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Come and get ‘em: Bargain books at new Osterhout store

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Penn State students visit actors burial site

<p>On paper, Maryland is not a good football team. On the field, it&#8217;s not hyperbole to say the Terrapins were downright awful in the first half of their season. Awful enough to get their head coach fired after six games.</p><p>But Penn State won&#8217;t be facing quite the same Maryland team this weekend.</p><p>With Randy Edsall discarded and offensive coordinator Mike Locksley now running the show, the Terps have nothing to lose. And the Nittany Lions are very wary of gadget plays this week.</p><p>Penn State was already burned by a surprise onside kick two weeks ago that Indiana recovered in the first half. Add fake punts, flea flickers and reverses to the list of the Lions&#8217; concerns as well.</p><p>Maryland has already begun easing in dynamic cornerback William Likely into a role on offense. That figures to increase thanks to the bye week that the Terps had to prepare for this one.</p><p>Beyond that, Maryland will try and follow the blueprint set both teams that beat Penn State this year &#8212; Temple and Ohio State &#8212; and put quarterback Perry Hills on the run to try and neutralize an excellent pass rush and two stout defensive tackles.</p><p>The strategy didn&#8217;t work so well for Indiana as backup Zander Diamont didn&#8217;t have the accuracy to consistently hit his receivers when they came open as he extended plays with his legs.</p><p>Hills is a bigger, more durable version of Diamont, but he&#8217;s also hit a few deep passes. It&#8217;s not going to be a cakewalk for Penn State, which has had problems passing as well.<hr/><table style="width: 100%;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td><img style="float: left;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/maryland-15c.jpg_zpsdtxhrvak.gif" height="113" width="150"/></td><td style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"></p><p><strong>MARYLAND (2-4, 0-2 Big Ten)</strong></p><p><strong>vs. PENN STATE (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten)</strong></p><p>3:30 p.m., Saturday, ESPN</td><td><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>QUARTERBACK</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>It would have been hard to imagine before the season that the Lions would have a game where they would only throw 13 passes. But that&#8217;s what happened against Ohio State. Penn State threw 12 passes in 1999 against Akron. The Lions scored 70 points in that game &#8212; things were slightly different against the Buckeyes. Christian Hackenberg has just two interceptions this season. Maryland, meanwhile, has somehow thrown a national-worst 17 among three QBs. Perry Hills has four of them, but don&#8217;t expect him to throw too much here. <strong>EDGE: PSU</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>RUNNING BACK</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>Saquon Barkley looks to be perfectly healthy and the Lions seem content to simply hand him the ball as often as possible. It&#8217;s a good idea. He piled up 194 yards against the top-ranked Buckeyes and that was one off of his personal best he had against Rutgers. Akeel Lynch is healthy as well, but even if he starts again Saturday, he clearly is the second-stringer at this point. Barkley is the single biggest reason for optimism these last five weeks for the Lions. Maryland will try and get both Brandon Ross and Wes Brown involved. <strong>EDGE: PSU</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>RECEIVER</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>Maryland lost nearly all of its receiving corps from last year either to the NFL or dismissals or transfers. What&#8217;s left is led by a true freshman from Philadelphia in D.J. Moore, who will no doubt be looking to prove something to the Lions,who didn&#8217;t offer him in high school. Penn State&#8217;s wideouts have been ornamental at times this season, though Chris Godwin continues to impress with limited opportunities. The Lions badly need to get more production out of tight ends like snake-bitten Mike Gesicki and the ailing Kyle Carter. <strong>EDGE: PSU</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>OFFENSIVE LINE</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: left;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/maryland-15c.jpg_zpsdtxhrvak.gif" height="113" width="150"/>Will be interesting to see what changes Penn State makes, if any, up front now that the unit is relatively healthy. Guards Brendan Mahon and Brian Gaia spent much of the second half last week on the sideline as Wendy Laurent and Derek Dowrey took their spots. PSU coaches weren&#8217;t pleased with the guards&#8217; work against Ohio State&#8217;s defensive tackles. Laurent could be in line for a bigger role this week whether he starts or not. Maryland has some experience on the line and highly touted redshirt freshman Damian Prince at right tackle. <strong>EDGE: UM</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>DEFENSIVE LINE</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>As opponents continue to gameplan around Penn State&#8217;s defensive front, the unit has had to find new ways to make an impact. All of the starters have looked adept at swatting down passes at the line to combat the quick throws they&#8217;ve been facing. But nothing has managed to slow down Carl Nassib, who turned in another 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss against the Buckeyes. He leads the nation in both categories, as well as forced fumbles (5). Maryland&#8217;s defense hasn&#8217;t done much right this year, but the Terps do have 20 sacks. <strong>EDGE: PSU</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>LINEBACKER</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>Injuries have hurt Maryland here, not only slowing down production but also the switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base. Sophomore Jermaine Carter has been the standout so far, leading the team in tackles and tackles for loss. Penn State&#8217;s linebackers were very quiet last week once Ohio State went to the spread-option with J.T. Barrett. Perry Hills doesn&#8217;t exactly compare to Barrett and Braxton Miller, but he can still do some damage if the Lions are missing tackles and not getting off blocks &#8212; two big problems from last week&#8217;s loss. <strong>EDGE: PSU</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>SECONDARY</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>It would seem like this would be an advantage for the Terrapins, especially with the always dangerous William Likely a threat for a pick-six. But the results haven&#8217;t been there for the Terps&#8217; secondary as a whole and veteran Sean Davis has been hot and cold since moving from safety to corner. Maryland ranks 100th in the country in pass defense, though Likely and Davis have combined for six forced fumbles and two picks. Maryland native Marcus Allen picked up a few late flags last year against the Terps and must remain calm. <strong>EDGE: PSU</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>SPECIAL TEAMS</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"><img style="float: left;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/maryland-15c.jpg_zpsdtxhrvak.gif" height="113" width="150"/>Amazingly, Maryland&#8217;s punting numbers are slightly worse than Penn State&#8217;s despite their continued problems at the position. Regardless, the Terps have a big edge in just about every other category, starting with William Likely, who ranks second in the country in punt returns (22.0 ypr) and has taken two back for touchdowns. Expect to see Penn State add to its total of short punts out of bounds this week. Though he has only attempted six field goals this year, Brad Craddock is the reigning Groza Award winner as the nation&#8217;s top kicker. <strong>EDGE: UM</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid black; border-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate;" class="mceItemTable"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: x-large; background-color: #c00c00; color: white; border: 2px solid black;" colspan="3"><strong>PREDICTION</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: justify; font-size: small; border: 2px solid black; padding: 10px;" colspan="3"></p><p><img style="float: right;" alt="" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/dlevarse/Penn_State-1.gif" height="113" width="150"/>It will be interesting to see how many Penn State fans show up for what&#8217;s technically a neutral site game at the Ravens&#8217; M&amp;T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. But friendly faces in the crowd didn&#8217;t provide any help against Temple, and the Lions are very much on upset alert once again. Odds are that interim Terps coach Mike Locksley is going to pull out a few surprises and some are bound to work. Both teams fear the other&#8217;s pass rush, which should mean lots and lots of running. That favors the team with Saquon Barkley. <strong>PENN STATE 27, MARYLAND 16.</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Prediction time: Penn State-Maryland breakdown