Penn State Football: 10 Realistic Goals for the 2012 Season

The Penn State Nittany Lions will have the same goals as many teams this upcoming season.

Most teams want to win games, win their conference and earn a respectful bowl bid. Some teams shoot higher than others, but this is the standard for success.

The Nittany Lions won nine games in 2011 despite an abysmal offense. Penn State's goals should be more dramatic, assuming their offense improved in the offseason.

Penn State surprised many people in 2011. Can they do it again in 2012? You can bet they will try.

Here are 10 realistic goals for Penn State this season.

Beat Ohio State

Ohio State is going to be a very good team in the coming years, but they will still be vulnerable this season.

Penn State can jump on the Buckeyes on October 27th for a huge victory in front of their home crowd.

Ohio State is an extremely talented team, but still young. Young players will also need to learn a new system under new head coach Urban Meyer.

Braxton Miller will be better through the air this season, but he's not a polished passer. The Buckeyes do return their top two receiving targets, but Miller must be able to get them the ball.

Penn State's defense will give Miller fits. If Penn State's offense can play inspired football, they could grab a big victory in the latter half of the season.

The Nittany Lions better get the Buckeyes now. Give Ohio State another year, and they will be among the nation's best.

A 5-0 Start

Penn State has a chance to start the season 5-0. The Nittany Lions start the 2012 season with Ohio, Virginia, Navy, Temple and Illinois.

None of these teams are pushovers, but all are teams Penn State should defeat.

The toughest test could be Ohio. The Bobcats score a lot of points and made a lot of noise in the MAC last season. Most of their key contributors return.

Penn State cannot overlook these first five games. Focused football will earn them five early victories heading into their sixth game against Northwestern on homecoming.

A hot start would create a definite buzz in Happy Valley.

Allow Less Than 20 Points Per Game

Penn State's scoring defense was ranked fifth in the nation last season. The Nittany Lions allowed almost 17 points per contest.

Expect that number to be similar this year. It may be a little higher, but it will be under 20.

The Nittany Lions may take a small step back because of their inexperienced secondary. An experienced front seven will make up for a lot of the inexperience on the back end and keep this defense on track for another great year.

Penn State's defense is expected to be the backbone of their team, yet again.

The defense will deliver another stifling performance.

Average 25 Points Per Game

Penn State will not light up scoreboards with 50 points per game, but they will score more than last year.

Last year, Penn State was the 110th scoring offense in the nation. They put up less than 20 points per game.

This year, Penn State will average 25 points per game.

A five-point jump may seem crazy, but it isn't. An exciting new group of coaches, another year of experience and oodles of speed will help the Nittany Lion offense this season.

Silas Redd is capable of carrying this offense, and he will. If Penn State's quarterbacks step up, this offense will be dangerous.

Penn State's current group on offense is capable of being in the middle of the scoring pack.

2,000-Yard Passer

Matt McGloin, Paul Jones or Rob Bolden will be handed the keys to Penn State's offense this season. One of these players could throw for 2,000 yards.

McGloin is the safest bet. He's the most experienced and threw for over 1,500 yards last season.

Bolden and Jones are both capable but have not shown any sort of production. Bolden has had his chances and failed. Jones has never played in real games but has the most ability.

This group of Penn State passers does not seem capable of throwing for 2,000 yards.

If McGloin can throw for 1,500 miserable yards last year, someone can throw for 2,000 this year.

A 2,000-yard passer would give Penn State's offense a much-needed shot in the arm.

Silas Redd Runs for 1,500 Yards

Silas Redd is ready to take another step forward in 2012.

He ran for 1,200-plus yards last year as a sophomore. Redd will run for 1,500 yards as a junior in 2012.

Redd has All-Big Ten ability. He's shifty in the open field and packs a punch on impact. Redd has more than enough speed to outrun defenders and enough strength to run smaller defenders over.

Penn State will need a big performance from Redd this year. He's one of the best backs in the Big Ten and could catch some national attention with an emphatic 2012 campaign.

In order for any team to be great, their best player must be at the top of his game.

Redd is Penn State's best weapon. Their success will hinge on his play.

Top 10 Rush Defense

Penn State's front seven will lead their defense to a top-10 rush defense in 2012.

The Nittany Lion linebackers are all back and completely healthy. Michael Mauti, Glenn Carson, Gerald Hodges and Khairi Fortt will make big plays and chase down opposing ball-carriers.

Penn State's defensive line will have some different faces. 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Devon Still is gone, but Jordan Hill is very capable in the middle. 

The Nittany Lion linebackers may be the best in the Big Ten. Penn State will see tough rushing attacks in conference play, but their defense is capable of going toe-to-toe with anyone.

10 Wins

I have already talked about Penn State's chance to start 5-0—or even 6-0. Four or five wins after that is a reasonable goal.

Iowa, Indiana and Purdue should all be wins. Ohio State, Wisconsin and Nebraska will be tough, but winnable, games with a solid effort.

Penn State will not dominate any opponents this year. A strong defense will win the Nittany Lions games. Penn State will be a tough out if their offense is even a little bit better than last season.

Ten wins are far from a guarantee, but it's doable. If everyone fills their appropriate roles, Bill O'Brien could have a first season to remember.

Big Ten Championship

Penn State is capable of winning the Leaders Division of the Big Ten and earning a Big Ten Championship bid.

The Nittany Lions would probably face either Michigan or Nebraska. Both teams would present extremely difficult challenges, but at that point, all bets are off.

This is a lofty goal without a doubt, but it has to be Penn State's goal. The Nittany Lions were one Wisconsin blowout away from earning a trip to the conference title game last year.

The Nittany Lions will need a few things to fall their way, but the Big Ten Championship is up for grabs in 2012.

Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl is the ultimate goal of every team in the Big Ten and Pac-12, besides the BCS National Championship.

If Penn State can find a way to win the Big Ten championship they will realize their biggest goal this season.

The Nittany Lions would, more than likely, face Oregon or USC in the Rose Bowl. Both teams could trounce Penn State on this grand stage, but it would be an accomplishment nonetheless.

The Rose Bowl is realistic, but unlikely, for Penn State in 2012.