Penn State's Mid-Season Review and Preview

Here we are at the halfway point of Penn State's 2009 season, and there are still just as many questions facing the team as when it began.

Penn State could still be destined for a BCS Bowl game, or could stumble their way to a sub-par bowl game.

The offense has shown flashes of brilliance and tons of potential, but has yet to produce a full, solid game of excellence.

In the first four games, there were significant problems in the running game, to say the least. And when the running game finally got on track against Illinois, it took until after halftime for Penn State to pull away from a dismal team.

The main questions still center around the revolving door on the offensive line, and I don't just mean their blocking skills. The O-line has had at least three different starting combinations in games this year, and that adds to difficulties in building continuity. 

Luckily for Penn State, Illinois didn't feel like getting hit in the second half of the game, and kindly stayed blocked or stayed down whenever an offensive lineman hit them.

And with relative defensive creampuffs Eastern Illinois and Minnesota on the schedule next, it should build at least some confidence for the stretch run.

The talented running duo of Evan Royster and Stephfon Green finally showed up, with the pair posting their first 100-yard rushing game together. Hopefully, this is a preview of more to come. These two could be the most explosive pair of backs Penn State has had since Ki-Jana Carter and Mike Archie split time in 1993.  

Daryll Clark needs to continue to rebuild his confidence that made him a dominant player last year. After starting on a hot streak, he has not thrown for more than 200 yards in the last three games. But as a true blue Penn State guy, I'd rather see the team run for 300 yards than throw for 300 any day.

The young wide receiver corps has stepped up to the plate and delivered big plays week in and week out. The tight ends have become more involved in the passing game, but too often they go down on the first tackler, and have at times been a liability blocking.

Everyone knows that when Joe Pa brings in Joe Suhey as a fullback, he's looking to run the ball. 

The defense has been dominant, as always, but there are some leaks starting to show and injuries are starting to pile up. Hopefully, this week's Div I-AA opponent will give the D some down time to allow everyone to get healthy.

The D-Line has been absolutely dominant against everyone but Iowa, and should continue to be the strength of the team until the linebackers are all at full health.  Jared Odrick is a beast in the middle, giving tons of opportunities to young ends Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore to mop up the quarterback.

Starting with Navarrow Bowman's lingering groin injury, then Sean Lee's knee injury, the linebacking corps has seen a crop of new faces with major game time.

Nathan Stupar and Bani Gbadyu have stepped up and Josh Hull continues his strong play against the run in the middle, though he has also been a bit of a liability against the pass.

Speaking of the pass defense, the brand new secondary has been significantly helped by the immense pressure applied by the front four. There continues to be too many holes in the zones, allowing big plays when the opposing quarterback has time to look downfield.

With winnable home games against Eastern Illinois and Minnesota in the next two weeks, Penn State should be 6-1 when it visits a much improved Michigan team. That and the Ohio State game will the barometer of this team. 

With another scrimmage this week, the offensive line should gel more, giving more room for the deep talent at running back to show. The linebackers needs to get healthy for the rest of the Big Ten schedule, and run defense should be fine. The secondary still worries me, and the team still isn't forcing enough turnovers, so we'll see how they develop.

It should be a fun season, and hopefully a good run at another Big Ten title.