Paterno's worries grow after 0-2

STATE COLLEGE (AP) - It's been 10 years since Joe Paterno has dealt with an 0-2 start, so he's struggling to find answers.

"I've got to be careful whether the other guys are that good, or are we that bad?'' said the Penn State coach. "I'm not sure.''

Penn State's 24-6 loss to Toledo on Saturday stunned the players and even led to some finger pointing.

Tailback Larry Johnson, who scored the team's only touchdown of the season, questioned the play selection, and called the offense "too predictable.''

Paterno wouldn't comment on Johnson's remarks, but said there's enough blame to spread around.

"I would hope we keep our dirty laundry to ourselves,'' he said. "We're all frustrated. That's why I kept my mouth shut so I didn't say anything I'd be sorry about.''

The Nittany Lions have gained just 308 total yards -- 36 rushing -- and scored 11 points in two games. The offensive line isn't opening holes, the running backs aren't creating plays, the receivers

are dropping passes and the quarterbacks are missing throws.

"That's the worst thing you can do,'' Paterno said about changing the offensive system. "When you get licked, it's easy to try to find a cure-all. There aren't any. Whether they saw the same plays

we ran five years ago on tapes doesn't make a difference. We had opportunities. We just didn't execute.''

Paterno said he will make changes, particularly on the offensive line. Jordan Caruso returns at guard after missing the first two

games, but Joe Iorio remains sidelined with mononucleosis.

Rashard Casey's job as the starting quarterback isn't in jeopardy even though the senior has been replaced by Matt Senneca in both

games.

"Rashard has been pretty good if they catch the football,'' Paterno said. "He's overshot some people, but nobody is 100 percent. A

couple of those passes would've kept the drives going. You have to be careful how critical you are of Rashard. He's doing the best

he can. He's not getting much help.''

Casey is 12-of-37 for 204 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Fans at Beaver Stadium booed him throughout the

game Saturday, and cheered when Senneca entered.

"A lot of the things that happened weren't Rashard's fault,'' Senneca said.

While many players displayed their frustration after Saturday's loss, the team appears focused on its next opponent, Louisiana Tech.

"There was a sense of frustration, but over the last 48 hours, it's changed its tone,'' said defensive end Justin Kurpeikis. "We've

still got 10 games left. No one on this team is a quitter.''

Tyler Lenda, a converted guard, draws inspiration from knowing his father, Ed, played for two Penn State teams in the 1960s that

started slow and finished strong.

"They've bounced back in the past, and I think we can,'' Lenda said.

After starting 0-2 in 1990, Penn State finished 9-3. In 1983, the Nittany Lions went 8-4-1 despite an 0-3 start.

"Everything is different,'' Paterno said. "It has a lot to do with the caliber of team you play.''

AP PHOTO

Joe Paterno struggles with latest drawback in Penn State football. The Nittany Lions are 0-2 with losses to USC and Toledo.