Liked a lot of things I saw. Team seems to be very well coached and fundamentally sound. I think Joe used to always say something along the line of a team being judged by its improvement from week one to week two and I’m wishing we were playing someone on a higher level than Temple. Nice to see the solid play at the QB and WR positions and getting the backups in early was a good sign too.People’s lookslike the best option to me at RB right now to me but there’s definitely a lot of room for improvement.
Not sure what to think of the D yet, were they even challenged?
Marshall was one of the better offenses in the NCAA last year, and their first game last year (loss to Georgia) was comparable to his year. So there's that I guess.Liked a lot of things I saw. Team seems to be very well coached and fundamentally sound. I think Joe used to always say something along the line of a team being judged by its improvement from week one to week two and I’m wishing we were playing someone on a higher level than Temple. Nice to see the solid play at the QB and WR positions and getting the backups in early was a good sign too.People’s lookslike the best option to me at RB right now to me but there’s definitely a lot of room for improvement.
Not sure what to think of the D yet, were they even challenged?
IMO the Wisky game will be the first to show what we really have. I am hoping Wisky at least shows well against ND
Temple has a shot to represent league of 5 or whatever they call the rep from the non power 4 so they should be a bit more competitive than Marshall was...Yes I expect to see improvement from week to week with this staff...I think 26 looked to be the best back but he got in after the issue was settled and they went to a more base defense as they were loading 9 in the box for the 1st half...Campbell said in his post game presser they had a lot to work on...His post game presser was refreshing...He gave a sincere and honest take on things not the usual coach speak bullshit...As far as the D was concerned the QB for Marshall is very good...Highly recruited 4* dual threat...He wasn't running roughshod because we played disciplined fundamental defense for once...Everybody maintained gap discipline on the pass rush and he had no lane to escape to...The big ? on defense is the secondary...How those guys will fare when they play a good passing team...I gave them a B+ for the 1st game...They have a lot to work on but I have total confidence in this coaching staff...We got lucky hiring this guy...
@roaminglion that’s definitely what I’m thinking. We’ll learn a lot about who this team really is vs Wisconsin.
I think we are going to find out who and what this team is when USC comes a calling...
@the-funeral-director definitely but much will be Learned vs Wiscy. I think they could be a very good team. We’ll find out tonight.
Peoples didn’t have the yardage but I believe he looked like the better RB homer. Peoples looks much quicker and faster but he needs to be fed the ball.
Carson Hansen: 4.4 yards per carry and he was up against a stacked box in the beginning of the game
James Peoples: 3.9 yards per carry against a defense more worried about the pass after 2 quarters
I'm not certain why anyone would think People's is "better" based on yesterday. I saw Hansen as the starter, more bruising back and Peoples as the change of pace back.
@roaminglion peoples looked quicker and faster. You’re right about the stats but my eyeballs tells me peoples was the better back. We definitely need to see more though for sure.
More than style points matters, blocking, receiving, protecting the ball...good to have at least two...
I expect Peoples should have more splash plays. I hate that I just said 'splash plays'.
You now there is a factual bias against white running backs? Women don't have the wind to play an oboe (I think that is the instrument).
He looked quicker and faster because he is. Just like Hansen is bigger and stronger. Both are important for a RB@roaminglion peoples looked quicker and faster. You’re right about the stats but my eyeballs tells me peoples was the better back. We definitely need to see more though for sure.
Martin looks like a big back. Maybe a cross between Hanson and Peoples. I expect Hanson to be dependable, coach brought him because he is a known. He will pound, pass block etc. The other two are developing and will get playing time as the game plan dictates and as they prove themselves. All three are serviceable and it is a long season...hope some surprise us. Tengwall shows some errors by primarily Peoples where he didn't use his vision and bounce it out. He suggests the blocking was pretty good in general.
A few other thoughts:
Nice to see a good start, in recent history starts have been poor. Half time adjustments poor, real time adjustments poor.
Would not have gone for it on 4th down but I can see MC wanting to challenge the offense and if they fail he would be challenging the defense with little real risk to losing. He will not do the same in B10 games...hope.
Rocco was generally on target and saw the field. It also occurs to me that his short passes didn't destroy the receivers momentum. That is worth 3 yards in short passes. Bodes well for RB and TE passing game.
At the same time we are worried about Hanson we are celebrating Matt Suhey. There is so much more to being a great RB. The MC culture and the PSU Culture is consistent, work, little things matter... I don't know the Moneyball statistic that correctly values RB's so MC will need to figure it out. Saquon was a generational player.
TFC at BWI gave this statistic: Yards before 1st contact: Hanson 0.1, Peoples 0.9, Martin 1.5, Wallace 1.6. Now we know Hanson averaged the most per carry so he wins that one. It is also clear that Martin and Wallace played later in the game so maybe Marshall was tired or they were not stacking the box as much. Hanson averaged 4.3 after contact, Peoples 3.0, Martin 2.3, , Wallace 2.2. Will Hanson run away from people and get a 70 yard play? Probably not but that doesn't mean he isn't a high value RB.
They told us the Marshal QB was a great runner. While we seemed to defend him well, I think Marshal decided he had more important games...and they saved him. Lets not to read to much into it. We did seem to maintain gap integrity on pass rushes.
Did we drop a ball?
Bacon is an all around player. He is not a speed rusher but he clearly can bull rush an end back into the QB. I would say a Hybrid and he may be hard to plan for. He can tie up an end, hold the edge, cover a TE. We can get our pressure in other ways...I hope.