I have watched PSU football for over 50 years. If I can see some things surely everyone we play also can. Throw the ball, throw the ball , throw the ball against our secondary until we can stop you. People make catches on long third downs with 3 or so of our guys close by !!! ?? What are we doing? Its not just now it goes back a while. Even with a famous coach, at times, if I were a defensive player in the past, I would really want to get into it with the O as we sometimes looked like we only had half a team. Maybe now its the Dline not getting pressure but for sure the pass works well against us. Our O is unimaginative. The object is to win the game. Before it was Barkley left, right and up the middle and for sure he probably would have won the Heisman anywhere else. I can't imagine him behind OSU's or Alabama's line, you would need a calculator. Coaches change, but little else did as to results. We recruit well, but don't seem to be able to develop very well. I can imagine an OSU coach saying well ... do you want to win one point games or lose them? We don't seem to be able to adjust our coaching very quickly during a game and are not a game day coaching staff it seems. Yes we adjust in the second half but what do you do in the 4th quarter? Lose by a point? Surrendering 10-14 point leads is not Penn State. I seriously question our coaching ability to get results. Sorry. I see us 8 - 4, maybe even 7-5 and 9-3 would be a stretch. 6-6 is a bit harsh but not out of the question. Unless something other than recruiting changes I see a second tier team for a very long time. That said I am very proud of the fine young men the program has and their intelligence and character. I have no doubt they work very hard and are doing what they are told. With that I can live with the rest.
Bend but don’t break defense and it works even though it kills my nerves. The greatest Joe Paterno won 409 games and James Franklin’s record speaks for itself so it’s working for him too lol...see, Joe and James just wants the win they could care how ugly or pretty it is and was lol
Their are some issues but I think the overreaction is a bit much. 6-6 now?
The way that all the big 10 teams are playing today I don’t see but 1 team in the big 10 that can beat us and that’s Ohio st. I’m sticking with 10-2 but don’t be surprised if we don’t end up 11-1. James Franklin always finds a way to get better and this year won’t be any different. Last year we were put in position to win 11 games but we blew it on the field not the sidelines.
I have watched PSU football for over 50 years. If I can see some things surely everyone we play also can. Throw the ball, throw the ball , throw the ball against our secondary until we can stop you. People make catches on long third downs with 3 or so of our guys close by !!! ?? What are we doing? Its not just now it goes back a while. Even with a famous coach, at times, if I were a defensive player in the past, I would really want to get into it with the O as we sometimes looked like we only had half a team. Maybe now its the Dline not getting pressure but for sure the pass works well against us. Our O is unimaginative. The object is to win the game. Before it was Barkley left, right and up the middle and for sure he probably would have won the Heisman anywhere else. I can't imagine him behind OSU's or Alabama's line, you would need a calculator. Coaches change, but little else did as to results. We recruit well, but don't seem to be able to develop very well. I can imagine an OSU coach saying well ... do you want to win one point games or lose them? We don't seem to be able to adjust our coaching very quickly during a game and are not a game day coaching staff it seems. Yes we adjust in the second half but what do you do in the 4th quarter? Lose by a point? Surrendering 10-14 point leads is not Penn State. I seriously question our coaching ability to get results. Sorry. I see us 8 - 4, maybe even 7-5 and 9-3 would be a stretch. 6-6 is a bit harsh but not out of the question. Unless something other than recruiting changes I see a second tier team for a very long time. That said I am very proud of the fine young men the program has and their intelligence and character. I have no doubt they work very hard and are doing what they are told. With that I can live with the rest.
Wow. A first time poster that just joined a day ago and already making several predictions in the same post AND mentioning OSU not once, but TWICE to boot. Call me skeptical but gee wizz willikers you sure do sound like someone else that posts on here quite frequently.
No disrespect but the defense isn't the issue... They gave up 24 yards rushing... Were on the field way too long and gave up 10 pts...seriously bro...the defense is terrific....
The issue is the offensive line can't block anybody ... They are human turnstiles...they can't run or pass block... Miss assignments and are not prepared in any way for the stunts and blitz packages they face...
The play calling and scheme has become stale and limited because they can't block anybody or move anybody off of the ball...
Its been years of listening to the same rhetoric and excuses...If this doesn't improve and change its time to fire the line coach and OC... That's all there is to it...
