The Lions' Pride

The disappearance of Mark Emmert. Also flowers and baseball.

How Fergie and Bench stack up for starters.

1. Absolutely. However, I feel like we'll see a different type of leadership this year. John Urschel has already been mentioned as someone who is stepping up, and I think Glenn Carson has been as well. This year shouldn't require guys like Mauti and Zordich who spontaneously organize a "rally" and speak to the press in a time of crisis. This year should require much more stable, much more normal type of on-field and off-field leadership.

2. The third LB will be interesting. Hopefully Wooten inserts his name into the conversation as well. We should have a clearer picture on this after spring.

3. I personally like DaQuan Davis. I think he did well for a freshman last year. Yeah, he got beat, but he's young and will improve. Taking a lesson from the NFL - rookie CB's RARELY play well. It's always their second year when they start coming into their own. Given the way Stephon Morris improved with coaching, and now that we essentially have two DB coaches, I'm confident we'll see a solid secondary, even from the young guys.

4. QB. Will be an interesting battle. Hopefully both Bench and Ferguson perform well.

5. Second DT - I'm concerned about this as well. Someone will obviously fill in here, but how good will they be? If Baublitz isn't playing up to snuff, I could see Dowrey or Johnson playing here. I think Cadogan was moved to DL too. Not sure if he'll find his niche here yet. Personally, I hope Gaia doesn't get lost in the shuffle and he shows something.

6. Change completely? No. But even in the brief time when Bench played, I saw a coach who was willing to change the play calls for a younger, inexperienced QB who might be talented in different ways. How many zone reads did we see with Bench in? Something like 6-7 straight, I believe. I think the overall offense will stay the same, but things will be changed/added.

I'd like to note that something Bill O'Brien did very well was run the same plays from different formations and different setups. I have a feeling he can do something similar - run the same plays, but utilize Bench and Ferguson's mobility, maybe adding roll-outs, among other things.

7. LYNCH! I'm excited to see him play.

Uh...who are you and why are you thinking exactly like me?

Ferguson or Bench stepping up and making solid decisions. Key to the season right there IMO.

Wartman, Hull, Carson continuing LBU tradition.

Zettel and Barnes becoming a force that needs to be reckoned with.

Finding someone to step in alongside Jones that makes their presence felt.

A PUNTER!!!!!!

Go back and watch the Wisconsin game. ZZ and the o-line were dominant. Just watched the game again and realized that Z Z was roughly our entire first touchdown drive.

Im excited to see Lynch but think that ZZ is being looked over a bit here. If had around 38 carries in that game and was still running guys over in overtime. That was dominant.

Yeah that was awesome. Now if we could repeat that kind of run game performance 11 more times next year and (gasp) maybe even be better than we were against Wisky, look out. Even if that happens though, I still dont see BOB rynning the ball any more than he did last year, he will keep it balanced. But a nice ypc increase would be huge.

QB race obviously.

LB depth chart.

DL depth chart.

Gilliam vs the 5th year whities.

Third WR.

Short skirts and low cut tops!!

This. We need them healthy with depth an issue.

Depth on defense and maybe for a superstar or two to emerge on that side of the ball. The quarterbacks will figure it out and we should be fine on offense but this is Penn State where we're only going to go as far as the D will take us. Would like to see another option at punter emerge as well.

Looking forward to Lynch as well. 10 lbs sounds like a very reasonable "good weight" gain. Just don't wanna see the Royster Effect occur. That was some lousy weight... I have great faith in Fitz.

We will have answers to every one of your questions. And although we have lost a lot (leadership, Hill, LBers) I think we will be more than ok in those areas. The senior class was special, and one area their legacy will pay dividends is the lessons they have given the returning players. We WILL see players step up and take the baton from the seniors. No doubt in my mind. It's always tough to lose great players, but we do have kids that will step in and do a great job. I am excited about Wartman and Lynch particularly and hope that the competition at QB will really push one of them into being prepared to pick up where the offense let off last season.