told me.

And remember when Syracuse was known for "The Loud House?" Well, Harrison thinks with the eight home games coming this season and growing enthusiasm around Marrone, ticket sales should be up this season.

"This means that at least the hostile away crowd factor will not be a factor for the majority of Syracuse’s games," Harrison said about the schedule. "Syracuse could actually see some decent crowds during the bigger games this season as well. Season ticket holders have vastly dwindled the past few years, but they should increase this season for the first time in a while. Syracuse football fans, despite having bad seasons lately, are knowledgeable football fans and like supporting their team, especially the locals. The Carrier Dome, one of the best on campus facilities in the nation, could again be friendly confines for the home team and become “The Loud House” again."

For more on the Syracuse Orange:

2009 Syracuse Schedule

Syracuse Spring Game Review

First Look '08: Syracuse Orange

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Paulus to become an Orange man

Could it be that Syracuse is not far from once again being a respectable college football program? It seems that new head coach Doug Marrone is nudging things in the right direction. First thing's first, a quarterback who can function:

Former Duke point guard Greg Paulus is expected to play for Syracuse, according to sources... The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Paulus, a standout high school quarterback, would fit into new Syracuse coach Doug Marrone's pro-style offense. Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Nassib has been tabbed as the Orange's starter, but Paulus could be the perfect bridge in a one-season homecoming.

Not a bad little coup by Marrone and the Orangemen (I'm still not giving up on the old name), one which could spark just enough interest in the Upstate upstart. I'm not going to jump the gun on this one. Paulus might back out. He could completely flop once on the field.

Yet, any way you look at this, it's a positive note for the once-proud program. As old rivals, we should always hope our enemies remain competitive at the least, and elite at best. That way, when we beat any of them, it makes the victory that much sweeter.

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Tuesday Final Four linkage

◊ There is a big game tonight. Sure, not big like what Michigan State is hyping up for; but it's big for Penn State. Remember this is a program that is historically terrible, with mediocrity being viewed as a major achievement. Here are a few links to get your blood going for tonight's game, some football links to note, and a link to the great new addition to Zombie Nation... our own message board!

Basketball

• Nittany White Out throws some questions around with a Notre Dame blogger.

• The Nittany Line presents a pretty dig at Notre Dame and the Big East; definitely worth reading for the entertainment value.

• Crispin & Cream, being the only basketball-only Penn State blog out there, gives the best technical look into the matchup.

Football

• Former tackle Phil Taylor (kicked off the team in 2007 for fighting) took a hard dig at Penn State and Joe Paterno in a recent interview by the Big XII ESPN blogger. (HT: Adam) Now, I realize Paterno's not as peachy as the ice cream suggests, but you can't really feel for Taylor. He said he was treated unfairly. Well, maybe he shouldn't have put himself in that position in the first place. Just sayin'...

• Syracuse doesn't think it will win at Penn State this season, so it's going to use it as a learning experience for a new quarterback. Yup, the Orangemen are going to start a true freshman signal caller this year. His second game will be in Beaver Stadium. Welcome to college football, pal!

• CFN came out with its very early Heisman contenders, not including the "Big Three." It's a short, but good list, and strikingly similar to another one floating around out there.

Zombie Nation

• Visit our new message board!

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Tranghese: Big East 'blew it' with Penn State

◊ This is an interesting bit of pretty mediocre news. Mike Tranghese, the Big East's commissioner, said in a Q&A with the New York Times, that the league's biggest mistake was not taking Penn State in the early 1980s.

"The idea wasn’t to take Penn State and start a football league. It was to give Penn State a place. And then they would have been aligned with Syracuse and Boston College. We probably would have brought Pitt in, too, and the four of them probably would have agreed to play and continue as independents."

Tranghese goes on to say how Penn State was within one vote (it was 5-3) of being accepted into the league, and that former Syracuse A.D. Jake Crouthamel took a lot of undue heat from Paterno about it.

"We voted five different times and all five times Jake voted for Penn State. And Bill Flynn at Boston College, God rest his soul, voted for Penn State all five times. The reason that they didn’t get in was that the league was new, a lot of the directors felt it was a basketball league. Some of the directors felt that the concept of the Big East was big markets."

