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Friday, December 13, 2002
No. 16 USC vs. No. 17 Penn State
By Will Weiss
BCSfootball.com
It doesn't seem possible that it was only a year ago that then-No. 3 ranked Penn State opened the 1999 college football season with the impact of a wrecking ball, ripping fourth-ranked Arizona 41-7. A three-loss season didn't seem possible on that scorching afternoon in August.
|  | | Sure-handed Kareem Kelly will be a factor against Penn State |
Yet, here the Nittany Lions are again, this time toting a No. 17 ranking after what many considered to be a disappointing season. They would love nothing more than to repeat last year's opening-game success on another Pac-10 foe, No. 16 Southern California, in Kickoff Classic XVIII at Giants Stadium on Sunday (ABC, 2:30 p.m. ET) as they begin the 2000 season.
Both teams head into the fall with several questions. On the USC side, Carson Palmer's return to quarterback adds a spark to an offense that finished sixth in the Pac-10 a year ago. Palmer immersed himself in the playbook during his time on the sidelines last season after suffering a broken collarbone against Oregon. He has practiced well and is now ready to take control of an offense loaded with speed, skill and potential.
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ABC analyst Tim Brant:
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The big advantage Penn State has is that the Lions have been successful so many times. Joe Paterno just gets them to win. They're just reloading, even though they lost nine guys from defense, including LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown.
Plus, they have the advantage of playing on the East Coast. USC has to come across the country. With all that said, we're going to have a good ball game.
I pick USC, which is a little bit of an upset when everyone is picking Penn State for the most part. The Pac-10 is going to surprise a lot of people this year.
The Trojans are defined by speed. They've got Zeke Moreno, they've got Markus Steele, Ennis Davis, three quality guys surrounded by a lot of guys with speed. They have Sultan Abdul-Malik. Then you look at the other side of the line of scrimmage and they've got Carson Palmer back along with wide receiver Kareem Kelly, who is going to be a superstar. So much pressure is on Paul Hackett to win, he's got a lot of skill position guys, and he's got tremendous speed, which will make a difference in this game.
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Defensively, the Trojans boast two Butkus Award Candidates in linebackers Markus Steele and Zeke Moreno. Sultan Abdul-Malik anchors a defensive line that balances strength and speed, and junior Kris Richard leads a secondary that totaled 21 interceptions last season to lead the conference.
For Penn State, the most immediate issues lie within the defense. The Nittany Lions lost nine defensive starters from last season, most notably Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington. Defensive end Justin Kurpeikis and tackle Jimmy Kennedy are the only returning starters, but the on-field personnel must also adjust to new defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, following the retirement of long-time Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky. The Nittany Lions will stay in their traditional 4-3 and look for players like inside linebacker Ron Graham and cornerback Bruce Branch to step up and prove they are worthy of their new starting positions.
On offense, it remains to be seen whether or not Joe Paterno was correct in his faith in quarterback Rashard Casey. While Casey still faces criminal charges for allegedly assaulting an off-duty police officer in May, he will start on Sunday. Despite splitting time with Kevin Thompson last year, Casey completed 62.8 percent of his passes, led the Big Ten in passing efficiency, and was the team's second leading rusher. Penn State also returns leading receiver Eddie Drummond and running back Eric McCoo, who has led the team in rushing each of the past two seasons.
When USC has the ball:
Look for Palmer to distribute the ball to as many different receivers as possible. Kelly is the primary target, and they will try to establish their rapport early in the game. He is coming off an outstanding freshman season, when he caught 54 passes, four being for touchdowns. Penn State may try to double-team him, but will have to cover Marcell Allmond on the other side. USC has depth and speed in their receiving corps, and will utilize it to the fullest capabilities.
The key to a successful passing attack, though, is a strong running game. Enter Sultan McCullough, who has run with surprising power in practice and expects to have a breakout season. McCullough needs about 20 to 25 carries for the passing game to be effective.
The key will be for the offensive line to protect Palmer from Kurpeikis and Kennedy at the line of scrimmage. This tandem combined for nine sacks last season, and with Palmer being a pocket passer, they want to apply as much pressure as they can to prevent him from settling into a rhythm.
When Penn State has the ball:
|  | | Junior Eric McCoo averaged 5.0 yards per carry last season |
It is Casey's show. The Hoboken, N.J., native will have the advantage of a hometown crowd to compliment his athletic skills. He will showcase his versatility against a defense that surrendered 373 yards per game last year. Penn State will attempt to control the clock and the line of scrimmage with its patented in-your-face, beat-you-till-you-can't-stand-up style of football. With that in mind, Eric McCoo should be a focal point of the offense and serve as a compliment to Casey's all-around game.
Penn State also boasts a formidable passing game. Eddie Drummond caught 35 passes last year, and posted 100-yard receiving efforts against Michigan and Michigan State. Look for USC to match Kris Richard with Drummond, as the 6-foot Richard presents a mismatch for the 5-9 Drummond. Sophomore Darrell Rideaux will start at the other corner, once inhabited by three-year standout Antuan Simmons. Simmons will redshirt this season after undergoing surgery in May to remove a benign abdominal tumor.
The last time these two teams met was in the 1996 Kickoff Classic, a 24-7 Penn State victory. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series four games to three, and has won the last three contests. Sunday's Kickoff Classic features an intriguing matchup with two evenly matched teams. Both teams play difficult schedules this season, and a win for either squad will establish a solid foundation for the remainder of the fall.
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