The picture tells the joke for me! Thanks, picture!.
Disclaimer: This is the first of what I hope to be a series of guest posts here on Kissing Kerry Collins. Today we have the privilege of being walked through the upcoming Nittany Lions season. Well, the offense anyway. Your tour guide is the Commissioner himself, Herr Fritz. You better be standing and saluting.
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PSU Offensive Season Preview – By the Commander
Last year the Lions faced some tough sledding in losing to the all four marquee opponents on their schedule with tough road games at OSU, Wisc and ND. The team also got smacked at home by Michigan in a game that the score appeared much closer than the contest actually was.
A sign of promise came in the Outback Bowl where the Nits held Tennessee and their much ballyhooed QB, Erik Ainge in check for a solid bowl win and the 22nd of Paterno’s career.
The 2007 Lions return what may be their most athletic team this decade and what might be the best defensive back seven in the entire Big Ten. But first, a look at the offense.
Key Offensive Losses: Levi Brown, LT – 1st round pick (5th overall) of the Arizona Cardinals. Though Brown suffered through a knee injury and missed 2 games in ’06, he was an absolute road-block and protected Morelli’s blind side.
Tony Hunt, RB – 3rd round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hunt finished his senior season as the 2nd leading career rusher in Penn State history. His bullish running style and quiet yeoman-like attitude earned him a sacred place in Nittany Lion lore. His 1,720 total yards and 14 total touchdowns will be difficult to replace.
Key Offensive Returnees: Anthony Morelli, QB – Morelli struggled with a TD/INT ratio of 14:8 and often looked lost behind a make-shift oline all season. His performance in the Outback Bowl and newly assumed leadership has him poised for a breakout season.
AQ Shipley, C – Shipley is a weight room beast and the anchor of an offensive line that promises more continuity than last season with 3 returning starters. Shipley is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation’s best center.
Andrew Quarless, TE – Quarless opened eyes as a true freshman with his ability to separate from often slower defenders and get open in the middle of the field. He caught two touchdowns as a freshman, one in the Outback Bowl. Expect big things from Quarless. He has the opportunity to be the best PSU tight end since Kyle Brady. Quarless is on the Mackey Award Watch List for the nation’s best tight end. Only 3 other sophomores are on the list.
Austin Scott, RB – Scott came to Penn State in 2003 with expectations higher than Willie Nelson. After spending time battling injuries, Paterno’s doghouse and a rarely seen senior year redshirt, Scott is poised to take over as the Lion’s leading rusher. Word from the scout team is Scott was the toughest runner the first team defense faced during the 2006 season. Look for a big year from him if he’s able to stay healthy. Senior Rodney Kinlaw and RS Freshman Evan Royster will see carries behind him.
ALL WRs - The entire wide receiving corps is back. Juniors Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler lead the way with 5th year senior and likely captain Terrell Golden helping out. Watch out for super sophomore Chris Bell who wowed fans at the Blue/White game. He’s big and fast and a great red-zone threat. Butler set Penn State’s single game receiving record last year against Northwestern.
Offense returning starters: 8
Last year the Lions faced some tough sledding in losing to the all four marquee opponents on their schedule with tough road games at OSU, Wisc and ND. The team also got smacked at home by Michigan in a game that the score appeared much closer than the contest actually was.
A sign of promise came in the Outback Bowl where the Nits held Tennessee and their much ballyhooed QB, Erik Ainge in check for a solid bowl win and the 22nd of Paterno’s career.
The 2007 Lions return what may be their most athletic team this decade and what might be the best defensive back seven in the entire Big Ten. But first, a look at the offense.
Key Offensive Losses: Levi Brown, LT – 1st round pick (5th overall) of the Arizona Cardinals. Though Brown suffered through a knee injury and missed 2 games in ’06, he was an absolute road-block and protected Morelli’s blind side.
Tony Hunt, RB – 3rd round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hunt finished his senior season as the 2nd leading career rusher in Penn State history. His bullish running style and quiet yeoman-like attitude earned him a sacred place in Nittany Lion lore. His 1,720 total yards and 14 total touchdowns will be difficult to replace.
Key Offensive Returnees: Anthony Morelli, QB – Morelli struggled with a TD/INT ratio of 14:8 and often looked lost behind a make-shift oline all season. His performance in the Outback Bowl and newly assumed leadership has him poised for a breakout season.
AQ Shipley, C – Shipley is a weight room beast and the anchor of an offensive line that promises more continuity than last season with 3 returning starters. Shipley is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation’s best center.
Andrew Quarless, TE – Quarless opened eyes as a true freshman with his ability to separate from often slower defenders and get open in the middle of the field. He caught two touchdowns as a freshman, one in the Outback Bowl. Expect big things from Quarless. He has the opportunity to be the best PSU tight end since Kyle Brady. Quarless is on the Mackey Award Watch List for the nation’s best tight end. Only 3 other sophomores are on the list.
Austin Scott, RB – Scott came to Penn State in 2003 with expectations higher than Willie Nelson. After spending time battling injuries, Paterno’s doghouse and a rarely seen senior year redshirt, Scott is poised to take over as the Lion’s leading rusher. Word from the scout team is Scott was the toughest runner the first team defense faced during the 2006 season. Look for a big year from him if he’s able to stay healthy. Senior Rodney Kinlaw and RS Freshman Evan Royster will see carries behind him.
ALL WRs - The entire wide receiving corps is back. Juniors Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler lead the way with 5th year senior and likely captain Terrell Golden helping out. Watch out for super sophomore Chris Bell who wowed fans at the Blue/White game. He’s big and fast and a great red-zone threat. Butler set Penn State’s single game receiving record last year against Northwestern.
Offense returning starters: 8
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