PhilYeboahKodie: Ron, how will the backfield carries be divided the first few weeks? 50/50? Rotation/Quarter?

Ron Musselman: I think Evan Royster will get more carries than Stephfon Green the first few weeks, but I expect both of them to play a lot. Royster needs to get into some kind of a carry flow, especially with the Oregon State game coming up in week 2. That game will be an early test for both Royster and Penn State's offense. It will be nice to see, too, if Green can take one all the way. We have heard nothing but buzz since his performance in the Bleu-White game. There's no doubt he has electrifying speed.

PhilYeboahKodie: Ron, much has been written about the SpeadHD, but what about the defense? It seems that losing one of the top CBs and two top LBs would be cause for some scheme adjustments.

Ron Musselman: I am not nearly as worried about the Spread HD as I am Sean Lee's replacement at middle linebacker. Lee's loss was a major blow for the defense and his replacement, Josh Hull, is a former walk-on who only recently earned a scholarship. If Hull can't get the job done, I am sure it won't be long until we see Chris Colasanti in the middle. The other new outside LB is Bani Gbadyu. We also could see a lot of Navorro Bowman. Both should be solid players, but let's not forget, this defense also lost All-American LB Dan Connor to the NFL. The new guys will need to mature quickly.

Lewistown_Pa_is_better: Coastal Carolina ... (crickets chirping) ... OK so Penn State will be 1-0. Is there any other benefit? Penn State's walk ons are better practice than this team.

Ron Musselman: The will be like Blue-White II. it will be another glorified scrimmage. There's no other way to look at it. I know Appalachian State shocked the college football world last year and scored a major victory by upsetting Michigan in its opener. But those victories are rare indeed for Division I-AA schools, such as Coastal Carolina. I'd be shocked if Penn State didn't roll to a big win.

PSU4EVER: 10-2 season. Possible? Probable?

Ron Musselman: A 10-2 regular season record is definitely possible. It wouldn't surprise me, in fact. But I am leaning more toward 9-3, minus the bowl game. Penn State has a lot of talent on offense, but the two key newcomers are at the two most critical positions -- Daryll Clark at quarterback and Evan Royster at tailback. Everyone knows Clark can run the ball, but he still has to prove he can make the key throws with precision. And Royster must avoid the injuries that have nagged him in the past, stay healthy, and become a bona fide back for the Lions to be successful. He should get plenty of holes to run through, because Penn State's offensive line is outstanding. Defense is a little concern, especially up front and at linebacker, but the Lions have a really strong nucleus in the secondary.

PhilYeboahKodie: Ron, please handicap this week's match-up and what Penn State needs to make this a "positive" win as opposed to just going through the motions.

Ron Musselman: I think there will be several guys looking to make a favorable impression, starting with quarterback Daryll Clark and tailback Evan Royster, who will both be making their first career starts. The receivers will want to get things rolling, too. Olli Ogbu and Abe Koroma will want to play well while starting at defensive tackle, as will Bani Ghadyu at outside linebacker and Josh Hull in the middle. Even though the competition won't be great, this is a big game for a lot of players who are looking to make a mark. There will be a lot fo youngsters looking to contribute, including Derek Moye, Nathan Stupar and Michael Mauti.

Lewistown_Pa_is_better: In my opinion, the real key to the season is whether the defense can overcome the injuries and off the field stuff. This variable is difference between a 9-3 and 7-5 record.

Ron Musselman: I have to be honest, I don't see a 7-5 regular season, no matter what happens. I agree replacing Dan Connor, Sean Lee, Justin King, Phil Taylor and Chris Baker is a lot, but Penn State should be able to get by with some of the young talent it has. The Lions need to beat Oregon State and Illinois at home, because that three-week stretch in October will be especially tough -- at Wisconsin (Oct. 11), home with Michigan (Oct. 18) and at Ohio State (Oct. 25).

OldMain: Was Derrick Williams lack of production the past few years more a result of his not-so-great quarterback? Or has he regressed in an Eric McCoo type fashion?

Ron Musselman: Derrick Williams was the No. 1 high school recruit in the country four years ago. he started out strong, but has not been the same since breaking his arm against Michigan late in his freshman season. He is a solid player, but has never lived up to his potential. He just seems to have trouble breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage after making a catch.

PSU4EVER: I keep hearing people compare Daryll Clark to MRob, but honestly I think that's a veiled way of saying they're both black quarterbacks. Are they anything alike? What is Clark's release and decision making like? And Robinson was a team leader nonpareil, like his predecessor Mills. Does Clark exude those qualities?

Ron Musselman: As I have said before, if Daryll Clark turns out to be half the player Michael Robinson was, then Penn State will have quite a player on their hands. Clark has only attempted 36 passes and played in 15 career games. And there are some questions about whether he can be a great passer. Robinson wasn't a great passer, either, but he sure could improvise and make big plays with his feet. Clark has to do that, too, but it's hard to imagine him being as good as Robinson. We'll know a lot more about Clark's skills a month into the season.

rathskeller: Your pick for a breakout offensive player - Royster? Someone else? Who on defense?

Ron Musselman: I am going with Stephfon Green. Penn State hasn't had a kid with his kind of speed -- he has been timed at 4.25 in the 40 -- in a long time. I think he could make a real impact this year. Defensively, Maurice Evans is the team's best player now that Sean Lee is out for the season. Evans also is the best defensive end in the Big Ten. He very well could end up being a first-team All-American.

chaffie_fields: Who is the weak sister on the O-line?

Ron Musselman: Sorry, there are no females that I know of on the offensive line. Seriously, senior center A.Q. Shipley is the leader of that bunch. Rich Ohrnberger is a solid guard and Gerald Cadogan is a very solid left tackle and budding singer. Right tackle Dennis Landolt is solid. And I think sophomore guard Stefen Wisniewski has a lot of potential, too. How can he not -- his dad, Leo, played nose tackle at Penn State and in the NFL, and his uncle, Steve, was also played for the Lions and was an All-Pro for many years with the Raiders.

OldMain: Where did Green come from HS wise? I don't recall him being named a huge recruit, but I could be wrong.

Ron Musselman: Green got hurt his senior year and didn't have the big numbers he might have. He had just 740 yards rushing as a senior at John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, but averaged an astounding 14.8 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns on only 50 carries. he had rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior. He is one of five players from New York City on the roster, including Maurice Evans. This has been quite a pipeline for Penn State in recent years.

IBlion: If PSU goes outside of the Blue White family to replace JoePa (if that ever happens) who would you say are the top 2 or 3 names they might look at?

Ron Musselman: I have heard lots of names. In-house, I have heard the names of defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and defensive line coach Larry Johnson mentioned. Outside candidates include the usual names of Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. It's hard to tell right now exactly what's going to happen. All we know for sure if that Joe's contract is up at the end of the season and then he will meet with university president Graham Spanier to determine his future. There will be no mroe formal contracts, even if he does go another year or two after this. I think Penn State definitely needs to get a succession plan in place. Sooner rather than later.