Anthony Morelli can count last season's 20 pass attempts on his fingers and toes, but his lack of experience isn't dashing anyone's hopes for the upcoming season. If anything, the rising junior is forced to shoulder the burden of even higher expectations.

Michael Robinson didn't have to endure the preseason chatter of a major bowl victory, Morelli does. Robinson didn't enter Happy Valley with the hopes of over 100,000 fans pinned on his right arm, Morelli did.

Still, Morelli has waited patiently these last two seasons, scrounging for scraps of playing time when Zack Mills and Robinson were at the helm.

Now it's his turn.

"I have big shoes to fill with Michael Robinson leaving, but I'm ready to take on that challenge," Morelli said. "I think about running out of the tunnel being the starting quarterback, and I'm really excited about that."

Morelli's career statistics aren't much to write home about: 18-for-33, 200 passing yards and one touchdown and interception. Maybe that's why defensive end Jay Alford said the third-year quarterback "still has a lot of learning to do."

But it is spring, after all. And with a little over four months until the Sept. 2 opening game vs. Akron, Morelli has plenty of time to fine-tune some things. And, depending on who you ask, those things vary.

Center A.Q. Shipley acknowledged Morelli needs to improve his timing with the wideouts, quarterback coach Jay Paterno has had Morelli tweaking his footwork and cornerback Justin King explained the signal caller can get confused reading the defense.

"Sometimes we disguise coverages, and he won't pick it up because we disguise things so well," King said. "That's about the only thing I can see where we've taken advantage."

Morelli has already taken measures to ensure he and the receiving corps wind up on the same page, though. He's hosted quite a few night practices, where the wideouts run patterns, so they can all get more familiar with one another.

Robinson started the trend last season, and it appeared to pay dividends -- he was the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year after all. So, undoubtedly, Morelli wanted to continue the extra reps.

"He's getting his timing down, not forcing anything. He's doing real good right now," Butler said. "As far as being further ahead than Mike last year, I'm not sure about that. We had a lot of work over the summer, and I'm looking forward to that with Anthony."

Morelli does have one leg up on Robinson. He throws a nicer deep ball, according to Butler and Derrick Williams, because he has a tighter spiral and releases the pigskin more quickly.

The Pittsburgh native offered a glimpse of that two weeks ago during 7-on-7 drills open to the media. Morelli rolled out to his left on one play and heaved a 40-yard bomb straight into the arms of tight end Jordan Lyons.

"It's frustrating for me playing DB because it's just -- when he throws the ball on time, I can almost say it's impossible to get a good jump on the ball, because he throws it right on the money, right where the receiver can get it," said King, who took part in the drill.

Morelli has also changed something that fans may not pick up on right away -- his leadership style. Morelli came across as a quiet guy when he first arrived in Happy Valley. And even last year, Morelli wasn't a vocal guy.

But Shipley and Butler said that changed this offseason -- Shipley noticed the difference immediately after the Orange Bowl.

Morelli said that was because he knew it was "his turn," and finally felt comfortable with everything. And Butler said that's shown.

"I thought he was gonna come in and be a little shy and hesitant, but he's coming in the huddle yelling and telling people [what to do]. He's already making checks at the line of scrimmage -- and I don't even think the coaches have even taught him any checks. He just remembers that from last year," Butler said.