Quick Thoughts on Penn State’s Blue White Game

Penn State will now move into the long abyss after the Blue White Game and before the summer practice sessions begin. But first, let me point out a few things about the game.

Offense

• Daryll Clark and Evan Royster could very well carry the team this year. While Royster only logged three carries, they amounted to 21 yards. He looked fluid, as usual, and shouldn’t have a problem with the…
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Five players Big Ten teams can’t afford to lose

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
It's tough to imagine how Penn State would have fared without Daryll Clark in 2008.
It's scary to imagine what will happen this season if Clark isn't on the field.
Penn State remained on the brain during my drive to Columbus, and my prevailing thought was an obvious one. This can be a very good team, perhaps a championship team, with Clark…
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Spring Q&A: Penn State’s Daryll Clark

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
A year ago, Daryll Clark was an unproven commodity competing for Penn State's starting quarterback spot alongside Pat Devlin. Clark now finds himself at the helm of the Nittany Lions as arguably the best quarterback in the Big Ten.     Paul Spinelli/Getty Images   Already entrenched as the starter, Daryll Clark…
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Clark expects ‘Joe of old’ to return to sideline

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
I'll have a full Q&A with Penn State starting quarterback Daryll Clark on Wednesday, but here's a tidbit from the genial senior signal-caller, who has become one of my favorite interviews in the Big Ten.
Clark has seen a renewed enthusiasm this spring from 81-year-old Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno, who underwent hip replacement surgery…
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Big Ten lunch links: Lions line controls scrimmage

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Spring is in the air, even if there's snow on the ground outside my window. Penn State's defensive line is in top form, forcing coach Joe Paterno to limit quarterback Daryll Clark's reps, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News.   After some bad news on Friday, Purdue's offense brought a smile to coach Danny…
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Daryll Clark Looks to Lead Penn State in 2009

One of the best, or worst, parts about spring practice is that everybody seems to put out some articles about the evolving leadership of the team heading into 2009. Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did just that with a feature on quarterback Daryll Clark on Sunday.

Musselman recaps Clark’s thoughts on the Rose Bowl loss and discusses how Clark will be looked upon as more of a leader…
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Big Ten lunch links: Lions’ gridders boost hoops

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg Penn State's basketball team received a pep talk from Joe Paterno before Thursday night's dramatic win, and quarterback Daryll Clark pumped up the crowd, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror. Sean Lee and Stefen Wisniewski are among the Penn State players facing possible position changes this spring, Jeff Rice writes. Michigan defensive…
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Where’s the love in the Big Ten?

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, and so is spring practice. Fellow bloggers Heather Dinich and Ted Miller passed out roses to teams in their leagues earlier Friday.

I'm not too big on flowers (neither is my fiancée, thankfully), so here are five Valentine's Day gifts for prominent Big Ten figures.

	James Lang/US PRESSWIRE
	Coach Rich Rodriguez would love some improved quarterback play.

1. A quarterback for Rich Rodriguez – Any improvement Michigan makes must start at the quarterback position, which was a disaster for most of 2008. Whether freshmen Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson step up or holdovers Steven Threet or Nick Sheridan elevate their play, Rod deserves a quarterback who can run the spread offense without tripping over his feet.

2. A wide receiver for Daryll Clark – Clark, the Penn State quarterback, loses top targets Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood. Butler finished as Penn State's all-time receptions leader, and Williams was a unique talent. Clark is a smart, efficient quarterback, but he needs a capable target to emerge in spring ball. Another offensive lineman would be nice, too.

3. A magic healing potion for Bill Lynch – The Indiana head coach saw his roster completely depleted by injuries last season. Indiana isn't at a point where it can survive a rash of injuries, and Lynch needs his key contributors healthy, particularly in the secondary and along the offensive line. Safeties Austin Thomas and Nick Polk remain out for spring ball, but Indiana should get a few players back in the mix.

4. An offensive identity for Minnesota – There were a lot of changes in the Twin Cities this winter, as the Gophers hired new coordinator Jedd Fisch and new line coach/run-game coordinator Tim Davis. The spread is dead and Fisch wants to run a pro-style system, but Minnesota must improve its run game. There will be an adjustment period for players, but they need to get on the same page fast.

5. A quarterback for Bret Bielema – The quarterback position really hurt Wisconsin last year, and another competition is coming this spring. Game managers have worked at Wisconsin before, but Curt Phillips and Jon Budmayr are solid recruits who can do more. Wisconsin must demand bigger things from its quarterbacks going forward.

