At the top of the list is surprise 2012 1,000 yard back Zach Zwinak.  After that one guy transferred out west, and the presumed starter went down with an injury less than 3 quarters into the season, there was a huge question mark at running back.  Zwinak emerged from the chaos to claim the starting spot, and would not relinquish it the rest of the year.  O’Brien has said he enters the season as the top guy, and with good reason.  The straight ahead, power style Zwinak uses seemed to be the formula that clicked with the Mac McWhorter’s offensive line.  If there is one area for concern, it would be ball security, as Zwinak put the ball on the ground 5 times in 2012.

The presumed starter was of course Bill Belton, who emerged late in 2011 as a wildcat quarterback option, and was named the #1 guy after that one transfer.  That lasted until the third quarter of the Ohio game, when he picked up a high ankle sprain that very obviously slowed him down the rest of the year.  Reports out of the program this spring say Bill is healthy, and has shed a few pounds in an effort to regain some of that quickness that made him such a dynamic player as a freshman.  I actually think Belton is better suited to be a change of pace guy to Zwinak.  He’s best when he uses his speed to get to the corner, and makes guys miss, not a guy that’s going to run between the tackles 15 times a game.

The wildcard is the redshirt freshman, and another of my personal favorites, Akeel Lynch.  Part of that is the fact he chose Penn State over Iowa…twice, but most of it is his potential to be a very very good back.  I was actually told by a current player last year that Lynch could be the best all around athlete on the team.  It will be interesting to see how O’Brien works him into the rotation come this fall, but I expect him to see quite a bit of action on Saturday.

With a first time starter at quarterback, whoever it is, and what could be a very strong offensive line group, I expect PSU to rely much more on the run this year than they did last.  Normally, 3 guys at tailback is a crowd, but I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to think PSU could run the ball 30-35 times a game, especially early, which will certainly require all three of these guys to do their part.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

ZACH ZWINAK

OK, show of hands, who had Zach Zwinak pegged for 1,000 yards last season?  Yeah, me too.  Zach of course emerged in PSU’s 4th game of the 2012 campaign against Temple, carrying 18 times for 94 yards.  That performance would cement his spot, carrying the ball at least 16 times in 8 of the final 9 games.  His straight ahead, powerful running style meshed well with the PSU offensive line that had struggled to open holes consistently leading up to the Temple game.  Zwinak even displayed some impressive speed in the open field, highlighted by his 50 yard TD run early on at Nebraska.  If there was a weankess for Zach, it was ball security, losing 4 fumbles on 203 carries.

BILL BELTON

Mr. Belton of course entered the 2012 season as the first string tailback, but that went sideways just 13 carries into the season, when he suffered a high ankle sprain that knocked him out of the next 3 games, and quite honestly, seemed to effect him the rest of the season.  The highlight of a season that only gave Belton 60 carries was his 103 yard, 3 touchdown effort in a rather enjoyable 38-14 win in Iowa City.  Aside from the injury, Belton suffered from fumbling issues of his own, plus a shot across the bow from Bill O’Brien questioning his practice habits.

AKEEL LYNCH

It was no secret that I was really high on Akeel before last season, expecting him to make an immediate impact on the PSU offense.  I was told back then by a teammate that Lynch might be the best all around athlete on the team.  Given some of the competition, that was quite the compliment.  Instead of making me look like a genius, Lynch was redshirted as Zwinak solidified the revolving door in the backfield.  Going into 2013, Lynch is still a guy that I’m extremely high on, and that’s only partially because he turned down Iowa….twice.

Sep 1, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) runs the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US Presswire

How does this all play out?  I’m glad you asked.  Obviously it is foolish to think anyone other than Zwinak is the starter against Syracuse in August, barring injury.  But after that, there are a lot of questions.  PSU’s primary backup last season was now graduated Michael Zordich, so all those carries have to go somewhere.

It would be foolish to write off Belton at this point.  There is a reason he was #1 going into the season, but there’s also a reason he lost that spot.  I will insist as long as anyone listens (and probably for awhile after) that his high ankle sprain was a factor throughout the season.  That injury truly needs rest to fully heal, and I’m not sure it did.  He never again showed the quickness and cutting we saw early on vs. Ohio, even in the impressive performance against Iowa.  If healthy, and if he has committed himself on the practice field, he will be an interesting story to watch, and a guy that I would expect to see a lot of the ball.  Remember he started at WR for PSU, and could provide an interesting option in the slot, or on 3rd down out of the backfield.

