The Penn State Football Show

Drew, I agree with pretty much everything you said. Norwood is the man and is one tough kid. I was very glad to see him come back from that.

You mentioned Herbstreit... I think the announcing overall was terrible: they basically implied the game was over in the first half, and while it wasn't looking good, it definitely wasn't over. In fact, PSU had a legitimate shot to get back in it with about 4 minutes to go, down 14 and the ball at about midfield. And even then, the announcers didn't even acknowledge the fact that PSU was a score and an onsides kick away from being right in it. They assumed Penn State's only mission was to make the score respectable, and not to actually win the game. Knowing Pete Carrol and USC and what was at stake, there is no way they lightened up in the second half. They were still trying to score without a doubt.

As I said before, the reason PSU lost was the pathetic performance of the secondary, and I believe it was the scheme that was to blame. Drew was right, they saw it on film and completely exposed it. My question is, why did Penn State not adjust to this mid-game? Clearly USC was throwing at will against the zone coverage. Why not make a change and go man for a few plays? They never tried this, and I will never understand. Maybe Penn State doesn't even have man coverage in their playbook! They rely way too heavily on zone, and it gets burned too easily. I still don't know why more teams don't rip it apart like USC did, but A CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE. That was a simple in-game adjustment that was never made, and I don't know how a coach can allow that to happen.

Just take a look at these quotes from USC players:
Damian Williams

"They played a lot of vanilla stuff and just tried to prevent the big play," said Williams in the boisterous Trojan locker room. "They were very disciplined, very structured.

"But, at the same time, when you're so schooled and so disciplined, it kind of turns into machine mode. And we were able to find gaps in the defense and Mark had a heck of a day."

And Patrick Turner: "If you want to play back against us, I don't believe that's the way to do it, really," Turner said. "We have really talented receivers, and if you're standing in one spot, we're running to the hole." "We saw that on film, that they really like to run a lot of zone. I didn't see much man out there tonight. They were just backing off."

There is not much to say about the game. USC saw a weak spot in our coverage and exploited the bejesus out of it. They picked up some many 3rd and longs I don't care to count. On the other side I thought Penn State made some very bad calls on 3rd down and we didn't have many drives because of it. Oh well...

My hat goes off to Marc Sanchez. That kid was damn near perfect. I had seen him play poorly in a couple games this year and my attention went more towards stopping the run. It was pretty apparent that Bradley and the defense thought Sanchez made bad decisions under pressure which is why we brought the rush so much. That plan was foiled when Sanchez stayed poised and found the open man time and time again. USC was the better team and thats that.

I disagree vehemently with Kirk Herbstreit saying USC changed their game plan and thats why Penn State was able to come back. He cited the fact that they weren't throwing down field as much. While correct in that statement, his is overall incorrect because Penn State was giving large cushions down-field so USC was just dumping underneath. I am prouder than hell of the effort the boys put up in the second half. Alot of teams would have quit but they kept plugging.

The balls of steel award goes to Jordan Norwood for about the 50th time. That kid is unbelieviable. I'm pretty sure Kevin Kelly outweighs him but he will still go across the middle on anyone. Also he was knocked out on the helmet to helmet collision. Thats a fact; and he came back in the game and continued to play hard. It saddens me to think about how when people talk about the guys that embody the Penn State spirit his name will be absent. He impressed me when he toed the field as a 160 lb red shirt freshman and still wows me today. I think he will be missed way more than people think.

So where do we go from here? It was a great season and I enjoyed watching it. Just gotta take some time off, hit the recruiting trails and get ready for next year.

You have to give PSU a ton of credit for their performance in the second half. A lot of people will blow that off as points being scored in garbage time, but that was not the case... You can bet your #%^ that Pete Carrol did not call of the dogs at any point in that game. He was still trying to score in the second half. I don't blame him either... the bigger the blowout, the more of an argument they have for national champions. So, they still played their first-stringers, and Penn State came out and won the second half. The Lions scored more points in the second half than anyone else did against the Trojans all year. In fact, if Clark doesn't throw that second interception with about three or four minutes to play, Penn State is a score and an onsides kick away from making things extremely interesting.

Obviously Penn State was outclassed in this game. I said they would have to play a perfect game in order to win this one, and they did not. But with that being said, I'm not so sure that they win this game even without all those penalties and foolish mistakes. It was dissapointing that they did not play good Penn State football today. They really shot themselves in the foot a few times, but that was the least of their problems...

