The Penn State Football Show

You can never take much away from these early season cupcake games, but there were a few things that caught my attention:

The most promising thing I saw on Saturday was Drew Astorino finally back to playing like he did freshman year. As a true freshman the kid was like a heat seaking missile, flying to the ball making big plays whenever he got on the field. Naturally I had high expectations for him after that, and he has been a tremendous let down in each of the last two seasons. After his sophomore year people said it was because he was hurt all year, but then he wasn't very good last year either. Some people insist he was still hurt. Whatever the case may be, Saturday was the first time he looked like he did freshman year. If he continues to play that way all year, that will be great news for this defense.

Running backs were impressive, especially Redd who is a bona fide stud.

Bolden has yet to get into a nice rhythm with the offense, and that concerns me. He clearly has a great arm, and seems relatively poised, but he has yet to put it all together into a methodical drive. Until he does, I won't be sold on him. But the potential is certainly there. As much as I want to him to be the guy and win the job, I can't help but agree with Jason that it seems like McGloin gives the team the best chance to win. Both will play, but if Bolden struggles, they need to get McGloin in the game to move the offense.

The offensive line looked great in the run-blocking (against a weak opponent), but terrible in pass-blocking (against the same weak opponent). We will get a better idea how the o-line is after this week.

Amos the freshman looked impressive. Surprised to see a true freshman get action in the first game of the year at a position with so much depth. Keep in mind it took Posluszny about half the season before they decided to burn his redshirt because he was too good to keep off the field. And that was on a team that went 3-9...

I loved the use of the fullbacks, both Suhey and Zordich. I hope that keeps up all year. Zordich is a player.

This team needs Anthony Fera back badly.


Now on to the big game this weekend against #2 Alabama.

I do think Penn State has a chance in this one, but they need a lot of things to go their way if they want a chance to win. I don't see the PSU offense putting up a lot of points against the Bama defense. So I really think the Lions will need to score either on special teams or on defense in order to win this game.

As with most people, I'm not very confident about Penn State's QB situation going into this game. However, what some people don't realize is that Alabama is in a similar position. McElroy is gone, and they aren't settled at QB either. They played two different quarterbacks last week, and each threw a pair of interceptions. If Penn State is able to stop Trent Richardson and the Tide running game, and force the inexpeirenced QB's to throw the ball, Alabama could be in trouble. So that will be the key, can PSU stop the Bama running game? They couldn't do it last year. We will see if that changes this year.

Like I said, I don't really like the match up of the PSU offense against the Alabama defense. Out of Penn State's 11 offensive starters, I think only two guys would start for Alabama: Silas Redd and Derek Moye. It is rare that Penn State is outclassed in talent on the field, but against this team, I think that's the case. But Redd could be a perfect weapon... He is electrifying and is one of those backs that doesn't need that big of a hole to turn a run into a nice gain. The way he hits the whole with such speed and explosiveness he reminds me of a smaller Adrian Peterson. If Penn State is going to win this game, they need Redd to carry the offense.

Penn State has home field advantage in this one, which could help out tremendously when Alabama's untested QB's take the field. If the Lions come out and play with confidence, and catch a few breaks, they can win this game. But if I have to make a prediction, I'm taking Alabama in a low scoring game, 17-13.

Rudy, great season kick-off post...I too, stand at half mast just thinking about PUS football again!

As far as the 2011 Penn State team goes, you really cant take much away from the Indiana State game. It was essentially a scrimmage or pre-season game, whichever way you want to look at it. However, there were a few players that I was looking forward to seeing how they looked.

Obviously, the QB situation is the #1 question/problem/area of concern. Two years ago, I devoted the 2010 season solely to establishing and developing a starting QB, setting up 2011 as the year PSU's makes national noise again. As we all know, that did not happen and I feel we are back at the same point we were a year ago with the QB's. However, I was excited to see how both QB's fared and how they handled the offense in their season debut. After having a few days to gather my thoughts and opinions, I have concluded that McGloin is the better answer for the time being. Clearly, Bolden is the more physicall talented player, but, to me, it looks like McGloin has better control of the offense and plays the role of "game manager" better than Bolden. If you look back on several recent National Championship teams (Ohio State '02, LSU '07, Alabama '09), they did not have a stud Heisman Trophy/1st Round Draft Pick Quarterback...they had a guy who managed the game and did not make the big mistake. Now, I know McGloin is very prone to the bone-headed throw now and then, as we saw on Saturday. But, it seems like he moves the offense better, he commands the huddle, he has the confidence, and he actually shows excitement about the fact that he is playing football at Penn State! I really dont like seeing Bolden on the sidelines with that blank stare on his face, looking like he just got news of his dog dying. I think it is a reflection of his lack of self-confidence and leadership ability. My opinions may change in the weeks to come, but for now, my vote goes to McGloin.

As for Alabama, I think this is the game PSU can show people what this team is all about. They aren't getting much respect at this point in the season and that is fine with me. I like being the underdog...in our house! I envision a game similar to Ohio State in 2005. Two good defenses, a battle for field position, with one of the defenses or special teams making a big play to set up a game-deciding score. Either way, it should be more exciting than last year.

