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Guest bpd115
Posted

I posted this in another thread here but you might miss it so,

Last year PSU was horrid...a train wreck. There were many contributing factors. We had a bunch of players who just expected to win and didn't have any heart. Joepa was distracted by the sudden loss of his younger brother, team discipline was gone by the wayside. It showed on the field.

This season the dead wood is gone from the program. Joepa committed himself to right the ship. It was back to the old days as far as discipline goes. So much as if you missed manditory team meals, you would be suspended or kicked off the team.

PSU has a shutdown corner in Alan Zemitis, strong at the saftey spots as well. Linebackers are probably the fastest ever seen at PSU, spearheaded by sophomore Paul Posluzney. Also listed on the depth chart is the No. 1 Linebacker recruit in the country, Dan Connor who enrolled at PSU in January to get a head start in the program. Defensive ends are fast and can get around the outside.

Offensivley we have 3 running backs, any of which would start in any other D1 school. Leading the way is Austin Scott who set the PA High School rushing mark with over 3,000 yards his senior year. As a freshman last year, he lead the team in rushing dispite battling mono for much of the year. Backing him up will be Tony Hunt and Rodney Kinlaw. Blocking for them will be Full back Paul Jefferson who paved the way for Larry Johnson in 2002. The offensive line is said to be the best PSU has had since 1998.

Quarterback is lead by Senior Zack Mills who has rewritten the PSU record books and is said to have had his strongest spring showing ever. Hampered by an injured shoulder and tendonitis in his throwing elbow for much of the last 2 seasons, Mills has said he is 100%. And ready to put PSU back on the map.

Also seeing time will be Junior Michael Robinson who is dangerous throwing as well as running.

PSU loses all 5 top pass catchers from last season, however that is not a bad thing. While a big time 'go to guy' has not emerged yet, the recievers, are said to be running crisper, tighter routes and not dropping anything that comes their way. Gone is last year's coach, Kenny Jackson. New WR coach Mike McQuery, former Lion Quarterback in '97, has given the WR group a new look at the position from the eyes of a QB. The WR and QBs are also practicing together this season. That is correct, last year the QBs and WR did not practice together. Look for the big plays from Terrel Golden and Terence Phillips while WRs Ryan Scott and Gerald Smith may be more posession recievers.

TE is a spot where PSU lost some catching ability however gained blocking. John Bronson is a big TE with soft hands. While not the deep threat of Matt Kranchick, Bronson can catch and bowl people over.

The PSU team of 2004 is a team with fire in their eyes as they are now underdogs of the college football world and are looking to smack some people in the mouth. This team was scarred by last year and will not tolorate the same on field break downs from last season.

Take it from me, this team is not taking anyone lightly and are chomping at the bit to get back out on that field.

There is no doubt that Charlie Frye is a good QB and will be drafted. However, one man does not beat a team by himself. Look at Drew Brees and big ten champ Purdue vs. PSU in 2000.

Good Luck Zips, enjoy Happy Valley, have a good time tailgating with us until 3:30 (unusually late for an opening game for us).... rock.gif

Posted

I appreciate the info. To be honest, I couldn't know less about this year's PSU team. Other than Mills, there's really no marquee names? Last time we played (1999), Lavar Arrington and Courtney Brown we houshold names.

BTW: If any PSU "lurkers" stop by...if you could give some advice on a good public lot to tailgate in, I'd appreciate it. :CK_brew:

Posted

I don't know much about PSU, but from the post listed above -- I can't see why they aren't the preseason no. 1. At least the preseason no. 1 in the Big Ten. It seems the whole team is the best they have ever had.

I'd be hard pressed to believe all three of their running backs would start anywher in Div. 1 and I'd be hard pressed to believe they have the fastest linebackers in the country or PSU history -- unless all there is fast. AJ Hawk and others at OSU are pretty impressive and I don't give them compliments often. Not to mention Lavar Arrington was there the last time we were there.

The QB setting all the records at PSU -- they never passed the ball this much or I'm sure it would have been more difficult.

Guest Guest
Posted
I don't know much about PSU, but from the post listed above -- I can't see why they aren't the preseason no. 1. At least the preseason no. 1 in the Big Ten. It seems the whole team is the best they have ever had.

I'd be hard pressed to believe all three of their running backs would start anywher in Div. 1 and I'd be hard pressed to believe they have the fastest linebackers in the country or PSU history -- unless all there is fast. AJ Hawk and others at OSU are pretty impressive and I don't give them compliments often. Not to mention Lavar Arrington was there the last time we were there.

Reason we are not preseason no. 1 or ranked anywhere is due to 2 things. Last season and the fact that most of the players mentioned (aside from Mills and Zemitis) haven't had a chance to show what they can do as a starter. Most of these guys were playing behind dead wood last year. They haven't had a chance to prove it yet.

When I say our linebackers are fast, I am not kidding. OSU has a great proven linebacking core. Ours I think can be just as good, they just haven't shown it yet.

And yes, Austin Scott, Tony Hunt and Rodney Kinlaw would be high on any depth chart by their senior years, if not sooner.

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