2009 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
Head Coach: Joe Paterno (45th season, 394-129-3)
Offensive Coordinator: Galen Hall (7th season)
Defensive Coordinator: Tom Bradley (11th season)
2009 Bowl Game: Capital One Bowl, defeated LSU 19-17
Offense: There is virtually zero experience at the QB position in 2010. Kevin Newsome, Matt McGloin, and Paul Jones are fighting it out for the job in fall camp, with only Newsome having ever thrown a pass in a college game. Jones is a true freshman and out performed his competition in the spring. Evan Royster returns as one of the best in the Big 10. He could be the all time rushing leader at Penn State when this season ends, Whomever wins the QB job will have solid receivers to get the ball to.Derek Moye and Graham Zug both return from a season ago. Three starters return on the line, but all three have changed positions, so there will be a source of potential issues.
Defense: Only 5 starters return on D, and one of them is not the 2009 Big 10 defensive MVP. This is a defense that loses Navarro Bowman, Sean Lee, and Josh Hull. Jack Crawford and Ollie Ogbu will have the task of anchoring the front seven during a retolling mode on D. All three LBs will be new starters, which does not bode well. CB D'Anton Lynn will lead three returnees in the secondary, which figures to be a busy group as the front seven will take time to come together.
Special Teams: Collin Wagner is ok from short distances, but sucks outside of 40. P Russell Nye is the leader to grab the P job, but he has never kicked in a college game.
2010 Schedule
Wins: 9/4 Youngstown State, 9/18 Kent State, 9/25 Temple, 10/9 Illinois, 10/23 @ Minnesota, 10/30 Michigan, 11/6 Northwestern, 11/20 Indiana, 11/27 Michigan State
Toss Up Games: 10/2 @ Iowa
Losses: 9/11 @ Alabama, 11/13 @ Ohio State
The good news is that Wisconsin is not on the slate. Iowa, Alabama, and Ohio State are though. Penn State, much like Iowa, ought to be ok, but they are not in the same stratosphere as Wisconsin and Ohio State.The other three non-conference games are laughable.
Outlook: The Lions are good enough to win 9, but if the D does not come together early, than they can be in some real trouble. We'll know how good this team can be on 9/11.
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