Spring Football Report
By Tony DeFazio

PENN STATE
SPRING GOALS
o Get Anthony Morelli comfortable with the offense. Mission accomplished.
o Find four suitable replacements along the offensive line. Work in progress with the notable exception of A.Q. Shipley.
o Find three suitable replacements along the d-line. Work in progress. Paterno sees potential, but still feels as if the team is a little short here.
o Solidify starters in the defensive secondary. Almost there. Corners appear set, and there should be enough athletes that the safety spot sorts itself out.
o Find depth at QB. Still looking. Freshmen may have to contribute.

WHO STEPPED UP
QB Morelli, WR Jordan Norwood, TB Rodney Kinlaw, WR Derrick Williams, CB Justin King, DE Josh Gaines, LBs Tyrell Sales and Dontey Brown

THE PRESSURE IS ON
o Morelli to live up to the immense hype.
o Offensive coordinators Galen Hall and Jay Paterno to put Morelli in a position to succeed.
o Young defensive linemen who can both allow the talented linebackers space to make plays, and take the heat off the young secondary.

WEST VIRGINIA
SPRING GOALS
o Rebuild most of the defensive secondary. Work in progress. Two recruits expected to contribute are having issues: "Hollywood" Davis was kicked out of school, and Ryan Brinson has not qualified.
o Find replacements at offensive tackle. Almost there. Jake Figner is a future star on the left, but RT is still unsettled.
o Find depth in the offensive backfield. Work in progress. QB Jarret Brown is a player, but if TB Steve Slaton goes down? Uh-oh.
o Piece together a rotation at wide receiver. Work in progress. The first 3 or 4 are solid but RichRod needs at least six…which means Wes Lyons and John Maddox can't get to campus fast enough.
o Keep the intensity going from '05. Mission accomplished. If you want to see fast, hard-hitting, intense practices, go to Morgantown.

WHO STEPPED UP
WR Brandon Barrett, LT Jake Figner, DB Eric Wicks (even more), DLs Johnny Dingle, Keilen Dykes and Warren Young

THE PRESSURE IS ON
o Pat White to become a more efficient and capable passer.
o Rodriguez and his staff to transition from being the hunter to the hunted. After the Sugar Bowl, everyone knows about the Mountaineers.
o The entire defense. Moving the ball, eating clock and scoring points won't be a problem.

PITT
SPRING GOALS
o Find D-1 worthy receivers. Work in progress. Lots of solid No. 2 candidates, but no one stands out. Counting on freshmen.
o Solidify the offensive line. Still looking. If juco Jeff Otah isn't the answer, there are real problems. Again. No depth to speak of.
o Compliment Darrelle Revis at corner. Work in progress. Vets Reggie Carter and Kennard Cox had good springs, and freshman Jovani Chappel is for real. More help comes this fall. o Run faster on defense. Mission accomplished. The DL is faster across the board, and LBs Clint Session and Tommie Campbell are undersized but can fly.

WHO STEPPED UP
LB Session, S Shane Murray, DE Doug Fulmer, DT Mick Williams, G C.J. Davis, TE Darrell Strong, QB Tyler Palko

THE PRESSURE IS ON
o The offensive line to give Palko a chance…and to stay healthy.
o Several newcomers: WR Dorin Dickerson, RB Kevin Collier, OT Jeff Otah, DTs John Malecki, Jason Pinkston and Jared Martin.
o Dave Wannstedt: he's been recruiting by selling the future, but that only works for so long. Wins have to start coming this fall.