With An NCAA-mandated, shortened spring practice schedule on tap this season, Coach Joe Paterno has little time to make a lot of decisions.

Under new NCAA legislation, Penn State has just 22 days to squeeze in 15 practices -- with just 10 in full pads. And heading into today's traditional Blue-White game, set for a 1 p.m. Saturday kickoff at Beaver Stadium, a lot of questions remain unanswered.

"It's going to be a much more intense spring practice -- we'll have to get a lot out of 15 days, particularly the 10 days in pads," Paterno said. "They haven't given us much flexibility, much leeway now, so we've really got to zero in on what we've got to get done.

"I don't go into it as loosy-goosy as I've gone into it some other spring practices and I'm a little uptight about it."

Paterno said the shortened time will not allow the Lions to try out new prospects as much as they would like and forces the team into immediate preparation for the 1991 season.

"We can't experiment as much; we can't horse around with some kids we think might be good football players -- we have to get the kids that we have and literally get them ready to play," Paterno said. "What we can get accomplished will be interesting to see."

The Nittany Lions are returning a large portion of last season's 9-3 team, which finished the season ranked No. 11 in the country, after a 24-17 loss to Florida State in the inaugural Blockbuster Bowl.

Despite the return of 40 lettermen, it is the nine starters who aren't returning who are hurting the Lions the most -- and leaving the biggest question marks this spring heading into today's split-squad scrimmage.

Penn State's top two rushers last season, tailbacks Leroy Thompson and Gary Brown, as well as wide reciever Dave Daniels, who chose to forego his senior year to enter the NFL draft this season, are all missing from the Lions' chemistry this spring -- gaps which Paterno has earmarked for repair.

The biggest problem, however, is on the offensive line, where Penn State has lost four of its starting five offensive lineman; Dave Brzenchek, Pat Duffy, Rob Luedeke and Matt McCartin. Only guards Greg Huntington, who started nine of the Lions' 12 games, and Paul Siever, who started three games for Brzenchek last season, return.

In an experimental spring move, Paterno will move last year's third-string right tackle, redshirt Tony Matesic, and defensive tackle Todd Burger to the offensive line to try and answer some of the lingering line questions.

"I think our offensive line has got to be our prime concern -- we lost a lot of kids, so we really have a tremendous job ahead of us," Paterno said. "As a result of those problems, we have made some switches -- we feel Burger and Matesic are both good prospects who might not be able to break the starting lineup on defense, but could be good offensive people and had a chance to start for us on offense."

The Lions have a large contingent of lineman in the wings, waiting to step forward and carry the burden of protecting quarterback Tony Sacca.

Guards John Gerak, Mike Heller and Mike Malinoski, tackles Brian Dozier, Derick Pickett and Todd Rucci and centers Mac Gallagher, Buckey Greeley and E.J. Sandusky are each vying for the starting jobs.

"Inexperience is a concern on the offensive line," Paterno said. "But spring seems to be the time when players step forward and demonstrate the capacity for added responsibility."

Huntington, who was a starting guard for Penn State in all but the Notre Dame and Pitt games last season, has been moved over to center this spring to try and replace Luedeke and open holes for younger players on the line.

"I wasn't really pleased with the move first, but that's what the spring is for -- to try and get the best five guys up front," Huntington said. "I've been pleased with what I've done so far, but I know I have a long way to go and if it's permanant -- and it looks right now like it's best for the team -- then I'll do whatever it takes.

"Everybody knows that the eyes are on (the offensive line) as far as being the weak link on next year's team," Huntington added. "We're nowhere near where we got to be. I mean, it's going to take a while, but the way things look, we have the potential to be really good."

Standing tall behind that line in the backfield, fullback Sam Gash and tailback Gerry Collins will try to pick up where Brown and Thompson, who accounted for 46 percent of the Lions' running game last season, left off.

"The tailback would appear to be a problem for us because we've lost two good tailbacks -- however, if Gerry Collins can stay healthy and Richard Anderson can do some things that we think he could do, we should be pretty good," Paterno said.

Hammonds, who rushed for 208 yards against Boston College, would like to return solely to the secondary, but will probably see action on both sides of the ball this spring.

"We'll probably move Shelley Hammonds to offense, which is a plus in one area, but we've taken him out of that secondary where he probably could've helped us," Paterno said, "But I felt he's got so much promise as a running back that maybe we ought to get a look at him there because he might be able to help the football team more as a back."

Collins, who ranked fifth in rushing yards last fall for Penn State said the running game should be one of the Lions' major assets this season.

"By the end of spring practice the running game is going to be looking real good," Collins said. "With the help of Richie Anderson, Shelley Hammonds and Brian O'Neal too, it's going to be a great backfield. We have a lot of talented backs and they're looking real good in practice so far."

Redshirt sophomore Richie Anderson, who rushed for more than 200 yards-per-game as a senior at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, Md., and carried the ball 16 times for 77 yards as a freshman in 1989, will bear careful watching this spring in the Penn State backfield.

The other major concern the Lions carry with them this spring is the problem in the defensive secondary left by the loss of seniors Willie Thomas and Greg Fusetti. Off-season surgery to Mark Graham and last season's starting left cornerback, Leonard Humphries, adds an even bigger question mark to an already puzzled secondary with the season just around the corner.

"I'm very concerned about the health of our secondary," Paterno said. "If Humphries and Graham are not ready to play in the fall, then we've got some serious problems that we will have to address."