Ok, I'll admit that being from New Jersey, I have a real soft spot for Eastern Football and the Big East. Sure, the conference took a big hit losing Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College in 2004, and would they even have left if Penn State was in the league? It doesn't really matter, because like the entire discussion, it's history now. Still a hoot to talk about, though.

As much as I like Eastern Football, I have no sympathy for the Big East. They had their chance, and blew it big time. At least Tranghese knows it.

But we'll have more on the whole conference realignment thing later this month. Should be lots of fun.

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Syracuse looking for the next Stephfon Green

◊ Hide the women and children. Batten down the hatches. Syracuse just might have hired a head coach with a brain. Well, maybe, but at least he's on the right track.

In a Sporting News article today, Dave Curtis writes about newly-hired Orange(men) head coach Doug Marrone's quest to recruit better in the City of New York. Curtis smartly mentions Penn State's recent success in that state:

"Penn State, led by Brooklyn-raised Joe Paterno, has maintained a decent presence in New York. But there's an opening there for another school, and Marrone hopes he can fill it with the Orange."

Decent presence? Try these names on for size: Maurice Evans, Stephfon Green, and Ollie Ogbu. They're just three names from last season's roster from NYC (Nerraw McCormack and Shane Thompson were the two others). Evans came in much-heralded, but Green and Ogbu were very much under the radar. You want to bet that Marrone sees guys like Green, and knows deep down he can get them to the 'Cuse?

"We're not going to fill all our scholarships with kids from there," [Marrone] said in his office in December. "But we know the area. And we know that even though the talent might not be fully developed, we know there is talent there."

That has Green written all over it. So, Penn State, this is your second warning (the first being Rutgers a few years ago): watch out, because there's another school looking to tap into your recruiting lines.

Think Penn State is really worried? Me neither.

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Poll Results: PSU over SU? Yeah, we knew that

OK, so I've been lacking in this area, but then again, the games haven't been in much doubt. Last week's poll had 94 percent of voters picking PSU to win. Duh. Tomorrow I'll have my top 25, and maybe a Big Ten Bloggers roundtable, if someone gets it out. Who's excited for football? Me.

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Review, Game 3: PSU 55, SU 13

Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from Penn State’s win over rival Syracuse. This week’s victory wasn’t as crisp as the first two of the season, but Penn State’s superior talent and power just overwhelmed Syracuse. The Lions lost the turnover battle --the first time this season--which should worry many around the team right now. It’s one thing to make a few mistakes against a really bad team, but as I said yesterday, those two fumbles by Anthony Scirrotto and Daryll Clark will be unacceptable when Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State come knocking. But the team settled down, and played well. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week against Temple.

OFFENSE :: A

Line - I don’t like the rule that a forced quarterback fumble also counts as a sack. In my mind, Daryll Clark’s opening drive fumble wasn’t a legitimate sack given up by the PSU offensive line. So while it will go down on paper as having one, we should consider this offensive line’s performance, so far, as perfect. Penn State lost only 16 yards rushing against Syracuse, including Clarks fumble (-7 yds). On the season, PSU’s only lost 43 yards running the ball.

Receivers - The last time two Penn State receivers eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a single game was 2003 (30-23 loss to Wisconsin). Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler did just that against Syracuse, while Norwood is the first WR to have consecutive 100-yard games since Bryant Johnson in 2001. But it wasn’t all about the starters, as Penn State’s backup WRs played equally well. Derek Moye’s 33-yard touchdown catch-and-run was very impressive, and showed these guys don’t just go through the motions.

Quarterbacks - Clark took a small step back this week, but is still having the best start by a PSU QB in a very long time. Actually, the entire PSU QB unit is flawless through the first three games, not throwing a single interception, while completing 57 percent as a team. I wasn’t scared when Clark fumbled on the first drive, but I was very unhappy that he didn’t just throw it away. Pat Devlin, after having an off-game last week, played extremely well. He really showed up Clark statistically, and it was really good to see Paul Cianciolo throw for a score.

