Penn St WRs VS OS DBs: Strenght on strength.

Hey, badfish211, thanks for the update about your DBs. This game should be a great one!

Obviously, being a Penn State homer, I like our chances. Our O is multi-dimensional and, if Clark gets the start, he is also a threat. (Altho Devlin would have us believe he is another Michael Robinson, too.)

Please tell me about your WRs. Penn State's front seven is stout again, but, imo, our DBs have underachieved over the last couple of years. Even with Justin King gone, I think we have the talent; can they put it together? Are your WRs going to test our DBs?

The Beaver WR corps got a HUGE boost when Sammie Stroughter was awarded an extra season by the NCAA.  In 2006 he was an All-American.  He is an incredible WR and just as good at returning punts. 

Two true freshman stepped up last year and filled the void left by an emotionally distraught, then injured Stroughter.  James Rogers, older brother of incoming Frosh Jaquizz Rogers was sensational.  His specialty was the fly sweep, but I think this year, he will fill a more conventional role.  I'm sure the Beavs will still do anything they can to get the ball in his hands, but it won't be depended on as much.  Darrell Catchings was the other true freshman who stepped up.  He is solid Pac-10 WR.   Chris Johnson and Shane Morales are good backups.  Incoming Freshman Kevin Walker and Kenyon Parker are highly touted, but should be able to redshirt behind the Beaver's solid group of WRs.

OS's WRs are more than capable, especially with the return of Stroughter.  The real question will come from our QB play.  Neither Canfield nor Moevao ripped it up in the air last year, but if they follow suit, Coach Riley has always has great success with QBs on their 2nd and 3rd seasons under him.

Couple of years ago our DBs were very untested, and a young group and we got beat deep in a lot of cases.  Last year was a decent year for the secondary, and I see this year being our make or break.  Practicing against some top notch receivers should give them some better experience, however I see our Defense as being up to the challenge of such a diverse offensive squad of PSU.  If we get blown out on defense by PSU it will be a learning experience for the beavs, but I don't think that will happen.

The QB question we have is a big one, and the O-line is too.  Would like to see a bit more about our LBs as I havn't heard too much from that front. 

If things pan out for us I see this being a really close game, but still giving the edge to PSU.  If one of our questions ends up falling short of what should happen we will probably be beat soundly.

A win for the beavs will be them playing good to great on both sides of the ball and PSU having some key mistakes or an off game in an area or two.

Thanks, guys, great input. I think the PSU fans expect a tough game from the Beavers, so unlike some match-ups I think the crowd will be really into the game. Could be a factor. The weather should be great at that time of year, so that is neutral. I'm sure your coaches will get your team there in plenty of time, to avoid any travel issues. But . . .

This the second game for both teams, so that allows both to make adjustments. I can't seem to see your 2008 sked yet, so am not sure about your first opponent. We don't expect a major challenge from Coastal Carolina, but I would be stupid to guarantee a victory. Anyone remember Michigan-App State?

If I can lay hands on some PSU hats, I'd be interested in some (very mild) wagers. Or even a swap for a Beavers hat. I think OS will do very well in the Pac-10 and could make a run at the title. A loss for either PSU or OS early in the season shouldn't kill either team's chances for overall success.

IS IT KICK-OFF YET?!?!?!?!

For the Glory!

We start off the season by playing an away conference game against Stanford.   Fortunately it is on a Thursday so it gives our boys a couple extra days to recouperate.  I'm hoping Riley gets our boys there in enough time to avoid jet lag.  Here is the website with our schedule.

http://www.osubeavers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4700&KEY=&SPID=1952&SPSID=24794

I'll say it.  I guarantee a victory for Penn State over Coastal Carolina.  I was reading a sports article on the 10 worst mismatches for the 2008 season and Penn State vs Coastal Carolina was ranked #2.  Chattanooga at Oklahoma ranked #1.  There is a big difference between Appalachian State vs Michigan and Coastal Carolina vs Penn State.  The top I-AA schools, like Appalachian state, are good enough to play in some of the weaker conference like the MAC & WAC and would be a lower level team in the big conferences.  Every now and then a lower level team gets their day.  Also what helped Appalachian State was that they played the perfect type of offense that Michigan really couldn't play against.  This was further re-inforced when Oregon with the same type of offense came in and did it to Michigan again.

The Coastal Carolina game will be a great confidence booster to your QB but really won't prepare him for Oregon State.  Here is a bigger question.  If by the end of the 1st half you are blowing out Coastal Carolina by 3 or 4 touchdowns does Paterno put in the backup QB to give him experience or does he let the starting QB play the entire game in preparation for Oregon State.  If he puts in the backup QB, then that's even less game practice for the starting QB.  It will be like Oregon State is really the first game of the season.

On the flip side Oregon State has to play an away conference game against Stanford.  While Stanford is at the bottom of the PAC-10 it is still a much tougher game than Coastal Carolina.  If OS wins then that is a good confidence booster and some real practice for our team against a decent team.  If we lose to Stanford, then that may very well have a demoralizing effect on our team when they play Penn State.

With all that being said here is my opinion.  If the QB situation clicks with Penn State then they will have a minimum 10 win season, looking at a bowl bid, possibly national championship.  If it doesn't click then you will still end up with a solid season going 8 or 9 wins with a bowl bid. 

Unless a miracle happens, I can't see Oregon State this year even challenging for a BCS bid let alone a national championship shot.  We've got just too many new people for everything to click every game.  I'm predicting a winning season with the hopes of an 8 or 9 game season. 

Except for the Civil War game,  Penn States game is the one I am looking forward to the most.

Go Beavs!!!

Oh one last thing, no matter what happens next year, beat the living tar out of Ohio State for us.

It may be a road game for the Beavers, but it is Beaver Stadium.  I see PSU as a season making or breaking game.  A decent team with a swagger becomes a very good team.  If OS comes home with road wins in Stanford and Penn, they come with a swagger.

Take that swagger into the Hawaii game, come away with a win and a legitimate shot at USC...........

I am forever the optomist.

Go Beavs.

If he puts in the backup QB, then that's even less game practice

OSUBeavs6,

Great post! I'm going to disagree just a bit with your third paragraph. If our QB can lead the first string O to 3-4 TDs, to me that is kinda equivalent to a full game. Like data compression in computers -- the stuff is still there, just condensed.

All in all, I think the OS-PSU game will be an important test for both teams. Again, it doesn't have to ruin the entire season for the losing team, but a win will be a great confidence booster.

Only 118 days until kick-off!!

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