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Get ready for disappointment in Happy Valley as there's no way that Joe Paterno and his Nittany Lions will be able to come close to last season's 11-1 record with an Orange Bowl victory.

Quarterback Michael Robinson, last season's Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year, was Penn State's offensive engine last season who defenses were forced to build game plans around.

Anthony Morelli doesn't have an ounce of Robinson's running ability which will eliminate the steady dose of quarterback draws and option plays the Nittany Lions dazzled us with last year. With a limited offensive attack, which will now be reduced to mostly drop back passing and handoffs to tailback Tony Hunt, the Nittany Lions offense will be much easier to defend this season.

Penn State desperately needs to run the ball down the opposition's throats this season to take some pressure off first-year starter Morelli. But this could be a difficult task as 4 starting offensive lineman have departed. Hopefully this won't cause a reversion back to the '03 and '04 seasons which saw Penn State finish 9th in the Big 10 in rushing. I don't think we will see that big of a drop off as Paterno has more talent in place than he did then, but the offense won't be running near as smoothly this season as it did last season.

I wish I could tell Penn State fans not to worry about the offense because the defense will pick up the slack, but with the loss of Big 10 sack leader Tamba Hali as well as 2 of the other front 4 which were so good last season, the Nittany Lions could be in some trouble. Luckily, they get back Paul Posluszny, who would likely be getting ready for his rookie season in the NFL if not for a knee injury suffered in the Orange Bowl against Florida State. Last year's Butkus Award Winner will have to lead the defense along with Connor and Shaw who make up perhaps the most solid line backing core in the Big 10. However, with the Lions not nearly as strong up front, it will make life much more difficult on the backers.

Penn State will likely finish in the middle of the pack in the Big 10 in 2006. They will have an early measuring stick in week 2 when they go to South Bend to take on the Irish. They'll go down at Ohio State on September 23rd and to Michigan on October 15th. The most important stretch of the season for the Lions will be their last 3 Big 10 games spanning from October 28th through November 18th against Purdue, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. As far as I can see these game are up for grabs and this could be the difference as to whether Penn State and Joe Pa are bowling or not this season.

About the Author

Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm