Lions' Royster eager for one final season

Defense: The Lions suffered some big losses in their front seven. Devon Still, a 6-foot-5, 304-pound tackle, is ticketed for Jared Odrick's spot while Michael Mauti could fortify the linebacking corps if he is fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered last year. End Jack Crawford is their primary pass rusher. The secondary is solid and led by cornerback D'Anton Lynn. Converted wide receiver Chaz Powell provides depth.

Special teams: Collin Wagner was solid last season (11 of 12 successful field-goal attempts from inside 30 yards) but not spectacular (4 of 10 on tries of longer than 30 yards). The competition for the successor to graduated punter Jeremy Boone is wide open with two walk-ons in the mix. The Lions worked hard in the spring and preseason to improve return games that were just awful last season.

Coaching: Just six wins short of 400 for his career, 83-year-old Joe Paterno returns for his 45th season having come off an intestinal virus that kept him from traveling for a good part of the summer. He still doesn't appear to be 100 percent healthy, and it remains to be seen whether he can coach from the sideline for entire games. But a veteran staff of assistants will make sure no area is lacking.

Prediction: Compared to last year, the Penn State schedule is absolutely brutal. No other team in the nation must play on the road against three teams (Alabama, Ohio State, Iowa) ranked in preseason Top 10 polls. Only the truest of Nittany Nation loyalists would bet the Lions win one of those three. The thought here is that the Lions will get tripped up in these three games, plus one more, and finish 8-4 and in fourth place in the Big Ten.

- Joe Juliano

Contact staff writer Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494

or jjuliano@phillynews.com.