OK, let me have it.
In this cyberspace column last week, I picked Wisconsin to upset then-No. 6 Penn State. As the first half faded to black on Saturday night, my young son looked at me and said, “Dad, what were you thinking?”
Good question.
Clearly, this is not the Anthony Morelli-led mistake a minute Nittany Lions. This is a polished, confident bunch. The best in Happy Valley since 2005. Perhaps the best since, gasp, 1994?
We’ll see.
In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll compare the 2008 Nits to the 2005 version. We’ll also look ahead to Saturday’s game at Michigan. And we’ll have another edition of 10 Questions.
First, let’s compare.
2008 vs. 2005
(OnLion note: This piece was written on Friday, before Penn State’s demolition of Wisconsin.)
The comparisons have begun.
Is the 2008 version of the Nittany Lions one of the best in the Paterno Era? How does it stack up with some of the best teams to take the turf at Beaver Stadium?
Before we can compare it to some of the great teams coached by Joe Paterno — 1968, 1969, 1982, 1986 and 1994 — this year’s team has a long way to go and a lot to accomplish.
This year’s squad is being compared quite a bit to 2005, the last time the Nittany Lions were ranked in the Top 10 and played in a BCS bowl game. That year, you’ll remember, the Nittany Lions were 6-0 before losing a heartbreaker at Michigan, 27-25.
This season, the Nittany Lions were again 6-0 again following a 20-6 workmanlike victory over Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
While many are comparing the current squad to 2005, Paterno wasn’t ready to make those comparisons just yet.
“Well, I think we’ve gotta play a couple more tough games before I can compare them to 2005. We were three seconds away from playing for all the marbles and won a couple tough games. We’ve gotta play a couple more football games,” Paterno said. “They can do a lot of things that the ’05 team could do but to put them where one is here and one is here … I don’t know. I just think we’ve got a good, young squad and I think we’ve gotta just keep plugging away.”
But how does the 2008 team stack up against the 2005 team? We thought it would be fun to take a look at the first six games and see how the teams compare, at least on paper.
We’ll get started with the most important position on the field.
Quarterback — Michael Robinson vs. Daryll Clark: Through the first six games of the season, there’s not much of a comparison here. Clark wins the battle, at least when it comes to raw statistics.
Robinson had completed 75-of-143 (.524 completion percentage) for
1,108 yards. He tossed nine touchdowns but had also thrown six interceptions. Clark’s numbers are much better. Through the first six games, he’d completed 80-of-124 (.645 completion percentage) for 1,116 yards. He tossed nine touchdowns but had been intercepted just once, against Temple.
On the ground, Robinson’s numbers are better. He carried the ball 74 times for 335 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry. He also scored five touchdowns.
Clark has run the ball less, for sure. He’s carried the pigskin 32 times for 133 yards, an average of 4.2 yards per carry. His TD numbers are right there with Robinson, though, as he’s scored four times.
Edge: Clark
Running Back — Tony Hunt vs. Evan Royster: Like Royster, Hunt was finally in the spotlight in 2005, his junior year. Royster is enjoying his first season in the spotlight, although he is just a redshirt sophomore.
On paper, Royster’s numbers look better.
Hunt carried the ball 86 times for 569 yards, an average of 6.6 yards per carry. He also scored three touchdowns. Royster’s numbers are, quite simply, a little more gaudy than Hunt’s. Royster carried the rock 84 times for 659 yards, an average of 7.8 per carry. He also scored an amazing eight TDs in the first six games.
Edge: Royster
Wide Receivers: Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams (2005) vs. Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams (2008):
Although the names remain the same, these players aren’t the same guys who took the field in 2005. All three were freshmen — Butler was a redshirt freshman, Norwood was a grayshirt freshman and Williams was a true freshman.
Let’s start with Butler. The 2005 version of Butler was impressive. Through Week 6, Butler had 20 receptions for 355 yards and four TDs.
The 2008 version had 19 receptions for 311 yards and two TDs.
In 2005, Norwood burst on the scene, catching 15 balls for 160 yards and no scores. This season, Norwood had 18 receptions for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers are deceiving, however, because he missed two games with a bad hamstring.
Finally, there’s Williams. In 2005, he had 16 receptions for 230 yards and one touchdown, the game-winner against Northwestern. In 2008, he had 19 receptions for 240 yards and one score.
While the numbers are pretty even, we like the fact that these guys are a few years older, a few years wiser and a few years better.
Edge: Butler, Norwood and Williams (2008).
Defense: 2005 unit vs. 2008 — It’s hard to compare defenses because they’re playing against different teams. For example, the ’05 squad wasn’t lucky enough to play Coastal Carolina. But they still had their share of cupcakes — Central Michigan, anyone? Make no mistake about it, the ’05 unit had more talented players. There were guys like Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, Tamba Hali, Tim Shaw and Scott Paxson, just to name a few. Those guys are now plying their trade in the NFL.
But this is a comparison of the two squads. Through the first six games in 2005, the defense had given up 1,773 total net yards — 1,229 passing and 544 rushing. By comparison, this year’s squad had given up
1,502 total net yards — 1,021 passing and 481 rushing.
On the scoreboard, the ’05 defense allowed 93 points through six games while the ’08 Nittany Lions allowed just 70 points.
All things being equal, we’ll go with the 2005 defense. There was more talent along the line and in the secondary, which made it rather easy for them to take over games.
Edge: 2005 Defense
Well, there you have it. It’s certainly hard to compare and contrast these squads without have a complete canvas to work with. In six weeks, though, it will be a lot easier to do.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll have to compare them to some of the all-time great teams.
Only time will tell. 
Are the 2008 Nittany Lions JoePa’s best team since 2005 or 1994?
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated)
Looking Ahead: Michigan
I’ve taken a lot of ribbing since I took Wisconsin last week, so let’s end the drama right now.
No way in heck I am taking Michigan this week.
I will say this: with Rich Rodriguez at the helm of the Wolverines, they will be very good one day. Rich Rod is the guy we all love to hate. But let’s face it, if the guy coached the Nittany Lions, we’d love him. He’s a winner. He put WVU on the right track and he will get the Wolverines back to their winning ways. It just won’t happen this year.
The Wolverines are bad all the way around — offensively, defensively and on special teams. Rich Rod is still working with Lloyd Carr’s leftovers. But just give him a season or two until he gets his own recruiting classes in there.
Bottom line: Rich Rod is a good coach with a very bad team.
Gantdaily.com prediction: Penn State 35, Michigan 14.
We ask the questions everyone wants to know — like what is in Dan Lawlor’s refrigerator?
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
10 Questions: Dan Lawlor
This week, gantnews.com sits down with Penn State fullback Dan Lawlor.
GD: Three things always in your refrigerator?
DL: Water, Gatorade and milk.
GD: Who would play you in a movie?
DL: Ed Harris.
GD: XBox or PlayStation?
DL: XBox.
GD: The Last Book You Read?
DL: The Natural by Bernard Malamund.
GD: Favorite All-Time Movie?
DL: The Shawshank Redemption.
GD: If I didn’t go to Penn State, I would have gone to?
DL: Maryland or Notre Dame.
GD: If not football, what sport?
DL: Basketball.
GD: Your ride?
DL: 1994 white Mitsubishi Montero, also known as “The White Stallion.”
GD: Funniest or best thing Joe ever said to you?
DL: When he says “knock him on his rear.” That cracks me up.
GD: Favorite Penn State Moment?
DL: This whole season so far has been a thrill.
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.