Would like to get everyone's opinion on this. It is my understanding that Matt Campbell brought in an entirely different philosophy when it comes to strength and conditioning for certain positions. Basically, more strength and beef up front, with less importance placed on slim athletic types.
My question would be would something like that hinder guys who had been under the previous strength and conditioning program, and lead to things getting worse before they get better as they transition to a different model.
I understand why the defensive line is bad, we really have no talent there as our two defensive tackles are big but career backups. However, I am a bit surprised at how bad our offensive line has been in run blocking. There doesn't seem to be much push at all. I think we have decent backs, but man they get hit in the backfield a lot.
I thought bigger and beefier was going to make our lines better. Maybe there is an adjustment period.
I’m very surprised the OL is so bad but the OC has done absolutely nothing to establish the run the dude is just pass happy. When it’s 2nd and 2 run the ball again until the defense stops it. The OL was supposed to be a strength this year from everything I heard over the summer. Friday morning I was listening to locked on and Brian Smith was on and he said we didn’t have enough NFL future players and it would take MC 2 or 3 years to fit that problem but did believe he would get it fixed. It’s going to take time I guess.
Took Cignetti one season. Why are we giving Campbell several years?
You can't replace Joe Paterno!
@mtnittanylion NIL and the transfer portal has exploded more the last 2 years I don’t believe the Indiana coach could do that again.
He is only in his third year with a chance to win it all again this year! I still think Ohio State will win it all, ND is my #2 and Indiana #3.
Southern - Penn State football hasn't been relevant in a long time.....2016 was the last time we did anything all that special. I don't blame the coaches or the players, it comes from the top down. I like MC, but really, was he the BEST man to replace JVP ( you know what I am getting at )!
I don't think Terry Smith was the answer either. But if he WAS the HC, I honestly believe we would be 5-0 right now.....based on who would have probably stayed at PSU - Like Grunk who played very well against some of the BEST BIG 10 teams in the country last year. Please don't tell me look at what happened against PITT Saturday, that was another JF meltdown, not Grunk.
Whew - on to USC. Hopefully the White Out crowd will win one for them! I will be there thinking we have a shot! LOL
GO STATE!
@mtnittanylion I thought Manny Diaz was the perfect fit because he would’ve stepped right in and kept most of the studs on the team because they knew him. Now we just gotta give MC time and he’ll get us back to the top but there was no reason to take a chance on taking a step back but here we are.
Cignetti is a unicorn of sorts.
Give him 5 years and see where he is, probably still a winner, maybe not another Championship, but close.
I’m with remoh, I’m not giving up on MC we just gotta be patient this year and next and still be behind the team win or lose. The dude was handed a shit sandwich gettin the job late and I’m sure he’s doing his best. Getting a win Saturday night will be huge and go from there. We were losing to Iowa, NW and UCLA before MC got here maybe the talent level was t as good as we thought.
Well Southern - believe it or not, Penn State is still in the playoff race even with 2 losses. They can't lose another game the rest of this year and they can still sneak in at #10 - #12.
Remember 2016. PSU wasn't ranked in the top 40 week 8. Lost to Michigan by 39 and lost a close game with Pitt and barely beat Minny in OT. But that blocked kick against Ohio State for a TD turned everything around. They clawed back to #24 in the AP and #12 in the CFP in week 10.
Now - we play #19 USC vs a #2 Ohio State, so things are little more difficult. However, we are only in week 6 so a top 20 win and run the table puts PSU right back up. Need to cheer for Minny the rest of the way. They got Iowa and UCLA at home. If they can win these and only lose to Indiana before coming to Happy Valley, that would set up another top 20 team for us to play. Of course, if we lose to USC or Michigan, then it is almost certain we play in some lower tier bowl game.....assuming we win 6 games this year!
GO STATE!
The talent level and coaching has not been consistent for a long time. Imo, the talent level laid in the skill positions and that covered up ineptitude when it could.
JF generally did okay when he was supose to, and imo, he could have won some big games had he given his coordinators the go to hit the gas, but he wanted the other team to beat themseleves and excellent HC/teams don't really do that, but JF was a master at beating himsef. Sometimes you gotta boneup and give it a shot. I just don't recall a Saban, Myers etc ever looking that way. I mean, Saban benched his starting QB at halftime of the championship game; there hasn't been a coach at PSU that would do that.
If you haven't watched it, there is a really good film, Nothing But a Winner: the Alabama Football Story, on the streaming apps, worth a watch if you are interested.
I think the recruiting was in decline under JF. At some point people want to go to a winner. Possibly they also recognize poor coaching. The 'Family', 'Team' etc talk is judged by what is actually done and how people are treated. I guess you can argue that a lot of players went with JF so they like him but there was also the unknown because of our lateness. Paterno players to some degree knew, I think JF players also know. I hope MC and a non standard 'Way' still works. If the only way to win is to be like Oregon, OSU... I have to be OK with losses or doing something productive on my fall Saturdays...I didn't watch a game Saturday...I can do it.
Penn State Blue Chip ratio by year:
2023....57%
2024....52%
2025....65% ( why JF had to go ) Pin Stripe bowl was unacceptable
2026....31% ( here is the problem this year )
2025: Indiana was under the 50% rule and won it all which is pretty impressive.
Alabama....89%
Ohio State....89%
Geogia....84%
T A&M....82%
Oregon....78%
Texas.....78%
If they don't give MC the tools needed to recruit like the big boys, PSU is not going to compete.
I wasn't expecting a championship team this year, but was thinking we'd be a bit better than what we've shown thus far. Still in the wait and see mode, give the man a little time.
How much did Ciggy pay for his championship team? Is PSU going to pony up more NIL?
Well Southern - believe it or not, Penn State is still in the playoff race even with 2 losses.
I can’t believe you’re even going there
A once in a lifetime turnaround is not the norm, or anywhere close to the norm.Took Cignetti one season. Why are we giving Campbell several years?
You can't replace Joe Paterno!
@roaminglion Sometimes you gotta connect the dots. It’s still early but I’m paying special attention to the Tennessee defense and I have to be honest and say their defense is pretty dang good and Ohio State defense was very good before Jim Knowles got to Penn St where his defense was terrible and this years team doesn’t have the studs last years team did especially on the edge. I see the same problems this year but worse because we can’t get to the QB. I do believe we have a talent problem that’s why our defense has been terrible the last 2 years. Rutgers and NW put up numbers on us like we’re Northern Illinois the last 2 years. Lol
IU was in the zone, the Force Was With Them. Those receivers especially down the stretch had some new technology stickem on their hands. I seem to remember Auburn having a great season with a HS Coach and then .... I also believe they had a future NFL QB.
I am not placing any bets! Just giving Southern something to go on this week! lol
It has been my observation over the years anytime a coaching change is made and a different philosophy is being implemented there is an adjustment period to find success...You are talking about bringing in personnel that fits what you are trying to do along with different strength and conditioning coaches (which is vital and probably the closest coaches to the players), dietary people along with different rules and expectations off of the field...This roster was slapped together in short order and I believe that is a big reason for all of the Iowa State kids coming to Penn State...He had a lot of holes to fill and not many options to fill em...Here is where he is backing himself into a corner a little bit...You can't keep losing ballgames to wisky and nw and think you are going to bring in the big time recruits...Another alarm is Homer's commentary regarding the mid level donors and NIL money...If that NIL money don't come rolling in fast they won't be able to compete and that is all there is to it...You can be the greatest personnel guy and the greatest player development people in the business but you can't make a Ferrari out of Volkswagon beetle...This guy has dug himself a hole here and he is going to have to right this ship in short order...I will stand by my earlier statements...#1 Homer's take was correct and #2 they don't have the horses to compete in this race...I predict they don't become bowl eligible...I don't see 6 wins...
@the-funeral-director Manny was my first choice and he should’ve got the job but I heard he burned a bridge with the Penn St AD with something that happened at Temple but regardless MC should’ve been hired quicker than he was so if that’s true then it’s not MC fault. Had Penn St hired Manny Grunk and a few other that left would still be at Penn St.
Manny has never won anything...He is a fantastic D Coordinator...Not a good head coach...Sorry my friend we just disagree on this one...
@the-funeral-director He won the ACC championship last year and they’re pretty dang good this year. 9-4 8-5 4-0 this year with a different QB all 3 seasons at Duke..that’s pretty dang good FD.