Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/541265
to lose to Northwestern... please stop. I'll be flying to that game this year and I don't want you raining on my parade!!! Thx. henrymale 9-3 I would be disappointed if we weren't 6-0 to start the year, but one loss in there wouldn't be a surprise… possibly Temple. I'll go with 9-3 if we're healthy, 10-3 with the bowl game. MarkPSU 9-3 But it all depends on special teams and offensive line. Could be 7-5. psuken 8-4 My fear is that after a loss at Ohio State, we get to 8-1 before we go 0-for- November (0-3 vs. Northwestern, Michigan and Michigan State). Novem- ber 1999 all over again. The 8-4 pick is reasonable even with wins against Northwestern and/or Michigan. We are not good enough yet to assume we avoid the "How did we lose that game?!" game, a la Illinois last year. The past tradition of Penn State teams was that as the year wore on, PSU got better and better, and facing us in No- vember was generally not a good thing for our opponents. Then 1999 hap- pened, and that seemed to change throughout a number of seasons after that. Let's hope we get back to that very soon. But doubtful for this season, giv- en our overall young squad. Staying completely healthy on the lines and other key positions (i.e. Hack!) all sea- son could get us to a 10-2 regular sea- son and an upper-tier bowl. But even with great luck healthwise, 9-3 is a very good season. I'm going with 8-4, be- cause I can't let myself dream too big just yet. 2016 may be a different deal, if we can get the backup QBs some mean- ingful game experience this season (and not due to injury!). The future seems to be very bright; I think we've gotta wear shades. Bob78 8-4 Which will be a very good season. If we catch a few breaks and the offen- sive line jells, we could go 9-3. If we have any significant injuries along the O-line, we could very easily go 6-6. They are getting better, but we are still young and inexperienced when it comes to a couple of starters and our depth. udsig91 8-4 Worst case... 7-5. Could happen with a rash of injuries. Best case... 10- 2. That happens if Hack stays healthy and the O-line gets up to speed. Most likely... 8-4. JoeHomsey 10-2 Not sure who we'll play in the bowl or where, but it will be a win and we end the season 11-2 and we land a few top recruits after. Hackenberg de- cides to stay for his senior year and a shot at playing for and winning a na- tional championship. Lionroar88 9-3 With losses to OSU, MSU and one stinker that surprises us (@Northwest- ern scares me). Bobtown Bart 8.5-3.5 The offensive line will im- prove but will still be one of the worst in the conference. I'm smack down in the middle between 8-4 and 9-3. The mastermind Phil Steele believes Penn State will win 10 games (last year he predicted six). Breeze90 season magazine – Austin Johnson and Anthony Zettel – literally scare oppo- nents along the offensive line. Off the field, they are two of the most delight- ful personalities on this year's team, but the quarterbacks and running backs who have taken the brunt of their punishment do not share that senti- ment. Within the coaching staff, the pressure of trying to pull rabbits out of hats week after week has subsided. The staff might not have the depth and top-level talent at every position that it hopes to one day secure, but it knows its personnel much better than it did at this time last year, and that familiarity allows for a better level of preparedness. That's an enticing list of reasons for players, coaches and fans to feel opti- mistic heading into the 2015 season. But certain less-appealing realities are likely to factor into Penn State's successes and failures this year. James Franklin and his staff know this. The Nittany Lions themselves aren't naive about the obstacles that re- main. Penn State fans may have grown weary of hearing about the impact of the sanctions, but no amount of sunny optimism can fully obscure their ongo- ing effects. The offensive line, gutted by attrition, sanctions and the struggles that some prospects have had trying to live up to expectations, is not out of the woods yet. How long does it take to put togeth- er a competent offensive line, you might ask? Because of the need to develop not just the projected starters but also their backups, the most objective answer is years. Plural. Make no mistake, Penn State absolute- ly loves the guys it has. But until its younger linemen get some real experi- ence – or, in some cases, get on campus – it would not be unfair to label this a makeshift group. There are still more