Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1138762
P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> Also, the schedule is back-loaded in a way that could prove advantageous. The East Division's toughest opponents – Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State – don't appear until the second half of the season. By that point, those young players on offense won't be quite so green. My approach to these preseason pre- dictions is to start by casting a wary eye on the best- and worst-case scenarios, because they only rarely come true. The best-case scenario this year is that everyone stays healthy, the offense jells right away, the defense is as good as ad- vertised, the special teams enjoy a turn- around season and the schedule doesn't serve up any major surprises. Does all of that sound likely to you? Me neither. But it seems equally unlikely that a team with this much talent on both sides of the ball will flounder. An eight- or nine- win season feels like a reasonable expec- tation, and I usually like to err on the side of caution, so… PREDICTION 8-4 LOU PRATO CONTRIBUTING WRITER Preseason predictions are like national and local weather fore- casts. There are far too many unexpected situations that occur as the days, weeks and months pass to be completely accu- rate, especially for the long-range fore- casts. A shift in the wind or slow-moving front can cause a storm to take a different direction, just like an injury or dropped pass in the end zone impacts the out- come of a game and an entire season. Analyzing the 2019 Nittany Lions starts with too many questions: the new quar- terback, running backs, offensive line, linebacker, defensive secondary and spe- cial teams. The ultimate success of the team will depend on all those units play- ing well. A young and athletic defensive line and a rejuvenated receiving corps ap- pear to be the team strengths. Avoiding W E B S U R V E Y 9-3: I think the defense will be better than last year. Linebacker play should be very strong. Special teams will be im- proved with the Virginia Tech transfer, Pinegar improves from last year and Gillikin rebounds with a strong year. Of- fense will depend on three things: OL play, Clifford and receivers not dropping key passes. I see loses to Ohio State and Iowa and one other. If everything falls into place, I can see 10-2. Last two years, the bounces went against PSU. I can see some of those bounces being in PSU's favor this year. waltpsuscranton 11-1: Special teams will help with two close wins. Expect special teams will put the team in good field position through- out the season. Big year for Clifford and the offense. Defense has a big year cre- ating turnovers and getting timely stops. Fans are in for a treat. ga.lion 8-4: Loss to Ohio State in the Shoe with Penn State fielding a first-year starter at QB, unless Fields goes down with an injury before our matchup, leaving them vulnerable. Michigan and Penn State are an even matchup, but with a senior QB, Michigan beats us. Michigan State has a senior QB and Penn State will be on the road... not good. Iowa is due and difficult at home. I think PSU definitely will be good but thin as it relates to depth. The offense has too many question marks and will struggle on the road. I believe Penn State will be ready to contend in 2020, but it will be under a lot of pressure after losing to all of its rivals in the Big Ten again. Jlauty 9-3: While last year's 9-3 regular-sea- son record sometimes felt more like a 3- 9 regular-season record, this year's team will be much improved. Defense and special teams will be the strengths of this team. The offense will be very good, but not great. Hurdles to overcome will be new pieces along the offensive line, a new starting QB and settling on how to best utilize the RB rotation. FlaPaLion 10-2: I believe that Franklin made two critical coaching staff moves in the off- season by bringing in proven special teams and wide receivers coaches. We will pick up our experience early in the season, which will carry us a long way and we will battle Ohio State and Michi- gan for the East Division title. If Penn State avoids trap games at Maryland and Michigan State, this could be a special season, albeit one year early! foxnit 11-1: The offense should start out the season good and be very good to excellent by the end of the season. The skill players are dangerous and should be enough to carry us while the QB and offensive tack- les gain experience and get ready for the meat of our schedule. Also, the OTs prac- ticing every day against the deepest de- fensive end group in the Big Ten can only help. The defense will be stout from the very beginning and could just dominate games from start to finish by the end of the year. The special teams will be im- proved over last year. This team has elite talent. … It does not need to take big gambles, just keep the pedal to the floor for 60 and play smart football. jhughe 12-0: I am obviously in the minority here, but I am predicting no losses be- fore the playoffs. Hear me out. This de- fense is stacked. Best defensive ends in the Big Ten along with the best line- backers. We have really good defensive tackles. I think our cornerbacks are ex- perienced and great, with good safeties, too. It's a top-five defense nationally. We are all concerned about the offense What do you think the Lions' record will be in 2019?