Eight games into the season, the Penn State offense has had plenty of time to work out any kinks. But it hasn't.

While some blame rests with quarterback Anthony Morelli, the conservative playcalling and the tendency of Penn State's talented receivers to go missing at critical times, much of the blame can be attributed to the offensive line -- an area that has been the topic of much discussion after Saturday's weak win against Illinois.

Coming into the season, there were certainly questions about the Nittany Lions' offensive line. Though they did have All-America tackle Levi Brown, the Lions were relying on four new starters to protect a first-year starting quarterback and make room for running back Tony Hunt.

After the Penn State offense rushed for just 76 yards in the season opener against Akron, it seemed the line had gotten in sync for the next five games, a stretch where the Lions rushed for at least 142 yards each game. Penn State even racked up 358 rushing yards against Division I-AA Youngstown.

But since then, the rushing production has tailed off, as Penn State has run for just 26 net yards in the past two games.

And that's not Hunt's fault. Several times against Michigan and Illinois, the senior running back was faced with a bevy of would-be tacklers every time he touched the ball.

And when it comes to passing the ball, Morelli has had no time whatsoever, as defenders are reaching him quicker than Joe Paterno can say something along the lines of, "Illinois, I told you they're a pretty tough team." In his last two starts, Morelli has been sacked seven times while Lion quarterbacks as a group have been sacked a total of nine times.

"We took a couple steps backward. Everyone can see that," center A.Q. Shipley said of the offensive line's recent performance. "I guess you can say it's like a little slump or whatnot."

It's one the Lions better work to remedy soon. With three losses, Penn State's best bowl chance is likely the Capital One Bowl, but if the offensive line cannot open more holes or protect Morelli more adequately, the Lions better start packing some winter jackets because the Motor City Bowl could be a real possibility.

In the offensive line's defense (and it won't get much from me this week), it's been a unit riddled with injuries as the entire left side of the line has been nicked up at one point this season.

"With the changes and some of the injuries, with Levi Brown hurt for awhile and then Robert Price hurt, and moving people back and forth in different arrangements, we are not a very cohesive unit," Joe Paterno said.

After the Illinois game, Brown called an offensive line meeting. Shipley recalled that Brown told the team everything starts with the offensive line, whether it's running the ball effectively or providing enough time for its rocket-armed quarterback to find an open wide receiver downfield.

While Brown told the media that other factors caused quarterbacks to be sacked seven times against Michigan, it certainly wasn't Hunt's fault. Maybe it could be attributed to Morelli's sometimes slow decision making skill, but in the end, the game is won and lost on the line.

This unit knows that. And with each day of practice, the Lions get another chance to become a more cohesive unit. It's just taking way too long for the Lions.

"The criticism is just," Shipley admitted. "It really comes down to us. We know that, and that's the responsibility that we take."