The State of Penn State - A Season Preview

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Everyone's favorite Nittany Lions are back in action on Saturdays throughout the fall. Since we've all been itching for a taste of football, allow the commish to walk you through this season, Happy Valley style.

EDIT: Watch out for a breaking story in which 4 important players were held out of practice yesterday due to a party and minor drug violation. If anyone is kicked off the team, it could hold serious repercussions for the rest of the season, especially on defense.

Key Offensive Returnees: The WR Smurfs (Williams, Butler, Norwood); RB Evan Royster (over 6 yds/carry in limited play last year); the ENTIRE o-line anchored by senior C AQ Shipley.

Key Defensive Returnees: DE Maurice Evans (12.5 sacks in 2007); S Anthony Scirrotto; DT's Jared Odrick and Abe Koroma

Key Losses: RB Rodney Kinlaw, DTs Chris Baker and Phil Taylor (suspension led to transfers); CB Justin King; WR Chris Bell (highly-touted, underperforming, pulled a knife on a teammate during the off season); LB Sean Lee (out for the year with torn ACL); DT Devon Still (out for the year with broken ankle)

Key Newcomers: RB Stephon Green (redshirt freshman runs a reported 4.25/40 and is from JoePa's hood, Brooklyn); QBs Daryll Clark and Pat Devlin (a reported fierce battle this preseason led to Clark being named the starter but Devlin assured playing time);

Schedule – Outlook - Predictions:

Aug 30 – Coastal Carolina – 12pm – Big Ten Network

Outlook: Let's be serious. This is a joke of a game against a school that has only played football since 2002. Further review shows that this D1-AA institution employs an athletics director who went to Penn State and played for Paterno. This is a money grab and little else. It will tell us nothing about the team. Hopefully Clark and Devlin both get good minutes and no one gets hurt.

Prediction: PSU 56 CC 6 - Actual: PSU 66 CC 10

Sept 6 – Oregon State – 3:30pm – ABC Regional

Outlook: The Beavers make a visit to Beaver Stadium. Children cry, women scream, the world implodes and men everywhere chuckle. The game should NOT be close, but it will be due to inexplicable play calling by the dunce of an offensive coordinator known as Jay Paterno. The Beavers are breaking in an entirely new front 7. They have a decent secondary and some talent at the wideout position. Their QB play last year made Anthony Morrelli look like a Heisman winner and they lost their #1 RB to the draft. We should be able to run at will, but JayPa will figure out a way to leave our defense on the field much longer than they should be.

Prediction: PSU 34 OrSU 23

Sept 13 - @ Syracuse – 3:30pm – ABC Regional

Outlook: It's a good thing I'm writing this now, but cause I'll probably be too drunk to remember actually attending this game. This SHOULD be a slam dunk. Just like in 2005 when Penn State went on the road to Northwestern, right? RIGHT?! No, it won't be like that. After a sluggish first half, the Lions dominate the trenches and run for almost 400 yards. Greg Robinson crawls into the nearest bottle of scotch and tries to forget the fact that he chose to coach football at a basketball school.

Prediction: PSU 45 'Cuse 17

Sept 20 – Temple – TBA – Big Ten Network

Outlook: Former PSU assistant and player, Al Golden, has the Owls on the verge of respectability. Granted they play in the MAC, but they still won 4 games last year which was one more than the previous 3 seasons combined. They also won 3 games in a row for the first time since 1985. The Lions have shutout the Owls to the tune of 47-0 and 31-0 over the last two years. Look for Temple to get on the score board this year, but it won't be enough to stop Penn State from moving to 4-0.

Prediction: PSU 37 Temple 16

Sept 27 – Illinois – 8pm – ABC/ESPN

Outlook: Simply put: Penn State was a better team than Illinois last year. They played in the Rose Bowl and the Lions played in the Alamo Bowl. At Champagne in 2007, Penn State had 5 consecutive possessions begin in Illini territory in the second half and came away with ZERO points thanks to four turnovers. These inexcusable miscues lost the game for PSU. As Illinois comes back to Beaver stadium in 2008 for the Big10 opener, you can bet that the Lions are still smarting from such a sour defeat. Illinois will have a tough time replacing All-American LB, J. Leham and Big10 Offensive Player of the Year, Reshard Mendenhall, but their defensive line may be up to the task. They also have sure-fire first rounder, Vontea Davis, at cornerback. Penn State will look to score on the ground and contain WR Arrilious Benn who burned the Lions for a return TD in 2007.

