Penn State Football: Previewing the Alabama Game

Last season the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Alabama Crimson Tide squared off in Tuscaloosa. The Tide would win 24-3. Penn State sputtered all night.

This season the two teams will face off in Happy Valley. Beaver Stadium will be a difference and a hopeful 12th man for the upset-seeking Nittany Lions.

Last week, the Nittany Lions beat up on FCS opponent Indiana State. 41-7 was the final score, and the Nittany Lions were dominant from whistle to whistle.

As of Tuesday, the Nittany Lions now rank 23rd in the AP poll.

Heading into the colossal matchup with Alabama, Penn State still has questions to answer, but things are certainly more hopeful.

Alabama trounced the Kent State Golden Eagles 48-7 in Week 1. Despite the victory, on Tuesday, the LSU Tigers jumped them in the most recent AP poll.

The Crimson Tide and the Nittany Lions have one thing in common, quarterback concerns.

We will see just how different everything else is on Saturday.

The Quarterback Situations

Alabama and Penn State both had quarterback situations that needed to be rectified in Week 1.

For Alabama, the battle is between A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims. Against Kent State in Week 1, McCarron threw for over 200 yards and one touchdown. Sims completed seven passes for 73 yards.

Heading into this game in Week 2, McCarron has the upper hand. He is far from untouchable behind center, but he could take a firm grip on the position with a strong performance in Beaver Stadium.

Joe Paterno and Penn State have a similar problem. Sophomore Robert Bolden and junior Matt McGloin both entered the season as potential starters. After Week 1, fans and coaches alike appear to be lukewarm on Bolden, and McGloin will start against Alabama.

McGloin is gutsy. He can manage a game, but he isn't talented enough to take over the game against an elite defense—a defense Alabama happens to have.

It will be very interesting to see what happens if McGloin should falter in front of his home crowd. What if McCarron falters, does Sims get a shot early or does Saban ride out the storm, confident his team is more talented than the other?

Sadly, we have to wait until Saturday afternoon to find out.

How Will Silas Redd Fare Against Alabama's Defense?

Last season Silas Redd carried the ball for 437 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

Against Indiana State last week, Redd carried the ball for over 100 yards, two touchdowns, and did this eight yards at a time.

Being an exciting freshman and providing some highlights during your freshman season is one thing. Beating up on Indiana State's FCS defense is another.

This week we will see how good Silas Redd really is.

Alabama's defense is stacked from top to bottom, and Nick Saban loves to use his talent aggressively. Redd will need to shoulder the offensive load while the quarterback situation is ironed out for Penn State.

He has all of the physical tools. He is a threat to go the distance every time he touches it, but he can also lower his shoulder and take a few guys with him.

Lets see if he can do that consistently against, possibly, the best defense in college football.

Can the Penn State Receivers Find Separation?

If Penn State's quarterbacks want to have any success they will depend on the offensive line, and the people they are throwing the ball too.

Luckily, Penn State happens to have a very solid receiving core. Unfortunately, Alabama's secondary is better.

Dre Kirkpatrick leads the way for Nick Saban in the defensive backfield. He is 6'3'', and could instantly neutralize the height of either Justin Brown or Derek Moye for Penn State.

Mark Barron is a dangerous veteran lurking at safety for the Tide. He is versatile, and is not afraid to let receivers know he is around if they cross over the middle.

The athleticism and the tenacity of any Nick Saban defense has been well known for some time. The 2011 Alabama defense fits the mold.

How will Moye and Brown find separation? Perhaps the onus will fall on Shawney Kersey to stretch the field deep, or for speedster Devon Smith to work underneath.

Whatever the answer may be, the Nittany Lions need to figure it out early and often.

Will Special Teams Play a Factor?

Fans with tickets to Penn State's Week 1 matchup against Indiana State got to see Chaz Powell return the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Will fans lucky enough to have tickets to Saturday night's huge Penn State versus Alabama matchup get to see an encore?

Special teams can swing a game one way or the other. Whether it is a kickoff return to start the game, or a punt return in the third quarter, a special teams touchdown is a major momentum boost.