I am very dissapointed in the performance of the secondary. It was absolutely pathetic. USC was throwing at will all game long and PSU could not do anything to stop it. It was frustrating to watch. I don't understand why Penn State continues to play such soft coverage all the time. Its a wonder why USC was the only team to take advantage of that all year. I was worried about the secondary heading into this game, but I did not expect such a disgusting performance. The coaches really need to take a second look at their defensive schemes in the secondary and make some changes in my opinion.

Outside of the secondary, I was impressed with the team for the most part. USC managed some nice runs, but I think that was more of a result of Penn State looking for the pass than anything else. For the most part, they were respectable against the run. They only forced the one turnover, and did not get to the quarterback enough. They got some pressure, but never could seem to bring Sanchez down.

Offensively, I thought the team played great. They gained over 400 yards and put up 24 points against the defense we have been eharing so much about for the last month. I did not expect to have that much success with the passing game, I thought Darryl Clark played a great game. If that truly was one of the greatest defenses in college football history, you have got to give a lot of credit to Penn State and Darryl Clark. Losing Royster hurt big time, but I don't think anyone would argue that it would have changed the outcome of the game. I really think he would have had a big game though, and I feel bad for him that he was not able to play in this one. Luckily he has two more years.

One of the things that killed Penn State in the first half was play-calling on third and short. They really should have utilized Clark's mobility on thirr and short - that's the perfect time for a qb draw or option, but they did not do this. I couldn't believe they tried to run up the middle with Green on third and two. That was the third time this year they have done that with him and the third time it did not work. When will the coaches realize he is not a short-yardage power back but a small speed back instead? I know Royster was out at the time, but they could have given that ball to Beachum. There's no doubt in my mind Beachum falls forward on that play for the first down. A few different play calls on third and short in the first half could have extended a few drives and maybe changed the landscape of the game.

Bowman had a great game, Green played well outside of the fumble. Evans and Maybin did not step up and make many plays for the defense. D-Will did not do much. The O-line did a very good job opening up holes and protecting D Clark. Clark played a great game, made good decisions, and had some strong runs. He still has some work to do on his passing and his form.

Beachum had a few nice runs and looks like he has a bright future. Scirotto played terrible and I think Penn State will benefit by losing him to graduation. Astorino played great when he was on the field, and I can't wait to see him start next year. He is just one of those guys that, even this year as an inexperienced freshman, was one of the best players on the field as soon as he set foot on the field. He just has those sort of instincts.

I think Penn State will have a top 10 team next year. I believe Maybin, Evans and Odrick all come back next year, and will be the heart of the best front seven in the country. The only player they lose from the line is Gaines. In addition to the three previously mentioned linemen, Ogbu, Koroma, Still, and Jerome Hayes all return. At linebacker, Sean Lee returns, as does Bowman, Mauti, Stupar, Gbadu, and Hull. I even think the secondary will be better, despite losing all four starters. Tony Davis was solid and will be missed, but I can't say the same for Scirotto and Sargeant. Rubin played better than I expected this year, but he won't be difficult to replace. AJ Wallace better come ready to play next year. D'Anton Lynn may see the field as well. Astornio will be the leader of the secondary. They will have the luxury of knowing that the opposing QB will not have much time to throw.

On offense, having Clark return is huge. As I said before though, he needs to work on his footwork so that he can step into his throws. He is way too flat-footed when he releases the ball, and his accuracy suffers as a result. If he can fix this and become a more accurate passer, he could be an All American. The trio of Royster, Green and Beachum is phenomenal at tailback. Dan Lawlor had a great season and will be missed. Perhaps Larry can fill in. Losing all three wideouts and the o-line will be the biggest question marks. If players step up at these positions, Penn State will be a force next year.

Overall, a dissapionting game. I truly did not expect to see a blowout. Hopefully the staff will learn from this game, and come back strong next season.

Happy New Year!

I don't have a lot of time to discuss the game. As Rudy and Peter mentioned, there are many important keys to winning the game. I don't think a victory by PSU would rank up there with the wins against Miami or Georgia, but it would send shockwaves throughout college football about the strength of the Big Ten Conference. As for PSU, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain which makes them extremely dangerous. I believe Vegas has USC -9 which is understandable, but a wise bettor would take PSU with the points. Seize the momment PSU!

