Black Shoe Diaries: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: College Football Rankings - BlogPoll Top 25

Potential Penn State Problems: Also Receiving Votes

We've been counting down our greatest hopes and concerns for this year's Penn State team and are almost at the end of the line.  Previous editions profiled the offensive lineDaryll Clark's healthwide receivers, and kicker.  Before arriving at #1 on the list, here are some items that didn't make the cut.

Sad_puppy_medium

Sad puppy is still sad.

Defensive End:  We've heard all about the progress of Jack Crawford as the replacement for the quarterback annihilating force formerly known as Project Mayhem, but what will he be able to do against teams that will actually be gameplanning for him in non-garbage time?  As for the others, Kevion Latham, Eric Lattimore, and the twice-rehabbed Jerome Hayes will have to find a way to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  As we've learned in nearly every major Penn State loss over the past few years, if the defensive line doesn't get to the quarterback, it's EPIC SECONDARY FAIL.  That's just the way the scheme works.

Tight End:  Okay, we're really just talking about Andrew Quarless.  All the talent in the world (despite what you may have read elsewhere), and one remaining year to capitalize on it.  If he does, he could take a lot of pressure off the green-ish wide receivers.

Stephfon GreenEvan Royster is a great running back, but let's face it -- he gets his share of minor injuries like anyone else.  Green's speed is obviously his biggest asset, but a look at his conference-only stats shows that he's not exactly a yards-per-carry giant when he gets extended looks in the rushing game.  If he ever learns to be a little more patient before turning on the jets (and if the coaches use him as something other than an inexplicable battering ram), he'll evolve into more of a #1a option instead of a #2 and take some pressure and miles off Royster.

Josh Hull:  He struggled mightily during the first half of last year but slowly became a solid linebacker toward the end of the season.  With Mike Mauti's injury, any depth chart controversies are now moot.  Hull will be a second-year starter on the defense, and should improve on his often sluggish read-and-react issues of early 2008 (and if he can't thrive this season with Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu in front of him and Bowman/Lee on either side of him, he never will). He'll never be Paul Posluzny or Shane Conlan -- we know this.  And nobody is really proud of harping on the performance of a walk-on linebacker who by all accounts is a great student and overall citizen of this planet.  To be honest and fair, going from potential All-American Sean Lee to walk-on Josh Hull took a bit of getting used to for all of us.  So let's just hope for the best out of Hull and not scream for someone to replace him until the second half of the Syracuse game, okay?  Okay.  Deal.

Josh_hull_medium

Positive thoughts.  Forget all about this.

Fullback:  Yeah, I know.  It's a friggin' fullback.  Still, you know how Joe Paterno loves to use fullbacks in short yardage and goal line situations.  The leading candidate seems to be Joe Suhey -- who may actually prove to be valuable as a receiver out of the backfield, think Matt Hahn -- but the team seems to be without its traditional, beefy, block-first bulldozer to line up in front of the tailback.  Walk-on Shaine Thompson is in the mix as well, but he's no more than 215 pounds soaking wet.  But truth be told, Suhey will probably end up being just fine here.

Anything else you're slightly concerned about that didn't make the list?

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

good points at FB

hahn and lawlor were both very good at their craft. finding the replacement is a must, considering the noted injury tendencies of royster.

i guess my last item that would make every team’s list is simply 18-21 year olds acting like 18-21 year olds.

Eat what the monkey eats, then eat the monkey. -U.S. Navy survival guidance

by psudrozz on Aug 29, 2009 1:20 PM EDT reply actions  

Enough ripping on Hull...positive thoughts...lets all support the kid.

I ripped him in the past, he is a good kid who does the right things, even if his reaction time is a bit slow.

With Lee/Bowman there he should be able to just worry about his assignment and kick ass.

by SweepTheLeg on Aug 29, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions  

With points noted

of not only having La’varro & Lee to Hull’s sides AND Ollie/J O infront, #43 should be even more productive this year…guy’s – he could be an asset!

He did improve as the season progressed in ’08. Some kids develop slower than others, and sh*t; he is a walk-on @ LB-U…

One year as a starter under is belt + the cast of players immediately surrounding him + he is in the middle?!

…I’d be feeling mighty comfortable and confident if I were he! I think he will continue to prove himself!

"...big hitter; the Llamma...long..."

by BlueWhiteLife on Aug 29, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions  

I've got me a case of the "If only"s...

Tight End – If only we had the capability of starting somebody besides Andrew Quarless.
“All the talent in the world … one remaining year to capitalize on it. If he does…”
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME EVER. As far as I can tell, in actual games Schuler performs at least as good as Quarless. To hell with “potential,” I say. At this point, I hope the coaches consider a 2-TE formation that involves the other Andrew (Szczerba).

