These are not your father's Lions, folks.

Cappelletti. Mitchell. Harris. Warner. Dozier. Carter. Enis. For years, Penn State's fate rested on the legs of these bruising ball-carriers. The Lions' success was in direct proportion to how many rushing yards they compiled, which was usually an impressive number. The formula was simple -- wear the defense down, control the clock, and get consistent chunks of yardage every play.

Small wonder then that this formula netted the Lions two national championships, five undefeated seasons and a Heisman Trophy winner (Cappelletti -- a running back, of course).

This year's team has been all over the place. Why? Well, chalk part of it up to inexperience, part to the blistering schedule it has played, and of course the ever-present carousel the quarterback position has become.

But the Lions are really struggling because they have gotten away from the traits that make them such a successful group year in and year out. These are, in no particular order, dominant linebacking, hard hitting, and a power running game.

Penn State's defense is surrendering too many yards and too many touchdowns. They don't have a player in the mold of a James Boyd or a Ray Isom (yeah, he's an old guy) that can rattle helmets or pop loose the pigskin. But the main problem with the defense is that it's on the field too long.

Certainly, the emergence of Zack Mills at quarterback has (or had, anyway) ignited a charge into the offense, but unlike those grind-it-out Lion offenses of the past, this year's unit is averaging 35 pass attempts per game, and though State's been scoring more lately, the Lions are still struggling to sustain drives.

But now, Mills is very likely sidelined with a bum ankle, and unless Matt Senneca suddenly improves by leaps and bounds tomorrow, the passing game is not equipped to keep pace with Antwaan Randle El and a loaded Indiana offense.

Since no one has figured out how to stop Randle El when the ever-elusive Indiana quarterback is on the field, the Lions need to keep him on the sidelines.

How? All they need to do is what they haven't done all season -- run the football.

Ding! (Picture a light bulb going on.)

The Lions have the backs. Omar Easy's been hobbled, but his 6-1, 242-pound frame is well-suited to pound on a Hoosier defense that would be better personified by Neil Reed than by Bob Knight.

Larry Johnson, the team's leading rusher, also likes to run over people and, as he so aptly displayed with his 97-yard kickoff return in Champaign, has speed to burn once he breaks through the line. This fiery competitor needs to get the ball more.

And Eric McCoo, playing in his final game at Beaver Stadium, still has a shot at becoming the first Penn State back since D.J. Dozier to lead the team in rushing in four consecutive seasons. McCoo has the potential to go to the house every time he touches the ball. Sure, he's been an effective receiver, but he's got to get at least 12 carries.

Or use Eddie Drummond out of the backfield. He hasn't been getting it done as a wide receiver in his final season, but he's still lightning-fast and can make some people miss, not to mention the fact he's come within inches of breaking off that big-gainer.

Much of the revitalization of the running game will fall on the offensive line, which has improved immensely in terms of pass protection but is still inconsistent at best in opening up and maintaining holes for its tailbacks. A strong ground game is only as good as the boys up front.

Here's the bottom line -- Penn State is averaging 110 rushing yards per game. They've run the ball 271 times, and thrown it 281. No, they're not your father's Lions. But, with three games left in the season, it's not too late to change that.