The wildcard is the redshirt freshman Lynch.  He has the power to run between the tackles, but the speed to break one to the outside.  I expect Belton to become more of an all purpose type of player, getting involved in a handful of ways, not just as a tailback.  That puts Lynch in prime position to become the #2 behind Zwinak.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Nov 17, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Michael Zordich (9) warms up prior to the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

In a preseason riddled with questions all over the field, the runningbacks were near the top of almost every list.  What was once viewed as the strength of the offense immediately became another huge void when Silas Redd left for USC.  Bill O’Brien didn’t miss a beat, immediately proclaiming sophomore Bill Belton the new starter.

Belton was off to a solid start in the season opener against Ohio, before suffering a high ankle sprain that would sideline him until the Illinois game.  Derek Day would take over against the Bobcats.  The Lions would muster just 94 yards on the ground that day.  The following week against Virginia, it was Derek Day who got the start, and Curtis Dukes backing him up.  121 yards on 42 carries was the ending line.  The revolving door in the offensive backfield kept spinning against Navy with senior fullback Mike Zordich starting and Dukes again getting 2nd string carries.  It was not until the Temple game that sophomore Zach Zwinak, who would of course end up rushing for exactly 1,000 yards, drew significant carries (18 for 94 yards), although Zordich actually drew the start that day.

It was that Temple game that finally brought some stability to the position, not only in terms of the personnel, but in the type of rushing attack Penn State would have the remainder of the season.  For all his athletic ability, no one ever expected Bill Belton to be a guy that would pound it between the tackles and put his shoulder down.  Belton is at his best in space, and on the edge, as we saw in the Iowa game. Zwinak’s straight ahead style immediately clicked with the offensive line, and Zordich became the guy O’Brien turned to when Zwinah needed a breather.

For all the impressive stats put up by Zwinak once he became the starter, ball security remained an issue, highlighted by a crucial lost fumble as Penn State was driving for a score in Lincoln.  Zwinak was also never a real threat as a receiver out of the backfield, especially when compared to Belton.  Watching O’Brien’s offenses in New England, he loves to get the ball to his backs through the air, either directly out of the backfield, or motioning them out.  As we mentioned with the offensive line last week, the Lions offense struggled with the blitz, especially in the Ohio State loss.  None of the backs were consistently reliable in buying McGloin time when the defense brought the extra pressure.

Aug 6, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) runs up field during practice at the Lasch Football Building practice fields. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead to the 2013 season, Zordich and Day’s graduation are the only known losses, although it is widely expected that junior Curtis Dukes will move on as well.  Zwinak and Belton are both expected to return, as will freshman Akeel Lynch, who redshirted this year.  It is hard to imagine Zwinak not being the starter going into the season, but expect Lynch to get a long look as well.  Belton presents an interesting question, as he is arguably the most athletic player on the Lions’ offense, but never really settled in at runningback.  The ankle injury certainly played a part, as high ankle sprains are notorious for lingering, but with Zwinak’s emergence, and Lynch’s ability, it’s hard to figure out where the carries will come from.  With that said, a new starter at quarterback will mean a heavier reliance on the running game.  I expect Zwinak and Lynch to get the bulk of the carries, but Belton to become a threat at receiver, and even a 3rd down back in passing situations.

As for the grade, because of the ball security, and blitz issues, it’s again hard to give out an A.  But a position that looked like a borderline passing grade after the first three weeks became much more reliable as the year went on, and the future looks promising as well.  For that, give the backs a B.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for all the latest on Penn State!

As I digress, Penn State enters the 2012 Big Ten slate riding the crest of a two-game winning streak.  They look to make it three games in a row when they travel to Champaign-Urbana to take on the Fighting Illini.  This game also marks Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien’s first game in the Big Ten as well as Illini head coach Tim Beckman’s first conference game.

The last time the Nittany Lions took to the road, they went to Charlottesville, VA and played the Cavaliers of Virginia.  They came away from the game with a loss, and needing to fix some glaring holes, especially in the special teams category, but they also found a defensive pass rush and the ability to generate a pass rush.

