#13 Penn State Nittany Lions Season Preview
By Editorial Staff
Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno hopes for another 11-2 record or better after a disappointing 7-6 season with Penn State in 2010.
Offensive Outlook: Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin will likely start for Penn State. Rob Bolden could challenge McGloin for the quarterback job.
Penn State has a strong run blocking offensive line led by left tackle Quin Barham and right tackle Chima Okoli. Left guard Johnnie Troutman is another player who stands out on Penn State’s offensive line. This run blocking unit opens up the lanes for sophomore running back Silas Reed. Reed will replace Evan Royster at running back in 2011.
Penn State’s primary receiving target will be Derek Moye. Moye is a speed receiver with decent size. Regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job there going to want to get the ball to Moye.
Defensive Outlook: Penn State has a defense that will be impossible to run on. Penn State’s front 7 has good defensive lineman this year and Penn State always seems to develop linebackers at each year. The Nittany Lion corners are both hard hitting run stuffers while Penn State’s safeties are balanced when it comes to stopping the pass and run.
Looking at the defensive line you got two senior defensive ends. Left End Jack Crawford who can also play right end and Kevion Latham are Penn State’s defensive ends. Devon Still and Jordan Hill are the defensive tackles for Penn State. Still led Penn State with 4 sacks among their returning players in 2010.
Penn State develops quality linebackers every year, but this year I like Michael Mauti a middle linebacker that is the son of former NFL wide receiver Rich Mauti who also played at Penn State just like Michael.
The Nittany Lions have a strong secondary this season. Danton Lynn is the teams #1 cornerback. Stephon Morris will play across from Lynn. Strong Safety Drew Astorino is a quality strong safety who can stuff the run or play zone coverage. Free safety Malcolm Willis is only a sophomore, but he is quickly emerging as one of the top sophomore free safeties in the country.
Projected Record 8-4: It really comes down to how Penn State does in November. The Nittany Lions will be 8-1 heading into November. Penn State plays Nebraska, Ohio State on the road, and Wisconsin on the road to wrap up the season. I think Penn State loses all 3 games. If the Nittany Lions win all 3 games they will be in the Big 10 Championship possibly getting a BCS Bowl bid in the Rose Bowl if they win the Big 10 Title.