Prediction: PSU 34 Illinois 28

Oct 4 - @ Purdue – TBA

Outlook: The first true road test of the season. The only year this decade that PSU has a winning record on the road is 2005. That's not good. Not good at all. Curtis Painter returns to lead a Purdue attack that almost upset the Lions in Happy Valley in 2007. However, gone is their best WR, Dorian Bryant. That won't be too much to overcome for the Boilermakers as they'll spread the Lions out and dink and dunk all day. Turnovers will hold the key for a game that could go either way.

Prediction: PSU 24 Purdue 28

Oct 11 - @ Wisconsin – 8pm – ABC/ESPN

Outlook: Now it gets nasty with a primetime game in one of the toughest places to play, Madison, Wisconsin. The Big10 certainly didn't do PSU any favors with the schedule as the Lions play a stretch of the best of the conference in consecutive weeks with 4 of the 5 games on the road. PJ Hill and Travis Beckum will prove too much for the Lions to overcome as they drop their second road game in a row. The contest is fraught with douchebag moves by King Douche, Bret Beliema and ultra-conservative play calling, courtesy of JoePa.

Prediction: PSU 13 Wisconsin 20

Oct 18 – Michigan – 4:30pm – ESPN

Outlook: Michigan comes to town with so many questions, it's ridiculous. DickRod will try to install his high-flying offense with a totally inexperienced QB. The Wolverines lost a load on offense as Jake Long, Chad Henne, Mario Manningham and Mike "Michigan Man" Hart all left for the NFL. They do, however, return one of the best defenses in the league. PSU has enough to finally end the losing streak to Michigan at 9 games, and I believe the homecoming crowd will help them do it emphatically.

Prediction: PSU 34 Michigan 13

Oct 25 - @ Ohio State – 8pm – ABC/ESPN

Outlook: This game isn't even worth writing about. OSU OWNS Penn State in Columbus. We've never won there since joining the Big10. Heck, the Lions have never scored more than 13 points there! OSU is loaded, everywhere. Chalk up road loss #3.

Prediction: PSU 10 OSU 28

Nov 1 – Bye – at least it's not a road loss.

Nov 8 - @ Iowa – TBA

Outlook: PSU hasn't won in Iowa since 1999. Look for that trend to change this year as Iowa is just falling apart under Kirk Ferentz. Their QB stinks. Their defense is terrible. They lost their top three running backs from last year and are leaning towards starting a walk-on, former fullback. They lost their top two wideouts. If PSU loses this game after a bye week, I will eat my mattress.

Prediction: PSU 24 Iowa 9

Nov 15 – Indiana – TBA – Likely Big Ten Network

Outlook: Not much to say here either. After making their first bowl since the early '90s, the Hoosiers return to form as the doormat of the Big10. QB Kellen Lewis is dangerous, but has no one to deliver the ball to. Penn State stays perfect against Indiana.

Prediction: PSU 35 Indiana 13

Nov 22 – Michigan State – TBA – likely ABC/ESPN

Outlook: In what may be billed as Paterno's final regular season game, the Lions will avenge yet another terrible loss from the 2007 campaign. PSU blew a 17 point second half lead to lose to the Spartans in East Lansing. On senior day, look for the Lions to come out smoking. PSU hasn't lost at home to Michigan State since 1965 and I don't expect that to change in 2008. The Spartans bring some serious talent and discipline instilled by second year coach, Mark D'Antoni, but it won't be enough to stop the Lions from sending Paterno out with a win in his Beaver Stadium finale.

Prediction: PSU 27 MSU 23

Regular season record: 9-3

Bowl prediction: I stole this, but I really like it:

Lions play LSU in the Outback Bowl on New Year's day.

MMSY: 10/29/07

Feel the excitement! It's the Colts! It's the Pats! It's .... NEXXXXT!!!

5 Things I Think I Thought That Were

1. I think the best part about the Penn State/Ohio State "game" was the sign shown during ESPN College Gameday: "Finkel Is Einhorn." Simple. Short. Absolute genius. I've got more venom coming on that PSU effort in a bit.