In order for the Nittany Lions to escape Illinois with a win, they are going to have to employ the same tactics as they did at Virginia…but this time they have to make the field goals!

Even though I will not be attending tomorrow’s game, here’s what I will be watching for:

Running back Curtis Dukes could be in for a big day Saturday. Photo courtesy of David Buckwalter

While starting running back Bill Belton (ankle) and backup Derek Day (shoulder) returned to practice on Wednesday, it’s unclear what their availability will be on this weekend. Curtis Dukes could be in line for a heavy workload on Saturday when the Naval Academy comes to town. According to quarterback Matt McGloin, “He’s the man right now.”

I have been critical of Dukes, as I am concerned that he is one dimensional as a running back and serves as a liability in all aspects of the passing game. However, this is a matchup where I can see his strengths serving the team in a big way.

Navy will most likely run the ball on 75% of their plays this weekend. They are content to chip away at a defense with gains of three and four yards, hoping to eventually catch a defense out of position and capitalize with a big play. This can wear down a defense without much effort. While run-blocking is easier for offensive linemen, having those 275 pound sailors leaning on the defense  play in and play out is a good way to tire a defensive front.

Penn State will have to counter with a bit of ball control on their own end. They will need to sustain long drives in order to give the defense adequate rest between drives. Navy runs a 3-4 defense with a nose tackle who is nearly 300 pounds. Their defensive ends, however, only average 6’2″ 250. Their linebackers are much more undersized with the starters averaging about 6’2″ 220 pounds.

Curtis Dukes is listed as 6’1″ and 245 pounds. That’s just about as big or bigger than 10 of the starters on Navy’s defense.

While Penn State isn’t going to break out the triple option, they may still be able to beat Navy at their own game. While the Midshipmen aren’t likely to get easily winded, a heavy dose of Penn State’s line, who average just under 300 pounds, combined with an afternoon full of tackling a running back like Dukes, could provide Penn State with a fatigued opponent.

Who knows, it could even lead to a strong second half performance by the offense.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Originally I thought Penn State would have beaten Ohio and would still be riding high from the emotions and drama surrounding last week’s game.  So much so, that I thought Penn State might not be ready for the Cavaliers, a team coming off their first bowl game since 2007.  I still think that Virginia is a tough, dangerous team, and may perhaps have more weapons at the skill positions than Penn State, but this game has taken on a whole new demeanor for the Nittany Lions.

The importance of this game, even though it is still early in the season, can not be underestimated.  Another loss, especially of the blow out nature, could set this program back not only this year, but also for the remainder of the decade.  That’s how important this game is.  Am I being melodramatic -perhaps, but I really feel that in order for coach O’Brien to sell potential recruits on his brand of football at Penn State and what Penn State can do for them, he has to show them that he can win against relatively good competition.

Athletes go to Penn State for the education they receive first and foremost, but also to play against big-time schools on the biggest stage.  No one plays football at Penn State just to compete; that’s a line reserved for the Savannah State’s of the world.  Savannah State plays to compete, and, oh yea, to collect the $475,000 pay check after they get smoked.  That does not happen at Penn State!

So what does Penn State need to do in order to regain some of their swagger?  Read about some areas that I’ll be watching tomorrow:

Sep 1, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O

Penn State’s Defensive Front Four

Most writers and bloggers have spent much of the week lambasting Ted Roof and his new defensive scheme at Penn State.  Let’s give the guy and his brand of defense a chance!  What I want to see is how the defensive front four responds to being called out.  They generated virtually no pass rush last week against Ohio.  What will they be able to generate against Virginia?

It all starts with the defensive front four.  If they give the QB time, a QB like Michael Rocco of Virginia or Tyler Tettleton of Ohio, they will pick you apart.  We saw that last weekend against Ohio.  Tettleton completed 31 of 41 passes, that’s a 75.6% completion percentage.  Last week Michael Rocco, playing against FCS Richmond, completed 25 of 37 passes for a 67.6% clip.  Both of these QB’s have poise in the pocket and will not be easily flustered by a hand in their face.

At times against Ohio, sophomore DE C.J. Olaniyan showed glimpses of the player that Penn Staters hope he can be.  He managed to get the teams only sack and he deflected a screen pass.  While taking DT Jordan Hill out of the picture is the primary focus for most teams, defensive players like Olaniyan, DT DaQuan Jones, and DE Sean Stanley absolutely must generate a pass rush against Cavalier QB, Michael Rocco.  Rocco, unlike Tettleton, is not very fleet-a-foot.  Forcing him to move around and scramble from the pocket may force him into some miscues.

