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EARLY
BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006 |
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PENN
STATE NITTANY LIONS |
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OFFENSE
- 9 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
BranDon Snow-FB, Tony Hunt-TB, Levi Brown-OT,
Robert Price-OG |
DEFENSE:
Tim
Shaw-DE, Jay Alford-DT, Ed Johnson-DT, Paul
Posluszny-ILB, Donnie Johnson-FS, Jeremy Kapinos-P |
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Receiver/Secondary |
Derrick
Williams and Deon Butler were
part of some highly rated recruiting
classes. They will play a huge
role in this offensive scheme.
The secondary returns two All-Big
Ten performers in King and Scirrotto. |
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Defensive
Line |
The
DL represents the biggest rebuilding
area. For PSU to push the conference
big boys, this group has to
develop quickly in the run-heavy
Big Ten. |
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WR
Derrick Williams |
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LB
Dan Connor |
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players
that received the most playing experience (consistent
starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance
of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups
and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our
full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming
spring. |
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PENN
STATE 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Anthony
Morelli-Sr |
Daryll
Clark-So |
FB |
Matt
Hahn-Sr |
.. |
TB |
Rodney
Kinlaw-Sr |
A.J.
Wallace-So / Austin Scott-Sr (inj.) |
WR |
Derrick
Williams-Jr |
Terrell
Golden-Sr / Brendan Perretta-Sr |
WR |
Deon
Butler-Jr |
Jordan
Norwood-Jr |
TE |
Andrew
Quarless-So |
.. |
OT |
Chris
Auletta-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Gerald
Cadogan-Jr |
.. |
C |
A.Q.
Shipley-Jr |
.. |
OG |
Rich
Ohmberger-Jr |
.. |
OT |
John
Shaw-Sr |
.. |
K |
Kevin
Kelly-Jr |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
Maurice
Evans-So |
.. |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DE |
Josh
Gaines-Jr |
.. |
ILB |
.. |
.. |
OLB |
Sean
Lee-Jr |
.. |
OLB |
Dan
Connor-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Tony
Davis-Jr |
.. |
CB |
Justin
King-Jr |
.. |
HERO |
Anthony
Scirrotto-Jr |
.. |
FS |
.. |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Just
a few seasons ago, Penn State had major
issues at WR. In a short amount of recruiting
time, coach Paterno has rearranged this
unit into a group of top-flight athletes.
Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan
Norwood are no longer the heralded freshmen
from highly regarded recruiting classes.
This, their junior year, is the time to
deliver the goods in a big way. The immediate
issue at hand is getting promising Pittsburgh-native
Anthony Morelli to consistently deliver
them the football. Morelli, in his first
year of starting this past fall, did not
meet some of the higher expectations some
(including himself) originally felt he bought
to the offensive table. A 10:8 touchdown-to-interception
ration isn't going to win many tough games.
All-Big Ten RB Tony Hunt's services will
no longer be available. Look for young A.J.
Wallace to get a try out for the job. Should
Wallace turn out to be a better fit on the
defensive side, hopes are that injured senior
Austin Scott can return healthy to boost
the run game. While this OL was short on
experience in ‘06, this time around
they have much of it. Having OT Levi Brown
graduate to the NFL creates a big void.
The rebuilding process will have to start
up front on the DL. 2005 Butkus Winner Paul
Posluszny will move on, which means LB Dan
Connor will no longer be playing in his
shadow. This is still Linebacker U., so
one of the nation's better run defenses
can rest (somewhat) assured knowing they
have a steady group backing up a new-look
front line. The secondary will be the strength
of this defense led by Justin King and Anthony
Scirrotto. Opponents will attempt to test
this defense by running the ball between
the tackles. To a large degree, this Nittany
Lion’s destiny will be determined
by how well the DL can mature given the
physical play in this conference. The offense
will be a better version than the one displayed
this past fall (nation's 72nd ranked scoring
offense). If Morelli can play like a senior
and the new RBs can be as effective as the
departed Tony Hunt, Penn State will push
for another New Year's Day Bowl bid. For
that to spell BCS over the likes of Michigan
and Ohio State will take more work.
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PENN
STATE
2007 SCHEDULE
9-1
Florida International
9-8 Notre Dame
9-15 Buffalo
9-22 @ Michigan
9-29 @ Illinois
10-6 Iowa
10-13 Wisconsin
10-20 @ Indiana
10-27 Ohio State
11-3 Purdue
11-10 @ Temple
11-17 @ Michigan State
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