Rushers - It wasn’t necessary for Penn State to run the ball right up SU’s gut from the beginning. Going into the game, I think it was the staff’s priority to get the passing game solidified before the Big Ten opener. It’s unlike Joe Paterno to allow his team to throw after running up a 35-point lead before halftime. Evan Royster gained almost eight yards a pop, and Stephfon Green reached the end zone. Brent Carter continues to prove that PSU has outstanding depth at this position.

DEFENSE :: A

Line - Even for the best teams, holding an opponent to negative yards through the first quarter is no small feat. This week, unlike the Oregon State game, the defensive line didn’t look too tired late. It’s my guess that suspended Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma will be out another week (Temple next week), so PSU will have to continue playing the young guns. That’s not all bad, though. These are the situations which build invaluable depth for the Big Ten slate. However, it would have been nice to see more than just one sack against Syracuse. Aaron Maybin is leading the team in this category, and is doing just what Paterno wants him to do, prove him wrong by getting it done on the field.

Linebackers - Navorro Bowman led the team in tackles for the second straight week. Oh, and he’s a backup. Once Penn State opened up the huge lead, as with the other defensive units, the staff wanted to get the backups in there. That could be seen by Chris Colasanti’s third-leading four tackles, and Nate Stupar’s two stops. I keep seeing teams throw over the PSU middle linebackers--whoever it happens to be--and gaining big chunks. I’m not sure if this is a scheme issue, or just the backers not knowing how to play the mid-level zones, but it has to be fixed.

Secondary - After this unit came into the season as the supposed-weakest link, the Penn State defensive backfield is looking better each week. The coverage has been plain vanilla, but individual play has been great. The staff has been raving about Drew Astorino, and we saw why, as he grabbed his first career interception. He also led the secondary in tackles. Scirrotto didn’t log a single tackle this game. This week was an overall improvement for this unit.

SPECIAL TEAMS :: B-

Kickers - Jeremy Boone had a net punting average of 40 yards per boot (six yards better than last week), and Kevin Kelly nailed a career-long 52-yarder. Colin Wagner also made a field goal, a not-so-easy 43 yard kick. I really liked the production from this unit.

Returners - Scirrotto’s fumble can’t happen against better teams. He’s supposed to be the sure-handed punt returner. The rest of the return guys did well, highlighted by Chaz Powell’s 69-yard kickoff return at the end of the third quarter.

Coverage - Good coverage all around, again.

COACHES :: A (last three weeks)

Paterno and Co. could have tightened up and played it super safe on the road. Not this time. The game opened the way it should have--well, after the teams traded turnovers--with the passing game taking off and the running game chewing up yards. This is the kind of team that coaches love to have, because it takes a lot of pressure off them. On offense, Jay Paterno and Galen Hall can call almost any play in the book, while Tom Bradley can keep his bend-but-don’t-break defensive scheme in place. Coaches on both sides of the ball know this team is good enough to get any job done.

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Penn State wins, 55-13

Ok, so Syracuse isn't very good. They're quite bad. But Penn State--sans the early fumble by Daryll Clark--didn't let the hype get to them, and played with confidence. The offense is humming, and the defense has been surprisingly stout. How far will this team go? I don't know, but there's all the makings for a great run.

The Good: The offense cranked out 55 points. How can anyone complain right now? Penn State isn't going to win the time of possession. But by scoring so many points, it forces opponents to play catch-up from the beginning. Evan Royster didn't have a monster game, but his early runs set the balance for the passing game. All three Penn State quarterbacks had at least a touchdown pass.

The Bad: Clark's early fumble won't get a free pass next time. You can't lose the ball on the first series against Illinois, Ohio State or Michigan. Also, I was less than impressed by Penn State's return teams.

Overall: I thought it was a good game, but now is the time to start getting picky. Penn State relaxed too early. The wide receivers were fantastic, and the line didn't give up a sack, again. This was a good win over a very bad team. But a win on the road is a win on the road, and Penn State hasn't done so well away from Beaver Stadium. So I'm happy.

Tomorrow, I'll have the full Penn State game review, and a quick review of the USC/Ohio State game.

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