Joe Paterno isn't considering a quarterback change.
The coach said yesterday that Anthony Morelli, who has struggled the last two weeks and stayed away from reporters, will lead Penn State's offense when the Nittany Lions play Iowa this weekend.
"I think, overall, he played well [last weekend against Illinois]," Paterno said yesterday at his weekly press conference.
Morelli threw for almost 300 yards Saturday against the Illini, but also tossed three interceptions. Penn State's last two offensive drives ended on Morelli turnovers -- a fumble deep in Illinois territory and an interception, respectively.
But Morelli is not the only one to blame for the offense's problems, Paterno said. The coach said he wants his receivers to make "more catches in the clutch." Morelli has been making good throws, Paterno said, but the quarterback needs to shake off the team's mistakes and move forward.
"I think he's gotta get some more help," Paterno said.
And the quarterback's fourth-quarter fumble?
"You could be critical of Morelli, but he's making a great effort to make the first down," Paterno said of the fumble. "I think he just was so intent on making a play, he jumped in there and he hit the ground -- and he fumbled the ball."
Morelli has not formally spoken to reporters since the moments after Michigan beat Penn State, 14-9, on Sept. 22. The quarterback normally fields questions from about 20 reporters each Wednesday afternoon on a conference call.
Last week, Penn State's sports information office didn't schedule Morelli for a conference call. Paterno said it wasn't his decision to withhold Morelli from the media but indicated that he was in favor of the move.
This week, Paterno said, he purposely kept Morelli from his Wednesday conference call.
"It's just such a waste of time," Paterno said.
Paterno alleged that a Collegian reporter called Morelli and told the quarterback the head coach had said the team had "a quarterback problem." Morelli then called quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno to ask if that was true.
Jay Paterno then refuted the claim, Joe Paterno said.
"We don't have a quarterback problem," Joe Paterno said.
Things haven't gone the way Morelli expected them to so far this season, junior center A.Q. Shipley said yesterday. Still, the quarterback has kept his head up and kept the team in line. Morelli has gotten everyone ready for this weekend's game, Shipley said.
"He's doing everything we can ask from him," Shipley said.
Paterno silent on Chisley
Joe Paterno was asked about LaVon Chisley, a former Penn State football player who was convicted last week of the first- and third-degree murder of a Penn State student in 2006. The 23-year-old was immediately sentenced to life in prison without parole.
"I have no comment on that," Joe Paterno responded.
The coach was then asked why he didn't want to discuss his former player.
"Why should I?" Joe Paterno said.
Wolverines under review
Michigan's football team is under review by the Big Ten because it used a freshman safety during three games this season that was ineligible to play. The safety, Artis Chambers, played in Michigan's Sept. 22 against Penn State.
Joe Paterno said he was indifferent to the proceedings, adding that he would leave it up to Michigan and the Big Ten.
"I can't get into that stuff," he said.