Not so sure about the passing defense Mr FD. Clit converted on WAY too many third and longs in my opinion. Run Defense was outstanding, Pass defense left a lot to be desired. But yeah, our O-line needs to step it up a bit......actually, a big bit.
Not so sure about the passing defense Mr FD. Clit converted on WAY too many third and longs in my opinion. Run Defense was outstanding, Pass defense left a lot to be desired. But yeah, our O-line needs to step it up a bit......actually, a big bit.
IMO the pass defense was pretty good outside a few lapses on 3rd and long. Much of Pitt's yardage came on jump balls or spectacular catches... that can certainly be cleaned up
Pitt converted on 7 of 15 third down attempts, 4 of which were over 10 yards. I'd hardly call that a lapse. They were also 3 of 3 on fourth down attempts. If corrections aren't made asap; we're in big trouble when we get into the meat of our schedule.
@bulldawgs
Yep I said during the Pitt game our defense ain’t gettin off the field on 3rd and 4th downs. They also struggled some in the buffalo game getting off the field. I’m sure pry will get that fixed.
What I saw from the stands was quite a few Pitt receivers open at any given time. Luckily for us, Pickett didnt see them. Our coverage really surprised me. Maybe the game plan was take away the run and make KP beat us with his arm, if that was the case I'd say Pry was a genius and our guys did just what he asked.
@bulldawgs
ActuallyI am really new. I merely speak what I think ... !! that could be dangerously bad : ))). Maybe someone else also sees what I see. I live under the OSU umbrella which is very hard for a PSU fan, especially the last two years. I also mentioned Alabama but I figured I need not go on to every team with a better O line as the point was made. As with all things my opinions are like everyone else's just speculation. After the last game we will know the facts of this year. I hope the 10-2 guy is right but ....
I hope 10-2 but 12-0 even better ( I can dream ). Anyway, in my mind Maryland is the litmus test. They were inexplicably humbled by temple last week but you still have to respect them when they put 63 on Syracuse. If Penn State can put an overwhelming victory ( say 40 points )over Maryland, I could see a 10 win regular season.
I hope 10-2 but 12-0 even better ( I can dream ). Anyway, in my mind Maryland is the litmus test. They were inexplicably humbled by temple last week but you still have to respect them when they put 63 on Syracuse. If Penn State can put an overwhelming victory ( say 40 points )over Maryland, I could see a 10 win regular season.
I was wondering about Syracuse, so I looked back at their past two years. IMO, they were total fool's gold.
First off, total props for beating Clemson in 2017. Good for them, but that was a HUGE upset, not really a testament to how good Syracuse is. Clemson lost their starting QB in the game, and Syracuse lost the next 5 games of the season to finish 4-8.
In 2018? The only ranked opponent they beat was West Virginia in the bowl game. A West Virginia team without Will Grier, their starting QB... Gary Jennings Jr. one of their starting WRs... and their best offensive lineman in Yodny Cajuste. All three sat to prepare for the draft.
Add to this Syracuse is starting a new QB this year, one who most definitely looks like a downgrade... and just how good was Syracuse really? Outside of the WVU bowl game, NC State was probably their best win in two years since the Clemson upset.
I hope 10-2 but 12-0 even better ( I can dream ). Anyway, in my mind Maryland is the litmus test. They were inexplicably humbled by temple last week but you still have to respect them when they put 63 on Syracuse. If Penn State can put an overwhelming victory ( say 40 points )over Maryland, I could see a 10 win regular season.
I was wondering about Syracuse, so I looked back at their past two years. IMO, they were total fool's gold.
First off, total props for beating Clemson in 2017. Good for them, but that was a HUGE upset, not really a testament to how good Syracuse is. Clemson lost their starting QB in the game, and Syracuse lost the next 5 games of the season to finish 4-8.
In 2018? The only ranked opponent they beat was West Virginia in the bowl game. A West Virginia team without Will Grier, their starting QB... Gary Jennings Jr. one of their starting WRs... and their best offensive lineman in Yodny Cajuste. All three sat to prepare for the draft.
Add to this Syracuse is starting a new QB this year, one who most definitely looks like a downgrade... and just how good was Syracuse really? Outside of the WVU bowl game, NC State was probably their best win in two years since the Clemson upset.
Syracuse could definitely use a running back like Larry Csonka or Jim Brown.
