2011 Penn State Football Season Preview (Offense)

by Chief32 for PhilaPhans.com

The Offense:

It all starts with the quarterback position. As we sit here 4 days before the opener, a starter has still not been named and probably will not be named until Joe Paterno’s press conference tomorrow at the earliest. It’s a two horse race between true sophomore Rob Bolden and redshirt junior Matt McGloin. Bolden started the year last as a true freshman with mediocre results and was replaced by McGloin during the Minnesota game when he (Bolden) left with a concussion. McGloin went on to win that game and the next 2 putting up big numbers against some of the worst defenses in the country. When the competition level stepped up though, McGloin turned into a turnover machine throwing multiple pick-6′s at Ohio State, and throwing 5 interceptions in the Outback Bowl only because Florida defenders dropped 4 other interceptions right in their hands. After the season, Bolden threatened to transfer, Paterno blocked his request, and here we are with both QB’s back for 2011.

Most observers say that Bolden has been the better and more consistent QB in both the spring and camp…….but by a very little margin. Neither has distinguished themselves as the starter which is disappointing. All signs are pointing to a two quarterback system being used versus Indiana State and just going from there in terms of who gets the majority of the playing time. The fact that Bolden, a young player with a ton of raw talent, cannot seperate himself from McGloin is troublesome in my view and leads me to believe that Paterno will end up going with McGloin for the majority of the year. We shall see, but it’s really going to up to Bolden to play well when he gets the opportunity and take the job for the next 3 years. Here’s hoping that happens.

The third string QB will be walkon Shane McGregor. Highly recruited sophomore Paul Jones is academically ineligible and Kevin Newsome has left the team.

Running back should be a strength for the Nittany Lions with Silas Redd, Brandon Beachum, Joe Suhey and Michael Zordich all back. Redd will get the bulk of the carries and in my opinion is a superstar waiting to explode. He showed tons of flashes as a true freshman last year and probably should have carried the ball more. He has battled a minor groin strain in the preseason, so don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t get 20+ carries in week 1. The sky is the limit with Redd. Brandon Beachum will be the primary backup and is back after tearing his ACL in 2009. I am very high on Beachum as a big, powerful runner who seems to always be moving forward. He is a perfect complement for Redd. Curtis Dukes, another huge power back, is #3 on the depth chart. It will be interesting to see how many carries he gets this year as he has reportedly had a very good preseason. Stephon Green, a senior who was Evan Royster’s primary backup for 3 years, is back after being kicked off the team in the offseason. He is deep in Paterno’s doghouse and is running on the scout team right now. If Redd would go down, Green is going to have to play a key role. The fullbacks are very solid with Joe Suhey and Michael Zordich back. Suhey is very versatile and a good receiver out of the backfield while Zordich is a bull running the ball.

Wide receiver is absolutely loaded. Top receivers Derek Moye and Justin Brown are the two starters and both excellent receivers. Moye is the team’s deep threat. Also featured will be speedsters Shawney Kersey and Devon Smith who both have major big play potential. Kersey has been a kid who has been in Joe’s doghouse a lot, but seems to have finally put it all together. He is a blazer who can make plays with the ball in his hands. Smith is the fastest kid on the team but struggles to control his speed and balance. Three names to keep an eye on here as the season develops……….sophomore Curtis Drake, true freshman Bill Belton and true freshman Allen Robinson. Drake is coming back from breaking his leg twice and best case will be ready for the Alabama game. Worst case seems to be the Big Ten schedule. Belton and Robinson (Rob Bolden’s high school teammate) are two freshman who are said not to be redshirting. Overall this is a very deep group.

Andrew Szczerba returns from a back injury that has limited his career at Penn State and should be the starting tight end in 2011. Szczerba is an outstanding blocker who can catch the ball a bit as well. True sophomore Kevin Haplea will also see a ton of time here as well. Haplea was forced into action last year as a true freshman and held his own, all things considered. Nate Cadogan, and converted tackle, will play as the third tight end in short yardage situations.

Next to the QB position, the biggest question mark comes again with the offensive line. Gone is All-American and first round pick Stefan Wisniewski who had a terrific career as a three year starter at PSU. Also departed is center Doug Kolpacz, a first year starter last year. Taking Klopacz’s spot at center will be junior Matt Stankiewitch. Stankiewitch seems to have drawn mixed reviews in camp, and will need to step up and take the job as there are other combinations in play that could send him to the bench. One of them is starting right guard John Urshel moving to center, and Dontae Panell stepping in a right guard. Left guard seems to be a battle between Johnny Troutman, Dontae Pannell and Khamrone Kolb. In a sentence I can cut and paste from last year, Troutman is one of the most talented linemen on the squad but has batted weight issues and been in and out of Coach Paterno’s doghouse. I would still look for him to get the majority of snaps this season. Pannell started the 2009 season at tackle, but was moved inside after being abused at times. He should be used as a swing reserve at both guard spots and see a lot of time. As previously mentioned, John Urshel appears to be the starter at right guard, and the backup at center. The tackles are both returning starters from last year in Quinn Barham and Chima Okoli. Other linemen who could see playing time this year are Mike Farrell and true freshman Donovan Smith. Smith is thought to be a big time prospect at LT, so they could bring him along slowly. Having said that, any injury to Barham probably shoots him onto the 2-deep.

- Chief32

Short URL: http://philaphans.com/eagles/?p=38458

Posted by chief32 on Aug 30 2011. Filed under Breaking News, The PSU Football Report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry