Some Things I Just Don't Understand

Three sporting events dominated my weekend: Penn State hosting Purdue, the Flyers hosting the Kings and the Eagles taking on the Redskins. In all three instances, things I just don't understand kept happening.



I don't understand Penn State still insisting on playing two quarterbacks now seven games into the season. I don't understand why some people felt the need to boo Mike Richards every time he touched the puck. And I don't understand anything about the Eagles at all.

Let's start with Penn State's hideous 23-18 victory over Purdue, which had plenty more things I just don't understand beyond the quarterback situation — though that's exactly where we must start.

I'm as guilty as anyone in flip-flopping on the Rob Bolden vs. Matt McGloin debate. After the Alabama game, I was convinced Bolden was the guy. But as the season has gone on, it's become abundantly clear in my eyes that McGloin is the better option. Chris Spielman and Urban Meyer both endorsed McGloin as impartial outside observers, and everyone who watches this team outside of the locker room sees the same thing: the offense moves the ball better and has more confidence with McGloin under center.

After outshining Bolden for weeks and essentially finishing off the game against Iowa in the second half, damn near everyone thought the quarterback carousel would finally be over. McGloin is the starter, Bolden the backup and that's that. So of course on Saturday, Rob Bolden trots out for the opening series and handles the duties in the first quarter as usual, and the carousel continues. Unreal.

Bolden led Penn State down the field on its first scoring possession with two big plays through the air, both to Brandon Moseby-Felder, but after that, he looked lost yet again. Those were his only two completions of the game, and the offense really couldn't do anything with him in the game after that.

McGloin on the other hand led Penn State on the remainder of its scoring drives, and the coaches clearly showed more confidence in him by dialing up much more pass plays for the junior. Don't get me wrong, McGloin is far from perfect at this point. His numbers weren't very good (8-17 for 145) and he threw an absolutely horrible, stupid interception, but it's clear this offense moves better with him out there. I don't understand why a team that is still in the mix in the Big 10 continues to rotate quarterbacks. I just don't.



One explanation that was given during the game is that Joe Paterno said one of his biggest coaching regrets is the way he handled the Pat Devlin-Darryl Clark situation, in which he ultimately picked Clark as the starter, which led Devlin to transfer to Delaware. Obviously it would have been nice to keep Devlin around, especially to be the unquestioned starter as a fifth-year senior last season. But the simple fact that Paterno regrets how he handled the decision to go with Darryl Clark proves to me that Joe really can't be involved in the big decisions anymore. How could a coach regret picking a guy who won a Big 10 title and had two 11-win seasons? He made the right choice picking Clark, and he needs to make a choice for this team. Yet he won't and it's hurting the offense far more than it's helping.

I also don't understand, even though it worked, why on earth Penn State went for it on 4th-and-1 with less than 2 minutes left and up 5 at the Purdue 10 instead of kicking the chip shot field goal to go up 8. I know Penn State picked up the first and won the game, and I know that Penn State's defense is good, but if they would have been stopped, Purdue could have won the game with a touchdown. And as hard as it is to score on this Penn State defense, Purdue would have had more than a minute and a half left, and the Boilermakers had hit on some big plays already. All it would have taken was a stop and one big play for Purdue to upset Penn State. Had they kicked the field goal to go up 8, there was virtually no possible way the Nittany Lions could lose in regulation. Baffling decision to me, even though it worked.

I also don't understand how tossing a ball up in the air after a big play because you're excited constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct, but that's what happened Chaz Powell, a la Jake Locker.





What I do understand is that Silas Redd is turning into everything expected of him. The sophomore running back had his third straight 100-yard game, proving to be a workhorse and Penn State's best offensive player with 131 yards on 28 carries. After a slow start to the season, the offensive line is finally giving Redd some holes to run through, and he's making the most of them. That guy is good.

I also understand that Justin Brown has star potential. With Derek Moye out, Brown stepped up to lead Penn State with 4 catches for 86 yards, including an absolutely sensational catch before McGloin threw his inexplicable interception.



He is definitely my favorite player on this team.

I also have to give huge praise to Anthony Fera. After doing his time for some off-the-field trouble, the do-it-all kicker/punter is showing why he was so highly regarded coming out of high school. Fera once again hit all three field goals, continuing to be perfect this season, boomed a few kickoffs and averaged 44.5 yards per punt, including an absolutely awesome 69-yarder that was downed at the Purdue 1 on a nice play by Nick Sukay.

And as always, Devon Still and Jordan Hill were beasts, though the defense wasn't on its A game this week. And that game was incredibly painful to watch. A not very good Purdue team hung with Penn State for 60 minutes. That's not good. I have to think this is the worst 6-1 team I've ever seen. For real.

I honestly couldn't wait for the game to be over just so I no longer had to watch it. Viewing Penn State is extremely unpleasant right now, even with that 6-1 record.

Thankfully I had something other than drinking to look forward to because for a nightcap I attended Mike Richards' homecoming to Philadelphia.



It was, of course, a homecoming for several former Flyers, as the Kings employ Justin Williams, Simon Gagne, Terry Murray, John Stevens and Ron Hextall in addition to the former captain. And as it turns out, the former Flyers had a huge hand in the outcome, with Justin Williams scoring two goals, Gagne notching an assist and Richards setting up the overtime game-winner in vintage Mike Richards fashion.

The game itself was a good, tough contest. Even though the Flyers suffered their first loss of the season, they still picked up a point, played a pretty good game and lost a tough one to a good team. Danny Briere and Matt Carle both tallied on the power play, and the Flyers had plenty of chances, outshooting the Kings 34-26. But they just couldn't quite finish it off.

The game itself was sort of secondary to be honest. This was more about Richards' return and the reaction he would get. When he was named as a starter prior to the game, he got a pretty nice ovation. After the first stoppage in play, the Flyers then put up on the jumbotron a note welcoming Richards back along with an announcement from the PA system. That's when he received a rousing, thrilling standing ovation from the crowd, us Flyers fans showing our appreciation for all the hard work Richards put in during his time in Philadelphia.



That was a moment to be proud of, though that feeling didn't last all that long for me. Why? Because after that initial show of appreciation, a good number of fans decided to boo Richards the remainder of the game every time he touched the puck the way they do when Sidney Crosby comes to play in Philadelphia, and frankly, I just don't get it.

Listen, I'm not going to say people were wrong for booing Richards or shouldn't have done it — after all, I wrote this. If you want to boo, by all means boo. I just don't understand it. I really don't. What is there to boo about Richards? The fact that he liked to drink and maybe wasn't the most vocal leader? All right, I guess. But I don't really get that when you look at the indisputable facts: Mike Richards played really, really hard every game he took the ice here in Philadelphia, he played in all situations, he was one of the game's best two-way forwards, he was the best penalty killer on the team, he threw crushing body checks, he was a really good player, and he wanted to stay here. He loved Philadelphia. He never said a bad word about the organization or the fans. He signed what he thought was a lifetime contract because he wanted to be here. I'm not sure what reason there is to boo a guy like that.

Sure, he wasn't perfect, but he was really good, worked really hard and loved being a Flyer. Doesn't make sense to me to boo him for that. He didn't ask to be traded. And I didn't see anyone booing Gagne or Williams, two other guys who were traded away.

I could understand booing him if he scored or something like that, because after all, he is no longer a Flyer. But to treat him with the same type of contempt as Crosby, a heated rival, I just don't get it.

Such is life. And regardless, it didn't seem to affect Richards' play. He was his normal self, doing a masterful job on the PK for L.A., manning the point on the power play, doing great work at both ends of the ice, and in my humble opinion playing as well, if not better, than anyone on the ice. He also had a Mike Richards special, leveling Jakub Voracek.



And he of course set up the game-winner with the primary assist on a perfect slap pass.



It was a little bit of poetic justice. And no matter what goes on moving forward, I will always be a Mike Richards fan. Of course, I'm a Flyers fan first and foremost, so booing that assist I completely understand. It's giving him the Crosby treatment that baffles me.

Then there is the Eagles. Winning that game yesterday was a very Eagles thing to do, bringing everyone back in just when you thought they were dead. And they did it all as some bizarro team.

We grew accustomed this season to the defense playing terrible football, especially the safeties, with the corners underachieving and the run defense as a sieve. Only the pass rush lived up to the hype. So naturally on Sunday, the defense played really well, surrendering just 13 points and forcing four turnovers. The safeties actually stood out, with Kurt Coleman playing the game of his life, picking off Rex Grossman three times, and Nate Allen continuing to look better and healthier, also intercepting Grossman. The corners took away the receivers, as only tight end Fred Davis could find any room to roam, and Nnamdi Asomugha even took out Chris Cooley with a vicious hit, finally deciding to do something during this 2011 season.



Furthermore, the run defense was impeccable, holding Washington to just 42 yards on the ground. Only the pass rush looked lackluster with Trent Cole absent. Like I said, it was a bizarro performance.

The same could be said offensively to an extent as well. Brent Celek, who had been MIA ever since Mike Vick became the regular quarterback, finally broke out with a four-catch game and a score, including an acrobatic grab thanks to his own doing.



And in some odd twist of fate or Andy just playing a cruel trick on us, LeSean McCoy actually carried the ball 28 times as the Eagles won 20-13. He also added 2 catches for 13 yards. Go figure that when you give your best player the ball 30 times you actually win. Seriously, LeSean should be touching the ball 25-35 times every week. The guy is the best player on the team.



This week, he did, and the Eagles won. At some point this year, he'll only get 9 or 11 carries, like he did the last two weeks, and the Eagles will lose, and you just won't understand.

That's the way of the world, I guess. Some things you just won't understand.

The 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions: More Questions Than Answers

For a lot of people on this planet, their favorite time of year is summertime.



The end of summer is often met with trepidation: kids not ready to go back to school, adults dreading the winter months ahead, and vacation days getting all used up. But not me. No. I don't dread the end of summer days, because summer is not my favorite time of the year, as awesome as it is.

This, the ushering in of fall, this is my favorite time of the year. I know we're still several weeks away from the official start of fall, but in reality, once Labor Day comes and goes, summer is over for all intents and purposes. And frankly, I cannot wait.

The reason is simple: The end of summer means the start of football season. The weather is fantastic, with cool, comfortable nights and sunny days. Baseball heads into the home stretch, with the playoffs right around the corner. Hell, in a few short weeks the Flyers will begin lacing them up, and if there was no lockout, we'd even be talking about how underwhelming the Sixers look yet again. Fall is the culmination of sports fandom, with literally every major sport under the sun taking place.

But most important of all, football starts, meaning my weekends are no longer free. Honestly, there are few things in this world if anything at all that I enjoy more than laying on my couch from the moment I wake up until nightfall watching college football on Saturday and the NFL on Sunday. And tonight, it all begins, as 28 teams kick off the college football season tonight, highlighted here in Philadelphia with the annual Temple-Villanova battle at the Linc.



So with college football just a mere few hours away, now seems like the perfect time to preview my alma mater.

Coming off a disappointing 2010 that saw them finish 7-6, the Nittany Lions are looking to rebound in the new-look Big 10 (12). But honestly, this season brings on more questions than answers. Just looking at the depth chart Penn State released for the opener against Indiana State, you can see a roster filled with potential … and mystery.

The glaring and most obvious question comes under center. Will it be sophomore Rob Bolden or the former walk-on, junior Matt McGloin?



The depth chart does us no favors, as both are expected to play Saturday in what looks to be an audition. What we know about the two quarterbacks is that Bolden showed enough promise and poise last summer to be named as the first true freshman starting quarterback in game 1 under Joe Paterno, only to be supplanted by the fiery Matt McGloin after being injured. In his first few games, Bolden justified the confidence the coaching staff had in him. Even as Penn State got rolled down in Alabama, Bolden didn't look rattled or out of place in Tuscaloosa. But as the season wore on, Bolden's numbers got worse and the offense became stagnant.

And when Bolden went down, enter McGloin to ignite the offense. There is no disputing that with McGloin under center, the Nittany Lions seemed more alive on offense. The red-head clearly took command of the huddle and was a leader. And in the first few outings, he played really well. Then, he didn't. At all.

Without question, McGloin had better command of the team when he played last season, but the more he started, the more evident it became that he simply does not have the talent and physical tools of Bolden. Worse yet, he brought a gunslinger attitude that resulted in a flurry of horrendous interceptions. Honestly, in the bowl game, McGloin was the worst player on the field.

Yet where McGloin was allowed to fail, the coaching staff seemed to punish Bolden for those same mistakes. After he returned from injury, he was given only one chance to reclaim his spot, and it was only a half at that. From there, Penn State sunk or swam with McGloin, drowning miserably against Florida due to god-awful quarterback play. The most disappointing part to me was that as McGloin was literally giving that game away, Bolden just sat and watched from the sidelines, never having his number called.

That resulted in Bolden seeking yet ultimately being denied a transfer, and to be perfectly honest, I didn't blame him. Don't get me wrong, I wanted Bolden to stay and compete for the starting job this year, but I could hardly blame the kid. Here he was, the supposed starter in his developmental year, banished to the sideline as his backup struggled as much or more than he ever did last season.

Thankfully, Bolden did stay and recommit himself to the program. Now I'm hoping he gets the reigns as the starter in 2011. Bolden walked into a lion's den in Alabama and did reasonably well against one of the best teams in the nation. And while he struggled with the rest of the team before being supplanted, he showed that something is there. As well as McGloin played at first, he ended the season showing why he was a walk-on in the first place, tossing 8 interceptions in the last four games, including a comically bad 5 picks in the bowl game against Florida.

McGloin may be the better leader right now and the more confident guy, but he simply isn't as good. People tend to forget Bolden was a true freshman last year. He made true freshman mistakes. McGloin was a red-shirt sophomore who simply took too many chances, especially for a guy without a great arm. If I had my way, Bolden would be the starter from start to finish this year barring injury, because I think he's the better football player. The problem is I don't know that, and neither do the coaches right now, which is why both are listed as the No. 1 and 1A on the depth chart.

Saturday, we'll begin to find out, but with the most important position on the field unsettled, we have no idea how the Nittany Lions will fare in 2011.

Of course, the questions don't stop there.

Sure, we know Penn State has weapons all over the place on offense that will be at the disposal of whatever quarterback is under center. Derek Moye has established himself as one of the better wide receivers in the conference. Justin Brown put up excellent numbers when the ball was actually thrown his way last year, and I think he has a chance to be the best Penn State receiver since Bobby Engram if things shake out.



But Brown now has to go out and prove it. Then there is Shawney Kersey, a surprise starter in the a three-wideout set. Kersey is a burner who also has size, and his rise to the top of the depth chart means the coaches expect him to learn from Moye and take over as his replacement in 2012. But the red-shirt sophomore has not seen much playing time, so we don't know exactly what we're going to get.

The receiving corps also has the speedy Devon Smith, who will be used everywhere, and another versatile burner in Curtis Drake. Of course, we have no idea what to expect from the West Catholic grad coming off injuries the past two seasons and again this offseason. Chalk him up as another question mark.

Of course, the guy getting the most hype on the offense is sophomore running back Silas Redd, now the clear starter, especially with Stephfon Green's troubles.



Redd wowed and electrified Penn State fans every time he touched the ball last season, giving hope that he's the next great Penn State running back. He certainly has the tools and the talent. But now he's got to prove it. Last season, he was behind Penn State's all-time leading rusher Evan Royster, and split the backup duties with Green. He played more as the year wore on, often looking like the best back on the team. But now as the No. 1, we have to see what he can do to carry the load. I expect him to have a tremendous year, but again, you never quite know.

Then of course there is the much-maligned offensive line. The good news is there is not too much turnover on the line, meaning another season of cohesion should make for a better unit. The bad news is that a line that struggled to block the better defensive fronts it saw and that couldn't really get much push in the run game lost its best player, Stefen Wisniewski, who is currently on the Oakland Raiders.

No matter how much talent the offense has, and no matter who is under center, this team will only go as far as the line takes it. And frankly, we have no idea how this offensive line will fare.

The defense poses its own questions. The only thing we know for sure is that the secondary is the best unit on the entire team and perhaps the best unit in the Big 10. D'Anton Lynn can flat-out play. Stephon Morris has shown a ton of promise. And the depth is tremendous.

But even there, there are questions. Can Drew Astorino regain his form? The guy looked excellent two years ago, but last season he struggled, often getting run over by bigger, more physical players. Is Nick Sukay fully recovered and ready to go? Sukay is an excellent tackler, but if he's even a step slow, it could hurt the Lions. The good news is they have Malcolm Willis to back up either guy, a player who did a very nice job when Sukay went down last year.



Honestly, I expect Willis to get on the field a lot, maybe even finish as a starter.

Also, there is the question of Chaz Powell starting opposite Lynn. Powell had an up-and-down season after moving from receiver to DB. But he has the size and the tools to be a good corner, and by all accounts he's looked great this summer. That's a good thing, but even if Powell struggles, Morris is there to step in, and I expect him to rebound as well from a sophomore slump last season. Also, the immensely talented Derrick Thomas is waiting in the wings so long as he can stay out of the doghouse.

That may sound like a lot of questions for what's supposedly the best unit on the team, but even with that, damn near everyone expects Penn State's secondary to be as good as any in the conference. The real questions lie in the front 7.

Is Mike Mauti the next in line to carry on the tradition of Linebacker U? He certainly has shown the promise when healthy, but now he has to stay healthy. With the inexperienced Glenn Carson and Gerald Hodges also slated to start, Mauti must be the leader. The good news is, as always, the talent level at linebacker is insane. Carson has been so good that he's pushed Khairi Fortt, who saw plenty of playing time last year, to the backup role. That's good news because Fortt is a very good player, so Carson must have really shown the coaches something. Hodges is fast and strong and has good instincts. He's nowhere near as good as Navorro Bowman yet, but one day he may be. And waiting their turns are Mike Hull, one of the most recruited linebackers in the country, Fortt and Nate Stupar, an experienced player who has had his fair share of good games.

So linebacker is a question to a degree, but Penn State has too many good players there for it to be a weakness.

The defensive line may be another story. Jack Crawford came on like gangbusters as a freshman but has done nothing but regress since. He has to put it together for the defensive line to get pressure. Devon Still needs to become a force the way Jared Odrick was, or at least a leader like the departed Ollie Ogbu. Eric Latimore must show he has something else besides a speed rush. Without him and Crawford getting some pressure on opposing QBs and keeping contain against the run, not even the talented secondary can be expected to thrive.

Beyond that, Jordan Hill, James Terry, DaQuan Jones and Sean Stanley will all rotate to keep players fresh, and Larry Johnson Sr. always has his guys ready to play. But if everyone doesn't make significant strides from last season, this defense won't reach its full potential. Last year, Penn State really struggled to get consistent push and pressure from the front four, and playing a zone defense, that allowed opposing quarterbacks to pick them apart. That can't happen in 2011. If it does, the talented secondary will be wasted.

Honestly, I'd love to see Tom Bradley move more toward man coverage given the talent he has in the defensive backfiled, but I don't expect it. Lynn, Powell, Morris and Thomas are all guys who should be able to lock up receivers. Unfortunately, that's not how Penn State rolls. But if the defensive line can't get pressure, Bradley may have to go man so those soft spots in the zone aren't there and learn to live with the results.

When you put it all together, it's really hard to gauge where Penn State stands in big scheme of things, and that's without even mentioning the work-in-progress that is the special teams.

In all honesty, I can see this team losing as few as one game if things pan out for them or as many as five games if not. They have enough potential and talent in a down Big 10 to have a shot at making the inaugural Big 10 championship game, but there are enough question marks that could go the wrong way for them to finish in the middle of the pack.

Looking at the schedule, they absolutely should start the season 4-1 at worst. There's no way this team should lose to Indiana State, Temple, Eastern Michigan or Indiana, though I fully expect them to fall to Alabama at home in the second game of the season. The true measuring stick to me will be the Oct. 8 game against Iowa, Penn State's biggest thorn in their side the past decade. If they lose to Iowa, things could spiral out of control, especially with the murderer's row of Nebraska, at Ohio State and at Wisconsin to close out the season. Lose to Iowa and this team very well could finish 7-5 in the regular season, another spectacularly mediocre and disappointing season.

But if they beat Iowa and gain confidence, then roll through Purdue, Northwestern and Illinois before hosting Nebraska, they could be a dangerous team, perhaps finding a way to win two of those last three games or even all three.

Obviously, I have no idea how this all going to play out. Personally, if I had to guess, I'd say this team finishes the regular season at 9-3, losing to Alabama and then dropping two of those final three games. But you never know given the turmoil surrounding Ohio State, Nebraska's first foray into the Big 10 and Wisconsin never quite being the cream of the crop even when expected to be.

Still, I expect, as do the pollsters, that Nebraska and Wisconsin will be the best two teams in the conference, and unfortunately Penn State plays both of them. But hey, you never know what can happen once the players take the field.

What I do know is I can't wait for tonight and especially for Saturday.

Evaluating the 6 Penn State Players to Watch in 2010

Way back in early Auguest, when I was still thinking that Kevin Newsome would be the heir apparent to Daryll Clark, I gave you 6 Penn State players to watch in 2010. With the up-and-down 7-5 season now officially over and the Nittany Lions poised for a mediocre bowl, now is as good a time as any to look back on those players and see how they fared. For the most part, not good.

Curtis Drake



There was probably no offensive player I was more excited to see this season than the sophomore wide receiver out of West Catholic. Sadly, his season was over before it started. Drake, who was expected to be a key player with big-play ability for this young team, broke his leg in August and wound up red-shirting.

The good news is he'll be back next season with sophomore eligibility, and with Brett Brackett and Graham Zug graduating, he should have a very big role in the offense.

Justin Brown



Heading into this season, there wasn't another Nittany Lion I had higher hopes for than sophomore wideout Justin Brown. Something about the kid just screams future star. And while his numbers weren't great playing on an inconsistent offense that started with a true freshman under center and finished with a fiery, former walk-on sophomore calling the plays, Brown didn't disappoint.

He finished the season third on the team in receptions (31) and receiving yards (439) and second only to Derek Moye in yards per catch (14.2). And he was a big part in Moye having such a fantastic year, forcing defenses to focus on him as much as Moye, leaving the 6'5 junior in single coverage quite often.

In truth, the numbers don't tell the whole story for Brown. Playing in an offense that foolishly rotated receivers seemingly every play, Brown didn't get the opportunities the player of his ability should. No offense to Graham Zug (OK, offense to him), Brett Brackett and even speedster Devon Smith, but none of those guys should have been getting as many snaps and targets as Brown. He proved that as the season wore on, saving his best games for last. In the final three contests, Brown averaged 5 catches and over 73 yards receiving a game. Against Ohio State, he led Penn State with 5 catches for 64 yards and hauled in his lone touchdown of the season. He followed that up with four catches for 50 yards against Indiana, and then had a career day in the finale against Michigan State, leading all receivers with 6 catches for 106 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.

The future is quite bright for Justin Brown. Hopefully the coaching staff stops jerking him around, leaving him on the field and calling his number. The duo of Brown and Moye, not to mention the return of Curtis Drake as the slot receiver, should make whoever is under center in 2011 quite pleased.

Shawney Kersey



It was quite the, um, interesting year for Shawney Kersey, a red-shirt freshman track star with good size. He started out the season getting very little playing time. Then he reportedly went MIA, and his days as a Nittany Lion seemed over. Then he came back a week later, and not only that, he actually played in the very next game. I'm not entirely sure what this all means, but I really hope Kersey sticks around.

While he got very little playing time, doing most of his work on special teams coverage, Kersey did show some flashes. One a nice reverse and the other a 26-yard kick return. Clearly the kid is a work in progress and has some growing up to do, but the talent is undeniable. It won't be much easier for him to find playing time in 2011 with Brown and Moye entrenched as the starters, Drake presumably being the steady No. 3 receiver and Devon Smith being shuffled in and out, but he will get his opportunity if he works hard and shows the coaches he wants it. Plus, as a sophomore-eligible player, he can put himself in good favor with the coaching staff to be in position to take over when Moye and Brown are gone. We'll have to wait and see.

D'Anton Lynn



Penn State's defense was not very good this year, and that's putting it politely. The front seven was the worst I can remember since I've been following the team, and the secondary had its moments of being exposed as well. But the one constant was D'Anton Lynn, who was far and away the best, most consistent player on the Penn State defense.

The ultimate sign of respect a corner can get is for the opposing quarterback to avoid him, instead choosing to attack the other side. That's routinely what happened against Penn State, with opposing quarterbacks rarely looking to Lynn's side of the field. He was one of the few sure tacklers on the team, and he did a very nice job in coverage. That's not to say he was perfect. No one on this defense was, Lynn included. He got beat a few times, made a few bad reads, but all corners do. The trick is to limit those mistakes, and there isn't another defender on the Penn State roster as good as Lynn at doing that. He earned every bit of his Honorable Mention for the All-Big Ten team. Glad he'll back for another go of it next year as a senior.

Stephon Morris



I'm not even sure if I can possibly put into words how incredibly disappointed I am with the way Stephon Morris's sophomore season went. As a freshman, Morris was an aggressive, attacking corner who earned his way onto the field and stole early-season playing time from talented senior A.J. Wallace, firmly entrenching himself as the third corner in 2009 and presumed starter opposite of Lynn in 2010. With all three starting linebackers gone and Jared Odrick earning first-round money, the one thing I was certain of was that Penn State would have a pair of tremendous corners. I couldn't wait to see Morris and Lynn shut down the passing game.

But somewhere along the lines, the diminutive defensive back who played much bigger than his size as a freshman started to shy away from contact. Where he would aggressively attack a receiver and make damn near every tackle as a freshman, Morris was passive and undisciplined as a sophomore. One game of embarrassing tackle attempts that made Asante Samuel disgusted, and that was all she wrote for Morris. The coaches lost faith him, and he lost his starting job to Chaz Powell, a converted wide receiver. Not good, especially given that Powell — how can I say this politely? — completely and utterly sucked as a corner.

Hopefully it was just a sophomore slump, literally, for Morris and he can return to his 2009 form next year. Because I cannot go through a full season of Chaz Powell getting considerable playing time at defensive back. I need the aggressive, swagger-filled, confident Morris in 2011. So does Penn State.

Derrick Thomas



The presence of red-shirt freshman Derrick Thomas made my confidence in the Lions' secondary that much more inflated heading into the season, and early on he didn't disappoint. When Morris missed some time to injury or needed to be spelled, Derrick Thomas was there to fill the void and blanket receivers. To put it bluntly, he was pretty damn impressive in his first few games.

Then he and Sean Stanley, his roommate, got suspended before the Big Ten opener at Iowa, presumably for some of the green. That was pretty much it for Thomas, who didn't see the field again the rest of year despite showing so much promise early on. Again, hopefully this was a wake-up call for Thomas, he grows up and next year he comes back as the nickel corner or even challenges Morris for the starting spot opposite of Lynn. The kid was playing so damn well at the beginning of the season. You'd hate to see him throw it all away by perpetually being in the doghouse.

All in all, it wasn't the type of season I had hoped for these players or for the team as a whole. But I'll be keeping my eye on all of them again in 2011. Hopefully, the results for them individually and as a team are better come this time next year.

Boom Goes the Dynamite

The dynamite went boom on a couple occasions this weekend. Like Andre Iguodala blowing up Brian Cardinal on Friday night.



Of course, the Sixers still lost to the Mavericks and then followed that up with another loss in Texas, dropping to the Spurs on Saturday.

Since I decided to stay in and watch nothing but basketball on Friday to save some pesos, I then turned my attention to the Thunder-Blazers game, and I'm glad I did. With Portland leading late, Durant went the hell off to lead Oklahoma City to the come-from-behind win.



Boom goes the dynamite indeed.

Boom went the dynamite in a couple of senses Saturday afternoon in Columbus as well. Boom, as in the Nittany Lions inexplicable dominating the first half on both sides of the ball and building a 14-3 halftime lead that should have been 17-3. It was stunning.

After Ohio State got a big play on a 49-yard completion from Terrelle Pryor to DeVier Posey to set up a field goal, Penn State took over thanks in large part to the spark plug former walk-on quarterback Matt McGloin and a motivated offensive line.



Under Joe Paterno, Penn State had never thrown a touchdown pass in the Horseshoe, never scored more than 13 points and has only won once. Yet in the span of 17 minutes, Matt McGloin had reversed two of those three trends and looked be on his way to bucking all of them. After a quick three-and-out on the first possession, McGloin engineered back-to-back touchdown drives of 75 and 82 yards, both of which were capped off by touchdown passes by the sophomore. The first was a just-in-the-nick-of-time release to Justin Brown, who embarrassed a linebacker on a wheel route.



Brown was featured well on the drive, catching three straight passes — an 11-yarder, 12-yarder and the touchdown — proving he has the playmaking ability to be a stud. He led all receivers with five catches for 64 yards. Of course, he saw the ball very little in the second half. Please, for the love of god just Free Justin Brown.

The second touchdown was to Derek Moye, who again had a great first half and like the rest of the team disappeared in the second half. McGloin was fired up and playing nearly flawless football, blowing up on the national scene. Penn State was being aggressive, converting on two fourth downs and stunningly had the lead.

Up 14-3 with less than two minutes left and facing a 4th and one at the Ohio State 20, Penn State had a chance to go up two touchdowns with a field goal. But sticking with the aggressiveness they showed the entire half, they elected to go for it. At the time, I didn't agree with it — kick it and go up 14 — but I have to applaud the coaches for trusting the guys and going for the jugular. Penn State was a huge underdog, playing in the Horseshoe, and if they convert there and get another touchdown to go up 21-3 before the half, it would have been huge. Sadly, they didn't pick it up, as Silas Redd was stuffed for no gain, and that proved to be a bad omen for the rest of the game.

Penn State played about as good as it possibly could in that first half. Sustaining it was going to be tough, and you knew Ohio State was going to come out of the gate roaring in the second half. When Penn State's opening drive stalled, that's exactly what happened. Ohio State marched 96 yards in 12 plays to make it 14-10. And it was all because of another Boom, this time Boom Herron.

On a crucial third and 6 at their own 8, Pryor hit Herron in the flat. Bani Gbadyu was in position to make the tackle and prevent the first down, but Herron made him look foolish, juked him and got the first. That's nothing new, Gbadyu failing to make a play. In fact, he really hasn't made a single play in four years. Then Herron went on to score the touchdown that made it a four-point game, and he did nothing but dominate from there. When it was all said and done, Herron finished with 190 yards rushing on 21 carries, gashing the Lions to help lead to 35 unanswered points from the Buckeyes.

But the game didn't completely turn on that 96-yard drive. No, it turned four plays later, when Matt McGloin made an absolutely horrific decision, trying to hit Michael Zordich out of the backfield but instead hitting Devon Torrence right in the hands for a pick-six, 17-14 Ohio State. The game was over right there, as McGloin completely blew up. After a brilliant first half for McGloin and his team, that play changed it all.

From there, McGloin looked every bit like the former walk-on he is, throwing another pick-six and completely failing to do anything in the second half. He made terrible decisions, terrible throws and got absolutely no help from his teammates or coaches. Ohio State played about as well as they could in the second half, just as Penn State had played its best in the first. The difference is Penn State's best this year was only good enough for a 14-3 lead, while Ohio State's best was able to win the second half 35-0.

Penn State had to play perfect to beat the Buckeyes. For 30 minutes, they did. Then boom went the dynamite, as McGloin blew up and Boom Herron led the charge for Ohio State to dominate and win going away.



Finally, boom went the Flyers with yet another victory, this time a 5-2 win over the Panthers that included two goals apiece by Mike Richards and Claude Giroux to help celebrate Jeff Carter and his 11-year contract extension with the Flyers.

While it was Carter making headlines before the game with his contract, it was a pair of other centers stealing the show. Giroux has been nothing short of amazing all year, and he continued that with a pair of goals Saturday night, one of which came on a breakaway.



The moment he blocked the shot, I said, "That's a goal," and never even questioned the statement. I honestly can't remember ever seeing Giroux miss on a breakaway, and he certainly didn't there. The guy is simply unreal.

And he wasn't alone. Because with Giroux enamoring the fan base and Carter inking his long deal, it was the captain who continued to lead the way.

Matt P. said it better than I ever could when it comes to Richards. The start of his tenure as captain may have been rocky, but I don't think there's any question now that he's the right man to wear the C. He's unselfish, willing to sacrifice his body and more than willing to share the spotlight with the Girouxs, Carter, Brieres and Bobrovskys on this team. A year ago, his leadership was in question all the way up until that exhilarating playoff run. Now, he's the unquestioned leader of a club that currently sits three points out of the top spot in the entire NHL.

An Ugly-Looking Win

My weekend started off on the wrong foot. I got stuck late at work, on a Friday, causing me to miss the first two innings of my softball game. And I was only the 9th guy to show up, meaning we were playing down two guys, and now still were down one and had to surrender an out every time the 10th spot came up. Needless to say, we lost. I was pissed from being caught at work, pissed for being late and pissed at losing.

Then I had to get up all sorts of early on Saturday to drive out to State College with my dad and watch that sorry excuse for a football game that was Temple vs. Penn State.





My dad and I stopped at Wawa on the way up, got some grub and headed out west. Things were going great until we got near that stupid merge to one lane getting toward Boalsburg. Sweet christ do I hate merge points. Still, we make it through with plenty of time to spare, make a pit stop to pee and grab some beer, then try to locate some prime parking spots. Sadly, Eisenhower is full. So is my secret lot off-campus that apparently is no longer a secret. So finally, my dad gives up and heads toward the "football parking." When we get there, way back behind the track, it costs 40 god damn dollars to park, at least a half mile away from the stadium. I don't want to say my alma mater is screwing people with this outrageous price, but that's exactly what those bastards are doing.



Forty dollars? Get the fuck out of here. I will never park in those lots without a pass. Ever. My dad's a sucker.

Anyway, we doled out the cash, ate our hoagies and then went to meet up with my aunt and uncle, who were tailgating with my cousin. We exchanged pleasantries, relaxed for a little, and then I ventured inside. This was the first game I've attended since giving up my season tickets, so it was the first time I've taken in a Penn State game in somewhere other than section WBU in more than two years. And I gotta tell you, it was great. I sat in section WJU, which is on the same sideline as my former season tickets, but at the opposite end zone. The vantage point was basically the same, just from the other end of the field. But what made this so much more enjoyable was the fact that there was no Brokeback assholes starving for attention and begging people to acknowledge them. Far from it.



The people in section WJU were great. I was surrounded by knowledgeable fans, none of whom were there to get on the big screen or to make people notice them. No, all of these people were there for one reason and one reason only: to watch the game. And I found myself agreeing with most of what the people around me were saying, especially the guy in front of me. Really, really great section. I forgot what it's like to go to a Penn State game and have good people around you. It was awesome. What wasn't awesome was this shitty game.

Now, there was a lot of talk about how this was finally the year Temple had a real shot to take down Penn State. Having watched both teams a good amount over the past two years, I had my doubts. Sure, Temple has two extremely talented running backs, and yes, the Owls' defense is very good. But their quarterback, Chester Stewart, is awful, and even Penn State in transition is still Penn State. I knew Temple would give the Nittany Lions a game, but I expected Penn State to be in control the entire way and win by something like 10 to 14 points.

Well, if you look at the numbers and the numbers alone, that's what you would think happened because Penn State dominated in a 22-13 nail-biter:

Penn State outgained Temple 439 yards to 202 yards.

Evan Royster rushed for 187 yards on 24 carries.

Robert Bolden completed 18-of-28 passes for 223 yards with no interceptions.

Temple quarterback Chester Stewart completed 8-of-19 passes for 46 yards and 3 INT.

Penn State had 20 first downs to Temple's 8.

Penn State forced four turnovers and only gave up the ball once.

Penn State ran 74 offensive plays to Temple's 51

On top of that, Penn State finally freed Justin Brown somewhat, as the immensely talented sophomore led all receivers with 84 yards, averaging 21 yards a catch. Of course, he should have gotten the ball more than four times, but at least they threw to him enough to post some good yardage.

With all that said, you wouldn't expect the game to be as close as this one was. But after taking the opening drive and putting up a field goal, Penn State started a long, painful march of shooting themselves in the foot. Evan Royster, who started the game with a 50-yard run to help set up the field goal, fumbled on the first play of the second possesion, giving Temple the ball at Penn State's 28. Two plays later, Bernard Pierce was waltzing into the end zone to give the Owls a 7-3 lead. After following that up with a field goal to answer, Temple marched 75 yards in six plays, again capped by another Pierce touchdown, to give Temple a surprising 13-7 lead (North Penn's own Brandon McManus missed the extra point).

The offense was stagnant and predictable. Penn State hardly threw on first down, Temple would sell out on the run and the Nittany Lions would be facing a second and long time and time again. Then, once they moved down toward the red zone, they'd go into a shell, taking no shots and doing no damage. The one time they actually let Robert Bolden take a shot downfield, he hit Justin Brown for a 33-yard gain on a beautiful pump fake-double move. It was literally the only time in the first half the team took a shot down field, despite the fact they have the 6'5 Derek Moye, a player who has proven to be a good deep threat, and Brown, a star in the making if they ever decide to unleash the kid.

Defensively, the defensive ends and outside linebackers were doing a terrible job of keeping contain, allowing Pierce and Matt Brown to get the corner time and time again. Jack Crawford, despite all the talent in the world, looks like he still has absolutely no idea how to play football. He was the biggest culprit of the day on not keeping contain, getting sucked in on damn near every snap. Bani Gbadyu is a fast guy who tries to play football. He's not a football player who just so happens to be fast. He's like the Samuel Dalembert of Penn State football — very talented and looks the part, but really has no understanding of the game. After that pathetic showing and four games of doing absolutely nothing, I think it's officially time to limit the playing time of Gbadyu and Chris Colasanti, another player who hasn't done dick since the first game of the season. Give that playing time to Khairi Fortt, and let him roam free with Nate Stupar and Mike Mauti.



