The Penn State Football Show

Sitting in the stands before the Alabama game, I made the comment, "What does this game really mean?" The rhetorical answer to that question, really, is NOTHING! Sure, we all want to compete for a National Championship but I think it is clear that Penn State is not a 12-0 caliber team. However, a Big Ten Leaders division championship and a spot on the turf in Indy in December is a very realistic goal which begins today. I think the old philosophy of rooting for your future opponents to win games is over and we will begin to have a more NFL-like ideology where we want divisional opponents to lose (i.e. Nebraska beating Wisconsin or Northwestern over Illinois).

Things I am looking for against Indiana:

• I, too, am excited to see the replacement corners, Thomas and Amos. I think this is the game where one of them makes a name for himself and becomes part of the first team.


• I am not a big Devon Smith fan, but I don't think they are using him properly. Sending him on deep routes just isn't gonna work. Everyone knows about his speed now and they will prepare for it. However, if you give him the ball in the short crossing routes or on WR screens where he has some green space, things might happen. I think he is more useful in this phase than any other receiver we have.


• How much will the injury of Michael Mauti really hurt? I dont think we will find out today but if there is one position on this team that can afford a major loss, it is at Linebacker. Again, time for young guys to step up. I want to see what Mike Hull can do. Also, can Gerald Hodges start playing up to capabilities?

PS...The intra-state smack talk has been rather quite of late so I will get the ball rolling again. I still cant believe that Pitt advertises "9 Time National Champions" at Heniz Field. If PSU took the same approach, they would have to build another stadium addition to fill the space. Talk about false advertising...

The Big Ten opener this year is, in all intensive purposes, another powderpuff. Indiana (who has NEVER beaten Penn State) is 1-3 coming out of their non-conference slate with loses to Virginia, Ball State and North Texas. Yea...North Texas. Good job. Penn State's barometer will be tested next week when it plays Iowa, but for this week they should have a grocery list of things that they want to accomplish.

1) Run the ball. OH.MY.GOD. You're Penn State...this is what you do. But the coaches think the only way to run is to try it on the first 3 series of the game when the opponent knows exactly what's coming. Then by the time McGloin comes in the game they have figured out they need to start airing it out, and it makes him look like the better quaterback.

This is why those playaction passes to open the game have been open...so that's like one good play...why not do something "crazy" and start the game from the gun. Maybe a little no huddle? Just mix it up. Take control of the tempo. I would love to just see a nice opening drive that results in a touchdown. Is that too much to ask? With the way the defense is playing, this puts a ton of pressure of the other team to score.

So, back to my point of running the ball....throw the ball....then run the ball. Don't just run into a brick wall 10 times and call it quits. Mess with their minds, man!

2) Get Derrick Thomas on the field right now. This guy is apparently a shutdown corner and I think he's done enough time in the doghouse. Let him outside to play. With Lynn out, I would love to see a lot of Thomas and Amos. I think these two are much better corners than Powell and Morris despite their inexperience.

3) Get the screen game going. I don't think I have ever seen a Penn State team so incapable of throwing a screen pass. Bolden really needs to work on getting a little more air under his throws and continuing to move backwards to draw the defenders away. He seems cemented in the ground and always does that thing where he throws the ball when he's getting planted. Stop it. Anticipate. Get rid of it with a little touch.

4) Don't run a reverse of third down ever again. Stop that.

5) Justin Brown looked pretty good last week. I'd like to see some more of him over the middle. This will open things up on the edge for Moye who has really improved his play as well after a mediocre at best opening two games.

6) From what I have heard, Amos and Belton will be back returning kicks. Thank you. Powell looks like he's on one of those airport moving walkways when he's retuning....run dude! And Devon Smith...what hasn't been said about a Devon Smith that hasn't already been said about a Raggedy Ann doll. My high school coach used to scream one thing at me constantly and eventually I got it...."GET UP FIELD!"

7) Devon Still has looked absolutely amazing so far this year and I think teams are very focused on double teaming him like they did with Odrick in 2009. Remember when Jack Crawford was good? What was that...2009? Yea, Odrick was there. Well, look for more out of the defensive ends this week....they may have the luxury of going against some tight ends. Let's get some sack lunches for this noon game.

I expect Penn State to handle Indiana very easily. They really are a terrible team; there's no two ways about it. Plus, Penn State actually looked decent last week, albeit against an inferior opponent. I am very curious as to how all this quarterback controversy is going to play out, but I'd bet my lederhosen on JoePa still going with two QB's for the Iowa game. I think Bolden and McGloin's performance in that game will be the deciding factor. A game within a game. Whatever. I'm just excited to be able to watch the entirety of a Penn State game live and not having to DVR it. Let's come back home to State College with some momentum! We Are