3rd Down Conversion Rate

Once again I focus on the Penn State defense.  With 9:37 to go in the 4th quarter and Penn State trailing by 3 points, Ohio took possession of the ball at their own 7 yard line.  In years past, this is where the Penn State defense would step up, force a 3-and-out, and get the ball back to the offense for at least a tying score.  Not last week!  Time and time again Tettleton would complete a 3rd down pass to keep drives alive.  This is how is went for Penn State in the second half.  Ohio converted 11 of 12 their 3rd down plays in the second half and 13 of 21 (61.9%) for the game.  Teams getting that type of production on 3rd down are going to have an excellent chance of winning, especially when they don’t turn the ball over for the game.

How can Penn State change this pattern?  First, generate a pass rush to force quick decisions from the quarterback.  Second, get off blocks and make tackles.  The DBs can not keep getting jammed and blocked by WRs or TEs on quick passes and screens and then not be able to get off blocks.  Finally, strip the ball, intercept a pass; any type of turnover will do.  From what I have been hearing out of State College this week, coach Roof has been practicing stripping the ball techniques with his players.

Penn State Special Teams

Most everyone has been focusing on the failed Bill O’Brien experiment of placing Gerald Hodges deep as a kickoff/punt returner.  Prior to the game everyone was speculating as to who would return kicks and punts, but I’ll bet no one had Hodges in their office pool.  And, after the performance he gave last week, no one will be in a hurry to request his presence back there again any time soon!  Instead of looking at how bad the decision was to put Hodges back there, I want to congratulate coach O’Brien for at least stepping outside the proverbial box and trying something new.  OK…it didn’t work, but at least he tried it.

Personally, I think Penn State fans should be more concerned over their inept and downright offensive kicking game!  Paterno always stressed defense and special teams as usually determining who won or lost.  Well, the Penn State kicking game certainly did not help matters.  Sophomore FG kicker Sam Ficken was not given a chance to kick any field goals even though they got to the Ohio 27 yard line part way through the 3rd quarter.  For coach O’Brien to eschew a FG of 44 yards, especially when it could have tied the game, tells you all you need to know about his confidence in the kicking game.  Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I think P/K Anthony Fera will be Penn State’s biggest loss due to sanctions.  Penn State better find out soon what they have in young Ficken or else they are going to have to bring in another kicker for next year.

The punting situation may be as dire as it has been in recent memory.  Junior Alex Butterworth handled the duties last Saturday, but only managed a 35.8 yard average on 5 punts.  He never really turned the field position in the Nittany Lions favor.  This isn’t Butterworth’s first punting foray either.  He has seen spot duty since 2010 when Fera went out with an appendectomy.

On Saturday, watch closely to see how coach O’Brien handles his kicking duties.  Does he stick with Butterworth, especially if he shanks one or two or doesn’t drive Virginia back?  Does O’Brien show some confidence in Ficken?  Somewhere this season, Penn State is going to need Ficken to come through, how much confidence will he have.

Perry Jones

Penn State needs to keep a close watch on the Virginia senior RB Perry Jones.  Last week, Jones had a pedestrian performance going off for 52 yards and 1 score.  He also caught 1 pass for 24 yards.  Last year Jones rushed for 915 yards and 5 scores, and he  caught 48 passes for 506 yards and 3 scores.  Those numbers suggest that Rocco will have no problems checking down and throwing outlet passes to Jones.  He can be just as dangerous as Beau Blankenship was for Ohio.  It would behoove Penn State to keep a spy close by when he comes out of the backfield.

Watch to see how Penn State tries to limit what Jones can do in the open field.  He will get his touches, as he is Virginia’s most experienced running back, but he will also be one of Rocco’s receiving weapons.  If he gets time to maneuver then it could be a long day for Lions defense.

Penn State Offensive Play-calling

During his weekly press conference this week coach O’Brien stressed that he needed to do a better job of providing balance for the Nittany Lions offense.  Against Ohio, Penn State threw the ball 48 times while only rushing it 22 times.  It’s one thing to call more running plays, its another to do so when your starting tailback, Bill Belton, is highly questionable to play.  If he is unable to go, the rushing load will fall to senior Derek Day who has a total of 15 career carries, over half of them coming in last week’s game.

