Ivy League Football Preview: University of Pennsylvania
By Andrew Scurria, Senior Sports Editor, The Daily Pennsylvanian
Published on Wednesday, September 26, 2007
In the wake of the Quakers' three consecutive Ivy League overtime losses by a total of seven points, the coaches have shaken up the roster in an attempt to rebound in 2007. Some of the 2006 stalwarts -- all-Ivy cornerback Greg Ambrogi, for example, and beleagured kicker Derek Zoch -- have given way to underclassmen.
On offense, coordinator Bill Schmitz has installed a spread no-huddle scheme in which he hopes Irvin -- as a passer and a rusher -- takes on a bigger role. The quarterback fought through a dead arm over the summer, but has come back stronger, slimmer and, he hopes, more versatile. It won't hurt that as a junior he already has over 2,000 passing yards to his name.
With or without productivity out of the quarterback spot, Penn's season will rest on the answers to a few tough questions. Can the Quakers finally solidify the kicking game? Will the secondary improve now that it's aged a year? Is there an alternative if Joe Sandberg goes down, as he did in an anemic Week 1 loss to Lafayette?
The answer to all three is "probably." Coach Al Bagnoli was contacted by more kicking recruits than he could shake a stick at last year, and he has three of them as freshmen -- a number he said was "unheard of." Andrew Samson has pulled away from the pack in the early going and will have the job barring a drastic change.
His first game was a study in frustration. Penn's No. 1 wide receiver, Braden Lepisto, took the hold for the first time in college and bobbled it slightly. Samson's second kick was into the wind and from 43 yards. He finished 0-for-2.
Age figures to help out Penn's secondary, which brings back three of four starters. Ambrogi, who at times played like a safety last year, has given way to sophomore Chris Wynn at cornerback.
And although the running game has a serviceable backup in Kelms Amoo-Achampong, who would have been the starter if Sandberg had not returned for a fifth year, Penn will be counting big-time on their senior in the backfield.
And, as his recurring hamstring problem shows, nothing is guaranteed.