Things just weren't going very well. It looked like the Lions were sleepwalking through the game. Then, Temple pinned Penn State all the back at their own 1, and things looked like they were going to go from bad to worse. That's when Penn State actually woke up a little. Joe Suhey and Evan Royster gave Bolden some breathing room, then he hit Justin Brown on consecutive plays for gains of 12 and 33 yards. Then he hit Brett Bracket to get down to Temple's 29, and it looked as though the Nittany Lions were finally in business. But then a sack, a predictable run that went nowhere and a short pass later, Penn State had to settle for yet another field goal, making it 13-9. Something was just off on offense.

Luckily, the defense picked it up. Nick Sukay, who I absolutely murdered after the Alabama game, made a great read to intercept Stewart. Sukay made another awesome interception later in the game, and in all honesty, the guy played one heck of a game. Gotta give him credit where credit's due. As a result of the pick, Penn State got the ball at Temple's 45 with 3:22 remaining in the half. Riding Evan Royster, who was having his best game of the season (fumble excluded) in the first half, Penn State got a first down and then faced a 3rd-and-2 at Temple's 26 with 1:14 to go. Bolden, trying to pick it up himself, got stuffed after picking up just 1.

Now it was decision time, though in my opinion it was no decision at all. Even as the stadium implored Joe to go for it, I knew better than that. Collin Wagner had already hit three field goals in the game, had looked good all season, and Penn State was struggling to get points. Kick the field goal, make it a one-point game and regroup at halftime. It was a no-brainer. I turned to my dad and said, "I'd kick it," adding, "What has Penn State done so far that made anyone believe they could score a touchdown and not screw this up?" Yet Paterno and Galen Hall decided to go for it, got stuffed on fourth down and went into the half trailing 13-9. It made no sense. None at all. And I was pretty pissed about it.

Just like I was pissed that Penn State stopped taking shots down the field, and growing even more pissed that they weren't going to Justin Brown, who had gained 45 yards the two times they actually did get him the ball.

I'd be lying if I said the second half was much better offensively. It wasn't. Not until a 4th-quarter touchdown drive that came basically with Penn State finally doing everything I said they should have been doing all along, though to be fair to the coaches and the skill players, this offensive line really does suck, especially at run blocking.

Thankfully, the defense shook off the cobwebs from the first quarter, played much better in the second quarter and then pretty much dominated in the second half, shutting out Temple from there on out and forcing two turnovers (three total). The defensive ends and linebackers played much more disciplined and stayed in their lanes, Bernard Pierce hurt his ankle for the thousandth time since stepping foot on campus at North Broad, and the Cherry and White had nowhere to go. Nate Stupar and Mike Mauti were flying all over the field making plays, including some impressive tackles by Mauti and a big interception by Stupar that set up another field goal by Wagner.



Sophomore end Pete Massaro decided to distinguish himself from the very subpar play thus far by the defensive ends, flying off the ball to make several great plays in the backfield, record a couple sacks and almost kill Chester Stewart on the final play of the game. He most definitely earned himself a starting spot this weekend out in Iowa, supplanting either the disappointing Crawford or even more disappointed Eric Latimore.

The Nittany Lions did take care of business, taking the lead right before Stupar's pick on another Wagner field goal, and adding to it with Wagner's fifth field goal of the game. Then the game was finally iced with a 12-play, 96-yard beauty of a drive in the fourth quarter in which the coaches finally let Bolden open things up a little bit. On consecutive plays, including a first down!, Bolden hit Graham Zug for 19 yards and Brown for 12 yards. Then he hit Justin Brown again for 27 yards to get down near the end zone. If I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times, Free Justin Brown!



From there, wanting to milk the clock and get in the end zone, Penn State put the ball in Evan Royster's hands, picking up 17 yards. With the defense softened up and Royster acting as a decoy, fullback Mike Zordich picked up 11 of the final 15 yards including the final one, scoring the only touchdown of the game for Penn State and putting the game away.

My dad likes to say there's no such thing as an ugly win, only an ugly loss, and in many respects that's true. But I said to him, that may not have been an ugly win, but it sure as hell was an ugly-looking win. At times, Robert Bolden looked very much like a freshman, badly overthrowing receivers and missing open guys. Other times, the playcalling was so vanilla, especially given the number of weapons this offense has. And the offensive line is still a work in progress, even more so with right tackle Lou Eliades tearing his ACL.

Still, Royster had by far his best game, looking like his old self in racking up 187 yards on the ground. Justin Brown displayed the talent I've been saying all along he has, pretty demanding that Penn State look his way more often. And they took care of the football, especially Bolden — who also showed tremendous poise in a 15-13 game to march Penn State 96 yards and put it away — which is always a good thing.

Defensively, there is work to do there too. The defensive line generated very little pressure on their own, and the ends are a mess with the exception of Massaro. Ollie Ogbu and Devon Still are very good inside, but neither one will ever be mistaken for Jared Odrick. At the linebacker spot, Chris Colasanti and Bani Gbadyu just aren't getting it done. If it were up to me, Mauti, Stupar and Fortt, who has really looked good in limited action, should be the unquestioned starters and get the bulk of playing time. In the secondary, I love everything about the corners, with Lynn, Morris and Thomas blanketing everyone (Lynn's one time getting burnt, though not costing the team due to Stewart's incredibly far overthrow, notwithstanding), but the safeties still worry me. Sukay had a really good game Saturday, but he has to prove he can do that regularly. Drew Astorino sometimes looks really good, other times looks completely awful. In fact, Andrew Dailey started for him, and Dailey isn't really the answer either.

But again, there are positives. The defense has talent, and they shut out Temple after the first quarter one week after pitching a shut out for an entire game, showing they've put the Alabama debacle behind them.

I'd be lying, however, if I said I feel good about going into Iowa for a prime time game on Saturday. I fully expect the Hawkeyes to handle Penn State. I hope I'm wrong. I really do. Lord knows we owe them.



Also, there were reports that Shawney Kersey, one of the 6 Penn State players I told you to watch in 2010, stopped showing up to practice and may transfer. I made it a point to look for him during warmups on Saturday, and he was nowhere to be found with the wide receivers during the pregame drills.



Well, he's back at practice and hopefully he's sticking around, because the potential of the redshirt freshman joining forces with Justin Brown down the road is something awesome to consider.

6 Penn State Players to Watch in 2010

The 2010 Nittany Lions will be devoid of many familiar faces from 2009. Gone are all three starting linebackers, the quarterback and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.



It's no secret that the season depends most on Kevin Newsome taking the reigns from the departed Daryll Clark, the continued maturation of the offensive line, and how the defense manages to replace Jared Odrick, Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee. We all know the offense will rely heavily on Evan Royster and Stephfon Green, and as difficult as it is to replace three players taken in the first three rounds of the draft, Penn State always manages to churn out excellent defensive linemen and of course, as Linebacker U, linebackers.

