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Penn St.-Illinois Preview

Oct 1, 2009 - 11:52 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

No. 8 Penn State (3-1) at Illinois (1-2), 3:30 p.m. EDT

Penn State's offense has been a big problem this season, evidenced by a sluggish start to Big Ten play. A meeting with struggling Illinois could help it get untracked.

The 15th-ranked Nittany Lions will try to rebound from their first loss of the season Saturday when they visit the Fighting Illini.

Penn State (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) opened with three consecutive home wins against overmatched non-conference opponents, outscoring them 90-20. However, the offense never put in a dominant performance, turning the ball over six times while seeing its passing totals drop more than 200 yards from the first game to the third.

Tho offensive problems became more clear last Saturday in a 21-10 home loss to Iowa, sputtering for a season-low 307 yards while committing four turnovers. The defeat, which also saw the Hawkeyes return a blocked punt 53 yards for a fourth-quarter TD, caused Penn State to tumble 10 spots in the AP poll.

"I think we will learn from it," coach Joe Paterno said. "Sometimes you can talk about different things and how games are won and lost and I think they haven't been through it.

"It's still a fairly young football team as far as playing time is concerned, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The wideouts and offensive line, two or three of those kids haven't played a lot. I think it's a question of learning and not feeling that all is lost."

Quarterback Daryll Clark has been the focal point of much of the offensive issues. The senior has completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 958 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

Clark hit his first five passes against Iowa, including a 79-yard touchdown to sophomore Chaz Powell, but finished 12 of 32 for 198 yards with three interceptions. Two of those picks came in the game's final 12:21.

"There were a couple mistakes here and there from everybody," said Clark, who gave the offense a post-game pep talk. "What we do after this will determine what type of football team we are. We still have a lot of football left."

The Penn State offense also could use consistency from leading rusher Evan Royster. He ran for 134 yards in a 31-6 win over Temple on Sept. 19 but has been held under 70 in each of the other three games. Royster led the team last year with 1,266 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns.

The Nittany Lions hope a matchup with Illinois (1-2, 0-1) can get their offense going.

The Illini are giving up 28.0 points and 386.0 yards per game - both second-worst in the Big Ten. No team in the conference is worse at preventing opponents from converting on third down, failing 46.7 percent of the time.

They gave up 236 rushing yards last Saturday in a 30-0 loss at then-No. 13 Ohio State.

Penn State had a similar problem last week, surrendering 163 yards on Iowa's 37 carries after holding its first three opponents to a combined 139 rushing yards.

Overall, the Nittany Lions defense has been solid, allowing 935 total yards while recording 12 sacks and picking off five passes.

That unit, however, likely will be without linebacker Sean Lee for a second straight game. The senior, considered one of the top players at his position, sprained his left knee against Temple on Sept. 19 and didn't play in last week's loss to Iowa. Sophomore Nathan Stupar will most likely start in Lee's place.

Penn State holds a 13-3 all-time advantage on Illinois, including 10-2 since joining the Big Ten in 1993.

The Nittany Lions beat the Illini 38-24 last year when both teams were ranked, as Clark threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 50 yards and another score.

Illinois has dropped 26 of 29 meetings with ranked opponents.

Senior quarterback Juice Williams has been limited to 256 yards passing and 94 rushing this season after throwing for 3,173 and running for 719 last year.

Williams completed 13 of 25 passes for 77 yards and two INTs last week as the Illini generated a season-low 170 yards.

"I'm more tired of saying it than you are of hearing it, but obviously we didn't play once again the way we are capable," coach Ron Zook said. "Everyone's written us off and that's fine. I would too if I was in your shoes."