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by
Joel Welser
#17 Penn
State Nittany Lions
Big Ten
2006 Record: (9-4, 5-3)
Coach: Joe Paterno (363-121-3 at Penn State,
363-121-3 overall)
Starters Returning: 15 (8 offense, 6 defense,
1 specialist)
Offensive Starters Lost: RB Tony Hunt, OL
Levi Brown, OL Robert Price
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Anthony
Morelli, FB Matt Hahn, WR Deon Butler, WR Derrick Williams, TE Andrew Quarless,
OL Rich Ohrnberger, OL John Shaw, OL A.Q. Shipley
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Jay Alford, DT Ed
Johnson, DE Tim Shaw, LB Paul Posluszny, S Donnie Johnson
Defensive Starters Returning: DE Josh Gaines,
LB Sean Lee, LB Dan Connor, CB Tony Davis, CB Justin King, S Anthony Scirrotto
Starting Specialists Lost: P Jeremy Kapinos
Starting Specialists Returning: K Kevin Kelly
Due to a generally ineffective offense, Penn State
may be flying a little under the radar heading into the 2007 campaign. The
running and passing games need improvement, but both have enough talent to do
more than just a little bit of improving. The young defense has some questions
of its own and will likely start just one senior.
Offense:
Quarterback Anthony Morelli had high expectations
heading into his career in Happy Valley. After waiting on the bench, Morelli was
not the game changer many had hoped for when he finally became the full-time
starter last season. However, the numbers are still decent, throwing for 2,424
yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. With wide receivers Deon Butler
and Derrick Williams on his side, Morelli has the potential for a great senior
campaign.
As upperclassmen Butler and Williams are primed for
big seasons of their own. Along with fellow junior Jordan Norwood, Penn State
has a superbly talented group of receivers, even if last year’s numbers do not
say so. Replacing running back Tony Hunt will not be an easy task. Hunt rushed
for 1,386 yards and 11 touchdowns before heading off to the NFL. Austin Scott
was supposed to be the next big running back, but lost his starting job after
his freshman campaign. Along with Rodney Kinlaw and redshirt freshman Evan
Royster, Scott, now a senior, will battle for carries.
Defense:
As long as the revamped front four can get some
pressure on the quarterback, the Nittany Lions will rank in the top 15 in total
defense once again. The absence of Jay Alford, Ed Johnson and Tim Shaw leaves
the line full of youth. Underclassmen Maurice Evans, Abe Koroma and Jared Odrick
are expected to join returning starter Josh Gaines. Dan Connor is moving to the
middle of the linebacker corps to replace Paul Posluszny. Sean Lee developed
into a big play linebacker last year. Redshirt freshman Navorro Bowman is the
next in line of great linebackers at Linebacker U, but junior Tyrell Sales made
a big splash in the spring and could steal away the starting job.
The only problems with the secondary are off the
field. Cornerbacks Justin King and A.J. Wallace are extremely quick and have
enough experience to improve the units pass defense. Tony Davis started at
corner last year, but was moved to free safety in order to get Wallace into the
starting lineup. Anthony Scirrotto is among the best strong safeties in the
country, but the junior is set to stand trial after an off-campus fight.
The Bottom Line:
If Scirroto is available to play and the young line
develops quickly, Penn State can depend on its defense to win quite a few games.
Yet, if the offense can be half as productive as they are talented, the Nittany
Lions will not have to rely merely on their defense. |
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