Preseason football practice starts today and despite returning 13 starters (eight on defense) from an overachieving 1990 squad -- which finished No. 11 in the country -- Coach Joe Paterno is pessimistic about the Lions' chances.
"I don't think we're anywhere close to being what some people think we're going to be," Paterno said. "The schedule is exceedingly difficult. For us to be realistic and think that we would be able to handle that schedule the way we would like to handle it. . . . We have a lot of unknowns, a lot of question marks, and I'm not sure whether we could solve them all to be ready for that schedule."
-- Paterno's biggest concern is the offensive line, where the Lions return only guards Greg Huntingdon and Paul Siever -- both part-time starters last season. Problems multiplied when backups Sean Moffit (graduating) and Sean Love (entering NFL draft) decided in the offseason not to return.
"We clearly have a tremendous job ahead of us at offensive line," Paterno said. "Because of those problems we have made some switches."
Todd Burger, who started five games at nose tackle when Jim Deter was injured, has been moved to offensive tackle. Tony Matesic, listed as a third-team defensive tackle on the final 1990 depth chart will move to offensive guard. John Gerak, who was a fullback in 1989 and redshirted last year, will also be an offensive guard.
-- The defensive secondary is also a worry of Paterno's. Safety Willie Thomas and right cornerback Greg Fusetti have both graduated. The loss of Fusetti hurts a little less because freshman sensation Derek Bochna was practically splitting time at the end of the season. However, starting left corner Leonard Humphries and backup Mark Graham both underwent offseason surgery.
"If they are not ready to play in the fall we've got some serious problems in the secondary," Paterno said. "We have to make sure we have one secondary and then obviously try to get some depth there."
-- Other players not available this spring are outside linebacker Matt Baggett (off-season surgery), hero Chris Cisar (playing baseball), cornerback Hernon Henderson (concentrating on engineering curriculum), nose tackle Eric Renkey (injured neck) and wide receiver Rich Rosa (injured ankle).
-- Paterno's problems are multiplied by the fact that this will be the shortest spring ever. The Lions must fit 15 practices in 22 days. Only 10-of-15 can be contact drills. Many key players have afternoon classes and will not be able to make all the weekday practices.
"Our preparation is much more intense than I can ever remember it," Paterno said. "Because we're not really sure what is going to happen with just 15 days of practice. We have absolutely no leeway. So I think you better know what you're doing and you better not waste any time.
Because of the lack of practices, Paterno almost thought about giving up the traditional Blue-White game. But because of fund raising activities that go along with the game it will be played at Beaver Stadium on April 20.
After the Blue-White game the Lions will spend the last three practices concentrating on the Aug. 28 opener against Georgia Tech in the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium.
"I'm concerned we're not going to have enough time to concentrate on them in preseason," Paterno said. "How much we can get accomplished? Your guess is as good as mine."