As compelling as those stories are, the players I'll be keeping my eye on with more intrigue than any others for the most part aren't the focal point of discussion when it comes to Penn State in 2010. They don't play quarterback or running back or linebacker or either line. No, they are the guys at the skill positions, positions at which Penn State is actually loaded with talent. The wide receivers and cornerbacks. So without further ado, here are the players I'll be watching closely this season, and really pulling for to make a bigger impact than may be expected.

Offense
Curtis Drake, WR, SO



Throughout my lifetime, Penn State has had a steady stream of talented wide receivers, beginning with O.J. McDuffie, on to Bobby Engram, Freddie Scott, Chafie Fields, Bryant Johnson and the like. But it wasn't until the class of Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood came to State College along with Justin King that Penn State really started building a stable of wideouts. With that smurf trio leaving as the most accomplished wide receiving corps in school history, it was almost as if Penn State didn't miss a beat with Derek Moye, Graham Zug and Chaz Powell stepping in last season.

As good as those three were last year, none of them may be as physically talented as Curtis Drake and the next guy on my list. True, Drake, a high school quarterback at Philadelphia's own West Catholic, is listed at just 5'11, 169, but he has blazing speed and excellent skill. As the season wore on last year, the freshman began to show what he could do, displaying the speed and big-play ability that would excite anyone. And his versatility is a plus. Coming in as a quarterback, Drake can throw it a little bit, presenting the possibility to run some trick plays, and he's not averse to running out of the backfield either. You can line Drake up all over the place to cause matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. His enormous big-play potential, along with even more talented wide receivers coming up the ranks, has made Powell an offensive casualty, as last season's speedy wide receiver will move to defensive back this year coming off his broken arm.

I can't wait to see what Drake can do in 2010 with more playing time and touches.

Justin Brown, WR, SO



You know how some players just look the part? That's Justin Brown. Watching him on the field for warmups each and every game as a freshman last year, you couldn't help but ask yourself when that guy was going to get into the game. He just looks like an awesome football player, an awesome wide receiver. At 6'3, 208 lbs, he has NFL size, and in his limited time on the field in 2009, he showed NFL potential.

As excited as I am to see what Curtis Drake can do this year, I'm even more enamored with Justin Brown. He just may be the single most talented wide receiver on this roster, perhaps the most talented player on the entire offense. Or at least the potential to be. As good as Moye and Zug were last year, and they were both very good working with Daryll Clark, I think Justin Brown, given the opportunity, will be the best receiver on the team, and in time, I have no doubt he'll be better than both of them come his junior year. If you're looking for a potential star in the making on this team, look no further than Justin Brown.

Shawney Kersey, WR, SO/FR



Not quite as big as Justin Brown, the 6'1, 187-lb Shawney Kersey is fast. All sorts of fast. Like track star fast. Plus, it's not like 6'1 is small by any stretch of the imagination. Red-shirted last season, Kersey is another one that, while on the slender side, looks like a football player. And a good one. Admittedly, I haven't watched him as closely as I have Drake (who I've watched play since high school) and Brown (who came in highly touted and saw some action last season), but he's a guy that has some buzz around him and man, that speed.

Truth be told, with this Jersey kid joining Drake and Brown to form the next wave of talented wide receivers, Penn State looks to be set at the position for the foreseeable future. Let's just hope Kevin Newsome can get the ball to them, because I envision these guys doing great things with the football in their hands.

Given the entrenched status of Moye and Zug, Kersey especially may not see much time again this season, particularly with Drake and Brown looking to crack in the lineup to take Powell's time. But that doesn't make me any less excited about him. Or the rest of the receivers.

Defense
D' Anton Lynn, CB, JR



It took, oh, I don't know, one half of football last season for me to realize D' Anton Lynn was my next favorite Penn State defensive player. As a sophomore last year, the 6'1, 198-lb Lynn played steady, virtually mistake-free football at corner. Early in the season, most quarterbacks didn't even look his way, the sign of ultimate respect. As the season wore on, teams did start to throw his way more often, and there were definitely times where Lynn got caught off-guard, but for the most part, he was sound, reliable and, frankly, good.

He can cover. He can tackle. And he can hit. In fact, he's such a good player, such a smart guy and excellent tackler, that there have been murmurs of him moving to safety, in part to make room for the highly regarded cornerback Derrick Thomas, who we'll get to later. Lynn, no matter if he stays at corner or moves to safety, will help anchor an extremely talented Penn State secondary, one that won't be easy to beat on the outside.

Stephon Morris, CB, SO



As a true freshman, the diminutive Stephon Morris impressed so much that he challenged the highly recruited senior A.J. Wallace last year, and ultimately helped Wallace finally reach his potential, at least in some games. That's saying something at Penn State, a true freshman pushing for an entrenched senior's playing time, especially when that guy is small and physically looks more like a high school player than a college one.

But don't let Morris's size fool you. He has the speed and smarts to stay with anyone, and for a little guy, he wasn't afraid to get his nose dirty and make tackles. Surely his size will be a detriment against some of the Big 10's bigger, stronger receivers, but Morris isn't one to back down from a challenge either. Listed at 5'8, 182, he plays bigger than his size, and he will undoubtedly be starting at corner for Penn State in 2010. I expect Morris to do nothing but get better as a sophomore, and don't be surprised if he becomes an interception threat every game.

Derrick Thomas, CB, SO/FR



Whereas Stephon Morris looks like a midget out there on the field, Thomas is one of those guys that has the look of a football player, like Justin Brown. At 6'0, 174, he's the prototypical cornerback with excellent speed, NFL talent residing in potential that has yet to be unleashed. Thomas was red-shirted last season, but you can bet he will see the field plenty in 2010, especially if Tom Bradley gets his head out of his ass and brings in a third corner on passing downs instead of a third safety. Seriously, that shit pisses me the hell off, especially when last year they had Lynn, Morris and Wallace, and this year they have Lynn, Morris and Thomas.

Thomas to me is much like Justin Brown and Shawney Kersey. You can clearly see he has the potential, and if he puts it all together, works hard and listens to his coaches, he may have a chance to be the best of the bunch. Better than Lynn. Better than Morris. Only time will tell, but I have a feeling we won't have to wait to long to see him on the field.

Let's hope the same can be said for all of these guys, because they're the players I want to see, the players I look forward to watching and following as they develop at Penn State. They're the guys I'll be keeping my eye on.

Is it September 4th yet?