Watch to see how many rushing attempts coach O’Brien gives Day, he has junior Curtis Dukes waiting in the wings.  Dukes rushed for 237 yards and 1 score last year.  While coach O’Brien wants to even out his run-pass ratio, putting that to the test this week is going to be awfully difficult considering the injury status of his starting tailback.  If Penn State can get to 40 or more rushing attempts, you shuold feel good that Penn State will come out on top in this game.

As always, enjoy the game, and I would love to get your comments!  WE ARE…PENN STATE

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In no particular order, here are FIVE reasons why Penn State will not fall into obscurity in 2013:

photo by Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

Silas Redd Was Not That Important.

Silas Redd is a terrific player. However, it’s not like the Nittany Lions are left playing with 10 players in his departure. Last year, Redd had 1,241 rushing yards, which was really good. It was actually the third best total for Penn State…in the last seven years. In fact, Penn State has produced a 1,000 yard rusher in eight consecutive seasons, including 1,200+ yard seasons from Evan Royster, Rodney Kinlaw and Tony Hunt. Bill Belton has a legit shot at approaching that 1,000 yard mark in 2012, and in 2013 he will be a junior, with a year of experience under his belt. Silas Redd may not have been at Penn State in 2013, whether or not he had transferred.

Following the departures of running back Silas Redd and kicker/punter Anthony Fera, wide receiver Justin Brown could be the third Penn State starter to defect from the team.

Once originally thought to be considering Illinois and Cincinnati, it appears that Brown will play in 2012 at either Penn State or Oklahoma. While a transfer to Cincinnati or Illinois wouldn’t make much sense on the surface, catching passes in Bob Stoops’ wide open offense from NFL-hopeful QB Landry Jones could be seen as a way to bolster Brown’s professional stock.

However, new Penn State wide receivers coach Stan Hixon may be capable of that, himself. Hixon was the receivers coach at LSU when Josh Reed won the Biletnikof Award for being the top WR in college football. He was also in charge of the position for the Buffalo Bills during the emergence of both Steve Johnson and David Nelson, both of whom came from off the radar to have breakout seasons.

Over the last two seasons, Brown has averaged 34 catches for less than 500 yards and has 3 total touchdowns in that time. Part of that is certainly due to the lackluster play at QB.

While losing a starting wide receiver is damaging on the surface, Penn State is very deep and athletic at the position. Brown says he does not have a timetable set for a decision.

A much larger blow would be the loss of incoming freshman RB Akeel Lynch. The running back position is already thin and the Nittany Lions are not in great position to land a top prospect in the 2013 class.

Lynch was originally committed to Boston College before flipping to Penn State but Iowa appears to be his most likely destination if he leaves. Iowa has their own depth issues at RB and Lynch would be in line for immediate playing time, similar to his situation at PSU.

One source has indicated that Lynch is “all but gone” but as I’m writing this, he remains on the roster.

The departure of Lynch would leave Curtis Dukes and Bill Belton as the only two running backs on scholarship.

Personally I think even if Lynch stays, Belton has the inside track to starting in the opener which is less than a month away. Having gone through spring practice as a running back he does have some familiarity with what O’Brien expects. Given the uncertainty throughout the team as this season approaches I think that it is best for the team to have as much experience as possible at the running back position.

Of course, should he stay at Penn State, Lynch will certainly have an opportunity to carry the ball early and often. However, the same is true at Iowa, which has been decimated at the running back position with nine departures since 2009, including one in the past couple of days. Nothing against the Hawkeyes but I think Lynch’s depature could be a real blow to Penn State’s running game this season-and beyond.

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Sometimes you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next #WeAre

— Garry Gilliam™ (@GarryGilliam89) July 24, 2012

TE Garry Gilliam has been adamant since Sunday that he remains a Nittany Lion. This is his latest reassurance.

Good thing I didn’t come to Penn State for bowl games…I came for the prestigious degree and the best fans in the country #notgoinganywhere

— Matt Zanellato (@mzanellato) July 24, 2012

Redshirt freshman WR Matt Zanallato

I’m staying, there’s way too much going for this university for me to leave over the loss of bowl games.

