Penn State football has had a rather noisy offseason, but not much of it has dealt with on-field play.
Their most talented cornerback, Justin King, left school for the NFL draft. Penn State lost in the Terrelle Pryor recruiting sweepstakes. Many players drew negative media attention for their off-the-field behavior.
Sean Lee, the team's best returning player and best hope to continue PSU's tradition of three straight Bednarik award winners, is lost for the season with an injury. Joe Paterno is in the last season of his contract, still with no exit strategy in place.
However, the outlook remains optimistic for the upcoming season.
Penn State will most likely look to senior Darryl Clark to take over as quarterback, a player who will hopefully give the offense the look it had with Michael Robinson at the helm three years ago.
The talented receiving core of Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood, and Derrick Williams are all entering their senior seasons.
They, along with two talented young running backs (Evan Royster and Stephfon Green) and two outstanding tight ends (Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler), should give Clark plenty of options on the offensive side of the ball.
The defense remains deep at linebacker, despite the injury to Lee, and returns a lot of talent both in the secondary and on the defensive line. Don't be surprised to see big seasons out of safety Anthony Scirotto (who has put his off-field issues behind him) and corner A.J. Wallace, who will take over Justin King's spot.
The pieces look like they are all in place, but time will tell if the coaching staff can bring these players together to become a successful team.
Here are my predictions for the upcoming season.
August 30: Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina
Although I hate to see Penn State scheduling weak opponents like Coastal Carolina, this game should give the Nittany Lions a chance to get accustomed to playing with each other with very small risk of losing. I expect a slow start, especially offensively, but in the end this should be a blow-out.
Penn State 48, Coastal Carolina 6 September 6: Penn State vs. Oregon State
This game should give a good indication of what to expect for the rest of the season. Penn State very rarely loses to teams they should beat. Oregon State is coming off a solid season, and Penn State has not matched up against a Pac-10 team in recent years.
Thoughts of Oregon thrashing Michigan and USC pounding Illinois last year scare me a little, but I think Penn State has enough talent to get by the Beavers, especially at home.
This win should give the Lions a lot of confidence for the Big Ten schedule. I predict a strong start for PSU at home, and for them to hold on to a comfortable lead for the rest of the game.
Penn State 31, Oregon State 20 September 13: Penn State at Syracuse
31 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
David Houser about 1 year ago
I think that the big ten will be a 4 team race and not 3. ive seen MSU in action and like what I see. With star RB Javon Ringer coming back, look for the Spartans to be right in it.
I also think you are underestimating Indiana. Even though they lost their star WR Hardy, they are still loaded with talent. Beware of them.
I enjoyed reading your article, it was well written. UNfortunately You and Probably picked this record for the past 3 years, so lets hope this is finally the year we get it right.
We Are.....
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Paul Salman about 1 year ago
10-2 would be nice but HOF bowl would suck. I really hope we win at wiscy which should be possible given their qb situation and our outstanding D-line. 9-3 would be the worst we should be. 10-2 would be good but id like a better bowl and i think 11-1 and possible. Dont see us winning in columbus but that would be amazing if we somehow do it.
I will have a season preview in the coming weeks.
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Adam Rothlisberger about 1 year ago
Lets be honest here....... Penn State is not going to come out of the season 11-2. I respect the Penn State fans and love JoePa... but honestly this is a team that at best will win 9 games. Defensive Line is strong and linebackers are not as experienced as they normally are in happy valley. Until JoePa leaves.. Penn State won't get the recruits they need to win the Big 10 crown as sad as that is to say. I see them going 8-5 on the year.
Nice article Brett.
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Brett Lissenden about 1 year ago
Penn State has actually had a very good recruiting class, despite missing Pryor. They have never been, and will not anytime in the near future, be a school to go out and recruit spectacular athletes. Derrick Williams was their last 5-star recruit and I'd say he's their third best reciever (even lower if you count tight ends). Penn State has always said they recruit athletes that will graduate college and be model citizens.... unfortunately that hasn't been working out too well lately with someone getting in trouble almost every week. But the point is that I think they have enough very good players to go 11-2. Not enough for a National Championship, short of a Fresno-esque run, but they can be very successful.
