Well, believe it or not, we’re at the halfway point.
The Penn State football team improved to 6-0 on the season with a 20-6 workmanlike victory in West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday. Having witnessed the 14-point win first-hand, I am back with a full report.
Truth be told, it could have been worse. Much worse. But there is something special brewing for the Nittany Lions as they get ready for the Red October portion of their schedule.
In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll look back at the win, look ahead to Saturday’s showdown in Madison and have another edition of 10 Questions.
Let’s start with the win over the Boilermakers.
Opinion: Big Road Win
Make no mistake about it, Saturday’s 20-6 win over Purdue in front of a failed-to-make a difference Black Out crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium was hardly a thing of beauty.
But considering the Nittany Lions’ history on the road since the year 2000, the victory was definitely a step in the right direction. For those of you who didn’t know — or didn’t care to know — Penn State was 12-20 on the road in conference play since the 2000 season entering Saturday’s game with the very average Boilermakers.
Let’s be clear here — 12-20 is not good. It’s not bad. It’s downright miserable.
Like anything in life, though, one cannot look back, only ahead.
So yes, the new-and-improved 2008 Nittany Lions desperately needed a road win. And while Saturday won’t qualify as a big road win, it is a road win nonetheless. You certainly remember the last time the Nittany Lions were on the road for a conference game. In it, they squandered a 17-point lead on a dark night in East Lansing, Mich.
That game is quickly fading into the rearview mirror. And with good reason. Why? This is not last year’s squad, something that is becoming more and more apparent each and every week.
Where to start? Well, how about the running backs? Evan Royster and Stephfon Green are better than Austin Scott and Rodney Kinlaw. On Saturday, Royster pounded the ball inside, wearing down the Boiler defense. Then, in the second half, with a fatigued Boiler defense clearly worn out, Green gashed them for a pair of big pickups.
Daryll Clark has the high-flying Nittany Lions at 6-0.
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
At quarterback, there’s not much of a comparison to make. Daryll Clark does everything better than Anthony Morelli. He’s a leader in the huddle, on the sidelines and in the locker room. He can burn teams with his arm or his legs. He’s got all the confidence in the world, and we’re quickly finding out why.
While it would be very easy for Clark’s head to swell as the wins pile up, that’s not happening. And if this team is looking ahead to Wisconsin, Michigan or even Ohio State, it’s certainly not showing.
He knew the 14-point victory wasn’t a thing of beauty, and he said so during postgame interviews.
“A win is a win. Some wins don’t come out the way you want it,” said Clark, who finished the afternoon 18-of-26 for 220 yards and no interceptions. “The important thing was getting a ‘W’ on the road, and that’s what we did today.”
As for the wideouts, sure it’s the same bunch. But they’re better, too. Maybe it’s all the offseason work. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re a season older, a season wiser. But methinks the guy throwing darts at them has something to do with their success.
The offensive line is better, as well. With center A.Q. Shipley anchoring Penn State’s group in the trenches, they are blowing open holes in the opposition and doing a fine job keeping Clark off his backside, although he was sacked twice on Saturday.
Senior Gerald Cadogan has talked at length about the ’08 season being his last go-round. Six wins are in the books, but there are still six to go. Getting that first conference road win of the year was huge, he said.
“It’s a big thing for us and it gives us a boost of confidence,”
Cadogan said. “Anytime you win, it’s a good thing. We’re gonna learn from our mistakes, correct them and go to Wisconsin this weekend.”
Defensively, the unit did a nice job keeping Purdue signal caller Curtis Painter in check. He was limited to 112 yards passing, completing 13-of-22. He was sacked twice and intercepted once. He looked nothing like one of the top QBs in the nation.
The defense appears to be jelling at the right time. And despite the losses of Sean Lee to injury and Justin King to graduation, the unit is surviving just fine, thank you very much.
Even the much-maligned Josh Hull, who was the subject of much criticism in the week leading up to the game with the Boilermakers, ratcheted up his play on Saturday, and led the Lions with 11 tackles.
With Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma out of coach Joe Paterno’s doghouse and back on the field, the unit is improved. The fact that they were able to shut out Purdue for three quarters speaks volumes.
After getting scorched for 24 points in the Sept. 27 shootout with Illinois, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley knew his unit had to come out and make a statement. But he doesn’t want the unit getting too much attention.
“Let all the offense get all the recognition. That’s super. Keep it going,” Bradley said with a crooked smile. “Score points. We’re OK when they score points.”
Saturday’s 20-point effort was Penn State’s lowest offensive output of the season, but it hardly mattered. In a downright brutal October schedule which has the Lions on the road for three of four, the 14-point victory over the Boilermakers probably won’t be remembered much.
It could be a turning point. But with primetime showdowns with Wisconsin and Ohio State looming, these Nittany Lions have miles to go before they can sleep.
They slayed a dragon on Saturday, but a monster in Madison awaits.
Looking Ahead: Wisconsin
Wisconsin lost its ballgame this past weekend, falling to visiting Ohio State, 17-14. It was the first home loss for Badger coach Bret Bielema and the first time in his career he suffered two straight defeats.
Before you begin to think that the Badgers are a bunch of patsies, think again. This team has talent, though they haven’t played like it in loss to Michigan and Ohio State.
Another loss was probably the worst thing that could’ve happened to Penn State. The Badgers will come out like a bunch of angry hornets.
For those of you who think this will be a cakewalk for the Nittany Lions, you’ve obviously never been to Madison.
Penn State better get ready for a big dose of P.J. Hill. And it says here that linebacker Josh Hull won’t play like he did Saturday.
So, like Babe Ruth, I am calling my shot. Consider it The Upset Special.
Gantdaily.com prediction: Wisconsin 24, Penn State 20.
Josh Hull had a big game against the Boilermakers. Can he do it again?
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
10 Questions: Dennis Landolt
Today, gantnews.com sits down with Penn State offensive lineman Dennis Landolt for another edition of 10 Questions.
GD: Three things always in your refrigerator?
DL: Boost, Gatorade and Spaghetti O’s.
GD: Who would play you in a movie?
DL: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
GD: XBox or PlayStation?
DL: XBox.
GD: The Last Book You Read?
DL: Angels and Demons.
GD: Favorite All-Time Movie?
DL: Current would be The Dark Knight, all-time would be one of the Star Wars movies.
GD: If I didn’t go to Penn State, I would have gone to?
DL: West Virginia.
GD: If not football, what sport?
DL: Wrestling or pole vaulting, maybe.
GD: Your ride?
DL: I have ’97 Dodge Ram truck.
GD: Funniest or best thing Joe ever said to you?
DL: Ahh, man. If he feels we’re doing something bad in practice, he’ll get in our face, push us around. He’ll offer to fight you.
GD: Favorite Penn State Moment?
DL: The Orange Bowl.
In addition to writing for gantnews.com, Chris Morelli is the award-winning editor of Blue-White Illustrated, a sports publication devoted to Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Front and Center,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.