Youngstown State Penguins @ Penn State Nittany Lions Football Preview

This is one of those games between an FBS school and an FCS program in which the object is not to win, but to have a field day. Penn State doesn’t just want to be 1-0 after this game; the Nittany Lions want to develop confidence, momentum and rhythm, especially with untested performers on an offense that’s rushing-rich but passing-poor.

Penn State will debut a new quarterback after the graduation of Daryll Clark, but there are still three players – sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin plus freshman Robert Bolden – listed at the top of the depth chart.

Evan Royster could become Penn State’s all-time leading rusher this season.  The Lions have a deep group of receivers that may lack star power, but is plenty capable.

Three starters return on the Lions’ offensive line, which nonetheless may need time to develop as a group, having lost tackle Dennis Landolt.  The line wasn’t a strength last season and may be a concern this year.

Penn State, who allowed just 12 points per game last season, lost star tackle Jared Odrick and an excellent trio of linebackers.  The defense is still strong, though, and features a pass rush led by giant Jack Crawford.  The secondary will be good enough to make Penn State’s defense one of the Big Ten’s best. The special teams were poor last season, particularly the kick coverage.

This is not the same Youngstown State team that won championships under Jim Tressel.  The Penguins have struggled over the past few years, and have a new head coach, Eric Wolford.

Youngstown State loses several offensive starters and will struggle to move the ball against Penn State.  Quarterback Kirk Hess is making his first career start, and the Penguins have new starters at running back and receiver.  On defense, the Penguins are more experienced but are likely to be overmatched against the Nittany Lions.

Yet, to reiterate, the key for PSU and the iconic Joe Paterno is not to win a game by a lot of points. The Nittany Nation needs to see its heroes work out the kinks on offense and find a style of play that suits a quarterback. Why, you ask? This is all because Penn State travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in week two for a Sept. 11 clash with the defending national champions, the Crimson Tide. If Penn State doesn’t get a lot of value out of this game, and doesn’t receive the kind of quarterbacking it’s looking for, the trip to Bama will be a sleepless one for JoePa and Company. Perhaps Penn State will be sluggish at the start of this game; by the end of the first quarter, the engine needs to start rolling.

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