10 I THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, 2010 Bolden's reigns could be loosened By Brendan Monahan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER As a senior, Daryll Clark's sea son-long performance won him the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player award. By FOOTBALL the end of his Penn Statt career, true freshman Rob Bolden could have the same fate. "Once he gets a little more experience and a few more games under his belt, he's going to be doing a lot of great things," wide receiver Derek Moye said. - You're not going to be able to tell the difference [between Bolden and Clark]." Bolden may grow into the quarterback Clark was or even greater. Running back Stephfon Green had said he believes Bolden will break every Penn State passing record in years to come. But records or not, the true freshman will eventually have to gain something Clark possessed a year ago free reign of the Penn State offense. Bolden has seen progression in throwing the ball for longer yardage with at least 12 of his 29 attempts going for 10 yards or more against Alabama. This weekend, with the running game struggling, the number of longer yardage passes could increase. Bolden has had a big burden to bear this season, which means Stephfon Green runs during Penn State's 24-3 loss against Alabama last S Running game hopes to change By Audrey Snyder COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER To be fair, Joe Paterno doesn't want to jump to any conclusions. With Evan Royster yet to rush for 100 yards this season, Paterno is tired of hearing about the struggles of Penn State's run ning game. Left guard changes, quarter back pressures and a young :earn forced Paterno to bite his tongue, but when it comes to discussing the Nittany Lions' slow start to the running game, Paterno is the first to defend his team. "Let me put it this way, we have too many people that are analyzing everything and some times they don't know what they're talking about," Paterno said. Whether or not it's fair to say the offensive line has struggled to open holes for Royster, Paterno doesn't believe the run ning game has been as stagnant as people make it out to be. With a Kent State defense that held Boston College to 87 yards on 40 opening up the playbook further may be a gradual process. So far, he has taken on a role greater than expected for a true freshman under the reigns of Joe Paterno. Though throwing two intercep tions on longer passes this sea son, Bolden had 16 of 33 comple tions go for 10 yards or more. showing why the reigns may be loosened more this weekend. The coaches even used a few designed runs at Alabama, some thing not seen against Youngstown State. He'll have to keep at the same pace, or an increased one, until the running game kicks in, but Paterno said the play selection. which was equal run-pass distri bution against Alabama, can also be improved upon. "You've got to adapt to what people can do," Paterno said. "We may have asked him to do too much down there in Alabama." Increasing the number of longer-yardage passes on the road shows the confidence the Penn State coaching staff has in Bolden. The true freshman is often described as poised, cool and collected. With those characteristics and his success in longer-yardage passing, Bolden may find himself unloading deep balls even if the running game starts picking up. "I definitely think he'll contin carries, the Lions will once again have their hands full trying to pave the way for Royster. The Golden Flashes defense will challenge an offensive line Paterno said has a more difficult task than in years past. With a freshman quarterback and red shirt freshman tight end earning starts, the Lions' offensive line is slowly starting to take form. Johnnie Troutman has a slight edge over DeOn'tae Pannell at left guard, and having Troutman on the field is something defensive tackle 011ie Ogbu said greatly benefits the Lions' run game. "He's responded ever since they put him on the second team," Ogbu said. "He kind of felt like he had a chip on his shoulder because he's honestly one of our most talented offensive linemen that we have here. Being on sec ond team, that wasn't doing him any justice." With Troutman playing most of the game against Alabama. Paterno said he doesn't want to pin the running games' struggles on either the offensive tie to have t:„, opportunily to throw downfield," Moye said. "I don't think we hold anything back with the offense with him - Penn Stale - s two lead return ing rushers. Evan Royster and Stephfon Green, have combined for only 117 yards in two pules. Those sta' sties Play c i qt::: - terbach much. but ". believe Bold quiet, lets affect him ho is . mail) "He looks at it as an opp,),-tuni ty," Moye "because he's going to get more throws." The adversity Bolden experi enced last Saturiav because of the running game and blitz block ing is an exp( • e he <hrugged off at -..cording to his teammate Just one day :-,lter the biggest game 'of his young career, the Penn State quarterback looked ahead to thc 7 - text matchup. tak ing place Saturday against Kent State. When Moye approached the troe freshman the Alaban - 1 game ;.4.! tell Imo to look to ftc.,•,t of he season, ady r.oit the loss I.); him .That's rat ;fiat you get a freshman like Moye said. - Usually they're just thinking about what just happened in the gar e." e mail reporter: bjmsl46@psu.edu In or he rt:!.otin,.. 'iacl.:3 I think rh( ~ Prno said Nvhett f...iforE•s -;!it , {1 1.1 •'.; well established game that tZ d of a pick 'em in. Rovstel and spot 'ern, tr. - c me a crack and I'll go-kind of runner. He's not a guy that's gonna run over you." While Roy-7f. e r may not be the type of r :,:ner that plows thmugh de riders, freshman Silas Redd has taken full advan tage of the cigj't carrie-. he's received. 11 Nave made him ~,o n b.t rusher, but Pa! is he give him nu:: . ries. The experieilce of Royster and redshirt junior Stephfon Green makes Redd the third option, alttl , ll2l - , Fti.-rrio believes the freshman a lot of potential. I think Silas will be a good Paterno said "1 think he's well e\e ; ,!2 :s - e d him. We've :(' do tuts much.- Jass22o@psu.edu =l2lllll e a too sn't o as Rob Bolden walks off the field at Bryant Paterno looking for leaders By Andrew J. Cassavell COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER During the offseason, Joe Paterno said he couldn't possibly be sure about the leadership on his young football team until it faced adversity. He said he couldn't be sure which players would step up vocally until the Penn State lost a game and faced the questions that come with a difficult defeat. Following Saturday's 24-3 los ,, in Alabama, a loss that raised questions about both toughnes. and talent, that time may be now `"l've been nervous about how young they are and where the leadership would come from... Paterno said. "We played the first half down in Alabama just about the way I was afraid we'd play it: very tentative. We weren't aggressive. I thick we'll find oM more about the football team this week and from here on in." Concerns about lea ders h i were raised this offseason v,iW the departures of captains Semi Lee and Daryl] Clark. In 2rify, Lee and Clark were selected mid-May but the coaching stall opted to wait until the first weci: of September to let players vo,o this year This week, Paterno said the response of the current captains, 011ie Ogbu and Brett Brackett, impressed him, and senior guard Stefen Wisniewski is "coming around a little more" as a leader. But Paterno wants more than just three seniors to take initia tive. The reason he hasn't seen much from the rest of the team, he said, is because of a lack of confidence and experience. "When you get a lot of guys that are just not quite sure about some things and they lack that all-out attitude, it takes a while to THURSDAYS ._'!IL to 1/2 3-10,m PRICE STEAK BURGERS • BEST,R;; . amml in Town? • ROOM Corner of Colle:e & Allen St.. get till '! , ..1(1 a team J ')•l'i ~:f'lt:l yi.r havo ti: ",.7..er , ... h.. - \te have that we had Dra C 1 job of i:.:ei,l2 ieAdei'. iu.:,: body to,4e;:h; f :.. : him out il2n , 011ie, I thinii. 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