The Penn State Football Show

I want to start by saying this sucks. We've had two Big Ten games and now this. That's why its called an opener, it should stay open. If we knock out this baloney game thats one more Big Ten team we could and should be playing.

I pretty much have to go with what everyone else said about Illinois. We looked solid but the sweater is already half way unraveled for Illinois and I think Zook's days may be numbered.

I want to give a big ups to JoePa for sticking up for DC-17 and sounding remarkably lucid in his sideline interviews. I hold my breath everytime thinking this may be the interview where he calls a black player "colored" or something like that. So far so good.

As far as this week, confidence is key. I want to see Clark in there until we are up 52 and not a second earlier. We need to absolutely beat the snot out of these guys. I mean beat them until they don't want to put their pads on next week. People may be asking, "Why does it matter, you should win." That is exactly my point, if you should murder a team, and you don't, it hurts morale and it gets more people like us asking Steve Jones and Jack Hamm if they should be worried. Minnesota will prove to be a very stiff test. Very. They have a great passing attack and the best downfield receiver in the Big Ten. This weekend Scapiron Bradley needs to figure out which 4 guys he wants back deep and let them do their thing because they will need it.

Peace Out Gents

I wasn't able to watch any of the Illinois game, I was in Williamsport for work. (Yes I got to spend some quality time with John Garczynski.) I was hoping they would replay it on the Big Ten Network during the week, but as far as I know, this was not the case. To make matters worse, I won't be able to watch this week's game, as I will be running a half-marathon in Baltimore on Saturday.

So I really don't have much to say. The only thing I'm hoping for, Rudy alread mentioned: They better get Newsome some quality reps in this game. Maybe even give him a series early in the game when the score is still close. Let him throw some passes and run the offense. Handing the ball off in the closing minutes of a blowout doesn't do him any good. He is one play away from being the starting quarterback, and he's definitely not ready yet. So get him ready.

I was not able to watch the entire game since I was attending my sister's engagement party, but the first half as we all know started slow, and I was at least pleased with the defense and Boone's drop shot. I can't really tell what kind of team Illinois is...coming into the year this was called a "trap" game for Penn State, and I feel like short-sighted analysts look at the Illini as a strong team solely due to their star power (Juice and Benn). Unfortunately they don't have much else. Penn State was able to have their way in the second half on the ground, and Penn State has proven over the last few years that they are very capable of shutting down mobile quarterbacks and the option. It will be interesting to see how they perform against Ohio State. Here are some quick notes on the game that has already been discussed in length:

• Stephfon Green - We talk a lot of smack on Green not being a true running back, but he played well by making one cut and getting upfield. He showed some power on short yardage, and I personally thought he looked better than Royster who continues to saunter around the line of scrimmage looking for a cutback lane...get it and go!
• O-Line - Definitely looked better, but who knows what kind of test that was. Regardless Illinois is a better team than everyone they have played thus far save Iowa. They are talented players, it seems like they have become comfortable with each other.
• DC17 - Daryll looked good from what I saw. Made some good throws to the TE's over the middle, and didn't make any glaring mistakes. He still can move and showed pretty good vision and has that ball tucked away like my adult magazine collection. Look for him to take a break from running this week, but it's such a huge weapon that they will need to utilize to be successful for the rest of the B10 schedule
• Bowman - total freak
• Stephon Morris - Definitely not 5' 8", but he's a player. The secondary isn't great, but it's going to be. Apparently Derrick Thomas is also a stud and Gerald Hodges is a beast (he's illegal in 13 countries).
• This week! - The Beav welcomes back former Iowa QB Jake Christensen where he will suffer a bitter fate. It's a warm up game after they've warmed up...should be a murderfest. Hopefully Kevin Newsome can get some snaps in...he reallllly needs them.
  

A lot of players are dinged up, and should be able to recover by Homecoming. We have yet to see this team play anywhere close to its ability, but this past weekend was certainly a step in the right direction. For all interested my Aerospace teacher is a saint and I didn't fail my exam. I should have, but hey...I'll take a 'W' any way I can get it.

GT over FSU, Bowden gets tossed, JoePa doesn't notice, keeps coaching through 2011, breaks Eddie Robinson's record

In light of PSU's recent verbal commitment by blue-chip linebacker Khairi Fortt to help further strengthen one of Joe Paterno's most successful recruiting classes of recent history, I began asking myself one question...what does all this hype over recruiting really mean and, moreover, what can I expect to see on the field in the upcoming years? So, being the credible and complete journalist that I pretend to be on this website, I put on my white lab coat, rolled up my sleeves (or rather pant legs!) and began doing some research.

