STATE COLLEGE — Joe Paterno wasn't quite sure what to make of his team.

It was barely four days into the preseason after all, and the Penn State head coach hadn't even seen his Nittany Lions practice in full pads yet. Not only that, but there were so many new faces to integrate into the starting lineup.

So these next few weeks before the Sept. 2 opener versus Akron will be crucial to finding out whom he can rely on in pressure situations.

"You try to beat them down, find out who has enough moxie in the fourth quarter," Paterno, entering his 41st season as head coach, said Saturday at the school's media day at Beaver Stadium. "That's what we've got to do in these next two weeks, we've got to beat them down. I don't know who's going to survive."

Sounds like it might be tough on the seven new starters on defense, including three on the defensive line and all four spots in the secondary. On offense, Paterno must break in new starting quarterback Anthony Morelli and four new linemen.

"Obviously it's going to be a problem until they get into a ballgame and somebody knocks them around, and they cover some things," Paterno said about the offensive line. "You can't possibly cover everything in practice."

Not that there aren't some seasoned seniors returning from last year's Big Ten title-winning team that won the Orange Bowl.

—Running back figures to be a strength with 1,000-yard rusher Tony Hunt and quality backup Austin Scott returning for their final seasons.

—Left tackle Levi Brown will be charged with protecting the right-handed Morelli's blind spot.

—Defensive tackle Jay Alford must help shed blockers off the standout linebacking trio led by All-American Paul Posluszny.

Posluszny was selected preseason Big Ten defensive player of the year, but even he presents a bit of mystery. Posluszny partially tore two ligaments in his right knee at the Orange Bowl in January and has been held out of full-speed practice until now, wearing a brace on the knee during drills.

Wearing his familiar No. 31 jersey on a picture-perfect sunny day at Beaver Stadium, Posluszny pronounced himself ready to go.