2. I think that the hype meter might implode this week with the build up to Indianapolis/New England this coming weekend. I get it, I do.

This is going to be a terrific game between two teams that, clearly, are head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL. I also know that Tony Dungy has overcome severe personal tragedy to reach gigantic professional heights, all while helping folks along the way in a spiritual and motivational manner. That Bill Belichick still faces scrutiny over the camera thingy and wants to prove to the world that his team doesn't need to cheat to dominate. That the Patriots have old, yet wily linebackers. That the Colts are being viewed as "under the radar." That Bob Sanders is the straw that stirs the Colts defense. That Tom Brady is trying to not only take revenge on the Colts for their 2006 playoff demise, but also is trying to forcibly suffocate that single-season touchdown record that Peyton holds. Oh, and eff as many models as he can in a calendar year, too.

(Still with me? I've got tons of new angles that haven't been covered yet... OK, I'll stop).

3. I think that, since no one else seemed to give a damn about Hefty's 76ers post on Friday, that I'll chime in: OJ Mayo will not help this franchise. I don't buy, right now, that he's the best player for them (anybody think a legit center might help? Or better yet, the power forward that hasn't been present since Sir Charles came out to the desert in 1993? I loved Tyrone Hill and Charles Shackleford, but ... yeah.) In fact, I don't even buy that Mayo is the best of the one-year-and-done college kids (Kevin Love at UCLA; Eric Gordon at Indiana). Plus, Mayo has a stink-ass attitude. I say stay away from him.

Plus, we know this draft speculation will be rendered completely moot when they reel off a flurry of wins at the end of the season to sneak into the playoffs and promptly get jackhammered by the top seed.

4. I think that Hollywoodland is an excellent film. Stars Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane and that guy from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? A taught (like a tiger) thriller about the mysterious death of 1950s television star George "Superman" Reeves. Mixed in is some humor and multiple (repeat: MULTIPLE) bare rear-end shots of Mr. Affleck. Fantastic stuff.

5. I think that my rant from the Michigan game, sadly, applies here again. It's almost becoming routine, this strategy where the coaching staff tries to minimize the team's mistakes by doing things that simply cannot help your team win:
a. Not blitzing a first-year starter making his biggest start of his career on the road. The two times (seriously, someone tell me if you counted more) that Penn State blitzed, they resulted in Dan Connor's interception and a Navarro Bowman sack.
b. Not throwing the ball downfield. My dad made a great observation in that, once we scored on that opening drive by running the ball very effectively, the gameplan got shifted to an extreme focus on the run. And it didn't work.
c. Keeping Andrew Quarless in to block rather than using his 6'5, 250-lb. frame in the passing game down the middle. If I, sitting in a crowded PSU alumni sports bar, can spot that every time Quarless tapped Morelli's ass that they would be running to the left of the line, well I'm just kinda sorta sure Ohio State figured it out.
d. That cowardly decision to punt when it was 4-and-2 at the Ohio State 38-yard-line. Change your diaper, Joe Pa.
e. Don't even get me started on the mandatory 15-yard cushion our defensive backs are instructed to give every receiver. It's a joke.

Monday Morning Slobbering Yap: 10/14/07

Do I need to make the connection? Hail Holidaysburg's MPJs!

1. I think that the battle for the last couple of playoff spots is going to be the most heated storyline for the rest of the season. Who can squeeze points out of Amani Toomer, or Santana Moss, or Jerricho Cotchery or Isaac Bruce?

2. I think that, while there will be many takes on Hefty's record-shattering performance, here's mine: The Bear Grylls' 212 points is twice that of Melvin's SAT score.

3. I think that Penn State looked like a real team on Saturday. And that's the most frustrating part. Those brain cramps against Michigan and Illinois now become even more magnified. With the chaos in the Football Bowl Subdivision (really, was Division I such a bad name? Do we need 'FBS'?), the Nits had a prime chance to sneak into a BCS bowl, even after that Michigan debacle. Now if they could just throw the ball down the field every darn week, that'd be nice. On a side note, that Saturday night tilt with Ohio State is looking MIGHTY tasty now.

