Rittenberg's Top 30 Big Ten Players

ESPNs Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg has been chronicling the conference's top 30 players since May 8th. He's finally at #1, which will most likely be released this afternoon. I was going to wait until the entire list was finished but it's pretty easy to see that no Penn State player will be #1. No, that honor is going to Illinois WR Arrelious Benn who has not been listed yet.

Penn State had solid representation on Rittenberg's list, which ranked players based on "a combination of past accomplishments and future potential". Six Nittany Lions made his rankings, most in the conference. The rest of the conference stacked up as so: Iowa (4), Ohio State (3), Illinois (3 after Benn is listed), Minnesota (3), Michigan (2), Michigan State (2), Wisconsin (2), Northwestern (2), Indiana (2) and Purdue (1). Four of the six Penn State players picked were ranked in the top 10. In fact, the defending Big Ten Champs have four of the top seven players in the conference for 2009, according to Rittenberg.

Leading the way is recently anointed #2 on the list Daryll Clark, who some other experts believe is the third best QB in the conference. Preposterous, I know. Coming in at #4 is RB Evan Royster. Both Royster and Clark could be candidates for the 2009 Heisman as well (Clark, at least). Coming in at 6 and 7, respectively, are the dynamic linebacker duo of Navarro Bowman and Sean Lee, who Rittenberg seems to think may be a tad underrated on his list.

If Lee comes back at or near the level he was before the injury, he should earn All-Big Ten accolades and rank as one of the league's top five players.

Penn State's first player outside the top 10 is DT Jared Odrick. The final player (and first one from the university mentioned on the list) is C Stefen Wisniewski.

Taking a look at that list you realize that each of those players is not only considered a great player (top 30 in the conference) but is actually the best at his position according to this list. Clark is the highest rated QB. Same for Royster at RB, Odrick at DT and Wisniewski at C. Only Lee isn't #1 at his position - but it's shared with his teammate! I know many people are picking the Buckeyes as Big Ten Champs for the upcoming season but there is no doubt that Penn State - not Ohio State - has the big name players. If the complementary and new pieces come together, this team may be better than last year's squad.

It's up to you, offensive line and secondary.

Steele, Lindy Release Preseason Picks; JoePa Overrated?

We are still 93 days away from meaningful Penn State football but recently some of the preview magazines have hit stands or released some of their rankings and opinions to the Internet crowd.

Phil Steele, highly recommended by Zombie Nation, had some of his stuff leak out late last week. Among the highlights were Penn State being his #1 surprise team for 2009 and having the Nittany Lions ranked 5th in his Top 25. Not too shabby. Then yesterday ESPNs Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg mentioned Steele's preseason All-Big Ten teams. Penn State netted six first team selections. They were RB Evan Royster, C Stefen Wisniewski, OT Dennis Landolt, DT Jared Odrick and LBs Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee. Notice anyone missing? How about 2008 first team All-Big Ten QB (both coaches and media) Daryll Clark? OK, so he must have been on the second team then. WRONG! Clark fell all the way to third, behind Illinois' Juice Williams (first) and Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor (second). Wow. Punter Jeremy Boone made Steele's second team while OG Lou Eliades joined Clark on the third team. RB Stephfon Greene, DT Abe Koroma and CB A.J. Wallace were selected for his fourth team.

Steele's preseason All-American were released as well. No Nittany Lions made his first team. Two (Royster, Lee) were named to the second team and another two (Odrick, Bowman) appear on his third team.

Not to be outdone, Lindy's released their own take on the 2009 season. The Lindy's crew has Ohio State winning the conference with Penn State in second followed by Michigan State, Illinois and Wisconsin. Iowa - considered by many as a dark horse candidate for the conference - is sixth. That will ruffle some Hawkeye feathers, no doubt. Here's what Lindy's has to say about Penn State, who they ranked 11th in their preseason poll.

11. PENN STATE

JoePa has Lions Positioned for Pasadena

Ten wins a season has (again) become automatic for 83-year-old Joe Paterno. Penn State has 40 victories in the past four seasons and the Lions have the all-star candidates at critical positions — QB Daryll Clark, DT Jared Odrick and LB Sean Lee — to mop up in the non-conference season and scoot happily through the Big Ten before hosting Ohio State in November.

THE GOOD NEWS: Clark is in the running as the top QB in the league, and the Nittany Lions’ defensive quarterback — Lee — was most of the way back this spring from an ACL tear suffered prior to last season. With Lee and troubled LB Navorro Bowman expected to be on the field in September, the defense should take no more than a baby step backward.

THE BAD NEWS: Three multi-year starters at wide receiver — Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood — are gone. Arguably the top two O-linemen from last year’s group, including workaholic A.Q. Shipley in the pivot, have been replaced.

OUR CALL: Penn State faces a low degree of difficulty before carving into what appears to be a soft underbelly of the Big Ten. Then it’s beat the Buckeyes (not the simplest task) and pack for Pasadena.

Royster, Wisniewski, Odrick and Lee are all preseason All-Big Ten performers according to Lindy's. Landolt, Bowman and Boone made the second team. Lindy's follows Phil Steele as saying Daryll Clark is not a top two QB in the conference. This time around Pryor gets the first team nod while Williams heads to the second team. I'd really like to hear the reasoning for this.

In attempt to fill the offseason void (and drum up some hits), Heisman Pundit has released lists of the Top 10 Overrated and Underrated College Coaches. Joe Paterno makes the list. The overrated list. While I admit JoePa is past his prime, I still don't see how he is overrated. The criteria isn't listed by Heisman Pundit so there really is no context. They do make a point saying "this list does NOT mean these coaches all suck", but what's wrong with Paterno?

