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1: Special Teams
2: Defensive Backs
3: Linebackers
4: Defensive LineDeOn'tae Pannell (50) is the leading candidate to take over at left tackle, replacing all-Big Ten performer Dennis Landolt. Can he live up to the recent standard of great Penn State left tackles? (photo: Mike Pettigano)
During the "dark years," Penn State's offensive line was the key under-performer for the Nittany Lions. But starting with the 2005 line, Penn State has put together solid to outstanding offensive fronts the last five seasons. Even during a "down" year in 2009, the line was light-years ahead of many units produced earlier this century.
Tackles
The absolute most unnerving situation along the offensive front this spring, Penn State loses both starting tackles from the 2009 campaign: All-Big Ten tackle Dennis Landolt, and mid-season starter at right tackle Ako Poti. The loss of Landolt has the potential to destabilize the entire line, as would the loss of any veteran left tackle. But making the problem worse, the Nittany Lions will start one of three or four quarterbacks this fall who have had little or no game experience. Oh, they're all right-handed, too, making the left side the blind side.
There is some hope, however, for the battle over left tackle. During the 2009 off-season, before Landolt was changed from right to left tackle, the front runner was DeOn'tae Pannell. The true sophomore from Michigan had some experience from backup duty in 2008, but was widely regarded as too green for such an important position up front. In 2009, Pannell started the first four games, but lost his job to Poti after a very poor performance against Iowa. He re-entered the starting lineup by the Indiana game, but at left guard, replacing Johnnie Troutman.
Pannell is probably the only offensive tackle that can expect to start this spring on the first team offensive line.
No. | Name | Pos. | Elig | Ht/Wt | High School | Coach |
50 | DeOn'tae Pannell | RT | JR | 6-5/300 | Southfield, Mich./Groves | Brendan Flaherty |
58 | Adam Gress | OL | rFR | 6-6/275 | West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin | Tim Brennan |
66 | Chimaeze Okoli | OL | rJR | 6-4/293 | Virginia Beach, Va./Salem | Robert Jackson |
75 | Eric Shrive | OL | rFR | 6-6/298 | Scranton, Pa./West Scranton | Mike DeAntona |
76 | Nate Cadogan | OL | rFR | 6-5/285 | Portsmouth, Ohio/Portsmouth | Curt Clifford |
78 | Mike Farrell | OL | rSO | 6-6/298 | Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy | Dave Havern |
Much-ballyhooed recruit Eric Shrive sustained a pre-season knee sprain last year, forcing him to redshirt the entire 2009 season. But all reports indicate that he's healed up well and ready to roll as leading candidate for right tackle. Shrive has never been solidly in the mix for left tackle, which could actually come out as a blessing this spring.
Competition for positions is usually a great thing, forcing players to work harder than the guy behind him. But on the offensive line, unit cohesion is everything; the sooner Penn State can set its five-man front, the better things will be this spring and fall. Shrive and Pannell are the assumed starters going into spring ball, giving this unit an early boost in the consistency column.
Behind them, however, it gets a bit foggy. While Shrive has the early lead on the right, it's at his position that I see the biggest chance for another player to break through to the starting lineup.
Adam Gress has reportedly impressed the coaching staff enough this winter to keep a watchful eye on the redshirt freshman this spring. Gress did not see action last year, part of a crop of young offensive linemen, including redshirt freshman Nate Cadogan, brought in with the 2009 recruiting class. Cadogan isn't considered the contender Gress is this spring, but has to be in the mix for playing time this fall as a backup.
Interestingly enough, one name not being mentioned as a serious candidate to start at tackle is redshirt sophomore Mike Farrell, who played in two games last fall. Aside from Pannell, Farrell is the only offensive tackle to have seen live game action in a Penn State uniform. I hate to count out any player, but from everything coming out of winter workouts, Farrell's best hope is for a great spring and a spot on the second-team line this fall.
The final piece of the tackle puzzle could be former defensive lineman Chimaeze Okoli, who has only recently moved to the offensive side. As a redshirt junior, Okoli has had trouble cracking the two-deep on defense, but that's not a slight to his talent. The staff wants to give him a shot here, and don't be surprised should he get playing time this fall. If nothing else, the added depth couldn't hurt this unit.
Interior Line
Center: Now that you're all sorts of freaked out about the tackle positions, let's take a less stressful look at the interior positions, the guards and center. Here is a group of positions that Penn State can really build around this spring, particularly with returning All-Big Ten center Stefen Wisniewski, probably the best interior lineman in the conference. After earning his first start as a true freshman against Indiana in 2007, Wisniewski took over as the full-time starting guard beginning in 2008, then moving to center last season.
