Spring Practice Means Filling the Gaps For the 2009 Nittany Lions

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Going into spring practice for the 2009 season the Nittany Lions have high expectations as they prepare to defend their Big Ten Title, but they have more significant holes to fill than they did entering 2008. 

Here are five areas the where Lions have significant holes to fill:

Offensive Line:

The last two seasons saw a very effective and stable offensive line for the Lions. This season they need to replace three multiyear starters to a unit that was solid in pass protection and run blocking. That type of success doesn’t happen over night and is built on chemistry.

Over the years Penn State’s offensive lines have taken time to become a cohesive unit, and this year shouldn’t be any different. While they have the talent, the concern should really be that they’ll be breaking in four new players, as the move of Stefen Wisniewski to center should pay off big, but it may take time for him to become comfortable in the spot.

The move of Wisniewski means two new guards and one offensive tackle. The favorites are Johnnie Troutman and Lou Eliades for the two guard spots, and true sophomore DeOn’Tae Pannell taking the spot vacated by Gerald Cadogen, protecting Daryll Clark’s blind side, arguably the most important spot on the line. This unit has talent but lacks field time together. If they can stay healthy through the non-conference schedule, by the Big Ten slate they should shape up into a solid unit.

2.  Defensive Line:

Over the past decade this has been the most consistent and stable unit for Penn State on either side of the ball, and with three experienced defensive tackles in Ollie Ogbu, Abe Korma, and Jared Odrick coming back, the middle of the line should be the strength of this defense. 

The concern is replacing all three of the departed defensive ends. The early word is Jack Crawford will be the next great DE for the Lions, but the question will be if he and the other DE’s can pick up where Josh Gaines, Maurice Evans and Aaron Maybin left off and be able to generate a pass rush and allow the linebackers to roam free and make plays downfield. Penn State has never been a truly effective blitzing team and if the DE’s can’t generate the rush on their own then they’ll have to rely on blitzing.

3.  Wide Receivers:

Same theme, different position… This is the area that will need to step up and be productive out of the gate. Penn State will see a good deal of eight man fronts with the new offensive line and if the passing game can’t get on track early with Derek Moye, Chaz Powell, Graham Zug and Brett Brackett then you may see true freshmen like Curtis Drake, Shawney Kersey and Justin Brown get meaningful playing time. 

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