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2006 Penn State Football Preview
Aug. 29, 2006
2005 Record: 11-1 (7-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Joe Paterno. Record at Penn State: 354-11-3. Overall Record: Same Starters Returning: Offense 6, Defense 5, Special Teams When Joe Paterno enters his 41st season as Penn State's head coach, he faces the challenge of reprising the program's best season in more than a decade. After claiming their second Big Ten Championship and the Fed Ex Orange Bowl crown in an 11-1 season, the Nittany Lions earned their highest end-of-the-year ranking since 1994 - a finish few predicted after back-to-back ninth-place finishes in the conference in 2003 and 2004. In fact, the 2005 Nittany Lions were so close to a perfect season the one blemish on their record came at the hands of Michigan on the final play of the game. How does a living coaching legend prepare for an encore? In the span of Joe-Pa's four-decade career and 354 wins, one thing that has never changed year-to-year is the expectations. For All-American linebacker Paul Poslusnzy, that same motivation, which instigated the Penn State turnaround of last season, will also be instrumental in keeping the Nittany Lions from basking in the afterglow - especially not when there is a Big Ten title to defend. "When you're at Penn State, you're expecting big things every year. You're not expected to miss bowl games and have losing seasons," Posluszny said. "That made last year so much better because we had already been to the bottom. We knew things were going to be better at some point. We knew we had to work harder and make sure that we never had those bad seasons again." While the expectations are again lofty, the soon-to-be 80-year-old coach has had a busy offseason. Replace isn't quite the right word when it comes to filling the void of Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Year Michael Robinson. The do-it-all quarterback racked up 3,156 multipurpose yards and scored 29 times - both school season-records. Now it is junior Anthony Morelli's offense. The Nittany Lions highly touted prospect is considered more of a pocket-passer than the mobile Robinson, but Paterno said his running ability is underestimated. Morelli looks to be a steady producer who has the potential to breakout as a playmaker with a stellar group of running backs to hand off to and a one of the nation's best young receiving corps downfield. Seniors Tony Hunt and Austin Scott are the powerhouse leaders of the backfield. After carrying the offense through 2004, Hunt will again be the leader for the ground game. The second team All-Big Ten selection racked up 1,047 yards on 147 carries and snagged more than 200 receiving yards, as well. Despite seeing mostly backup duty the past couple seasons, Scott pushed it into first gear when he stepped in for an injured Hunt at the Orange Bowl. He cranked out 110 yards and two touchdowns. Another key backfield talent is fullback BranDon Snow. The former linebacker is an effective short-yardage runner and a crucial run blocker. Last year wasn't quite the breakout year most had hoped for, but it showed a flicker of potential for the 2006 receiving corps. Led by sophomores Derrick Williams and Deon Butler, the young group will gain dividends in experience and should be able to compete with the best in the league this season. A clutch receiver with 4.3-speed, Williams is returning after suffering a broken arm. His fill-in Jordan Norwood became the team's biggest receiver in the Orange Bowl. Butler, a former defensive back, led the way in touchdowns and yardage last season but will most likely be the No. 2 receiver to a now-healthy Williams. The offensive line brings back only one starter from last season's unit, which was a 180-degree improvement from the two seasons prior. All-American Levi Brown anchors the front five at tackle. The 6-5, 328-pound senior is a gritty, all-around solid blocker. Junior John Shaw - brother of lineman Jim Shaw - will step in at the other tackle spot. Gerald Cadogan is an outstanding athlete with a monstrous 6-5, 311-pound build to take over at left guard. Robert Price and Greg Harrison will battle it out for the starting slot at right guard, while A.Q. Shipley moves back from the defensive side for the second time to take over at center. With only four starters returning to one of the country's most tenacious defenses of the past few seasons, the risk of a drop-off in success is looming. But if Paterno can mesh some of the best up-and-coming prospects around with his all-star returnees, the unit will again be a dangerous force to be reckoned with week-in and week-out. The Nittany Lions were tops in the conference in tackles for loss and ranked 11th in the country in sacks, but the front line that paved the way for outstanding play-making by the back seven loses No. 1 tackle Scott Paxon and top ends Tamba Hali and Scott Rice in the front line. The only lineman with starting experience is senior tackle Jay Alford. A second team All-Big Ten performer in 2005, Alford has the talent and experience to become one of the nation's best all-around tackles. He is joined by senior Ed Johnson, who returns after a year hiatus. The 6-1, 290-pound senior made 21 stops in 2004 and will fill Paxon's hole at right tackle. Junior Jim Shaw, a transfer from Rice, will inherit the starting left end job after serving as Hali's understudy last season, but the right end spot will be a continual battle between sophomores Josh Gaines and Mike Lucian.
One of the best linebacking corps in the country returns three starters with 268 tackles of clout from last season. After being somewhat overshadowed in 2005 by the laundry list of all-star Big Ten linebackers, including A.J. Hawk and Chad Greenway, Paul Posluszny is being touted as perhaps the best player in the nation at his position. The Butkus Award winner returns for his senior season after suffering a knee injury in the Orange Bowl, but with a full recovery expected, the All-American could lead one of the best units in all of Linebacker U history. Although they aren't as highly touted as Posluszny, senior Tim Shaw and junior Dan Connor are speedy, versatile athletes who can be effective inside and outside. The pair tied for fourth on the team with 76 tackles each last season. A former freshman All-American, Connor has made 161 tackles over his first two seasons, and looks poised for another breakout year. There will be an entire new slate of new faces in the secondary, a crew that finished first in the Big Ten and 14th in country in pass defense. Sophomore corner Justin King will lead the group of four first-year starters. After splitting time at receiver and back-up corner in 2005, King takes over the starting role on defense. His counterpart, sophomore Tony Davis, is likened by some to former standout Alan Zematits. Seniors Nolan McCready and Donnie Johnson saw some time last season but will have to be impressive at the safety spots to keep their starting spots from sophomores Anthony Scirrotto and Mark Rubin. After a surviving huge mental test in the Orange Bowl victory as a rookie, sophomore placekicker Kevin Kelly returns prepped for more big-time battles. He drilled 99 extra points last season. Punter Jeremy Kapinos will be a steady special teams asset. One of the nation's best punters, the strong-legged senior averaged 41.7 yards per kick in the past three years. A Ray Guy award candidate, Kapinos also nailed 22 punts inside the 20. Derrek Williams and Justin King also return as two of the nation's most explosive kick off return specialists, while Anthony Scirrotto is capable of reaping dividends on punt returns. The Nittany Lions will get no easy breaks in September. They travel to Notre Dame in week two, followed by another daunting road trip to open the conference season against top-ranked Ohio State. Surviving those two road tests could be the key to putting Penn State in the hunt for another BCS berth, especially without a matchup versus Iowa on schedule this year. The team also makes Big Ten-trips to Minnesota and Purdue, as well as a trip to Camp Randall in November when it takes on Wisconsin.
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