Penn State vs. OSU Preview Part 2

Penn State vs. OSU, September 23, 3:36, ABC

 

Scouting the Nittany Lions

Penn State is 2-1, having beat Akron and Div 1-AA Youngstown State, while losing in South Bend to Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions are ranked 24th in the AP, but are unranked in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. Penn State is running a fairly balanced offense averaging 400 total yards almost split evenly between rushing and passing. They are averaging 29.3 points and allowing 20.0 points per game. Let's look at their matchup with Notre Dame. This would have been the most anticipated game of the day, had it not been for the OSU vs. Texas game that evening. The two teams had not met since 1992, but Notre Dame is scheduled to play in Happy Valley next season. Penn State had a number of mistakes that came back to haunt them. In the first half they mishandled a snap for a 26-yard field goal, fumbled at the Notre Dame 45 yard line and were called for clipping on a 30-yard pass. The Irish had the ball for 18:58 of the first half and built up a 20-0 lead. In the first possession of the second half, Penn State QB Anthony Morelli fumbled and ND recovered running it 25 yards for a touchdown. The Nittany Lions did have some success after that, posting 17 points, but it was not enough, they lost 41-17.

 

Quarterback

Junior quarterback, Anthony Morelli is starting for the first time, replacing Michael Robinson. He came to Penn State with high expectations. In fact before Robinson was the starting quarterback, Morelli was expected to take the role. Last year Morelli hit 13-20 for 155 yards as a backup. He looked great in his first pass of the season this year, hitting a 42-yard over the shoulder touchdown pass to Deon Butler. He was the first PSU player, since they joined the Big Ten, to hit three TD passes in his first start. So far this season he is 48 of 92 for 549 yards, with 4 touchdowns and one interception.

 

Running Backs

Senior Tony Hunt returns this year. He has 1,970 rushing yards in his career, having led Penn State in rushing in the past two seasons. He has only had one 100+ yard game this year, having carried for 36 yards against Akron, 74 against Notre Dame and 143 against Youngstown State. His totals this season are 253 yards, average of 5.8/carry and two touchdowns.

 

Receivers

This is the strongest part of the Nittany Lion offense. Returning this year is sophomore Derrick Williams, junior Deon Butler and sophomore Jordan Norwood.  Williams is back after his impressive, but short freshman year. He seemed to be capable of playing every role, receiver, kick returner, quarterback and even tailback. He suffered a broken arm in the Michigan and missed the last five games. So far this year he has 79 receiving yards with one touchdown, 54 rushing yards with one touchdown, 59 punt return yards, and 69 kickoff return yards.  Butler was the leading receiver for Penn State last year with 37 catches for 691 yards. This season he has 95 yards with two touchdowns. Norwood was second in receiving yards last year and this year he has 152 yards with one touchdown.

 

O-Line

This is the weakest part of the Penn State offense. They only return one starter and one letterman and that is senior Levi Brown at left tackle. Filling the other holes is senior John Shaw at right tackle, junior Gerald Cadogan at left guard, Robert Price at right guard and AQ Shipley at center.

 

Kickers

Sophomore Kevin Kelly returns as place kicker. Last year he was 16-23 on kicks. He gave Nittany Lions fans a bit of a scare, by missing two field goals that would have beat Florida State in the Orange Bowl, but he finally hit one in the third overtime for the win. This year he is 6-9, with a long of 49 yards, having missed three kicks in the 30-39 range. Senior Jeremy Kapinos returns for punting duty. Last year he averaged 41.3 with a long of 60 yards. This year his average is down to 34.1 with a long of 40.

 

Linebackers

This is the strongest part of the Nitany Lion defense. Penn State has long been known as Linebacker University. Just like OSU they are usually talented and loaded at this position. They return all the starters from last year, senior Paul Posluszny, senior Tim Shaw and junior Dan Connor. Posluszny won the Butkus, Bednarik and first team All American last year. Oh do you remember who he was up against him for those awards, yeah AJ Hawk. This season Posluszny has 27 tackles. Connor has 30 tackles so far. Shaw has 9 tackles.

 

Defensive Backs

This is the weakest part of the Nittany Lion defense. Penn State had to replace all four starters going into this year. Starting at corner is sophomore Justin King and Tony Davis. At safety is senior Donnie Johnson and sophomore Anthony Scirrotto. King so far has 12 tackles at corner.

 

D-Line

Last year's potent rush defense is missing three starters, Tomba Hali, Matthew Rice and Scott Paxson. Returning is senior Jay Alford. At the other positions are seniors Tim Shaw, Ed Johnson, and Jim Shaw.