The starting center job isn't one handed out unless that player has really earned it, making it one of the toughest positions for backups to oust a the starter. That will be the case in 2010 for Penn State. However, with plenty of talent across the entire interior line, the Nittany Lions have options to work with in their search for Wisniewski's backups.
No. | Name | Pos. | Elig | Ht/Wt | High School | Coach |
54 | Matt Stankiewitch | OG | SO | 6-3/292 | Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain | Chuck Kutz |
60 | Ty Howle | C | rFR | 6-0/289 | Wake Forest, NC/Bunn | David Howle |
61 | Stefen Wisniewski | C | SR | 6-3/297 | Bridgeville, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic | Terry Trotten |
62 | Frank Figueroa | OL | rFR | 6-3/280 | San Antonio, Texas/Thomas Edison | Vaughn Lewis |
63 | Mark Arcidiacono | OL | rFR | 6-4/274 | Holland, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep | Gil Brooks |
64 | John Urschel | OL | rFR | 6-3/278 | Williamsville, N.Y./Canisius | Brandon Harris |
67 | Quinn Barham | OG | rJR | 6-3/290 | Durham, N.C./Hillside | Ray Harrison |
68 | Doug Klopacz | C | rSR | 6-3/284 | Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./St. Joseph Regional | Tony Karcich |
70 | Anthony Tortorelli | C | rJR | 6-0/261 | State College, Pa./Haverford | Joe Gallagher |
74 | Johnnie Troutman | OG | rJR | 6-4/309 | Brown Mills, N.J./Pemberton Township | Hohn Rosnick |
77 | Lou Eliades | OG | rSR | 6-5/310 | Ocean, N.J./Ocean Township | Sal Spompanato |
Doug Klopacz's career has been crushed by ill-timed injuries, never allowing the redshirt senior the opportunity to break into the two-deep. That's hardly to say he doesn't have the skills to earn the coveted backup-center spot this spring. Klopacz is a hard worker, who's proven that he won't give up easily. I wouldn't hesitate to list the New Jersey native as a serious candidate to carry the second team center position.
Battling Klopacz this spring, three other linemen have at least some chance to win decent playing time by the fall. Ty Howle, Mark Arcidiacono, and Matt Stankiewitch all came to Penn State as guard/center prospects, with Howle probably the only pure center of the bunch. My money would be on Howle to lock up the second-team spot early this spring, but we've seen stranger things with the offensive line the last 12 months.
Stankiewitch has floated between guard and center since arriving in Happy Valley, and with two full seasons under his belt, he has the experience factor working in his favor. Arcidiacono is the long shot here, particularly since he's a mere freshman. Not mentioned so far, redshirt junior Anthony Tortorelli shouldn't be completely counted out of this mix, but hasn't been mentioned as a major factor in the race.
Guards: Though not as settled as the center position going into the spring, the guards are at least more clear-cut than the tackles. Lou Eliades started every game at right guard last season, after pushing hard for playing time in 2008 behind a veteran line. Seeing how he is the only guard to start all 13 in 2009, it is nearly a given that Eliades will hold onto his spot this spring. Behind him, redshirt junior Quinn Barham saw action in five games, while . I'm not expecting Barham to leap ahead of Eliades before the Blue-White Game, but he does have the talent and experience to stay put as the backup right guard.
Left guard is another story. Through 13 games in 2009, Penn State started three different left guards. Stankiewitch began the season holding the spot, but following sub-par efforts in the first two outings, he was pulled in favor of Johnnie Troutman. Troutman started the eight-game stretch from Temple through Ohio State, only to suffer a calf strain against the Buckeyes. Pannell took over from there, but Troutman did share time as he gained back his stamina in that leg.
Since Troutman had displaced Stankiewitch after only two starts, and was on track to start the remainder of the 2009 season, I'm very sure that Penn State's coaching staff won't mess around with what worked last season. Much of the line issues mid-season (Iowa and Ohio State losses) had to do with inconsistency at right tackle. But when Troutman, Eliades and Wisniewski were lined up in the middle, the Nittany Lions' offense was churning out impressive numbers in blowouts against Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Penn State will go only as far this autumn as its offensive line takes it. There is a great core to build around, and I am very confident that the coaching staff will work with what they have, building yet another solid offensive front to pave the way for another solid offensive football team.
Next week: Receivers
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