Predicting Nittany Lions' opener vs. Akron

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- It's been eight months since the Nittany Lions last walked off the field in Pasadena and while they enter the season ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and have two of the top weapons in college football on the same offense, it's time to put it all on the line.

An offseason unlike any other in years past was full of sky-high expectations and the challenge of trying to repeat as Big Ten champions begins to take shape Saturday at noon in Beaver Stadium when the Akron Zips come to town. While season openers like this are typically a one-sided event and this one in all likelihood will be no different, there's a lot of value in figuring out who steps up and make plays and how some of the team's rotations play out.

"We've had a really good offseason — combination of spring ball, combination of summer workouts and training camp," James Franklin said. "I think we're in a really good place right now. Probably the most consistent training camp that I've been associated with. That's probably the word that I think probably best describes how our offseason and how our camp went. I really kind of like where we're at right now.”

The pick: Penn State 41, Akron 10



OFFENSE

Year 2 under offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead will feature more freedom for quarterback Trace McSorley who now knows the offense inside and out, but just how much of that will we see in Week 1? Typically, Penn State hasn't held much back in season openers under Franklin, rather relying on executing their core concepts within the offense, but we also haven't seen Penn State in this position before to open a season under Franklin.

So, how much will Saquon Barkley play should the Lions jump out ahead to a big lead during the first half? That's something the Lions haven't mentioned publicly and while there's a lot riding on the legs of No. 26 and the Penn State offensive line should be even better than it was last year, at some point on Saturday there could be a decision to make about turning this one over to Andre Robinson, Mark Allen and Miles Sanders.

Now, some may argue this could potentially hurt Barkley's Heisman chances, but that award isn't based off what a running back does against an inferior opponent. In fact, even if Barkley would only carry the ball 15-18 times on Saturday he's got the capability of busting a long one every time he touches the ball. And, we'll see him catch more passes this year too, something that presumably will start this week.

While Franklin has shown time and time again a willingness to not take his foot off the gas during the course of a game or to throw in the towel (remember Christian Hackenberg getting sacked 10 times in the opener vs. Temple yet still staying in all the way until the end despite the game out of reach?) but this situation with Barkley has to be different. If it were up to Barkley he'd play the entire game, but should this get out of hand as predicted, look for the deep group of running backs and reserve quarterback Tommy Stevens to step in. The value of the reps for those guys is instrumental in their development.

"For you to be a big-time football program, you should have two legitimate quarterbacks on your roster that you feel like you could win with, and you feel like you have a young developing guy," Franklin said this week. "We have a lot of confidence in Trace. Have a lot of confidence in Tommy. Tommy has matured so much in so many different areas of his life. I just couldn't be more proud of him. You know, he's really kind of developed into a complete quarterback that I think has a very, very bright future."

And while looking at bright futures, no player received more praise this offseason than redshirt sophomore Juwan Johnson. The big-bodied wide receiver who will move into Chris Godwin's spot in the offense is supposed to on the verge of a breakout and while this offense likely won't feature a true, No. 1 receiver, the depth, coupled with the production from tight end Mike Gesicki, should make for plenty of explosive plays like the Lions had last season. Add wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton to that conversation of players looking to breakout, or in his case reemerge after a trying redshirt junior season and expect him to play a big role in this offense as well.

Akron linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III is the bright spot on defense for the Zips, a group that through injuries and inexperience last season ended up ranked 114th in the country in total defense. Zips head coach Terry Bowden said earlier this week that the defense is the most improved aspect of this team, but matching up with this offense won't be easy. Factor in the beefed up front five for the Nittany Lions, an area that will have plenty of eyes on new center Connor McGovern who locked down the job in spring after starting last year at guard, and should Gilbert get near the backfield there could be a splash play or two, but beyond that it could get ugly for Akron in a hurry.

Should we see a few McSorley touchdown passes does he have a new celebration in the works? Last year it was the home run swing, something McSorley and the backups came up with, so we'll have to see if there's a new wrinkle there.

DEFENSE

Just how much can one take away from a season opener like this? Well, for the Penn State defense it's a chance to start answering the questions that were asked about this group since January when it was shredded in the Rose Bowl.

Now, this Akron offense certainly isn't in the same stratosphere as Heisman frontrunner Sam Darnold and a stacked USC team, but that means this defense has to show it can be dominant against an opponent like this.

"It's definitely nice to be able to face an opponent finally," defensive tackle Curtis Cothran said. "We've been beating each other up for the last couple weeks, so it's definitely fun to put on the pads and show our skills in front of 107,000."

There will be 10-12 players who rotate in along the defensive line, including players like defensive end Shaka Toney, a speed rusher, and true freshman defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, who is expected to burn his redshirt. There's swing man Ryan Buchholz who will likely play both end and tackle during the game and then quick-twitch tackle Kevin Givens, who looks to build off his redshirt freshman season. Shareef Miller and Torrence Brown will be the starting defensive ends, roles they secured in the spring.

