BIG TEN Robinson emerges for Penn State; Purdue is puzzled

Joe Tiller hasn't revealed who his starting quarterback will be on Saturday.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Penn State and Purdue have come full circle at quarterback.
When the teams met last year, Purdue had the more ballyhooed passer in Kyle Orton. Penn State's Zack Mills played well but his team came up short in a 20-13 loss.
This year, it's the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) who have the standout signal-caller in Michael Robinson, while the Boilermakers (2-5, 0-4) have yet to answer the big question: Who will start at quarterback Saturday against No. 11 Penn State?
"This is the best football team we've seen all season, particularly the best defense, and it will give our offensive line their greatest challenge yet," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said.
Tiller said Tuesday that he had to watch more practice this week before deciding between redshirt freshman Curtis Painter and senior Brandon Kirsch.
Both Mills and Orton have graduated, and Orton now plays for the Chicago Bears.
Three interceptions
Painter was expected to see more first-team practice snaps after getting his first career start in last Saturday's loss to Wisconsin, when he threw three interceptions.
"He has a lot to learn because he's so young and doesn't have nearly as much game experience as the rest of us, but for his first career start he did a great job," Purdue center Matt Turner said. "Camp Randall [Wisconsin's home field] is such a hostile atmosphere, but he kept his cool."
Whichever quarterback gets the starting nod will face an even tougher challenge at Beaver Stadium.
The Nittany Lions give up 299 yards and 16 points a game and boast a defense with tough linemen, sideline-to-sideline linebackers and a senior-laden starting secondary.
Last week, Painter was 23-for-44 for 212 yards and one touchdown to go along with his three interceptions, two of which were returned for scores. Painter also rushed for a touchdown.
Few sacks
There's at least one more thing going for Painter: Turner and his offensive linemates have yielded just three sacks, tied for first in the Big Ten with Minnesota.
"Our biggest concern is that we know that they are a tough team, that they will come out and out-physical us," Penn State middle linebacker Tim Shaw said.
Getting physical isn't a problem for Robinson, either. When he's not hitting one of his talented young receivers on a long pass, he can be found running out of the pocket on designed plays, sometimes barreling into defenders.
Against Purdue, Robinson might be wise to take more to the passing game, though. The Boilermakers give up a Division I-A-worst 348 yards passing a game.
Tiller said his team had breakdowns in the secondary early on. Lately, injuries have been the problem.
Backfield adjustments
Ray Williams has started at cornerback after moving from wideout earlier this month. Another converted wideout, Brandon Whittingham, is listed as the starter at free safety for the injured Kyle Smith, though Tiller hopes he can return Saturday.
To counter, Robinson has options at wideout even without freshman Derrick Williams, who cannot play because of a broken left arm. Fellow speedy freshman Justin King looks to be on offense full-time after also playing defensive back earlier this season.