Running Back – If only we

by Aaron PSU on Aug 29, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions  

Shuler's going to be juuuust fine.

He’s perfectly good as a TE. Adding a motivated Quarless in a 2 TE set would be most beneficial.

Also, I’m not sure what’s up with Szczerba. I could be imagining this, but I think he has some sort of minor injury.

--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.

by Run Up The Score on Aug 29, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Saw Szczerba in the Football Story so I was wondering what's up with him...

Didn’t think I sent that post – not that the world needs to see more coaching suggestions: “why not use RBs with different skill-sets differently” or “why not use a standup LB at DE.”

Those three concerns were actually things I saw last year, so it’s not like they’re significant enough to harm the team’s success.

by Aaron PSU on Aug 29, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

I have kind of a soft spot for Hull

I am an Engineering student who struggles to get shit done, he is an Engineering student and starting LB for LBU. Yeah, thats pretty tough.

Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."

by Roland86 on Aug 29, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions  

It is extremely tough

It’s hard for me to imagine getting all that done. I respect him for it.

by PSUisMyHeart on Aug 30, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

"With Mike Mauti's injury, any depth chart controversies are now moot."

I thought we all agreed, in the interest of being too country, that it would be "moo’, not moot.

Less than 7 days!!
I’m coming up for Akron!! Wooo wooooooo

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Aug 29, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions  

bout damn time...

I see someone else touting that whole 13-0 thing… I just never thought it would be RR there with me (jk!)

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member

by TheMightyErik on Aug 30, 2009 3:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

Noon starts

With three, probably four, maybe five noon home starts on the schedule, I worry that this is going to cut into my tailgating efforts. Breakfast before the game is fine, but after the game our crowd starts to thin out more quickly than you’d imagine.

3:30 is probably the best tailgate option for a start time, although 8pms give you a chance to seriously break out the deep fryer.

Oh, you mean worried about the football team? Eh, they’re fine.

by Tailgate Shogun on Aug 30, 2009 6:35 AM EDT reply actions  

How about Joepa

Will he actually make it to the locker room for half time this year? I understand he is supposed to be an improved (bionic) man and will expect to see him on the sideline and directly coaching the players this year. But it is still concerning to me that he might not be up to the rigors of the season and might fall short on the amount of direct involvement he should have in the close games.

Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.

by psu on Aug 30, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions  

Oh yeah, and how about our secondary?

But I have a feeling I can leave that up to you.

Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.

by psu on Aug 30, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

Anything else you're slightly concerned about that didn't make the list?

Hmmm….

3rd) Punt Return Game

2nd) Media campaign

1st) QB depth

by Cairo on Aug 31, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Start posting about the Nittany Lions »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Bb_small
Bama Photoshop Thread - And so it begins...now with a FREE poll
Joepa_rival_small
Here Come The Expendables!
Jennings_small
Tailgate Thursday.
Large_moore_small
An open letter to the 2010 Penn State football team
Paterno_head_small
Sooo Ready for Opening Day

Recent FanPosts

Bb_small
Bama Ticket Alert!
Small
Joe Pa Song
Ingrama_small
Well Penn State....here is a voicemail line for you to call that goes to many Alabama fans..
Small
PSU bar in Portland, Oregon
Img110_small
In Which PSUJunny Tries Social Experimentation: When Would You Root Against Penn State?
Prosser_small
Basketball video question
Large_moore_small
Top Ten Reasons for Penn State's loss to Alabama
Capaletti_helmet_small
Advice needed
Lioneye_edited_small
JoePa vs. The Bear on BTN
Burrowesbldg_small
Bolden's nickname

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS

SBNation.com Recent Stories

LANDOVER MD - SEPTEMBER 06:  Safety #23 Jeron Johnson of and cornerback #21 Jamar Taylor of the Boise State Broncos celebrate defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 33-30 at FedExField on September 6 2010 in Landover Maryland.  (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

College Football BlogPoll Top 25 Week 2: Boise State Inches Closer

Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green talks to the media during the Southeastern Conference football media days on Thursday, July 22, 2010, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill) +4 updates

Georgia WR A.J. Green Suspended For Four Games

Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore (11) celebrates with fans and teammates including Boise State defensive end Ryan Winterswyk (98) after winning their NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech 33-30, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010, at FedEx Field in Landover, MD.  (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

2010 Heisman Trophy Threat Level Watch: Kellen Moore Starts At The Top

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

Lioneye_edited_small BSD

Editors

1018081638_small fugimaster24

Authors

At_the_foot_of_a_legend_small carolinaeasy

Psu_logo_small IcersGuy

Small psuwresfan

Tb_small NGameday11