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.
