UNIVERSITY PARK -- Anthony Morelli participated in his first practice as Penn State's No. 1 quarterback Saturday. Afterward, there was another first, a symbolic one, as Morelli dealt with the media as spokesman for the offense.
The transition from Michael Robinson to Morelli as starting quarterback is as much about intangibles as physical tools.
Clearly, the offense will change with Morelli.
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, the junior from Penn Hills is a prototypical passer, with an arm that draws raves. Robinson had a different style. He threw for 2,350 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, as Penn State went 11-1 and won the Orange Bowl. But he also rushed for 806 and 11 touchdowns.
"I don't think Morelli, obviously, would be the guy you'd want to count on running the ball as much as we did with Michael Robinson," Joe Paterno said. "He's not that kind of player. But he can still run."
What Paterno and his team need is for Morelli to lead as Robinson did. The tougher the situation, the better Robinson played. He was a tri-captain, whose leadership skills are spoken of reverently around University Park.
"That's the biggest thing I'm going to have to work on, being the leader of this team," Morelli said yesterday. "The guys just followed (Robinson). They just knew he was going to lead the team to victory. He was just a natural-born leader. That's all there is to it."
Morelli will borrow from the Robinson leadership playbook.
"You've got to be vocal and got to lead by example," he said. "When the guys are tired, you can't be tired. You've got to pick everybody up."
Linebacker Paul Posluszny, a returning captain from last season, sees the stuff of leadership in Morelli.
"He knows the responsibility he has as starting quarterback, and I think he's going to take that responsibility," Posluszny said. "He did a great job in the offseason. I know he's going to be the guy for us. He's going to be able to lead the offense."
Morelli came to Penn State as a highly regarded recruit, who some thought should be starting as a sophomore, at worst. Instead, he has played sparingly as a freshman and sophomore -- first behind the tandem of Zack Mills and Robinson, and last season, behind Robinson.
| Lack of experience | |||||
| Anthony Morelli is slated to be the starting quarterback at Penn State next season. Here are his passing statistics from his freshman and sophomore seasons: | |||||
| Year | Att. | Comp. | TD | Int. | Yds. |
| 2004 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 45 |
| 2005 | 13 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 155 |
"I feel like I'm ready more now than I was my freshman year or my sophomore year," Morelli said. "I learned from two great quarterbacks. I'm definitely ready to roll this year."
Reading defenses, knowing the playbook cold -- those are the benefits of two seasons of watching.
Now, it's Morelli's turn. Expectations are high, despite his relative lack of playing time.
"I think Morelli's got a chance to be a really good quarterback," Paterno said.
Morelli shares that anticipation.
"I'm excited to get on the field and show everybody what I can do," he said, sharing his goals for 2006.
"To get to another big-time bowl game. To be better than last season. We don't ever want to stay the same. I want to get better. I think we can do that with the guys stepping in. The offensive line has a ton of talent. All the receivers, they're back. Mike did a good job of tuning them up for me last year, and they'll be ready to go."
