The rumors are out there.
Over the past couple of weeks, there have been plenty of Internet rumors about the failing health of Penn State coach Joe Paterno. There are plenty of wild rumors out there, that’s for sure. We’re not going to address those rumors this week. Instead, we’ll focus on the Outback Bowl matchup with Florida.
In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll break down the game and see how the Nittany Lions (7-5) matchup with the Gators (7-5).
Outback Bowl Preview
Penn State ground game vs. Florida’s defense: Penn State will need heavy doses of Evan Royster and Silas Redd to upend the Gators. The Nittany Lions should be able to run on the Florida front four. Penn State is averaging nearly 150 yards per game and a little over four yards per carry. The key here is not giving up on the ground game too early. PSU has a tendency to abandon the ground game if things aren’t working. Offensive coordinator Galen Hall needs to keep the rock in the hands of Royster. If he racks up 100 yards or more, Penn State wins this game.
Penn State passing game vs. Florida defense: Matt McGloin has looked good (see Northwestern) and ugly (see Ohio State) this season. Again, McGloin should be able to throw the ball on the Florida defense. Despite the Gators’ speed in the secondary, Penn State needs to unleash the deep passing game and get the ball into the hands of Derek Moye as much as possible.
Florida running game vs. Penn State defense: Jeff Demps is the go-to guy for the Gators. The Penn State defense has struggled stopping the ground game. Much like the Nittany Lions, Florida cannot abandon the run early. Demps has 571 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Florida passing game vs. Penn State defense: Florida QB John Brantley has passed for 2,020 yards and nine touchdowns this season. The Gators expected there to be a drop off after Tim Tebow graduated, and there certainly has been. Brantley is capable of getting the job done. Gator Nation has seen glimpses of what Brantley is capable of, but not enough to put fear into opposing teams. Penn State, however, has struggled defending the pass. The Michigan State game is a perfect example of that.
Florida special teams vs. Penn State special teams: Collin Wagner has been more than solid kicking the ball for Penn State and the Lions will need him to put the ball in the end zone because the Gators’ kick returners are quite capable of busting a big return. Demps returns punts and kicks, and Andre Debose can score on just about any return. Penn State’s return game pales in comparison, so this is definitely an area of concern for the Nittany Lions.
Florida coaching staff vs. Penn State coaching staff: It is Urban Meyer’s final game as coach at Florida, so expect his squad to be fired up. As for Penn State, there are plenty of rumors circulating that this will be JoePa’s final game as well. Really? Can it be true? Who knows? In any event, the Nittany Lions should be eager to get a victory over a quality opponent. Meyer certainly has the advantage when it comes to Xs and Os, but Paterno’s staff can do quite the job when given several weeks for bowl prep.
Analysis: This should be a close game from kickoff to final gun. Penn State has been strong in the past several bowl games, but Florida is playing to get Meyer a win in his final game. When the dust settles at Raymond James Stadium, expect the Gators to be on top.
Gantdaily.com prediction: Florida 27, Penn State 21.
Maine? Really?
In case you missed it, the Penn State men’s basketball team fell to Maine at the Bryce Jordan Center last week. We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – it’s time for coach Ed DeChellis to go. There is no reason why the Nittany Lions should lose to Maine at home. You can come up with every excuse in the book but the fact of the matter is that losses like the one to Maine is the reason that Penn State basketball isn’t a big deal in Happy Valley.
I refuse to believe that Penn State is not a basketball school. Look at the NIT run a couple of years back. Fans jumped on the bandwagon because they were so hungry for a winner. I still believe that if the program can win, fans will come. However, the program cannot win with DeChellis as coach. This needs to be his final season at Penn State.
If there’s a coaching change, fans will come.
Chris Morelli is an award-winning writer/editor who lives in Centre County and covers Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Sports Central,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com. Also, be sure to check out Morelli OnLion on Facebook!