A lot has changed since the swirling winds and swarming Auburn defense wreaked havoc on the Penn State passing game last January.

The Penn State football team has had nearly four months to work out the kinks since a 13-9 defeat at the hands of the Auburn Tigers in its Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl appearance, and quarterbacks Zack Mills and Michael Robinson have been making the most of their time.

In the midst of a spring quarterback controversy sparked by Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in his postseason press conference, the two men who figure to take the majority of the snaps for Penn State next season have been working on their throwing styles and conditioning in an effort to withstand the rigors of the Big Ten season.

Mills, who experienced problems with tendinitis in his throwing elbow and a shoulder injury to the same arm last season, has spent his offseason working on getting stronger. While the junior maintains that the shoulder injury didn't hamper his ability much last year except in the game at Wisconsin -- in which he sustained the sprained AC joint in his left shoulder -- and the following week, when he was hit on the left side against Michigan, he appeared to have lost some zip on his passes in the Lions' late-season games.

"I remember in the Michigan game, I couldn't really get hit and I got hit on the left side," Mills said. "Other than that, I can't really say I was hurting."

In the time since that final game in Orlando, Fla., in which Mills completed a paltry eight of 24 passes for just 67 yards and one interception, the Ijamsville, Md., native said he has worked on a new grip and on strengthening his elbow.

With the help of Penn State football trainer George Salvaterra, Mills said he has aggressively strengthened the elbow in an effort to alleviate some of the late-season swelling from his tendinitis. At times, the problem forced Mills to sit out practice last season in preparation for games. However, he says the problem hasn't worsened since he's been at Penn State.

"It's not any worse since I've been here," Mills said. "I feel like I have a little better velocity on my ball."

That added velocity, he says, is a result of a new grip as well. From last season, Mills has moved his finger placement on the laces for added speed on his passes. This season, he says he will leave his middle finger on the football and will move his ring finger further up the ball.

While his grip remains the same, Robinson has also changed his mechanics this offseason.

Even though his options to throw in a game were limited last season, Robinson said he has worked on keeping his elbow up while throwing the football and on following through to his target on every pass. Sometimes the breakdown in mechanics created accuracy problems, he said, something that won't plague him as much this season.

"I've worked on that and I've fixed it," Robinson said. "I'm playing some of the best football at quarterback I have in my life."

While the Richmond, Va., native was considered one of the faster players on the team last year, he said he has cut some weight in the offseason to increase his speed and agility.

After playing several pounds lighter in the Capital One Bowl, Robinson said he liked the added mobility he had in the game and wanted to play around that weight this season.

"I decided to do it own my own," Robinson said when asked about who suggested the change. "In the bowl game, I was this weight and I felt a little faster, a little quicker."

Things change quickly in the game nowadays. Tomorrow will be a big chance to see how much the two quarterbacks have kept up with the trend.