— Anthony Stanko(@5tank0) July 24, 2012

Incoming freshman OG Anthony Stanko

 

O’Brien has my back I have his #PennState2013

— Brendan Mahon (@BigBabyMahon) July 23, 2012

2013 committed OL Brendan Mahon

 

Still #PennStateProud WE will get through this together as a family because #WeAre !!!

— Jake Kiley (@PSU_PT_Kiley2) July 23, 2012

Jake Kiley, incoming freshman CB, has been one of the most vocal leaders since Sunday.

 

Penn state forever…I’m not going anywhere

— Eric Shrive(@75shrive) July 24, 2012

OG Eric Shrive, who recently raised over $30,000 for Lift For Life.

 

On Sept.1 Allen Robinson and I will be playing in Blue & White vs Ohio U.

— Bill Belton (@WB_5) July 24, 2012

RB Bill Belton making the announcement for himself and his non-tweeting teammate, WR Allen Robinson.

 

Stop asking if im transferring im staying at PSU no matter what I love my school #WeAre

— Donovan Smith (@PSU_Smith_76) July 22, 2012

Starting LT, redshirt freshman Donovan Smith.

No matter what happens tomorrow #PennState will remain my home for the next four years.

— Evan Schwan (@evan_schwan) July 23, 2012

Incoming freshman DE Evan Schwan on Sunday night.
There are some that I can’t locate right now and various others who have made statements to media or through parents that are staying. They include: Michael Mauti, Angelo Mangiro, Mike Zordich, Gerald Hodges, Matt McGloin and Matt Stankiewitch.

It’s foolish to think that there won’t be defectors, and I don’t fault them for that in this tough time. However, the majority of the players seem to rallying around each other and coach O’Brien.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

I reminded O’Brien that he had recently said he thought he knew who was leading the quarterback competition. Shortly following that, QB coach Charlie Fisher mentioned that he felt Matt McGloin was the leader and yesterday, news came out that O’Brien would be naming the quarterback by the end of the month. I asked if it was fair to connect the dots and come to the conclusion that McGloin would be named the starter. “I’ll probably release a depth chart around the end of the month, beginning of June.” O’Brien noted that the day after the Blue-White game, the entire staff headed out to recruit. “We haven’t had a staff meeting to assess Spring practice yet.” He went on to say that “when they get back in, the end of next week, we’ll have a few days of staff meetings, where we talk about recruiting, we evaluate Spring, what can we do better, what did we do well, what’s our depth chart, who are our top 60 players going into training camp…” He added that he has “nine guys on the staff” and he “wants to know what they think, too.” Finally, he said “That’s really the reason why you haven’t had a total depth chart, at this point. I’m not trying to hide anything but before I announce anything, I want to discuss it with the staff and you’ll get something after that.”

On players who maybe surprised O’Brien this Spring with their play, O’Brien noted the players who had changed positions, including Belton, Nate Cadogan and Dakota Royer. Not Curtis Drake, though. “Watching Billy Belton go from receiver in winter conditioning and knowing he had a running back’s skill set, that was a good move.” He added that Belton needs to “work on his ball security but he’s a really good kid and I think he can help us.”

He noted that Royer “has a better chance to see playing time as an ‘F’ tight end than he does at linebacker.’ He added that Royer has been identified as a “core special teams guy” and “should be involved in the big four: punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return.”

O’Brien, when asked about captains, said that he will name captains for each game. “I want to make sure that every senior is a captain in my first year here.” He added “I really like our senior class. There’s some really good kids there and I want to make sure that those guys that have stayed committed to the program, through some tough times, before I got here. I think it’s important to reward those guys-whether they’re practice players or starters- that they’re able to walk out there for the coin toss.” He said that he will name permanent captains before the Wisconsin game.

Keep an eye out today for more from the “press conference” and the Coaches Caravan stop in Cleveland including high praise for Jordan Hill and whether O’Brien may indeed tweak the uniforms…

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

It’s tough to predict WHO that will be…but I’m going to do just that!

Kicker
Anthony Fera (RS Jr.)
Sam Ficken (So.)

Punter
Anthony Fera (RS Jr.)
Alex Butterworth (Jr.)

Kick Returner
Bill Belton (So.)
Alex Kenney (RS So.)