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Tyler Long about 1 year ago
Agreed with Adam. No way they finish 11-2.
And really....Penn St. is going to hang 30 + on Michigan? Come on, PSU hasn't put up 30 against Michigan since 1994 -- and that was with a much better offense. Michigan will be down, but I think they beat PSU and if they don't it will not be 34-14.
They don't have a gimme game after that weak non-conference schedule, and if they are looking for Temple to be the statement game....well, that really doesn't need further explanation.
The way I see it:
4 wins in Coastal Carolina, Syracuse, Temple and Iowa
4 losses in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio St. and Michigan St.
3 toss-ups with Illinois, Purdue and Indiana
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Dan Alexandre about 1 year ago
I think the Wiscy and OSU games can be put in the loss column but I think both games will be very competitive. I also think Penn State will drop another one somewhere that they probably shouldn't lose. You gotta admit there's plenty to pick from.... Oregon State, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, or even (God forbid) Michigan. That stretch from September 27th through November 8th is pretty brutal.
On the other hand though, I could definetly see things click on offense like they did in 2005.... all the pieces are there. Just gotta break that Michigan jinx. (And breaking the Columbus jinx would be nice too!
I'm thinking 10-3 or 9-4 but 11-2 would be just fine with me. Nice breakdown and a good read.
....... Penn State!!!
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Brett Lissenden about 1 year ago
Thanks for the comment -- I agree with pretty much everything you said. Penn State usually does an outstanding job of beating teams that it should beat (with the exception of at Michigan State last year, and even then it was on the road against a bowl-quality team), so I'm not sure a stumble is guaranteed. It certainly is possible, but if the Lions are as good as they should be then I think 11-2 is very possible. I am really excited for the Michigan game -- if PSU loses this year then it could be a very very long time to come before we break that streak.
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Adam Rothlisberger about 1 year ago
Brett I don't want you to think that I am dissing Penn State in anyway either. Penn State is a team I hate just like you hate Ohio State... but i respect them unlike the team up north who I have a hard time respecting at all.
The one really good thing about Penn State is their recieving core. But the only bad thing right now is an unproven quarterback, unproven running backs and an offensive line that may or may not be good. That is the only reason I think the 11-2 mark is a little crazy.
I thought that last year Ohio State would be 9-4 with all of the unproven players that they had.. but they recruit the athletes that Penn State does not get and that is the difference. If Penn State can get it going early in the season then you may be right and they can win 10 or 11 games... but at this point I just really think it's a little too ridiculous to say that.
Best of luck to Penn State this year.
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Brett Lissenden about 1 year ago
Very good points. But I've seen the running backs and quarterback, whether in back-up roles or spring games, and they are good. I am hoping that will show in the games. And my reasoning for the high point total against Michigan was last year's homecoming game. We beat Wisconsin 38-7 for homecoming last year. Noboday saw that coming... emotions will certainly be running high for the Michigan game and a young Michigan team may not be able to handle it.
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Tyler Long about 1 year ago
Missed the Oregon St. game, throw that in the toss-ups to make it 4s down the board
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Brett Lissenden about 1 year ago
Perfectly reasonable analysis. I don't think you are accounting enough for the home field advantage though. Penn State has lost 2 home games in the past 3 years -- both night games to very good teams (Ohio State and Michigan). I cannot see them losing to Indiana or Michigan State. I think we can beat Michigan on home-coming but there seems to be some ghosts involved there.