If Penn State is thinking upset, getting Powell loose would be a huge boost. The crowd would go berserk, and Penn State would get an unexpected, but welcome, boost.

Return touchdowns are nothing to count on. If Penn State has not gotten tougher since the last time these two teams met, it won't matter who is returning the ball for the Nittany Lions.

Can Evan Lewis Get the Job Done?

One of Penn State's biggest concerns heading into the matchup against Alabama lies in the kicking game.

Evan Lewis struggled mightily against Indiana State in Week 1. Lewis missed two field goals and an extra point.

Backup punter and kicker Anthony Fera will get a shot this week, but if he cannot get the job done, Lewis will probably get another look.

If Penn State hopes to beat Alabama they will need to play mistake-free football. Missed field goals, and especially extra points, cannot happen.

When a game is coming down to the wire, reliable kicking is a necessity. If Lewis can't make routine kicks against Indiana State, how could he be expected to succeed against Alabama on a much bigger stage?

Penn State Wins If...

The Penn State Nittany Lions will need a tremendous effort to beat Alabama, despite the comfort of Beaver Stadium.

Penn State has talent on both sides of the ball. Alabama just happens to have more of it.

In order for Penn State to pull off the upset they cannot hurt themselves. The offense must take care of the ball, and the offensive line must create a push up front.

Silas Redd is very talented, but he is going to need some running room against the hulking Alabama defense. The offensive line must create holes up front. If they do, Redd is very dangerous once he hits the second level of defenders.

Defensively Penn State must get tougher—it's that simple. Last season, Trent Richardson ripped the Nittany Lions for 144 yards on the ground. Richardson will do that, or worse, if the Nittany Lions are not better this season.

However, if Penn State can play tough in the trenches, and tackle consistently, they could contain Richardson. Probably not stop him, but slow him down.

Does Penn State have a shot? Of course. Consistency on offense against the Alabama defense will decide the game. Last season, the Nittany Lions had no flow whatsoever in Tuscaloosa. 

Who will change that this season?

Key Matchup: Penn State Front Seven vs. Trent Richardson/Alabama Offensive Line

Last season Trent Richardson ran by the Nittany Lions.

He racked up 144 yards and one touchdown. He even caught four passes for 48 yards. Penn State defenders had nightmares of him blowing by them.

This season Penn State has a chance to erase that memory.

Michael Mauti is healthy and has moved to outside linebacker. His move makes room for rising sophomore Glenn Carson in the middle. Penn State is known as "Linebacker U" for a reason. These two fit the bill.

The Nittany Lions did lose defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu on the defensive line from last season, but Devon Still has the potential to replace him in a big way.

Still has all the talent, but he has never lived up to his potential. Week 2 against Alabama could be his time to shine on a huge stage.

If the Nittany Lions can penetrate the solid Alabama offensive line, they will get to Richardson. Controlling Richardson allows the Nittany Lions to have a chance at controlling the tempo of the game.

Controlling the clock could play a huge factor in this game's final outcome.

Prediction

In the end the Nittany Lions are not talented, experienced or tough enough to beat the Crimson Tide.

Alabama's defense is simply too fast and too aggressive for a very unsettled Penn State quarterback situation. Matt McGloin needs to take control early, or the ball will go to Rob Bolden. Once a quarterback switch is made, things will only get worse.

It isn't all doom and gloom in Happy Valley, though. Silas Redd is a very talented running back. He will need the offensive line to hold off Bama's front seven. If they do, Redd can control the clock by running for chunks of yards.

Upsets are fun. Fun to predict, fun to watch, and fun to play in.

On the other hand. Alabama is well coached, very talented, and a game-managing quarterback away from being a flawless team on paper. Trent Richardson along with the defense is a lethal combination, and it will be all season.

The Nittany Lions keep it close longer than people anticipate, but eventually both sides of the ball wear down for Joe Paterno and Penn State.

Too much Richardson. Too much defense.

Final Score: Alabama 27 Penn State 10