Currently, there are two major scouting sources, Rivals and ESPN, Rivals being the most in-depth. Both of which scout, analyze, grade, and rank high school football players around the country and monitor their official visits and interest levels in respective schools/programs leading up to National Signing Day. (There are actually people who get paid full-time salaries to do this kind of stuff!) Rivals grades players with stars, 5 being the highest, while ESPN grades players with a numerical value, 100 being the highest. For example, Derrick Williams was a 5 star Rivals player whereas Terrelle Pryor was graded as a 93 on ESPN, both of whom were the #1 player in their class. You get the idea...

To date, PSU has 19 players verbally committed for the 2010 season, 14 four-star recruits (seven ESPN 150), 4 three-star recruits and one player who does not have a grade/ranking (ironically that player is Jordan Norwood's brother). But will this transform into wins and success on the field over the next four years??? Not so fast my friend! The interesting part comes when you sift through the recruiting database from the last several years to see how players have progressed.

Lets start with the PSU class of 2007. Current starters Derek Moye (three-star), Stephfon Green (two-star), Drew Astorino (two-star), and Joe Suhey (two-star) were given an ESPN grade of 40, an arbitrary number given to players who are not even on the radar and no information about these players is available from the ESPN scouts. Who was the top recruit in 2007 you ask? J.B. Walton, an ESPN 150 offensive guard who is no longer with the program because of academic issues.

In 2006, PSU's top recruit was AJ Wallace, a five-star recruit who has had his problems with truancy and tackling. Conversely, Evan Royster, who is arguably one of the top running backs in the country, was listed as a three-star player and the 105th running back of his class. Furthermore, the top names of the 2006 PSU class read like this...Maurice Evans, Chris Bell, Pat Devlin, and Bani Gbadyu, all in the ESPN 150. Evans, Bell, and Devlin are no longer with the program and Gbadyu is a player who is still struggling to find an identity. PS...Ollie Ogbu was on this list as another 40 grade. And lets not forget maybe the biggest bust in recent PSU history, Anthony Morelli, a five-star recruit who was ranked higher than Chad Henne on the list of QB's coming out of high school in 2004.

So, while it is great that we are landing these players, lets not get too excited and start making future predictions like some sportswriters are beginning to do. The reason coaches get paid the money they do is to attempt to develop these players and get them to reach their full potential. Some pan out, some don't. Sometimes the scouts are right and sometimes they are wrong, that's what's great about sports...anything can happen if you work hard. Lets try to take this, truly, for what it's really worth and continue focusing on 2009.

As I expected, Darryl Clark showed his ability to rebound from a tough defeat and put together a rather impressive performance in Champaign last Saturday. Despite the fact that this Illinois team is heavily deflated and most likely down for the count, the Lions offense showed signs of improvement with a more effective running game including career-long runs by Darryl Clark. The O-line is coming along, the passing game appears to be consistent, the secondary is not as bad as we anticipated, and Tom Bradley has once again put together a solid defense.

However, it is once again difficult to read too much into this game. Don’t expect to find any more answers to those lingering questions during this weekend's match up with FCS Eastern Illinois; the game marks a conclusion to the "extended preseason" before a challenging stretch of games that will separate the boys from the men in the Big Ten conference.

Outside the lines:

• To shield or not to shield, that is the question. Through 5 games, Darryl Clark has used the Nike Protective Shield in two of them (Akron & Temple). My guess is that he removed the shield due to rainy conditions. According to team equipment manger, Brad “Spider” Caldwell, 41 PSU players started the season wearing the protective visors.
• Can’t argue with Jason’s point on the white uniforms. Uncontested, single best uniforms in college football. Starting to ask the question, why don’t the Lions wear the white ALL the time, similar to LSU’s donning of the white jerseys at home and on the road.
• Glad to see JoePa supporting DC17 during the infamous “locker-room-trot-interview” when questioned on Clark’s ability to bounce back following his sub par Iowa performance.
  Not-so-orange-out. Illinois’ attempt to “Orange-Out” Memorial Stadium was suspect at best, not to mention the fact that fans should be wearing Orange EVERY game at Memorial stadium.
  Field Turf…coming to a stadium near you. In 2008, Illinois installed the popular and state-of-the-art synthetic grass “Field Turf”. Several college teams are making the transition to field turf due to its durability and safety ratings. Penn State and Northwestern are currently the only two Big Ten schools with natural grass playing fields. Makes you wander, will PSU ever make the transition? Highly doubtful.
• JoePa’s Jackets – Through five games, Joe has sported three different Nike jackets while pacing the sidelines. Some new, some old. I’m not entirely sure what the selection process is, but I’m surprised both SuePa and Nike let him get away wearing this black jacket.
• TV Timeouts – Once again, ESPN found it necessary to kill the momentum with excessive TV timeouts. Following completion of the first quarter and a full media timeout, the second quarter began with an incomplete pass followed by an Illini punt and another media timeout.
• Have to give it up to Punter Jeremy Boone once again for earning Big Ten special teams player of the week. I hate to take anything away from the kid, but has anyone noticed how far Boone steps into his punts? Not to say the blocked punt against Iowa was in any way his fault, but there have been several punts too close for comfort.
• Someone needs to send AJ Wallace a message to remind him what state he is in let alone whether or not he should bring the ball out of the end zone.
• Is anyone else getting tired of the ESPN's midday analysis bro-mance between Mark May and Lou Holtz?

