Apparently, offensive linemen have more in common with sportswriters than previously known.

Well, that's how Penn State football coach Joe Paterno sees it at least.

"I suppose all of you started out writing a column someplace and [when] you looked back over it, you thank God nobody else has seen it," Paterno said yesterday at his weekly press conference. "You do things, and you learn from things."

And that's exactly what this year's line has seemingly done. In 2003, there was an inconsistent merry-go-round of linemen coming in and out of the game, with Charles Rush and Levi Brown in their first full seasons on offense and E.Z. Smith suspended for the year. But in 2004, there's a new zone blocking scheme, a set group of guys to execute it and experience to rely on, and that's working just fine for now.

"You say obviously [experience helps], but that's the whole thing -- older and more experienced and stronger and being exposed to different things," Paterno said. "I don't think we ever had the same offensive line three games in a row last year. They have to really have a feel for each other and that only comes with repetition, repetition, repetition and playing -- simple as that."

Penn State in fact switched lineups for the offensive line five times last season, with the projected starters in flux leading up to the season opener. But Rush, Brown and Smith, along with right guard Tyler Reed and right tackle Andrew Richardson, have certainly come to develop this feel for each other, as they have practiced as a unit since the spring. Working in Reed and Smith, neither of whom started a game last season, was apparently no issue.

"The transition was easy, no pun intended," Rush said, making a reference to Smith's name. "We've been working at it ever since spring ball and also all preseason camp, so a lot of people haven't seen us as of the first game but we've had time to work together."

And with the gigantic holes they opened to allow for 352 net rushing yards and two 100-yard rushers, working together has been working awfully well.

Here's to you, Mr. Robinson

Paterno continued his endorsement of backup quarterback Michael Robinson, who is also listed first on the depth chart at split end.

After calling the downfield blocking of last year's receiving corps "pathetic," Paterno went on to note the improvement seen already this year. And the person he credited as spearheading the improvement? Robinson, of course.

"The guy who's leading [the receivers] when he's playing wideout is Michael Robinson," Paterno said. "He goes out and knocks people down, and all of a sudden they realize what can be done if you're a wideout. Everything he does, he does so all out. He has shown other kids how to play."

Mean, lean, blocking machine

All the blocking that fullback Paul Jefferson did on Saturday didn't make an appearance on the stat sheet -- only his single reception and single carry were listed -- but that doesn't mean it was unnoticed. Without Jefferson's monster block on the second Penn State offensive play of the game, sophomore tailback Tony Hunt wouldn't have had such a clear 77-yard route to the end zone, something Paterno, without a doubt, has seen over and over on video.

"I had a little note in the back of my head to make a reference to what a great job Paul Jefferson did do," Paterno said. "Paul Jefferson is really one of the strong leaders on the team. He's been very unselfish, not carrying the ball very much, but he catches the ball well out of the backfield and has done an awfully good job blocking."

Breaking up is hard to do

Third-string quarterback Chris Ganter has been kicker Robbie Gould's holder for field goals and extra points since 2002, but on Saturday, starting quarterback Zack Mills held for PATs, while Paul Cronin was the holder for the field goals.

"Chris had a couple of bad snaps and we weren't practicing real well so I said, 'Hey, let's just try Zack in there,' " Paterno said.

Wish they all could be Boston girls

The trip to Boston College this weekend will mark Paterno's first return to play the Eagles since 1990, but also a nostalgic return to his old cruising grounds.

"I have always liked Boston," Paterno said. "When I was a kid at Brown [University], I spent many a time chasing the girls up there in Boston and didn't have much luck, obviously."

But Paterno's wife, Sue, shouldn't fret. He considers himself luckier for striking out up there.

"Thank goodness, because I ended up coming out of it pretty good," Paterno added.