Blue White Roundtable: Alabama Week Edition
September 7, 2011 – | No Comment

Once again, it’s Adam Collyer over at BlackShoeDiaries providing the questions, and we, your humble bloggers, providing the answers. Mine are below, and you can venture off to the remote areas of the blogosphere that …

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Counting Down the Lions: #19

Submitted by on August 25, 2009No Comment

In joining Charlie’s Top PSU moments, we’ve added another daily countdown feature here at quebecpenspinning. We’ll be measuring up the 50 most important players to Penn State’s success in the 2009 season. You may have noticed that we’ve slacked off a little lately, but expect a few double doses of Counting Down the Lions until we’re all caught up.

Checking in at #19 is a double-threat tight end who will see plenty of balls thrown his way, but be just as important when used as a 6th lineman: Mickey Shuler.

Number: 82
Position: Tight End
Class: Redshirt Senior
Height: 6′4
Weight: 247
Hometown: Enola, P.A.
How’d He Get Here: Shuler enjoyed phenomenal success at high school, playing both linebacker and tight end exceptionally well in the two seasons during which he started.  As both a junior and a senior, Shuler compiled 40 receptions and 500 yards, with 10 total touchdowns.  On the defensive end, Shuler’s numbers stand out even more: 100 total tackles, 10 sacks, and 5 interceptions throughout his high school career.  Though Scout rated Shuler as the #15 tight end in the nation, he wasn’t assigned a star rating, or evaluated, by either of the major recruiting networks.  That’s probably due to the nature of his recruitment, an early verbal to Penn State was as strong as any, as Shuler was proud to follow in his father’s footsteps.
2008 Results: After working his way into the rotation in 2007, Shuler found himself fighting his way into the starting lineup for the Nittany Lions in 2008.  With Andrew Quarless battling some off the field issues, Shuler started 6 games for the Lions, seeing plenty of playing time in all 13.  He built upon a 7-catch, 91 yard season in 2007, bettering those numbers with 9 catches and 120 yards, with a touchdown catch in the Oregon State game, which was his finest.  Shuler made 3 catches for 48 yards while Andrew Quarless took a one-game suspension.
What to Expect in 2009: With the departures of three of the finest receivers in Penn State history in Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood, the receptions should be more spread out in 2009.  Without those “Big Three” dominating the pass game, all players will see an increase in their catch totals, Shuler included.  However, where he might really have a chance to excel is as an in-line blocker.  As Penn State breaks in a new offensive line, using Shuler to combat pass rushers, or even to provide in the running game, could help the Nittany Lions replicate the success they had blocking in 2008, in which they allowed the fewest sacks of any Big Ten team.
Random Facts: Obviously, Shuler comes from a lineage of football tradition, as his dad, Mickey Senior, was a standout both for Penn State, and later in the NFL, with (my) New York Jets. But in high school, Shuler was better at basketball then he was at football, twice named team MVP and to the all-conference team. He also participated in track and field during his pre-college days, and we’re not talking about the discus or shot put. No, Shuler ran the hurdles and the 400 meters for the team.
The Final Word: Being the blocking tight end isn’t the most glamorous work, but Shuler’s made a name for himself with just that.  One website which profiles players for the NFL draft, lists Shuler as “an elite blocking tight end” and “one of the best blocking tight ends in the class.”  Shuler’s role as an in-line blocker might be even more accentuated this year, as Andrew Quarless hopes to “put it all together” and realize the dangerous potential he has to be a truly fantastic pass-catching tight end.  And while Quarless might get the attention, and the recognition from the average fan, it’ll be Shuler laying the downfield blocks that springs Evan Royster with some running room, or double-teaming the pass-rushing end to buy Daryll Clark some time in the pocket.  And once he’s gone, we’ll forget just what we had with Mickey Shuler, a hard-working, ball-busting, team player of a tight end who was everything a coach could ever dream of.

http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2007/09/SHULERS.jpg
A portrait of the Shulers: that's Junior on the left, and Senior on the right
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