Don’t anticipate any major changes for the Eastern Illinois game, and its likely DC17’s legs will go dormant once again. I’d like to see Green get some more carries and let Royster’s legs get a break. As far as I’m concerned, the Lions would be smart to leave both #11 and #45 out of the lineup in preparation for Minnesota on 10/17.

I think this was a classic game of the Joe Paterno Penn State football philosophy...attempt to wear the other guy down and eventually he will collapse. Contrary to what JoePa might tell us, Illinois is NOT a good football team. They have a very soft defense and an offense with weapons that have been downgraded to non-destructive. If Iowa is the team that could be a sleeper in the Big Ten, Illinois is the exact opposite. Ron Zook may be a great recruiter, but having a suave sales pitch doesn't necessarily equivilate to winning football games. Juice Williams seems to have regressed since last year and the other skilled players have not reached their full potential. This team may be the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten.

Regardless, Penn State did what it needed to do in a game which could have turned out to be problematic, coming off such an emotional home loss. This game was far from a flat-out domination by PSU but, like Lou Holtz says, "You don't have to be the best team in the country each week...You just have to be the best team in the stadium!" (I'm not really sure how to emphasize the lisp). I think this was a test of fortitude and character for this PSU team and it passed with flying colors. In the end, the Iowa game may be a much needed reality check for this PSU team who may have been guilty of buying into its own hype.

Again, the defense played very well, really only allowing 10 points. The offense, although it took a while to get going, played well and I think the Offensive Line is beginning to gel. If anything, this game showed that Penn State is a very dynamic football team that can put up points. Let's not lose sight of the fact that this was a road win against a team that we all thought could possibly beat PSU.

Specific Game Thoughts:

• The entire rushing attack looked solid (Royster-Clark-Green-Carter combined for 338 yards). The O-Line was getting good push and getting to the second level well. I don't fully know whether this is a result of a weak Illinois defense or a stronger PSU O-Line but either way, they looked less confused by the schemes. It was good to see Stephfon Green run like he did. I think he made some good cuts and showed some toughness after initial contact. Maybe his best performance as a Lion thus far. It's also good to see the two-headed monster back at TB (Royster and Green). PS...I like the QB draw calls, but Clark still needs to tuck and run more on his own.
• Can someone explain how "Coaches Challenges" work in College Football??? Why did we waste a timeout on the Zug catch/no-catch (which WAS a catch) by CHALLENGING it? Wouldn't that play have been reviewed from upstairs eventually before the next snap? How does this work? I didn't even know there were "Coaches Challenges"
• Jeremy Boone is a Master of his trade! Two punts inside the 5 and an average of 50 yds per punt. As bad as the special teams can be at times, Boone's leg will be one of the defense's best friends. Hopefully, Boone will end his career with only one blocked punt.
• Stephon Morris continues to be playing more and more at corner, especially in 3rd down situations, which means the coaches must like his coverage ability. I almost thought he was going to take that INT to the house right before half. Great instincts by the true Frosh...I like how he saw some running room and took off down field. I think a lot of players would take a knee or run out of bounds in that situation and be happy going into halftime up 7-3. Furthermore, Morris and D'Anton Lynn (#8) seem to be solid corners who like to hit, tackle, and wrap-up in the open field. Wish I could say the same about #1 and #4.
• Great to see the production from the TE's (Quarless and Shuler combined for 8 catches). Several of these catches were clutch 3rd down plays that kept the offense on the field. I like these guys as Clark's safety nets. This type of production should open things up down field and give Moye-Zug-Powell occasional 1-on-1 match-ups.
• I still cringe every time Royster fields punts.
• Sean Lee might as well take another week off. We will need him for Minnesota and, especially, Michigan. Lee-Hull-Bowman, when healthy, might be the best LB corp in the country and will be nasty against the rushing attacks of Michigan and Ohio State.
• Juice Williams might run the QB read-option better than anybody in the Big Ten and maybe the country. Maybe Daryll Clark should give him another call this week and get some pointers...
• I SPY...Eric Lattimore (DE #56). This kid seems to be getting more time at the DE position opposite Jack Crawford and is creating difficulties for opposing Offensive Tackles. He was in Illinois' backfield often (2 tackles for loss and 1 sack) and will be an important factor on the D-Line as it looks like Jerome Hayes is not getting as much time as anticipated.
• I love the white uni's! But I will let Ryan get the ball rolling on the game aesthetics...

Drew...I will be pulling into the Beaver Stadium parking lot sometime Friday morning of the Ohio State game in a fully stocked RV. Feel free to stop by and enjoy some beverages with me and my entourage!