With the holes in the secondary, the role of hero Darren Perry will be even more important. Perry, who had seven interceptions in the regular season last year and came up with a big pickoff in the Blockbuster Bowl, ranks in a third-place tie among last year's top interceptors who are returning in 1991.

"People are just going to have to concentrate more out on the practice field because our free safety Willie (Thomas) is gone, and Lee Rubin and John Lucas and the guys that are behind him are really going to have to be mentally prepared for the upcoming season," Perry said.

"I don't think having people to fill the spots will be a question. I think the biggest thing is finding out who's going to be the four guys back there starting, because when you're back there in the secondary you want to get a feel for what certain people are going to do in certain situations.

"We don't want somebody who is going to be inconsistent, we want somebody who's going to come up and be a starter and stay there so the other guys can get a feel for what he's like out on the field."

One of those "somebodies" is freshman cornerback Derek Bochna, who started in place of Greg Fusetti at right cornerback last season against Maryland. Bochna finished the 1990 season third on the team in tackles, had two pass interceptions, led the team with 18 deflections and had a seven-tackle effort in the Blockbuster Bowl.

Bochna said he feels confident that the secondary will be ready when the 1991 campaign begins.

"We've got a lot of experienced people back who know what they're doing and we've been working pretty hard back there in the secondary," Bochna said. "I feel I'm ready to step up -- this is a big spring for me -- I'm still a little confused, but I've been fine-tuning and working on my strength in the off-season and I think I'll be ready to play."

"He's going to be a key to our defense," Perry said of Bochna. "He wasn't an 11-game starter last year, but he's going to have to become one now -- he's done really well and he's going to help us out a whole lot."

At wide reciever, with the departure of Daniels, the Lions' have some big shoes to fill. O.J. McDuffie, returning from a knee injury he sustained in the Texas game which kept him sidelined the entire season, will provide versatility on the flanks as well as in the return game. Along with McDuffie, wideout Terry Smith, who started nine games for Penn State last season, will return for his final year of eligibility.

A 5'8" senior, Smith caught four touchdown passes in 1990, as well as five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Blockbuster Bowl, the fourth-best bowl effort ever for a Lion.

"We have Terry Smith, McDuffie and (Tisen) Thomas, all three of whom I think have outstanding potential," Paterno said. "Deep down I think Terry Smith may be as good an all-around wideout as we've ever had around here and if O.J. can come back and pick up from where he left off with his punt returning, running the ball and all the things that he can do well, he can be an outstanding wideout.

"All those kids can run really well -- you're talking about outstanding speed and quickness. We don't have a lot of power depth, but we have a lot of people who have some potential."

"I don't think there's any problem with me returning to the way I was and contributing the same way I did back in 1989," McDuffie said. "Everything feels real smooth right now; its been quick and a little too good for me -- it's real surprising the way things are going, but I'm happy about it."

With McDuffie, who was one of the nation's top punt returners as a sophomore in 1989, the Lions' return game should be strong next season as well. Add Thomas and Smith, who both did outstanding jobs on returns last season for Penn State, and the Lions appear to be set.

McDuffie said it will be difficult for him to regain the position on special teams that he held in 1989, because of the strong job turned in last season by Thomas and Smith.

"Tisen and Terry did a hell of a job last year," McDuffie said. "So I think I have to go back and win the spot again if I want it."

At quarterback, the questions have already been answered. Third-year starter Tony Sacca, who is coming off his best season as a Nittany Lion, is solidly in command of the passing duties with solid backup Matt Nardolillo at his side. Redshirt freshman Kerry Collins and John Sacca, Tony's brother, will also be vying for time. Sacca finished the 1990 campaign with career passing and rushing days in the final two weeks against Notre Dame and Pitt respectively.

"Sacca's going into his fourth year in the program and I would expect this to be the big year for him -- whether it becomes a big year or not for Tony Sacca will basically come down to Tony Sacca," Paterno said. "He'll only have a big year if he understands his role on this football team, and that's to be the leader of the offense, and to do whatever it's going to take to win."

Despite inconsistency in some positions, the Lions appear to have a tight grip on the linebacking and tight end positions, along with the kicking game.

At linebacker, both starters Mark D'Onofrio and Keith Goganious, who finished 1-2 in tackles last season, are returning to the defensive ranks and at tight end, Paterno said Penn State should continue to be a plus as long as backups Rick Sayles and 1990 recruit Kyle Brady come through. With Al Golden, who averaged 14.5 yards on 14 receptions in 1990, returning once again to tight end in 1991 the position, the Lions are in solid standing.

The Lions' kicking game has nowhere to go but up, with punter Doug Helkowski, holder Bill Spoor, long snapper Bob Ceh and freshman placekicker Craig Fayak all returning.

"Last year was fairly successful and with everyone back it gives me alot of confidence," said Fayak, who nailed 15-of-21 field goals last season, including the game-winner against Notre Dame. "They know I can do it, I know they can do it and I know I can do it."

After Saturday's Blue-White game, Penn State will conduct three more contact practices which Paterno said will focus directly on getting ready for the Aug. 28 Georgia Tech game at the Meadowlands, in the Kickoff Classic.

According to Paterno, the Lions will need to answer a lot of questions before they can effectively handle next season's schedule, with games against Top 25 teams Brigham Young, Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame, and the season-opener against the No. 1 (UPI) Yellowjackets.

"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 and I think we have a lot of unknowns, a lot of question marks and I'm not sure whether we can solve them all in order to be good enough for that schedule."