{mosimage}Big Ten Preview Countdown: #4 Penn State-

PSU has a talented team, but also a few questions to answer. Like whether or not JoePa does any real coaching anymore, for instance.

Joe Paterno is so old-school, he doesn't even need a headset. Doesn't even need to say much to his fellow coaches or players.

Perhaps all his years on the sideline have given him some incredibly useful form of ESP that he uses to communicate with his players.

Whatever's going on with the wily old legend, one thing's for sure: his Penn State program is still going strong and has successfully adapted to the modern era of college football. The 2007 Nittany Lions should continue the program's winning tradition, and while the odds are against them winning the Big Ten, they certainly have a real chance to do so.

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Start with the offense, which returns key playmakers at wide receiver, a talented QB, and a running back with tons of potential.

Anthony Morelli is the trigger man for the offense at QB and could have the largest hand in how the season will play out. Highly touted out of high school, Morelli finally began to show signs of the player he could be last year.

He has a big arm and solid accuracy, but he is a bit mechanical in the pocket and slow to read defenses. If the light finally comes on in his head this year, however, he could be an All-Big Ten-caliber player. Morelli will have no shortage of targets to throw to at WR, and each of the starters brings something different to the table. Derrick Williams has the moves and the speed, Deon Butler has the best hands and is the most dependable, and Jordan Norwood has the toughness and the grit.

Williams is the guy the Lions need to step up the most, however, as he hasn't quite lived up to expectations as a superstar out of high school, much like Morelli, although both have had solid careers.

Austin Scott is another guy trying to make good on his immense potential. He is a punishing runner with a very good burst through the hole who has shown flashes but needs to be more consistent. Now that he knows the feature role is all his, expect a big season as he ratchets up the intensity in his workouts.

Andrew Quarless showed good ability at tight end last year and could come into his own in his second season. The offensive line might be a bit dicey if it doesn't gel quickly, however. Replacing Levi Brown will be tough but his understudy, Gerald Cadogan, has the talent to step in and try to carry the torch.

Center A.Q. Shipley is tough and dependable as the leader of the line. The defensive line is almost as green as the offensive line and lacks proven playmakers, so a few new players will have to step up. DE Maurice Evans is a great athlete with the most potential, while Phillip Taylor could be a great run stuffer at 6'4 and 337 pounds.

The linebackers are the strength of the defense. Dan Connor is a possible top ten NFL draft pick in 2008 and is effective in every situation.

Sean Lee is almost as good and should make a name for himself this year even with Connor stealing a lot of his tackles. Tyrell Sales is slotted to be the other starter, and he's a quick guy who came in as a DE. The secondary is almost as good as the linebackers, led by seasoned playmakers at safety. Anthony Sciorroto is the QB of the unit while Tony Davis works well in tandem with him. At cornerback, Justin King has the makings of a superstar and should continue his fast growth in his junior year.

A.J. Wallace is a good second corner as well. The schedule in Big Ten play is tough as PSU misses Northwestern and Minnesota, but they do get Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Iowa at home.

The Notre Dame game is already one of the most sought-after tickets in Beaver Stadium history, and Penn State will be looking for payback in that game.

The one game PSU has circled on its calendar is the trip to Ann Arbor to play Michigan, however, as the Wolverines have won 8 straight in the series.

Penn State should be in the mix for the Big Ten title for most of the year, and if Morelli, Williams, and Scott step up, they just might find themselves in Pasadena.

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