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Ken Bailey about 1 year ago
The loss of Sean Lee hasn't been factored in near enough. Penn State has always anchored their defense around an outstanding linebacker(s). This coming season will once again show the holes in the defense when a balanced offense can keep the LB's off the line. I am the biggest Penn State fan in the world, but a repeat of last year's nine wins seems like a stretch. Penn State's ace in the hole could be the resurrection of the passing game that Morelli flushed down the toilet. If the front five can hold, Clark will have the best set of receivers in the nation to throw to.
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Brett Lissenden about 1 year ago
I wouldn't underestimate the linebackers Penn State still has. Tyrell Sales is an incredible athlete and Josh Hull is a strong, solid tackler. I agree they will be missing the star guy, but I'm not sure that will hurt them too much. I think the system in general just produces good linebackers.
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Dan Alexandre about 1 year ago
The linebacker position will not be the problem of this Penn State team. Losing Sean Lee obviously hurts but there's plenty of guys in the fold ready to step up and produce, some that already have. Jerome Hayes, Tyrell Sales, Chris Colasanti just off the top of my head. Also, look at the first 4 games they have to prepare themselves for the meat of the schedule.
I never worry about a Penn State defense whether it was Sandusky at the helm or now with Bradley. If the offense comes alive (all 5 offensive linemen return as well as 3 of the top 10 statistically best PSU receivers ever plus a M-Rob type QB) then PSU will be a very tough team to beat. If the offense doesn't come alive then you'll see more of the past 2 years, where the defense either wins or keeps us in every game.
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Adam Rothlisberger about 1 year ago
Brett I think your prediction of the Michigan game was perfect.
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Ken Bailey about 1 year ago
Despite being a little more pessimistic than you, Brett, I had Michigan in the win column. Homecoming? Possibly Joe's last year? Kept us out of the championship two years ago? Prior to the game, Joe addresses the team and says "I just got a call from Graham and either we win tonight or my career is over". Oh my God, have some ambulances standing by.
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Carter . 12 months ago
fantastic article! great read. however i just dont think Penn State will have enough to be Illinois. With a great quarterback in Juice WIlliams and Arrelious Benn as his number one target, i just dont see Penn State surviving against Illinois. Mainly because of the quarterbacks. Juice Williams is by far be a better quarterback than Daryll Clark or Pat Devlin. great article though.
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Brett Lissenden 12 months ago
thanks! We'll see how the Illinois game turns out, you could be right. However, I think a white-out on National TV will give PSU the advantage they need.
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Philip Wylonis 11 months ago
A Whiteout at the Illinois game will, with no doubt, give Penn State the edge they need. I personally will be in the student section, and I can tell you one thing...at a whiteout, the penn state players have more energy than u could possibly imagine. All in all, good article...and i COULD hope for a 11-2 season, but its a bit optimistic. If its 11-2 ill be sure to get extremely hammered.'
cheers
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Zack Timko 10 months ago
I think PSU could end up at 12-1. i Think they can pull one off in Wisconsin or Ohio. Im not saying that this will happen but im just throwing it up there. PSU could go 12-1 but. they could also go 9-4 it just depends on how they play
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Brett Lissenden 10 months ago
Yes there is still quite a range of possibilities that could occur. I think we will know a lot more about where the team stands after the Oregon State game.
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Isaac Luber 9 months ago
Penn State thrashed both cupcakes for the first two games. I think that we will go undefeated, or lose to either Illinois or Ohio State, most likely to Ohio State because that's away. Wisconsin is always overrated and we have not lost to them many times. I believe last year they were predicted to beat us and we crushed them. I think that the only chance they have at going undefeated is if they put in Devlin to start, but its possible that we can go to the National Championship, which would probably be about USC, who we will lose to unless we can take advantage of their one weakness, their quaterback.
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Brett Lissenden 9 months ago
We got smoked two years ago at Wisconsin and it's a way too early to start thinking about the National Champioinship game. I like your optimism though!