4. I think this is what I liked about Week 6 of our fabled fantasy escapade:
a. Shawn's shrewd pickup of Chris Henry. Watching Slimmy's deadly duo of CJ and Hoosh tear it up can only mean that Henry's gonna get some grabs. Whether or not those catches come via armed robbery is yet to be determined.
b. Mr. Gisele and Ravens D come through in the clutch for Adam. Who's laughing now? Well alright, it took 6 weeks to materialize into something, but regardless! Congrats to Adam for getting that elusive first victory.
c. Shelby, though in vain, getting points from Eric Johnson. Wow.
d. Maybe this should go into "things I don't like" since I made the smart aleck observation a couple weeks back, but Aaron's team is good. Not lucky. MoJo Drew, your pimp hand is STRONG. Welcome back.

5. I think this is what I didn't exactly like about Week 6:
a. Adrian Peterson farted and got 17 fantasy points as a result.
b. Where has the Bears D gone to?
c. Watching the update of Miami Vice to prepare for the weekend's action was not a great. The film starts out extremely strong, but I kept looking at Colin Farell strutting around in those ridiculous linen suits and wondering why he walks like he dumped in his boxer briefs.
d. Santana Moss. He's like this year's version of Laveraneheusjhsuads Coles for me. If I don't pick him, he goes bonkers. If I pick him, he shreds his groin and plays like he has crisco smeared on his sternum.
e. Having to endure the horrendous Brad Nessler/Bob Griese/Paul McGuire trio while watching the Penn State game. No, really, I was quite curious to learn why Walrus Lips McGuire gets a three-quarter chub while watching Carl Edwards circle around a racetrack. Riveting stuff. Nah, I don't even care that a football game is going on and that some type of analysis of the field action would enrich the broadcast.

Monday Morning Slobbering Yap: 9/24/07

Please, stop laughing at the Ball Maulers, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart.

1. I think that I must've done something to receive these last two weeks of ass whoopings, all while I put up decent pointage. So, in rolling with that, this week I will take the opposite viewpoint on several issues, with the hopes that reverse psychology will help turn the luck around. Kinda like My Name is Earl or something...
a. I do not think Paul Davis will grow up to be a cunning pedophile.
b. Aaron's team is good, not lucky.
c. I respect Adam's drafting strategy. Also, he's not whining. Not at all. Neither am I.
d. Shelby isn't even thinking about sitting Kevin Curtis for Brandon Stokely. He's also not sitting with a gun to his head and a blowtorch near his eyeball.

2. I think single women everywhere should have their pink Tasers handy now that Shawn Hussein is on the prowl again. So I hear.

3. I think that Michigan game was just a total embarrassment to the Penn State community. Couldn't even talk about it immediately after the game was over. How sad. Joe, Jay, Galen. They're all complicit in that debacle. Let the guys succeed, coaches. Don't play like women. Triple Ugh.

4. I think I'll start backpedaling on my shouts about Randy Moss being overrated. OK, the guy is exceeding my expert expectations. I'm a man. I'll accept that. But I fully expect him to hit a woman in the crosswalk with his vehicle any day now.

5. I think Lady in the Water was terrible. Just saw it this week. M. Night's movies are some of my favorites but that was a stinker.

Monday Morning Slobbering Yap: 9/10/07

Romo? Almost 50 points? Burress? Almost 40? Something doesn't seem quite right...

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1. I think Penn State's defense has the makings to be the best in Big Ten, certainly. But one could argue that the unit, which is displaying phenomenal speed, is among the top 5 defenses in the country this early into the season. And you can truly tell that the defensive line honed its hand-to-hand combat skills at Meridian II in the offseason. It's paying off in spades.

2. I think the Explosive Diarrhea General Manager of the Week Award goes to Ricardo Ely for that what-the-eff-no-really-stop-it!! performance by Tony "Hide The Balogna" Romo. Nearly a 50-point game?! What an explosive, wild and messy effort!

3. I think the Britney Spears performance at the MTV VMAs last night is on par with Jordan Yingling's various forays on to the basketball court. They both consisted of disjointed movement, ill-advised heaves and stretched vulvas.

4. I think we should expect to hear some hootin' and hollerin' from the Randy Moss camp in Westside V this week. It was one week, fellas, and the Jets secondary couldn't cover Deewaan's package. Hey, I think that's the J-E-T-S! in David's team logo!

5. I think the down-to-the-wire matchup between the Areolas and the Maulers could be one for the ages. It's time to choppy-choppy pee-pee!

