Hat tip to Zombie Nation for coming up with this week’s Roundtable Questions, just in time for Penn State’s impending demolition of Temple.  Check out the fine analysis done by the following blogs, too.

There is No Name on My Jersey
Tangled Up in White and Blue
YF Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
Black Shoe Diaries
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation

And now, to the questions

1. Penn State has the best scoring offense (55.3 ppg) in the Big Ten, and top-five nationally. Of course, this has been against two bad teams and a mediocre Oregon State squad. This week’s Temple game should be another 40-plus game for the PSU offense. That being said, do you think this has been a fluke so far? Or is the Spread HD for real?

I know when you look at the opponents Penn State has played, you obviously see a pretty underwhelming group.  Oregon State has really struggled to replace their losses from last year, Syracuse is having trouble accomplishing anything positive, and Coastal Carolina is a 1-AA team.  But that said, it’s impossible for any team to execute more than Penn State has so far.  I don’t care who you’re playing, putting up 55.3 points per game is phenomenal offensive execution (#2 nationally in 3rd down percentage), and we’ve been taking out our starters by halftime.  We’re #8 in the country in rush yards, and Evan Royster has been only getting 12 carries a game.  Sure, I’d love to see this team overpower a good opponent, but I really like what I see from this team, offensively.  As much criticism as Jay Paterno has taken from Penn State fans, if this offense is going to keep putting up big numbers, he deserves the praise.

2. If Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma are convicted, what are the chances Joe Paterno will play either by the Illinois game? What message does it send to the team, and the nation, if both players are given light punishments? Conversely, what if the punishments are seemingly too severe, like dismissal?

I have no idea what is going through Joe Paterno’s head right now.  I have a feeling that if this wasn’t the season that saw an Outside The Lines piece criticizing his ability to discipline his kids, a season which has already had 3 kids kicked off the team for behavioral issues, that Evans and Koroma would be back by now.  But with the mainstream media getting on Penn State for these off-field problems, I think he’s had to be stricter.  I doubt that Evans and Koroma will go to court, and assume they’ll plea bargain, but it’s just a misdemeanor to begin with.  I would agree with Adam Rittenburg, that they’ll definitely be back in time for Wisconsin, but I have no idea what Paterno will do.  Frankly, I don’t believe that misdemeanor possession is a big deal, and I would consider it akin to underage drinking.  It’s a victimless crime, unlike Dan Connor’s prank calling, so we need to keep these things in mind when looking at the situation.

3. Leadership has been a huge part of this year’s team’s ability to move past distractions. Who has to really step up this week and keep this team focused? How does the coaching staff figure into this, or should they just let the players handle it by themselves?

I think that all the seniors, and the captains, have done a great job pulling this team together.  Anthony Scirotto’s preseason mantra, of moving past the off-field stuff and focusing on playing better football has proven at least half right.  We’ve seen Sean Lee on the sidelines, and you can tell that he’s taking that leadership role even though he’s injured.  He’s yelling at the players, getting in his teammates’ faces, and frankly, I think that’s really telling about his character.  On field, though, Scirotto’s been taking the lead and backing it up with very strong play.  He’s earned his captaincy.

Lightening Round

Penn State throws its first interception this week?

Yes, but it’s not Daryll Clark

Evan Royster’s YPC vs. Temple?

6.9; 108 yards on 15 carries

Coke or Pepsi?

Diet Coke with Lime