4. Joe Paterno, Penn State–He wouldn’t be here except for the fact that HE’S NOT REALLY COACHING THE TEAM ANYMORE. Great career, great program builder, but Tom Bradley basically runs this team now.

How is he not really coaching the team? Where is this proof that Joe does nothing? Did he coach from the press box last year? Absolutely. Does that mean he did less in 2008 than in 2007 (or earlier)? No. In fact, JoePa preferred the press box because of the advantages it gave him to coach the team. The one thing I'll give Heisman Pundit is Paterno not making the trip to the locker room at halftime. Sure, Bradley made the speech and game plan alterations. But during the game Joe was still there, voicing his opinion, suggesting plays and overriding his assistants if he felt something wasn't a good idea. How is that not coaching? It's ridiculous to expect head coaches to call offensive and/or defensive plays - that's what coordinators are for! JoePa still is the coach. Tom Bradley is definitely second in command but he still defers to Joe. Paterno's squads have put up 40 wins in the last four seasons. He's still got it.

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I respect Heisman Pundit regardless of our conflicting views.

Nittany Lions cruise, trounce Oregon State 45-14

The 31 point spread was closer than it could have been. Penn State sat starting QB Daryll Clark and RB Evan Royster with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and the senior WRs would play sparingly the rest of the way. Penn State (2-0) looked better than their #19 rank, scoring almost at will against an overmatched Pac-10 team.

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 28-0 less than 19 minutes into the game. Royster scored the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Penn State TDs. Clark connect with TE Mickey Shuler for the 2nd. After the Beavers cut the score to 28-7, Clark hit senior WR Jordan Norwood for a 22 yard score. Norwwod would have a career game, racking up 8 catches for 116 yards and a TD. Clark's final drive was capped off when he breached the goalline on an intimidating 18 yard fight for the end zone.

There weren't too many negatives for the Nittany Lions during this rout. Perhaps the most dissapointing play was an injury. In the 4th quarter, DE/LB Jerome Hayes was injured during an Oregon State return. No word as of yet of the severity of the injury. Some believe that he may have suffered another knee injury, just like last season. Besides the Hayes injury, Royster also fumbled at the Beavers 1-yard line to start the 3rd quarter. The defense also looked shaky at times but made some big plays, such as Josh Hull's and Mark Rubin's INTs. The pass coverage and LB blitzes still need some work.

Overall the game went quite well for 19th ranked (and soon to be higher) Penn State football team. The Nittany Lions have two more OOC games before the Big ten season starts in Happy Valley versus Illinois. Penn State should march to easy victories at Syracuse (9/13) and in beaver Stadium against Temple (9/20).

Penn State dominates Coastal Carolina, Mark May whines

Well Penn State's season started even better than many expected, with a 66-10 victory over the FCS Chanticleers (read roosters). Daryll Clark started, as expected, and played the first few drives before giving way to Pat Devlin. Clark also played a series or two to start the second half. He was very effective and looked string and poised in the pocket, completing 11 of 14 passes for 146 yards and 1 TD. Devlin proved the competition had been close all spring and summer. He went 5 of 8 for 83 yards and made some beautiful throws. The highlight, however, had to be the effectiveness of the ground game. Evan Royster, Stephfon Green, Brent Carter, and true freshman Brandon Beachum all saw time, with Royster getting the start. Royster only got 8 touches for 64 yards but scored 3 TDs. Green added 10 carries for 89 yards and 2 TDs while Carter was handed the rock 9 times for 67 yards. Beachum came in late in mop up duty and had 8 carries for 43 yards plus a TD. Derrick Williams had only 2 catches but contributed his first ever kickoff return for a TD after Coastal Carolina cut the Penn State lead to 14-7. Unfortunately the defense looked mediocre. The secondary seemed slow to react and the linebackers missed some assignments and botched a few play calls. The defensive line did look strong, however. Some work must be done in anticipation for Oregon State next week.

Overall it was a strong performance, probably better than some expected. The biggest plus was no turnovers. However the win must be kept in perspective. It was lowly Coastal Carolina, after all. Something Pitt Alum and ESPN analyst wa smore than pleased to point out.

During highlights shown in between games at the ESPN studios, Mark May tried to make as many jabs as he could against the Nittany Lions. While the Penn State/Coastal Carolina score was shown following the game highlights, Mark May stated "It's Coastal Carolina. What, wasn't [insert crappy school here] available?". I missed what school he said. If anyone know, let me know. Then, after Chris Fowler read the score, May said "Yeah BUT IT'S COASTAL CAROLINA!!!". May's partner Lou Holtz then added this gem: "Yeah and I'm Lou Holtz and you're Mark May.". Haha. However, May wasn't done. He then psoed a question to Fowler and Holtz. May, visibly upset and enraged, said "Did Coastal Carolina have a football team 8 years ago?". A rhetorical question, because Holtz and Fowler know they didn't, as does May. Following the Penn State highlights, the ESPN crew went to the Pitt/Bowling Green game. Pitt lost and May preceded to lambast them, as he should. But what really irks me is his complete contempt for Penn State. As if Pitt hasn't played any cupcakes. Is Bowling Green really that much more prestigious than Coastal Caroline? Hell no! Bowling Green has been around for 89 years. They have a total of 19 All Americans and 8 bowl appearances, going 4-4. Wow, Mark, wow. They are a MAC team. Sure they're better than Coastal Carolina. But how is playing Bowling Green any better than Coastal Carolina? He would have said the same thing about Penn State if they were playing Bowling Green. Mark May is a hypocritical, completely biased, ass that has it out for Penn State (just like Colin Cowherd).

Anyway, revel in the blowout win for the rest of the night Penn State fans. There are more important games to come, starting next week vs Oregon State. Good start. Keep it going.