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All-Big Ten: Who’s back? Who’s not?

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As spring practice approaches, it's time to review the 2008 All-Big Ten teams and see who will be back and who won't for the 2009 season. To avoid confusion, I'll stick with the media's picks for all-conference. 

FIRST TEAM

Gone (17)

• RB Shonn Greene, Iowa
• RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
• C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
• G Seth Olsen, Iowa
• G Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State
• T Alex Boone, Ohio State
• T Gerald Cadogan, Penn State
• K Kevin Kelly, Penn State
• DT Mitch King, Iowa
• DE Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota
• DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
• LB Brit Miller, Illinois
• LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
• CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
• S Otis Wiley, Michigan State
• CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
• CB Allen Langford, Wisconsin 

Back (7)

• QB Daryll Clark, Penn State
• WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois 
• WR Eric Decker, Minnesota
• TE Garrett Graham, Wisconsin
• DE Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
• LB Navorro Bowman, Penn State
• P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

SECOND TEAM

Gone (14)

• RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State
• WR Deon Butler, Penn State
• WR Derrick Williams, Penn State
• C Ryan McDonald, Illinois
• C Rob Bruggeman, Iowa
• G Roland Martin, Michigan State
• G Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
• T Xavier Fulton, Illinois
• T Jesse Miller, Michigan State
• TE Jack Simmons, Minnesota
• DT Matt Kroul, Iowa
• LB Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
• CB Lydell Sargeant, Penn State
• S Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State

Back (12)

• QB Juice Williams, Illinois
• RB Evan Royster, Penn State
• T Kyle Calloway, Iowa
• K Brett Swenson, Michigan State
• DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
• DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern
• DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
• LB Pat Angerer, Iowa
• LB Greg Jones, Michigan State
• CB Traye Simmons, Minnesota
• S Kurt Coleman, Ohio State
• P Aaron Bates, Michigan State

Teams most affected by All-Big Ten losses: Penn State (9), Ohio State (5), Iowa (5)

Teams returning most All-Big Ten players: Penn State (4), Michigan State (3)

Positions most affected by losses: Tackle (4), guard (4), cornerback (4), center (3), running back (3)

Positions returning most All-Big Ten selections: Quarterback (2), wide receiver (2 first teamers), linebacker (3), punter (2)

Notes

• Co-champ Ohio State returns only one All-Big Ten selection (Coleman). Freshman of the Year Terrelle Pryor also is back.
• No team returns two first-team All-Big Ten selections.
• Michigan State returns both of its all-conference specialists.  
• For the second straight year, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year was a junior running back who entered the NFL draft. Iowa's Greene followed Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall in 2007. 

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Four Big Ten teams make Schlabach’s Top 25

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

No sport lends itself to premature predictions quite like college football, which provides a lengthy offseason for fearless forecasting. ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach did just that today with his revised Top 25 for 2009, which includes four Big Ten teams.

Ohio State leads off the Big Ten representatives at No. 7, one spot behind Sept. 12 opponent USC and two spots ahead of Penn State. This seems about right for the Buckeyes, who will be a lot younger in 2009 but arguably more talented at the skill positions. Though it was somewhat surprising to see Virginia Tech (No. 5) ahead of Ohio State, the Buckeyes certainly enter the fall with some question marks, many of which can be answered with a win against USC.

Penn State's placement also seems about right. Like Ohio State, the Lions lose a sizable senior class as well as two defensive ends (Aaron Maybin and Maurice Evans) leaving early for the NFL draft. The Big Ten's best offensive backfield (quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster) and the league's best linebacking corps gives Penn State a chance to surpass Ohio State this fall.

Iowa moves up to No. 16 in Schlabach's rundown, thanks to a defense that returns nine starters and several experienced reserves. As Schlabach notes, quarterback Ricky Stanzi's development is paramount for an offense that loses Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene but should be stronger at wide receiver and possibly just as strong along the offensive line.

Michigan State rounds out the Big Ten contingent at No. 24. I was a bit surprised to see the Spartans in the rankings, though I would put them no worse than 30th in my preseason rundown. I'm always a bit hesitant to trumpet a team that must replace multi-year starters at both running back and quarterback, though Kirk Cousins or Keith Nichol could be an upgrade to Brian Hoyer under center. The Spartans should be even stronger on defense this fall, and if the passing game can be upgraded a bit, they'll crack my Top 25 as well.

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