The Penn State Football Show

Last year this was the game where Penn State finally got their running game going behind a huge burst from Stephfon Green. Who will it be this year? Someone. Like Pete said, Penn State finally plays a game with someone on roughly equal footing. Both are starting freshman quarterbacks, both have decent defenses and both really haven't played too well so far this season. Penn State has more talent, but they really haven't put that talent to very good use thus far whereas Illinois gave Ohio State a run for their money.

Going back to the Iowa game for a minute, I want to solely look at a few things that I was happy with. Ollie Ogbu is getting off the line very fast and disrupting the backfield. He really turned it on last game. If he keeps this up, he will probably see more double teams opening up the linebackers. This is what Odrick did, and what earned him such accolades. D'Anton Lynn has become a very solid player. I can't think of a play where he got beat in the air (unlike Morris) and he came up and made a few nice tackles. Sukay continues to get better after that horrible Alabama game. He had a nice pick and took some great angles to the running back to make a few good plays. Fortt came in to play quite a bit, which I was pleased to see. The guy is a monster. He had one play where he shed a block and made a big tackle. With all the injuries plaguing the linebacking corps, he can really make a an impact this weekend. On the other side of the ball, Justin Brown is beginning to emerge. With the drops that Zug has had, I expect Brown to overtake him. He made some great catches and he's a big target. I am just waiting for him to explode, I think he's going to be amazing. Lastly, Royster had some very tough runs. He didn't get too many carries, and there obviously wasn't much room to run against the best defensive line in the country, but I liked what I saw.

Hopefully the team can fix their mistakes and keep the good things going. The defense overall played very well after the first quarter, and this will be a big home game for these guys. Illinois doesn't have much firepower, but they are a decent team. Penn State really is the much more athletic, and I expect them to impose their will. Ohio State last weekend was more conservative than Ted Nugent, and they kept Illinois in the game. Penn State needs to go out, have fun, and play up to their potential.

Everyone keeps yapping about opening up the playbook, do this do that...but Paterno is right...it's all about execution. Their play selection hasn't been that bad (the QB keep on 4th and goal was the right call) but they just aren't doing some things correctly. I expect them to have that corrected this week and the Lions will make like a bunch of homecoming floats and roll.

Greatest Bar for the game. Who's coming?

I could see this game going either way. Illinois looked pretty good last weekend. It all depends on how the offensive line holds up. If they are able to control the line of scrimmage and generate a running game, Penn State will win. If they are unable to run the ball, it could be yet another Lion loss. This is probably the closest match-up PSU has had so far this year, and will be the best indicator of where they are at.

We all knew coming into this season that it was going to be a rebuilding year and that's exactly what I saw in Iowa City Saturday night...a team that is rebuilding and trying to find an identity. I think they will begin to figure this thing out but I dont know how long it will take. This team just needs to play some football and take some of its learning bumps and bruises as they go and I think they will be fine come 2011 and even 2012 and be the force we are all expecting.

As for the Iowa game...Iowa was and is a better team. They play solid football. Nothing flashy, nothing fancy, just good ol fashioned Big Ten football. Their defense is very good and I think their front four outshadows a secondary that is pretty good as well. I would like to see this Iowa team finally dethrone Ohio State and win the Big Ten so we can stop hearing about Ohio State's "5 straight Big Ten Titles."

That being said, I think our offense moved the ball well (301 total yards) and the play calling, for the most part, was good. Love the call on the goaline. I dont really know why they cant get into the endzone...maybe it is just a funk. Again, we put together a few solid drives and looked good offensively at times. But again, we put too much pressure on the shoulders of a young QB to constantly make big plays in a tough situation late in the game.

Regardless, I'm actually glad that Bolden and this team is getting this road experience against stout defenses in some of the toughest venues in the country. Heading into 2011 and 2012, this will only make him better and immune to it all the surrounding hype.

I dont want to use this as an excuse but the Sunday Patriot-News had this listed in the notes column. The PSU injury list...

• T Lou Eliades out (knee)
• RB Brandon Beachum out (knee)
• LB Gerald Hodges out (leg)
• TE Andrew Sczerba out (back)
• WR Curtis Drake out (leg)
• WR Christian Kuntz out (knee)
• TE Gary Gilliam left the game in 2nd quarter with an apparant ACL tear
• Not to mention...Derrick Thomas and Sean Stanley did not make the trip due to undisclosed disciplinary reasons

Imagine what this team will be capable of in the upcoming years when they get some experience and fortunate health?