A lot of experts have been pointing to the wide receivers as the weakness on the offense this season for Penn State. I on the other hand, think the biggest question mark lies on the offensive line, where three new starters need to step up.

Penn State lost three seniors off last year’s team in, A.Q. Shipley, Rich Ohrnberger and Gerald Cadogan. Because the line is so important in opening up the running game for Evan Royster and company, and protecting Daryll Clark, I think the key offensively this season will be how the three new starters come along up front.

First let’s look at the two returning linemen. Stefen Wisniewski, a junior, will slide into the center position, vacated by Shipley. Wisniewski played in eight games as a true freshman in 2007 and last year started 12 games as a guard. At 6’3” and 297 pounds he is garnering preseason accolades.

Wisniewski is one of forty players who have been named to the 2009 Outland Trophy watch list, given to the nation’s top interior lineman.

He will be joined at one of the tackle positions by fifth-year senior Dennis Landolt. Landolt is 6’4” and 306 pounds and in the spring game made the switch to left tackle, to protect Clark’s blind side. He started every game his sophomore and junior seasons at right tackle and will need to provide leadership on the line this year. If asked to play the left side, Landolt doesn’t think it will be an issue saying he feels comfortable on either side.

A look at the depth chart shows who Penn State expects to step up for the departed seniors. At the other tackle spot will be DeOn’tae Pannell, a sophomore. Whether he starts on the right or left side, he will play an important role; especially if he is in charge of protecting Clark’s blind side. Pannell was one of only four true freshmen to earn playing time last season, as he showed off athletic ability and power in his 6’5” 313 pound body.

At right guard, junior Lou Eliades will take over for Ohrnberger. Eliades saw action in six games during his redshirt freshman season in 2007 and at 6’4” and 310 pounds will provide more size on the line.

The final starting position is at left guard and the battle is between sophomore Johnnie Troutman and redshirt freshman Matt Stankiewitch. Troutman is the bigger of the two, at 6’4” and 322 pounds. Stankiewitch is 6’3” and 292.

With three new starters already being worked in, injuries are something that the Nittany Lions need to stay away from. If injuries hit, it could be a long season for Royster and Clark.

One main key for the offense will be making sure that Wisniewski and Landolt are healthy for all of the games. The other key is to have the three new starters learn quickly in the first three games, to set them up for their first big test against Iowa week four.