#26 Penn St. Nittany Lions Preview

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will bedefense. Plenty of key players need to be replaced
here before you know it so that means getting anbut returning are linebackers Paul Posluszny, the 2005
early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season.Butkus Winner, Dan Connor and Tim Shaw, forming
Knowing the teams now will save you time in Augustthe best middle in the nation. They will have to carry
and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp ofthe unit until the rest of the defense comes together.
what to expect this upcoming year. We go fromThe defensive line has just one starter coming back
worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.but seniors Jim Shaw and Ed Johnson will make
#26 - Penn St. Nittany Lions 11-1 SU; 8-4 ATSimpacts right away. Even though the secondary has to
Fargo's Take A last second touchdown was thereplace everyone, the cornerbacks have the potential
difference for the Nittany Lions against Michigan andto be great led by super sophomore Justin King, the
an undefeated 2005 season. Barring that, Penn St.top defensive back recruit last season. The safety
would have been 12-0 and had a shot at the Nationalpositions will be manned by two seniors. Creating a
Championship but that would have meant threepass rush will be vital for the entire unit and if they
undefeated teams and we all know the problems thatcome even close to last year's 41 sacks, great things
could have caused so maybe it was for the best. Thecan happen again.
Nittany Lions will be hard-pressed to match lastSchedule The schedule does not bode well for a quick
season's performance but they do have enough tostart as trips to Notre Dame and Ohio St., the top two
make a run at the Big Ten title. Replacing Big Tenteams in the country by many, take place in two of
Offensive Player of the Year Michael Robinson atthe first four weeks. The other two games in that
quarterback will be difficult but Anthony Morelli has thestretch are easy home contests against Akron and
tools to be a special player. The defense has toYoungstown St. while the fourth and final
replace most of the front four and the entirenon-conference game is near the end of the season
secondary but Penn St. possesses the bestagainst Temple. The Nittany Lions host Northwestern
linebacking corps not only in the conference, but in theand travel to Minnesota before returning home and
entire country. A letdown from last season should notgetting a chance at some payback against Michigan.
happen as the Nittany Lions look to be back for good.The remaining Big Ten schedule is not over difficult
Returning Starters on Offense - 5 Morelli does notwith the two toughest games being at Purdue and at
have very much experience but his stock is high andWisconsin. Indiana and Iowa are missing from the
his spring performance gives the team a lot ofschedule for a second straight season. Another
optimism heading into the season. Unlike Robinson, hechallenge is the fact that Penn St. must play all 12
is a pure passer so the rushing element from thatgames without a single bye week in the mix.
position is gone but the passing game should improveYou can bet on... Penn St. fans are hoping that another
immensely. The biggest concern on the offense is2003 doesn't take place. After a very successful 2002
having to replace four starters on the line but there iscampaign, the Nittany Lions fell off hard, winning just
some decent experience coming in. Tailback Tonythree games the next season and prompting questions
Hunt is back after rushing for 1,047 yards last seasonabout whether it was time for head coach Joe
and his output will be important early on. The top fourPaterno to hang it up. He certainly quelled that talk last
receivers are back including the top three wideouts ledyear but another dropoff could mean the end is near.
by sophomore Derrick Williams who could be in for aThe Nittany Lions went 3-0 against the number as
breakout campaign. The Nittany Lions finished 13th inunderdogs last season and are 16-10 ATS in that role
the country in scoring offense with 34.4 ppg andsince 2001. The two opportunities to capitalize on that
matching that average will be a challenge but if Morelliwill come early against Notre Dame and Ohio St. The
learns quickly, it is possible.latter could pose a problem for Penn St. however as
Returning Starters on Defense - 4 Penn St. had onethe road team is 0-8 against the number in the last
of the best defenses in the country last season,eight meetings between the two.
finishing 12th in total defense and 10th in scoring