Non-Fantasy Football: PSU vs. Notre Dame

True freshman quarterback/overly eager bukkake recipient Jimmy Clausen will start for the Irish this weekend at the Beav.

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Gastropod Head Coach Charlie Weis announced today that Jimmy Clausen will be his week 2 starting quarterback. This is in stark contrast to Weis's strategy for their opener against Georgia Tech, where Weis refused to name a starter. The thinking was that GaTech would have three different QBs to prepare for. Well, they did just that, holding ND's three quarterbacks to just 130 total passing yards.

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Now, Weis has decided to come right out and name Clausen the starter. No more fancy head games. Frankly, I'm ecstatic. Since the minute this kid declared for Notre Dame, I was ecstatic. If there's an easier face to hate in all of sports than the picture above, I'd love to see it. That is easily the douchiest kid I've ever seen in my life. Clausen may actually be the most talented quarterback that Notre Dame has, but he'll be the face of the Irish for the next four years, and that is an exciting prospect.

Break It Down: The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions - Chapter 3

Craig's crystal ball says PSU is going to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

If that's true, I'm definitely wearing/eating a nacho hat during the game.

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Editor's Note: The following is the next installment of the PSU 2007 season preview. Once again, our sherpa through the Happy Valley is none other than Kaiser Craig von Fritz.

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PSU Game by Game Predictions – By the Commander

#18 PSU vs. Florida International – Sept 1, 12pm, Big Ten Network (BTN) – The Golden Panthers come to town following a remarkable 0-12 season that was made even worse by a high publicized brawl with cross-town foe Miami. They gave up an average of 300 yds/game. Expect more of the same when they visit the Beav. The Lions light it up early and often.

PSU 40 FIU 6

#18 PSU vs. Notre Dame – Sept 8 – , 6pm, ESPN – The Golden Domers visit Happy Valley for the first time in over a decade in one of the most anticipated match-ups of the young season. The Lions will be hungry for revenge after facing a 41-17 whipping at the hands of Fat Charlie and Co. in 2006. The tables are turned now, however. The Irish lost their top QB, RB and top 3 WRs. A work-in-progress offense will find scoring difficult against a stout Nittany Lions defense. Though their running game is formidable, ND’s turnstile at the QB position will limit them through the air. Expect a raucous crowd for a game that might break the all-time attendance record at Beaver Stadium. ND keeps it close until the 3rd, but a costly turnover helps the Lions win going away.

PSU 31 ND 18

#16 PSU vs. Buffalo – Sept 15, 12pm, BTN – The Bulls managed a paltry two victories last season and one came in overtime against fellow cellar dweller, Temple. Likely the worst defense the Lions will face all year gave up 390 yds/game and 56 touchdowns a year ago. I expect the 2nd and 3rd teamers for the Lions to get significant playing time in this contest. The final will never be in doubt.

PSU 52 UB 3

#16 PSU @ #5 Michigan – Sept 22, TBA, ABC/ESPN – The Lions return to their personal house of horrors where even the invincible will of Michael Robinson bowed to the mighty Wolverines. PSU is 3-9 against Michigan since joining the Big10, losing the last 8 games in a row. Many are touting UM as a contender for the national championship, and they certainly have the weapons to be right there. The question mark remains the defense. A team that was exposed at the end of last season and lost three major playmakers in Lamar Woodley, Leon Hall and Alan Branch has large holes to fill. Linebacker Sean Crable is a beast, but can be contained. The game will be won or lost in the trenches were the Nit’s young defensive line will have to contend with a Wolverines offensive line that features future first round pick, Jake Long. PSU has chances late, but can’t dig out of the hole made during the first three quarters.

PSU 18 UM 24

#21 PSU @ Illinois – Sept 29, TBA (BTN likely) – The spunky Illni put a scare into the Lions last year at Beaver Stadium. Not the case this year. Even with all-everything QB Juice Williams and highly regarded freshman wideout Arrilious Benn, the Lions put the game away early in the 3rd quarter. Williams’ erratic nature and poor decision making won’t fair well against PSU’s ball-hawking secondary. The defense leads the charge by forcing three turnovers.

