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Steve Jones PSU Feature from NittanyLiving.NET
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| Penn State Rose Bowl Preview by Steve Jones | |||||||||||||||||
Daryll Clark had an outstanding season with better than 2,300 yards passing...18 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. He will give USC a different look at quarterback. With Pat Devlin transferring the very capable Paul Cianciolo becomes the number two guy. The versatility of the Penn State wide outs was evident all season. Deon butler made big plays...Jordan Norwood made the catch in the clutch and Derrick Williams always had something spectacular to contribute. Williams was a second team Walter Camp all-American. Evan Royster gained better than 1,200 yards and developed a strong tandem with Stephfon Green. Dan Lawlor was a hammer at fullback all season with one big block after another. Up front...the offensive line was outstanding. Gerald Cadogen, Dennis Landolt, Rich Ohrnbernger, Stefen Wisniewski and all-American center A.Q. Shipley stayed healthy and anchored this offense. Mickey Shuler and Andrew Quarless were big pluses at tight end. The defense had another outstanding season. Aaron Maybin was a first team all-American at end. Maurice Evans and Josh Gaines got better as the season went along. Jared Oddrick was terrific in the middle of that line. As the season went along Abe Karoma and Ollie Ogbu played very well. Navarro Bowman had a great season as an every down linebacker. Josh Hull played his best football at the end of the season. Tyrell Sales played the best football of his career over the final half of the season. Lydell Sargeant was strong down the stretch...Tony Davis was steady all season...Mark Rubin played faster every week and Anthony Scirrotto quarterbacked that secondary all season. Drew Astorino and A.J. Wallace made several big plays as well. The Penn State kicking game was outstanding thanks to the consistency of Kevin Kelly and Jeremy Boone. USC has a great team. They don't fool you on offense. They just really execute. Mark Sanchez had an outstanding season at quarterback with nearly 2,800 yards passing, 30 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Arkansas transfer Damien Williams was his top target but he spread the ball around to Patrick Turner and Ronald Johnson. The USC receivers are not just quick but they are tall. Sanchez does a great job of spreading the ball around. He effectively used his fullback and tight end and took what a defense gave him. He rarely forces a play. USC has a three-headed monster at tailback. C.J. Gable has straight ahead speed. When he fumbled early against UCLA his day ended. Stafon Johnson has great speed to the edge. Joe McKnight is the shiftiest of the running backs and the best receiver of the group. The USC defense was simply outstanding this season. They pitched three shutouts...gave up just 11 touchdowns...gave up seven points in the third quarter and 15 points in the fourth quarter! They come at you from every angle. Fili Moala anchors the line. Clay Matthews can play the run or drop off as a pass defender from his end spot. Brian Cushing is a big linebacker with speed...he goes 6-3 and 255 pounds. Bednairik Award winner Rey Maualuga just attacks. He is relentless going after the football. Taylor Mays is the largest safety in the country. The all-American is 6-3 230 pounds and can run. He will be in the secondary...up on the line scrimmage and will come at you from all angles. Kevin Thomas leads the secondary with three interceptions. Ronald Johnson and C.J. Gable bring plenty of speed to the kickoff return game. Stafon Johnson is steady as the punt returner. David Buehler was great on kickoffs with 57 percent of his kicks being touchbacks. He was eight of nine on field goals until he missed three against UCLA. Punter Greg Woidneck consistently does his job and pins the opponent deep. It is a great showcase in a perfect setting...Penn State against USC in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. ARCHIVED ARTICLES: |
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Contents Copyright First Media LLC |
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