Wow. The Groton School may produce a bunch of dorks, but they certainly educate their students. Rudy nearly echoes my exact thoughts on this game. I too, think the key to the game for Penn State is going to be establishing a running game for Evan Royster. I also agree with Rudy that Penn State can use Royster in a similar way that Oregon State used Jaquizz Rodgers when he exploded for 186 yards against USC. If Royster can sneak through some holes and gain four or five yards per carry, it will open up the passing game for Clark. If Penn State is not able to run the ball effectively, the defense will be able to sit back and defend the pass, and it could be a LONG day for Clark and the boys.

I am very concerned about Penn State’s passing game in this one. Clark was tremendous all year, except for two games he played against the two top defenses the Lions saw: Ohio State and Iowa. He struggled in both of this games and I fear he may struggle again throwing the ball in this one.

If Penn State is going to have success throwing the ball, I think it is going to have to be Jordan Norwood on the receiving end. He is the only wide receiver on the team that I am confident can gain separation from his defender. He is so quick and shifty and always finds a way to get open. The same can not be said for Williams and Butler. Clark has been a great quarterback this year, but the one thing he hasn’t shown me is pinpoint accuracy passing the ball. When he has guys running all over the field wide open (Oregon State, Michigan State) Clark can find the open guy and get him the ball. It’s not always in stride, but it gets the job done. Against USC, he is not going to have this luxury, and will really need to stick the ball in there with some heat on it, and hit the receivers in stride. I hope he can do this, but I have not seen this from him consistently yet. That is the main reason I am worried about the passing game.

I am sure Joe Pa has cooked up a few trick plays for this game. I wouldn’t mind seeing a fake punt or field goal. I have heard that with Devlin gone, Williams will be running a lot of Wildcat plays at quarterback instead of just running with Clark so that he doesn’t get hurt. I am sure they have a few plays in there where D Will will throw the ball, but USC should be ready for this, since they recruited him and know he was a high school QB. I hope Penn State does not enter the game with one of those mind-sets where they try to force the ball to D-Will as often as possible. I don’t think that will succeed. He does not out-class the athletes on USC by any stretch of the imagination. Unlike Hottel, I don’t see him breaking a long return in this one either.

I have a feeling that there will be some unsung hero to step up for PSU with a huge play that most would not expect. Somebody like Andrew Quarless, Tony Davis, AJ Wallace, maybe Brandon Beachum on special teams. I think Quarless is a good pick, because he certainly has the talent to match up with USC. Also, since he hasn’t done much this year, they won’t have much film of him and he has kind of flown under the radar. The staff should try and catch USC off-guard by getting Quarless involved in the passing game. Also, he is an NFL-caliber player, but he now has only one year left and has done nothing in his career at Penn State. If he wants to play at the next level, he has to get serious about it soon, and what better time and place to start than this bowl game?

Tony Davis has had a great career with PSU and gets overlooked. He had a big fumble return for a TD two years ago against Tennessee, and he has been making huge defensive plays all week for me in NCAA 09 when I play against USC.

I had a dream that Beachum scored a TD on the first offensive play of the game, that’s why I picked him.

AJ Wallace is another guy with a ton of talent that he has not yet lived up to. He has one year next year to prove his worth. People often use bowl games to springboard their next season. Maybe Wallace can do that.

As I have said before I expect a very low scoring game in this one. I am sure both teams will come to play. These are two of the best coaches at preparing their teams for Bowl games. Unfortunately, Pete Carrol is perhaps the best big-game coach in the country. The only big game his team has lost in the last five years is the National Championship against Texas a few years back, when Vince Young single-handedly took over the game and won it in the waning seconds. Other than that, he has been flawless in big games (both regular season and bowl games). This scares me and should scare you as well.

With that being said, Penn State does feel like they have been ignored and disrespected, and I believe that the players are all very confident they can win. I really appreciate and respect the silent confidence this team has displayed all year long, not complaining about a lack of respect like some other teams do, but keeping quiet, going about their business, and taking care of their games. I truly believe they expect to win this game.

Penn State matches up favorably on the offensive line. PSU’s o-line may be the best in the country, and if they open up holes and protect Clark, they may actually be able to score points on this incredible defense. I have a feeling that the game-plan will be similar to the game against Ohio State, where they are very conservative and play the game very close to the vest, hoping USC will make the mistake that will cost them the game. I’m not sure if this is the best approach or not in this one. It worked against the Buckeyes, but USC could strike for a big pass or two that could put the game out of reach if PSU is playing not to lose. Scirotto will have to take some chances and go for a pick or two and risk giving up the big play.

