TicketCity Bowl 2012: 5 Things Penn State Needs to Improve on in 2012

With the 2011 season now officially in the books, there will be plenty of changes coming Penn State's way. A new head coach could be named soon, and that could mean an entirely new coaching staff for 2012.

Whoever takes over the job will have plenty of work to do in getting Penn State back to an elite level and thinking seriously about making a run at the Big Ten in 2012 and beyond.

After losing three of their final four games of the season, Penn State ended its season on a down note on the field while the dark cloud cast by the Jerry Sandusky scandal clouded everything off of it.

Here is a look at five things that need to improve in 2012 if Penn State is going to make a run at a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and perhaps more next fall.

1. Quarterback Play

One of the weakest, or more inconsistent, spots on the team in 2011 was clearly the quarterback position.

Whether it was Rob Bolden taking a step back in his progression under center or Matt McGloin having his ups and downs depending on the week, Penn State's quarterbacks came up small in 2011.

The switching back-and-forth for the majority of the season may have done more harm than good for Penn State, but whoever takes over the job and makes the calls next year will likely settle on one QB early in the season, if not at the start of the season.

Finding a full-time quarterback as early as possible will allow the rest of the offense to settle in.

2. Wide Receivers Need to Hold on to the Football

As inconsistent as the quarterbacks were, the wide receivers, as a whole, were equally unreliable.

There were some nice catches this season but there were far too many nice passes by Bolden or McGloin that were dropped.

We're not saying they should spend the summer catching bricks from their father the way Jerry Rice once did, but Penn State's wide receivers will have to be more dependable in 2012 if the offense is going to do anything worth noting.

Perhaps a regular quarterback will help this area in some way, as the receivers will have a steady rhythm to expect.

3. Coaching

Penn State lost three of the last four games of the season, including the bowl loss to Houston. In each loss there was some questionable coaching by interim head coach Tom Bradley and the assistant staff.

While it is hard to pile on an interim coach taking on the head coaching responsibilities under such an ominous situation, it is also fair game after four games.

The good decisions were giving McGloin the full-time QB job when available adding the Wildcat offense and getting Stephfon Green in the running game. But the defense gave up 30 and 45 points in their final two games, respectively. There is blame to go around for everybody on this team, including the coaching staff.

4. Defensive Pressure

One of the biggest problems that was most noticeable in the final two games was the inability of Penn State's defensive line to apply any pressure to two of the top quarterbacks in the nation, Houston's Case Keenum and Wisconsin's Russell Wilson.

Devon Still may have been playing at less than full speed, but the rest of the defensive line still struggled for the most part.

Penn State has generally been pretty good on the defensive line, but against elite teams they have been pushed around at times. Let's see if that changes in 2012.

5. Win a Big Game

Nothing can get Penn State back in the national spotlight the way beating a quality opponent (or quality opponents) will.

Since the 2008 season, Penn State has won just once against a Top 25 team, beating LSU in the 2010 Capital One Bowl. Penn State's four losses this season came against Top 25 opponents (Alabama, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Houston), and in all four Penn State struggled on offense and came up small on defense in the clutch.

Penn State fans are hungry for some good wins to pump their chests about. Will they come in 2012?

The non-conference schedule will feature Navy, Virginia, Temple and MAC runner-up Ohio.

Ohio State, with Urban Meyer and an NCAA postseason ban, heads to Beaver Stadium in late October, and despite the NCAA sanctions the Buckeyes should be a tough team. Wisconsin will visit Beaver Stadium for the regular-season finale.

Could the Leaders Division and a spot in the Big Ten championship once again be on the line? Penn State also plays road games at Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska.

Kevin McGuire is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook and add him to your Google+ circle.