PSU 31 Ill 17

#18 PSU vs. Iowa – Oct 6, TBA (ESPN2 likely) – The Hawkeyes rotate back on to PSU’s schedule after two years away. They couldn’t have picked a worse time to be breaking in a new quarterback and new wide receivers. Iowa suffered through their worst season in some time winning only two conference games while posting embarrassing losses against Minnesota, Indiana and Northwestern. Expect a more cohesive and tough unit this year, but it’s still not enough to come into the Beav and walk out with a win. Kirk Ferentz has owned JoePa in recent years, but Joe gets back with a vengeance in 2007.

PSU 24 Iowa 13

#16 PSU vs. #4 Wisconsin – Oct 13, 3:30pm, ABC (Homecoming) – This is a game that will likely determine if the Nittany Lions are going to be BCS bowling or be headed back to Florida for another showdown with a mid-level SEC team. The Badgers far exceeded expectations a year ago by going 12-1 and beating Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. They return 18 starters including RB sensation P.J. Hill who became the fifth Badger freshman to break the 1,000 yd mark. However, the players the lost will be difficult to replace. Offensive lineman Joe Thomas left as the #3 overall pick of the Cleveland Browns. UW also lost 3-year starting QB John Stocco. Though he leaves the reigns of the offense in the capable hands of 5th-year senior Tyler Donovan, he will be difficult to replace. If the Lions are able to shut down Hill, they should be able to come away with a victory. Expect this to be the most physical game the Lions play all season.

PSU 16 UW 13

#8 PSU @ Indiana – Oct 20, TBA (BTN likely) – The Hoosiers are back on the schedule after a two-year hiatus. Devastated by the loss of coach Terry Hoeppner to cancer, IU will have a tough time hitting it’s stride against the upper-tier of the Big10. The Hoosiers so some fight, but turnovers and lack of athletes show by mid-way through the 2nd half. Morelli puts up big numbers against an out-gunned secondary.

PSU 44 IU 20

#8 PSU vs. # 13 Ohio State – Oct 27, 8pm, ABC – This emerging rivalry often favors the home team, so it’s a good thing the game is in State College. The Buckeyes are coming off a run to the national championship game, but have major holes to fill. Gone are top offensive producers Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Antonio Pittman and Anthony Gonzales. Significant losses on the DLine also leave much in doubt. By this point in the season, the Lion’s D will be clicking on all cylinders. Look for the front seven to harass yet another new QB coming into Beaver Stadium. If Penn State can keep stud RB Chris Wells in check, the Bucks will be in for a long night.

PSU 26 OSU 19

#6 PSU vs. Purdue – Nov 3, TBA (ESPN2/BTN) – Penn State shut down Purdue’s gimmick offense a year ago in West Lafayette. While they won’t earn a shutout, expect more of the same from the Lions. Meanwhile, the Boilermaker’s defense is simply terrible and gave up over 400 yds/game a season ago, ranking in the bottom 20 of the entire NCAA. After a tough end of September and October, this game is a nice start to the last month of the season. Look for Austin Scott to go over 1,000 yds for the season in this game.

PSU 38 Pur 14

#6 PSU @ Temple – Nov 10, TBA (BTN likely) – The Owls were Penn State’s second shutout victim a year ago. Unfortunately for Temple fans and coach Al Golden, 2007 holds more of the same. Temple will be a MAC team this year, but still have less than 4 wins to show for their move to a lower conference 3 years after getting kicked out of the Big East. Look for the Lions to score early and often in this game being played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It’s over by halftime and we all go to Atlantic City for strippers and blackjack.

PSU 52 Temple 9

#6 PSU @ Michigan State – Nov 17, TBA (ESPN/ESPN2 likely) – PSU rolls into East Lansing having taken the last three games from the Spartans in convincing fashion. Though new coach Mark Dantonio brings new enthusiasm to the MSU faithful, they simply lack the athletes to run with Penn State. This game will be closer than it should be, but the Lions wrap up their 2nd Big10 Conference title in 3 years by closing out Sparty late.

PSU 27 MSU 21

#6 PSU vs. #7 Auburn – Jan 2, 8pm, FOX – After tying with Wisconsin for the Big10 crown, PSU gets bumped out of the Rose Bowl to the desert to play the Auburn Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State’s first trip to Arizona since thumping Tennessee in 1992 brings two teams with very similar make-ups. Both sport experienced, senior quarterbacks and both have athletic fast defenses. This one comes down to turnovers and the Lions prevail in that battle as they have all season. Justin King announces his early entry in the NFL draft days after the bowl.

