When Penn State has struggled since joining the Big Ten fray in 1993, it’s been when the Nittany Lions have been unable to match-up with the league’s premier squads in the trenches. That’s why the feeling here is that you will be able to gauge how serious PSU is about contending for its second conference crown in three years by examining how the Lions fare up front – especially against legitimate contenders like Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

With three new starters and an entirely new rotation in the works, there are question marks along the defensive line. But the biggest challenge is on offense, where the Lions may be in better shape on paper than in reality.

Statistically, Penn State has three starters returning along the offensive line. But only center A.Q. Shipley is back at the same position. And the loss of bulldozing tackle Levi Brown to the NFL is going to be very difficult to overcome.

The left side is particularly suspect. Junior Gerald Cadogan is slated to fill in for Brown at tackle, but he had all sorts of trouble a year ago at guard and eventually lost the job. Redshirt freshman Lou Eliades beat out incumbent Rich Ohmberger at guard and could be a star someday. But he has zero college experience.

On the right side, senior John Shaw has been moved from tackle to guard to make room for promising sophomore Dennis Landolt. That move may pay dividends in November, but will it be a detriment when Penn State opens the Big Ten season on Sept. 22 in Ann Arbor? -- Neil Geoghegan