Penn State
Nittany Lions
Preview 2007
By
Pete Fiutak
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2007 PSU Offense Preview |
2007 PSU Defense Preview
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2007 PSU Depth Chart
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2006 CFN Penn State Preview
Every year the storyline seems to be the same: does Joe Paterno have
one more great run left in him? Every year the answer seems to be
the same: probably.
In 2005 Paterno had the chance to close his career with a
near-perfect ending to a historic tenure, after proving all the
critics wrong with a tremendous Big Ten and Orange Bowl winning
season. Then the team took a step back in 2006 with a struggling
offense and no wins of note in the regular season. But after the big
20-10 Outback Bowl win over Tennessee, suddenly it seems there’s yet
another big year just around the corner.
Head coach: Joe Paterno
42nd year: 363-121-3
Returning Lettermen
Off: 15, Def: 16, Spec. 2
Lettermen Lost: 23 |
Ten
Best PSU Players
1. LB Dan Connor, Sr.
2. LB Sean Lee, Jr.
3. CB Justin King, Jr.
4. SS Anthony Scirrotto, Jr.*
5. WR/PR Derrick Williams, Jr.
6. QB Anthony Morelli, Sr.
7. WR Deon Butler, Jr.
8. C A.Q. Shipley, Sr.
9. TE Andrew Quarless, Soph.
10. FS Tony Davis, Jr. |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 10-2 |
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Sept. 1 |
FIU |
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Sept. 8 |
Notre Dame |
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Sept. 15 |
Buffalo |
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Sept. 22 |
at
Michigan |
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Sept. 29 |
at Illinois |
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Oct.
6 |
Iowa |
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Oct.
13 |
Wisconsin |
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Oct.
20 |
at Indiana |
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Oct.
27 |
Ohio State |
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Nov.
3 |
Purdue |
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Nov.
10 |
at Temple |
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Nov.
17 |
at Michigan State |
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2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 9-3
2006 Record:
9-4
Preview
2006 predicted wins
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|
9/2 |
Akron W 34-16 |
| 9/9 |
at Notre Dame L 41-17 |
| 9/16 |
Youngstown St
W 37-3 |
| 9/23 |
at Ohio State L 28-6 |
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9/30 |
Northwestern
W 33-7 |
| 10/7 |
at Minn. W 28-27 OT |
| 10/14 |
Michigan
L 17-10 |
| 10/21 |
Illinois
W 26-12 |
| 10/28 |
at Purdue
W 12-0 |
| 11/4 |
at Wisconsin
L 13-3 |
| 11/11 |
Temple
W 47-0 |
| 11/18 |
Michigan State
W 17-13 |
| 1/1 |
Outback Bowl
Tennessee W 20-10 |
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Paterno’s teams have always thrived with veterans, and while this
year’s team loses several key defensive starters, the offense has
more to get excited about than it has in years … if.
If QB Anthony Morelli builds on his performance against the
Vols, and if WR Derrick Williams finally starts to play up to
his hype, and if RB Austin Scott turns into Larry Johnson-lite
and blossoms in his senior season, this will be one of the three
best teams in the Big Ten and a top contender for a second
championship in three years. But if Morelli is inconsistent, Scott
plays like he has over the last few years, and Williams continues to
be an overrated second fiddle to Deon Butler, expect a repeat of
last year.
Defensively, Penn State will always be special and there’s a lot to
get excited about, especially in the back seven. But this team is
about offense. The attack should be able to simply outscore teams
(as basic as that might sound), and should stop making the crushing
mistakes that seemed to kill hopes for a truly big year before they
could begin.
So now it’s time to dream of a second Big Ten title in three years.
It’s time to truly believe Penn State should be in the race for the
BCS title. It’s time to believe it’s the offense that’ll make it
happen. It’s time to think JoePa isn’t close to being done.
What to watch for on offense: The
maturation of Morelli. He was good against the mediocre, serviceable
at times against the above-average, and a liability against the top
teams other than Tennessee. With Williams, Butler, Terrell Golden,
Andrew Quarless and Jordan Norwood back as pass targets, don’t be
stunned if Morelli makes a quantum leap in overall production. He
has the arm to air it out and the experience in the system to know
what he’s doing. Now it all has to come together.
What to watch for on defense: The back seven should be among
the best in America, even without Poz. Paul Posluszny might have
been the greatest linebacker in Penn State history, but Sean Lee and
Dan Connor did more than their share to eat up running games and
make plenty of big plays. CB Justin King should be ready to turn
into an all-star, you-can’t-throw-his-way type of playmaker.
The team will be far better if … the offense starts to scores
on defenses with a pulse. Six points against Ohio State. Ten against
Michigan. Three against Wisconsin. Thirteen against Tennessee (with
a defensive touchdown making it a 20-10 win). The O moved the ball
well on the ground, but Morelli was inefficient and didn’t do nearly
enough to make the passing game anything to fear. That might not be
a problem this season.
The Schedule:
It’s
strange. While the Nittany Lions catch a bad break, missing both
Northwestern and Minnesota in the Big Ten, and have to open the
conference season at Michigan, the road schedule is a walk in the park
after the trip to Ann Arbor, with games at Illinois, Indiana, Temple and
Michigan State. Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Ohio State all come to Happy
Valley, while the non-conference schedule, outside of the game against
the Irish, is one of the easiest in the nation, featuring three of the
worst teams of 2006: FIU, Buffalo and Temple.
Best Offensive Player: Junior WR Derrick Williams. Deon Butler has been the team’s
best receiver over the last two seasons, but Williams has the most
talent. Is this the year he’ll finally show it off? Considering what a
huge recruit he was, he’s been a bust at everything but returning punts.
If production meets potential, the Nittany Lion attack will have far
more pop.
Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Dan Connor. When Connor put off
the NFL for one final season at Happy Valley, Penn State instantly
became home to one of this year’s premier defensive players and a
leading candidate for a slew of individual awards. Coming off an
All-American junior season, Connor is an explosive run defender who’s
poised for an A.J. Hawk-like conclusion to his college career.
Key player to a
successful season:
Senior QB Anthony
Morelli. In his first season as a starter, Morelli struggled in his new
role, but showed the physical tools to potentially make like Kerry
Collins and play lights-out his senior year. He’ll enjoy a little
momentum from the second half of 2006, as well as one of the deepest
collections of receivers and tight ends in the Big Ten.
The season will be a
success if
... Penn State is in the Rose Bowl. Two of the league’s big three, Ohio
State and Wisconsin, are coming to Happy Valley, while the game at
Michigan is early enough to overcome a possible loss. If the program
really has reloaded, anything less than ten wins will be unacceptable.
Key game:
Sept. 22 at Michigan. A
win over the Wolverines would set the tone for a special year. With all
the other projected nasty games at home, it really might be as simple as
beating Michigan for the Rose Bowl. At the very least, it would make
Penn State the lead dog in the pack.
2006 Fun Stats:
- Sacks: Penn State 40 for 279 yards; Opponents 23 for 194 yards
- Penalties: Penn State 58 for 437 yards; Opponents 72 for 565 yards
- Punt return average: Penn State 10.2 yards; Opponents 4.5 yards