Punt Returner
Curtis Drake (RS Jr.)
Bill Belton (So.)

Others
Devon Smith (Sr.)
Justin Brown (Sr.)
Malik Golden (Fr.)
Eugene Lewis (Fr.)
Shawney Kersey (RS Jr.)

Bill Belton is a playmaker. I expect them to try and get him the ball as much as possible. I also love Drake’s elusiveness. Kenney is one of the fastest players on the team and should stick out in camp.
Justin Brown was never a very natural returner. He’s not a burner and is a little bit too big to make guys miss. There are plenty of guys on the roster who fit that mold. Devon Smith has always had potential but three years of waiting on it is enough for me. Time to give someone else a shot.

Ideally, Fera wouldn’t have to handle the kicking AND punting duties again this season, but he looked pretty darn good at both last year…especially compared to the other options!

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The WR position is a little more difficult to slot in a depth chart because there are at least 3 different WR positions. Here is a generic look at how the depth chart may look when practice begins this summer.

*denotes an incoming freshman

WR x
Justin Brown (Sr.)
Shawney Kersey (Jr.)
Johnathan Warner (Fr.)*
Matt Zanalleto (RS Fr.)

WR y
Curtis Drake (Jr.)
Eugene Lewis (Fr.)*
Brandon Moseby-Felter (Jr.)
Allen Robinson (So.)
Christian Kuntz (Jr.)

Slot WR
Bill Belton (So.)
Devon Smith (Sr.)
Alex Kenney (RS So.)
Malik Golden (Fr.)*

Others
Shane Phillips (RS Fr.)
Patrick Flanagan (RS So.)
Brian Friend (RS Jr.)
Andrew Goodman (RS Sr.)
Ryan Scherer (RS Sr.)
Tariq Tongue (RS Jr.)
Trevor Williams (Fr.)*

Justin Brown has been on the verge of something special since he signed 3 years ago but he has yet to take that leap. Under new WR coach Stan Hixon, Brown has a chance to emerge this season.

Curtis Drake has a ton of athleticism. He is fast, shifty, can throw the ball, play the wildcat position… the sky is the limit. But he has to get his mind right. He has had a couple of off-field incidents including a fight with QB Matt McGloin last December. If he can focus and realize his potential, I think Drake could be special.

Bill Belton burnt his redshirt early in the season, but didn’t see the field for significant snaps until the Ohio State game, when Tom Bradley unleashed him as a wildcat QB. There is speculation that Bill may be moved to RB, but for now, I will assume he stays put.

There is a chance that guys like Goodman and Scherer won’t be back for a 5^th season. I believe they have both graduated and they may move on either through a mutual decision…or not.

Also, Kuntz may be an “x” receiver and Warner may be a “y” but this is not the site for that. Simple was my goal.

Yesterday, Quarterbacks.   Tomorrow, Running Backs!

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But I don’t see much of a difference in the way we perform under either kid, I really don’t. That makes me very, very reluctant because they both work so hard, they’re good kids, good students, good citizens and the whole bit. For me to go out there and say, “Hey, you’re better than the other guy,” because right now I honestly can’t tell you one’s better than the other.

Let’s move on. (more…)

Back in the beginning of his recruitment (April-May), he did have Penn State in his Top 10.  Shortly there after though, he committed to Pitt so that is why we have heard so little about him the past few months.  Also, his recruiter back then was Coach Vanderlinden.  Who, I guess, wasn’t getting the type of connection we needed.  This time around, we went with Coach McQueary, who will also be his position coach at Penn State (More then likely).  Belton admitted, the reason he committed to Penn State last night was because he likes Big Red so much.  Either way, Belton is a great pickup.  In my opinion, a “game changer” at Slot WR. (more…)

Nick Stoner – In case you don’t follow me on twitter (twitter.com/itspatrickh), Nick Stoner has decided to stay with Indiana.  He likes what Kevin Wilson (New coach) is going to potentially build at Indiana.  He wants to help make Indiana a good football program.  Unfortunate, but this opens up chances with…

Kyshoen Jarrett – Kyshoen Jarrett, Pitt commit, said that Penn State has contacted his coach so interest is there.  The talk with other PSU Recruitniks, is that if Penn State wants Jarrett, they should be able to get him.  Of course, that was the talk back in June when PSU offered Jarrett so who knows for sure? (more…)