Matt McGloin
2012 Penn State Football Quickview
2011 Record: 9-4
Head Coach: Bill O’Brien- 1st year
Returning Starters: 8 4-Offense 4-Defense
Nonconference Schedule Breakdown: The Nittany Lions usher in the O’Brien era with an uncharacteristically semi-difficult, non-Big Ten slate…the only team they play that finished 2011 under .500 was Navy at 5-7…Ohio (10-4), @ Virginia (8-5) and Temple (9-4) were all respectable…so coach O’Brien will find out what he’s got right away….and then he will have to get better…because the Big Ten will test him in many other fashions…
Schedule Rank (in Big Ten): 6th hardest: PSU is this high…and yes, 6th is high for PSU..because of whom they miss in 2012…they get the Wolverines and East Lansing off the schedule along with Minnesota…and they have a pretty manageable road Big Ten schedule…but that depends on how good Illinois, Iowa, Purdue and Nebraska end up…and personally, I have pretty lofty expectations for two of those squads (at least comparatively to Penn State) and all of them should be bowling this season…
Who they don’t play in 2012: Michigan, East Lansing, Minnesota
The Skinny: Penn State is the ELU of the Leaders division…this year, they lack a proven, effective QB..the offense is going to be a shell of what it was in 2011 (and in PSU’s case, that is horrifying news)..but, the defense should give it a chance in the vast majority of games this year..The Lions are on their way back, but how long it will take is the question…
Toughest game in 2012: October 20th @ Iowa…although the Nittany Lions are 7-5 at Kinnick, Iowa has won the last four meetings there….it is also the first of three road games in four weeks after the bye week…zoinks.
Best Player: LB Gerald Hodges..finished 2011 8th in the Big Ten in tackles…will lead the PSU defense and continues a long line of prominent PSU LB’s…they may have the best LB’s in the country…Hodges in HS was a three year starting QB..rushed for over 700 yds and threw for almost 700…also captained his wrestling and track teams..his junior season wrestling record was 40-1.
What MIGHT happen: The Nittany Lions could be under .500 heading into their bye week…with every nonconference game vs a respectable BCS opponent, then opening at Illinois and home vs NW…challenging for a 1st year coach..
What WILL happen: Matt McGloin will be more consistent…O’Brien has done a wonderful job with the Patriots and I think his presence will do wonders for the QB position in State College…
What WON’T happen: They will not do any better than 3-3 after their bye week..if they do, it means they would win one of these games: Ohio State, @ Nebraska and Wisconsin…do you see them beating one of these guys?…me either.
Why they won’t win the Big Ten: Silas Redd is the only HB with experience, an entirely new coaching staff, no WR threats and a rebuilding offensive line…doesn’t usually add to success…but it may work..?
Why they will win the Big Ten: OSU is ineligible for title game..they get Wisconsin at home the last week of regular season..next two toughest divisional games are @ Illinois and @ Purdue…winnable right?
Gotta know about the Nittany Lions: PSU is 19-2 vs MAC schools…a loss in Buffalo, NY to Buffalo 10-0 in 1900, then 100 years later Toledo came to Beaver stadium and beat PSU 24-6 in 2000…
BOLD statement: Matt McGloin will throw for over 2500 yards and 20 TD’s…
Related articles
About Chad Godfrey