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kyle doyle 9 months ago
um obviously your predictions have been very wrong as penn state has destroyed, annihilated, dominated their first 4 opponents of the year, though they were easy opponents you dont beat teams by a combined 211-40 without being good. NEW AND BETTER PREDICTIONS ON THE GAMES YOU HAVE US LOSING!!!
Penn State 27 Wisconsin 14
Penn State 31 Ohio State 20
Bottom line wisconsin is overrated and has inexperience at qb, put the game on his shoulders by taking away the run like psu is accustomed and he will fall.
Ohio State got spanked by USC and needed the 2nd half to pull away from TROY!!! This is not your fathers Buckeye team and if they start a freshman qb, which they most likely will, psu will initiate them inot college fb like they do to all the other first-timers they have faced. ex. Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame.....
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Brett Lissenden 9 months ago
I'd like to agree with you, but I think it's still a bit early for that. I'm sure Ohio State will have their act together by the time we come to town. And going to Madison and winning is never a given no matter how good your team is. I will admit that PSU is much better than I though so far. I give new predictions for the games week by week, so you'll have to check back for those games.
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Jon Luzader 8 months ago
@Brett,
I am curious to read your new predictions on Penn State, I did not expect them to trounce Wisconsin and make them into a joke in their own house. With my worries of road trouble and not having the homefield advantage clearly diminished, how do you think they will fair at Ohio?
I think the Lions are extremely motivated and well aware of their bad stats against Michigan, and I have a feeling it will be a blood bath. Daryl Clark not only is an amazing athlete, but he brings some serious charisma to the field and his team, and he always looks composed.
The Penn State offense has been really under-looked and under analyzed. With their 3 wide outs, Norwood, Williams and Butler, running backs Royster and Green, and on top of that Daryl Clark at the command? It just seems like an unstoppable offense and it has proven to be so far. It is just too difficult for any opposing teams defense to double cover anyone of those receivers.
My point is, is that Clark will always have another option, or another opportunity to still make plays, and still make yards, no matter what.
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Brett Lissenden 8 months ago
I have been making weekly updated predictions for each upcoming game, so next week you will have to read my article about the thoughts for the Ohio State game. I can tell you that I can't see them losing to anyone else besides Ohio State. I think that we are the better team than Ohio State and think we can/should win the game at Columbus, but it will be much easier said then done. The Buckeyes found gaping holes in our defense last year in our own Stadium, so the Penn State defense will have to correct for those if they expect any chance. Ohio State's defense has been solid, but they are no way good enough to hold PSU under 20. I think the key then will be the PSU defense.
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Jon Luzader 8 months ago
Thanks Brett for the response. I will definitely be checking back and looking at your Michigan predictions this week. I hear what you are saying concerning our defense, but I really think our DE's and CB's are going to force Pryor into making some highschool-esque mistakes, maybe not interceptions but definitely some major sacks and forced fumbles. The outcome of the OSU game will be solely on Clarks shoulders and the ball is in his court, I just haven't been seeing anything really great from Ohio and I won't follow the hype train behind Pryor, I think he will be an amazing QB one day, but he makes too many mistakes.
The only mishap Clark had this weekend was the INT at the end but the game was so out of reach for WISC that it wasn't even a highlight for them.
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Blake 8 months ago
Penn State will go 12-0 this year. The remaining games on the schedule Iowa Indiana and Michigan State shouldn't pose much of a threat to PSU. After the win in the horseshoe, no other team in the Big Ten should be able to contend with Penn State. The upcoming games could be challenges especially at Michigan State, but with an outstanding backfield and receiving corps we should prevail through these last games. Penn State will either play in the National Championship or in the Rose Bowl.
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Brett Lissenden 8 months ago
I agree 100%. I think PSU's toughest game from here on out might even be at Iowa, but I still don't think there is any way they lose any of their games. And I think at least one of Alabama and Texas will lose before the season is over, so I expect to see PSU in the national championship!!!
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Blake 8 months ago
Texas lost to Texas Tech so move Penn State to #2 in the polls
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