Penn State might be alright

[abpk2903]

The game on Saturday was a very promising for the rest of the season. The offensive looks very improved. They were able to move Iowa up front (something they haven't done in years) as well as protect the quarterback. If Penn State would go with McGloin the entire game they would score in the 20s instead of the teens. Redd is a stud but Dukes looks like he can carry a good workload as well. The receivers are running good routes. This offense easily could have put up 20-24 points against Iowa if they would have not settled for field goals on 2 good drives and had an inception in the endzone.

This defense is flat out coming to play right now. The are in the top 5 nationally even without having their best linebacker and cornerback on the field right now (Mauti won't be back but Lynn will find playing time in the coming weeks). Hodges is flying to the ball and I would love to see what he could have done being together all year with Mauti. The DBs actually don't look as slow as they normally do.

Finally, the kicking game has done a complete turn around from the beginning of the year. Fera is doing a fine job PKing and punting and the protection they had on all of those aspects are much improved.

Right now this team could get to Wisconsin with one loss. I know its gonna be tough but NW seems to be coming apart at the seems, Illinois and Nebraska are in Happy Valley, and Ohio State's offense will struggle to score against our D. If Penn State can get to Madison with only a single loss it has to be considered a great season for the Nittany Lions considering the schedule they play and losing Mauti before Big Ten season even started.

[jack daniel]

This Penn State defense is one of the best they've had in quite awhile, most promising was shutting down a good Iowa team without Mauti and Lynn Saturday and Lynn should be back sometime soon. But this offense is bad. Yes Redd is a very good back and one of the best in the conference, but his o-line is less then stellar and has no passing game to compliment it. Worst of all, the Nittany Lions have some good receivers in Derek Moye, Devon Smith, and Justin Brown. Read an article today that said it perfectly, this team is like combining the defense of 1986 with the offense of 2004. But hey at least they haven't lost 6-4 in a game, at least not yet, this year. This team should easily beat Purdue Saturday, Purdue lost to Rice week 2 and only beat Middle Tennessee St by 3 week 4, then in what will be a tougher game knock off Northwestern in Evanston next week. Then the murders row stretch begins vs #16 Illinois, at Ohio State, vs #14 Nebraska, and at #4 Wisconsin who I think will end up 13-0 and playing for the national title and could have the Heisman winner in Russell Wilson under center. I see them going 1-3 in that stretch with the lone win being over a bad Buckeye team. They'll end up 8-4 maybe get the Outback Bowl where they'll fall to a SEC team.

[abpk2903]

I agree for the most part Jack Daniel. But I do think they can beat either Nebraska or Illinois at home. I think they have shot at being 10-1 heading to Madison but more realistically I see them being 9-2 or at worst 8-3. I do think they can get a win in Evanston and Ohio State will struggle to score against this defense. I don't think people have been giving this offensive line enough credit. They have only allowed 5 sacks all season and they dominated the defensive front of Iowa Saturday. I often think about where this team could be if they would have gotten Russell Wilson instead of Wisconsin. Good receivers, good running backs, greatly improving line, and yet this offense continues to sputter. Wonder where the weakness is? What position does Jay Paterno coach?

I am seriously impressed with how much this team is improving. They look so much better than they were early in the season. I would love for Joe Paterno to say ******* you (sorry coach) to the millions of naysayers he deals with yearly. The guy can still put together a winning football team. I don't care if he is 84.

[jack daniel]

I do agree they can beat Illinois and Nebraska with them being in Happy Valley, and honestly this defense is good enough to keep them in the game against just about anyone. Look at the Bama game the defense let them linger around in that thing for 3 quarters. But where is the offense going to come from. They've got a great back in Redd and nice back up in Dukes, and very solid core of receivers. But no QB. And the o-line I don't think is that bad talent wise, I just think Dick Anderson is an awful offensive line coach. As for Joe, well I believe last season should've been his last and certainly believe this should be. Especially if Urban Meyer is interested in the job.