All three of the true freshman who are expected to burn their redshirts are on this side of the ball. Cornerback Lamont Wade is expected to be the nickelback, fellow freshman corner Tariq Castro-Fields will likely make his debut on special teams and we'll see whether or not he plays some defense as well on Saturday.

"I'm impressed with both of them, but all I'll say to them is just be patient," redshirt junior cornerback Amani Oruwariye said. "A big key to playing corner at this level is just being patient, do your job, make the plays when they come to you. I told them it's going to be a lot different of an experience playing in Beaver Stadium than playing in practice. ... I told them to ball out and do what they were recruited here to do."

It's senior Troy Apke who after the most consistent camp of his collegiate career locked down the starting safety job opposite Marcus Allen. But, for some of the changes in the secondary -- including Christian Campbell who will start in place of injured corner John Reid -- creating takeaways was a theme since the Rose Bowl ended.

It was safety Garrett Taylor, who is third on the depth chart, who led the team in interceptions during camp. Seeing the defensive backs hit the JUGS machine before or after practice was the norm this offseason and that's one area where the defense can make a favorable impression right out of the gate.

Also, this game will likely be the first one junior linebacker Jake Cooper plays in since the middle of last season when he sustained an injury to his shoulder. While the Lions will roll out the starting trio of Jason Cabinda, Manny Bowen and Koa Farmer, Brandon Smith, Cooper, Cam Brown and Jarvis Miller should all factor in.

Farmer, the hybrid safety turned linebacker, earned the start in the Rose Bowl and spent his first full offseason settled at that position. He's stepping into that role full time now and based off the talk coming out of camp it sounds like he's ready for it.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Nittany Lions haven't returned a punt for a touchdown since 2008 or a kick for a touchdown since 2011 and this jarring statistic might appear in this space every week until it's not true.

It's one of the most bizarre stats, especially considering Penn State continues to treat special teams as an equal third phase with many starters contributing on all of the special teams. There has to be some dumb luck at play here too and this season it'll be kick returner Miles Sanders and punt returner DeAndre Thompkins, both explosive options who have been in these roles before, tasked with busting the slump. Maybe this is the week?

Added interest in the special teams also comes in the kicking game where field goal specialist Tyler Davis will also be tasked with handling kickoffs. Davis hasn't done both roles before this season and while he said this week he's become comfortable with it and improved his leg strength -- which he said should give him enough leg for a 55-yard field goal, situations and conditions pending of course -- kick location was problematic at times the past two seasons.

What Davis can't do is blow the kickoff assignment and rather than hitting the assigned location boot it elsewhere and put stress on the coverage unit. Penn State would like redshirt freshman Alex Barbir to work into having a role on kickoff duties and perhaps rotating with him handling one kickoff and Davis another, but they're not at that point yet with Barbir, mainly because of a lack of consistency.

Davis' field goal duties include a new long snapper in Kyle Vasey and a new holder in reserve quarterback Billy Fessler. If you don't hear anything about Vasey and Fessler on Saturday then their jobs are going well.

Also, who makes up all of the special teams units? It's usually the quickest path to the field for some of the younger players, but Penn State will continue using starters here and taking them off certain units won't be easy. While Barkley likely won't be relied on to return kicks in this one and it'd be quite surprising and strange if he did, the Lions won't shy away from using some of their core players in the third phase and making sure they exit the game healthy is always part of the risk associated with it.

DON'T BE SURPRISED IF... The slow starts that plagued Penn State all of last season aren't on display in the season opener. While one game won't be enough proof to put the slow starts to rest, Franklin even said Wednesday night after practice that the excuse for the slow start last year -- which was pinned on the Lions' youth -- isn't valid this time around. Getting off to fast starts was emphasized in spring ball and again during camp when the team mixed up the team periods and would work on them in the beginning and at the end of workouts. Setting the tone early should be something the Lions take care of against an opponent that they should have their way against.

KEEP AN EYE ON... The number of players who get on the field for this one. The Nittany Lions' participation report should be overflowing and while the season opener is a good chance to see who is actually penciled in where -- because we all know depth charts everywhere are sometimes flawed -- there should be a lot of players making their collegiate debut. From redshirt freshmen like defensive ends Shane Simmons and Shaka Toney, to the trio of true freshmen in Lamont Wade, Tariq Castro-Fields and Yetur Gross-Matos who are expected to burn their redshirts, a lot of valuable game reps will be up for grabs. With the depth chart supposed to get re-ordered behind closed doors by the coaching staff every Sunday, there's a lot up for grabs for many of the younger or unproven players.