PSU 28 AU 25

Final record: 12-1
Final ranking: #4

Break It Down: The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions - Chapter 2

At least Drew Brees turned out to be a good NFL player!

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Editor's Note: Back by popular demand, the Craigmissioner is back with part deux of the PSU season preview. Once again, he's chasing down the scoop on our Nittany Lions, with today's piece focusing on the defense. Maybe one of these days he'll actually do a game-by-game break down like I asked him to do in the first place. Or maybe not! Enjoy.

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PSU Defensive Season Preview – By the Commander


Now that we’ve covered the offense surrounding Joe Paterno’s 42nd campaign, let’s have a look at the defense.

Tom Bradley has silenced critics that emerged during the dark years of Penn State and fielded his 3rd nasty defense in a row last season. This year figures to be more of the same with a unique combination of youth and experience highlighting this year’s unit.

Key losses: - Paul Posluzny, LB, 2nd round pick of the Buffalo Bills (34th overall) left dear old state as the all-time leader in tackles. He was a two-time All-American and the first junior captain at PSU since 1967. What he lacked in physical ability, he made up for with pure instincts and supreme football knowledge. It’s never easy to replace a player that will go down as a top 5 all-time linebacker at Linebacker U. Look for a three-way battle between RS Fr Navarro Bowman, RS So Jerome Hayes and RS Junior Tyrell Sales to fill the third LB position.

The Defensive Line: Jay Alford (3rd round pick, New York Giants); Tim Shaw (5th round pick, Carolina Panthers); and Ed Johnson anchored a line that finished second in the Big 10 in sacks and caused havoc for opposing QBs and RBs all season with 30 tackles-for-loss. All three will be difficult to replace.

Key Retunees: - Dan Connor, SR, MLB, will shift inside and take over for Posluzny. This is a similar move to Posluzny moving inside for ’06. The difference is Dan’s natural position is at the middle backer spot. Connor is only 98 tackles away from breaking Paul’s tackle record just a year later. Barring injury, he should easily pass it having amassed 113 stops in 2006. Look for Connor to be named a captain as one of only 5 seniors on the entire squad. He’s on the watch list for just about every major defensive award out there.

Sean Lee, JR, OLB, continues his own assault on the Penn State record books. He totaled 90 tackles as a sophomore and filled in admirably for an injured Posluzny in the 2006 Orange Bowl against Florida State. Lee is fast and aggressive and will be a force both rushing the passer and dropping into coverage. His one interception last year was a doozy, as he dove out of bounds to snare a ball and still kept both feet in play. Look for Lee to be all over the field this fall.

Maurice Evans, SO, DE, got a ton of PT last year as a freshman. Added weight and a non-stop motor will make him tough to stop. He anchors a defensive line fraught with massive talent and relatively little experience. The season could hinge on the young line’s ability to disrupt the QB. Expect major contributions from RS Jr Josh Gaines (DE) and sophomores Abe Koroma (DT); Phil Taylor (DT); Ollie Ogbu (DT); Jared Odrick (DT); Aaron Maybin (DE); and Tom McEowen (DT).

Nearly the entire secondary is back, highlighted by future 1st round draft pick Justin King. Though he only had one interception, King shut down three All-American receivers last year in Ted Ginn, Jr., Robert Meachem and Jeff Samardzija, allowing them each just over 39 yds/game. Along with King, cornerback Tony Davis returns and shifts to the safety position vacated by graduated Donnie Johnson. Sophomore AJ Wallace, an ace in the return game and explosive offensive threat takes over at left cornerback. Free Safety, Anthony Scirrotto returns a year after leading the Big 10 in interceptions with six. Though his future with the team is somewhat in question following an off-season, off-campus brawl, Scirotto will play until his legal status changes. His trial date is tentatively scheduled for October, though the Centre County DA has had trouble coming up with a solid case against Anthony. Cornerbacks Lydell Sergeant, Willie Harriot, Knowledge Timmons and Devin Fentress will vie for the nickelback role.

Defense returning starters: 6

Break It Down: The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions - Chapter 1

The picture tells the joke for me! Thanks, picture!
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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