I also expect Maurice Evans to have a big game. He has been a disappointment all year, but he can redeem himself with a big game in Pasadena. He is another guy that has as much talent as anyone on USC. If they put their attention on Maybin, Evans better take advantage and make them pay for it.

I can not wait for this game. Lee Corso said that if you can watch just one bowl game, including the national championship, this is the one to watch. Both teams will come to play, and I expect a close, low scoring game. I would not be surprised if either team won.

The keys for Penn Stat are to control the line of scrimmage (which I am confident they can do). Establish a running game, protect Darryl Clark, and limit the big play. Pretty much exactly what Rudy said. If Royster can go for 100 yards, that would go a long way. Clark will need to take off and run as well.

Key thing to watch: USC is one of the most penalized teams in the country, PSU is one of the least.

Remember: someone unexpected will come up with a signature play in this game.

Final thoughts: Penn State will not be intimidated, will not be scared, will not be nervous. They will come to play. They will have to play their absolute best game in order to win this one. Let’s see what happens, and LETS GO STATE.

There is no doubt that the average human will take a look at this game and suspect a USC victory. Many in fact will expect a blowout because Penn State happens to be a part of the Big Ten conference which USC has manhandled in recent years. Unfortunately these people are short-sighted and well....actually its not unfortunate at all. This is a huge advantage to the Lions, who will enter the game with nothing to lose.

USC has handled teams with ease this season with the exception of Oregon State and to some extent, Stanford. Both of these teams were able to establish a running attack and put some points of the board early. This is key number one to beating USC. What else is it going to take? USC wasn't able to come back against Oregon State because the Beaver defense didn't surrender the big play. USC's offense, much like the Florida offense earlier this year, relies completely on the big play. They will not have a 13 play touchdown drive, they will not run the ball up the gut every play (even if it gets them 5 yards a carry) because they're too flashy for that. It's almost as if this team wants to win only if they can do it in style. Penn State on the other hand will do whatever it takes. They will blow teams out (MSU, Oregon State, Syracuse) or they will grind out the game and put the game on their defense (Ohio State). This ability to adjust to the type of game is why I feel PSU has a good chance at winning New Year's Day.

Talent, speed, long flowing locks, cool Hawaiian names, Hollywood stars, and a coach that still thinks he's one of the boys will not guarantee a victory. This team is by far the most capable to win a national championship, but lack of discipline, over pursuit, and an overconfident attitude result in losses for the Trojan squad. Stupid penalties, open cutback lanes, and turnovers doomed them against Oregon State. With a very good back in Royster who has been praised all season for his vision, Penn State will be in good shape to recreate some of the offense that the Beavers were able to use to defeat USC. Traditionally USC has also had trouble with a mobile quarterback, and if Clark can hold onto the ball, I feel that he should be a big threat given the number of players USC tends to use in blitzes. There will also be a lot of 1 on 1 coverages for the wide receivers that Clark should be able to exploit. These are some weaknesses...of course USC has many more strengths, but I don't care about those right now. I just feel like informing the world (or the handful of people that will actually read this) that USC is not that good. Penn State has its flaws, but I am confident that the group will be well prepared and ready to take on this goliath. No one is giving them a chance, and the stage will be set for them to make a statement.

This is arguably the biggest game in Penn State football history since the 80's and once again (as for most Big Ten teams playing in bowls) this will be a veritable home game for their opponent. The odds are against them, but PSU is simply too balanced in every aspect of the game to be brushed aside like a second class football team. I don't care how flashy USC is, or how fast their players are because those things don't win football games. It will be a terrific game and the only shot PSU has to win will come if they play sound defense, and can be both smart and aggressive on offense. Turnovers in this game will be huge, and this can't be played like the game against Ohio State. Points will be hard to come by, but I have faith in this team and the coaching staff. I have been thinking about this game for so long and all of a sudden the time is upon us. Let's show the world how football is supposed to be played. Let's go state

Linebacker Bani Gbadu did not make the trip to Pasadena after failing to meet academic qualifications, just one semester after making the Dean's List. This is very disappointing to me. Gbadu is a player I like and I thought his speed could have been very helpful in this game against USC's trio of running backs. Look for extended playing time for Michael Mauti and Nate Stupar as a result.

On another note, the biggest Penn State football game in recent memory is a little over 48 hours away. You can expect some more posts in the next day or two.