Feels like 10 wins. The O could be the best in the B1G but whether they get to 10 will depend on the D. Really all three defensive units are question marks. They all have the potential to be terrific but it will depend on injuries, leadership, development of some key players. I do think it's fair to say the D has no obvious weakness. They should be pretty stout up front, if not dominant. They have athleticism and experience at LB and in the secondary.
Beating Ohio State at the Shoe -- looks very unlikely from here. Meyer will absolutely not want to risk losing two in a row to Franklin and will prepare like crazy for that game. There will be a couple of matchup nightmares and OSU's uncharacteristic weakness at wideout will not continue this year. At least PSU will be no more of an underdog than they were last year.
I think for me the measuring sticks this season will be Iowa, Northwestern, Michigan and possibly Maryland late in the season. Iowa is going to bounce back with another vintage Ferentz OL this year -- will PSU be able to line up and handle them? Northwestern is going to bring rugged, physical D and constant blitzes -- will the PSU OL be able to handle them? I would love to see PSU go to Evanston and really throttle NW for a change -- that would send a major signal about the direction of the PSU program.
Michigan will have all kinds of crazy speed from recent recruiting -- PSU will have the edge in experience, though -- will that be enough to overcome some matchup problems?
Maryland is bringing in a great freshman class and could be a pretty tough football team by November. Ash needs fast results -- he probably won't redshirt anybody. So I think this looms as a dangerous game -- late in the year. Maryland will have a terrible record coming in but they'll be playing at home. This will be a test of PSU's maturity -- either to keep their concentration on the way to a potential B1G title game. Or a test of PSU's strength of character if they've dropped a couple of games along the way and they're playing for an Orlando bowl game.
Beating Ohio State at the Shoe -- looks very unlikely from here. Meyer will absolutely not want to risk losing two in a row to Franklin and will prepare like crazy for that game. There will be a couple of matchup nightmares and OSU's uncharacteristic weakness at wideout will not continue this year. At least PSU will be no more of an underdog than they were last year.
I think for me the measuring sticks this season will be Iowa, Northwestern, Michigan and possibly Maryland late in the season. Iowa is going to bounce back with another vintage Ferentz OL this year -- will PSU be able to line up and handle them? Northwestern is going to bring rugged, physical D and constant blitzes -- will the PSU OL be able to handle them? I would love to see PSU go to Evanston and really throttle NW for a change -- that would send a major signal about the direction of the PSU program.
Michigan will have all kinds of crazy speed from recent recruiting -- PSU will have the edge in experience, though -- will that be enough to overcome some matchup problems?
Maryland is bringing in a great freshman class and could be a pretty tough football team by November. Ash needs fast results -- he probably won't redshirt anybody. So I think this looms as a dangerous game -- late in the year. Maryland will have a terrible record coming in but they'll be playing at home. This will be a test of PSU's maturity -- either to keep their concentration on the way to a potential B1G title game. Or a test of PSU's strength of character if they've dropped a couple of games along the way and they're playing for an Orlando bowl game.