I SPY...Adrian Amos (CB #4). As far as I can remeber, he was the only true frosh who got non mop-up time on Saturday. Dude looks big, fast, and athletic for an 18 year old kid. With the absence of Derrick Thomas ??? and a dismal Chaz Powell at corner, will Amos eventually get some first team reps?

I share in Rudy's excitement over a new Penn State season. I also share in his sentiments that Penn State is loaded with talent this year, and could suprise some people since they seem to be overlooked by most. The last time they had this much talent but did not come into the season highly ranked was 2005, and we all know what happened that year.

My two biggest question marks are the QB position and coaching. QB is an obvious one. The fact that Bolden didn't come out and win the job right away was upsetting to me, and I don't think that's a good sign. I was hoping for a lights-out pre-season from him to make the QB decision an easy one, and that didn't happen. So we will see what happens at QB. Again, going back to 2005, although MRob is now considered a PSU legend, if your recall correctly, there were a lot of question marks about him heading into that season. I was one of many people who had doubts about his ability to be a Big Ten quarterback. He silenced any doubters that season, however. But the point is, even though the QB situation looks like it will be a question mark this season, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be.

In regards to the coaching, I just think the team has not gotten the most out of it's talent in the last 10 years, and I'm worried that will continue this season. I could probably elaborate a little further with specific examples, but that would take a little too long. I hope the coaching staff proves me wrong this year, but I will believe it when I see it.

For me, the thing I will be watching this game is Brandon Beachum. I think he's going to be a great running back this year. Most people are excited for Redd, and rightfully so, because he's a stud. But he's also not the biggest guy in the world and I'm not sure he is a 25 carry per game back in the Big Ten. Therefore, I think Beachum, who has a little more meat on him, will be play a key role int he offense this year. I think he will receive more carries than most people are expecting. He's my player to watch for this game.

Penn State rolls.

As we flip our calendars from August to September, familiar feelings comes over us...hope, excitement, and maybe even a little bit aroused. Penn State football is back. After spending the past eight months basically living a meaningless, empty life, I once again have purpose. Like a homeless man, picking through dumpsters in search of the fruitful Bud Light cans, I have come across a fat wallet amidst the banana peels, soiled paper towels and rotten cheese; the next four months will be figuratively showered with whiskey and Olde English. I am a happy man.

This matchup between Penn State and the lowly Indiana State Sycamores presents little in the way of a challenge, and certainly the outcome of the game is not in doubt. However, a much more important battle is fought within the ranks of the Nittany Lions. Unlike we have seen in recent years, the team enters the season with several positions lacking a true starter. Obviously the elephant in the room is the quarterback situation, but also along the offensive line and to a lesser extent at linebacker players to this day continue to compete for starting positions. This offseason has been an extremely good one with more intensity and competition than I can remember. Coming off of a 7-6 season, the team is playing with a chip on their shoulder. They know that they could have been better, and they are eager to prove that point this season. The depth at linebacker and defensive back brings me back to the days of Team VJ Pepicelli. The running backs and receivers are probably the most talented in the entire Big Ten, but questions still linger about the lines and about the whole Bolden/McGloin reality show. Paterno has decided that this year, he will not name a starter for the opening game, but will use the powderpuff as another scrimmage for the quarterbacks to separate themselves. To me this is meaningless. If these two are that close that you can't name a starter....just make Bolden the quarterback. I don't think that anyone would argue that Bolden is the more gifted player, and has a much higher ceiling, so just give him the rock. Let him improve and develop. It's a no brainer. The only logical excuse I can see, is Paterno wants to be fair and so he's jumping through all of these hoops to make it look like McGloin actually has a shot. My prediction: Both QBs perform well against ISU, but Bolden is named starter for Alabama.

The offensive line is something that seems to be an issue every year and has been since the Rose Bowl run in 2008. I think this unit might surprise people. There are no real stars on the line, especially with the loss of Wisniewski, but what they lack in individual strength, they make up for as a unit. They've worked together for a very long time and I feel that they should be competent enough to be successful. With all of the potential offensive fire-power that Penn State has, this group just needs to be good enough and things could get crazy. I'm looking forward to it.

On the defensive side of the ball, I seriously just peed my pants I'm so excited. With the exception being defensive end (where Penn State has about 25 young studs ready to explode), every position boasts veteran leadership and a sexy mayor. Michael Mauti is going to turn heads this year. I love his attitude and intensity. He's like a meaner Posluszny. Devon Still on the defensive line I personally think will earn Big Ten honors. This man is an absolute giant and even though he looks like a refrigerator, he's actually not fat at all. Hide your children. If Jack Crawford can get back to his old form and some of this young speed rushers can fill in for the injured Pete Massaro, this defense could be something special.

The biggest difference this year is that Penn State is flying under the radar. But I see them. My radar sees them. I guess that's kind of my job, but regardless...everyone looks at this team and sees a few question marks and dismisses them as mediocre. But what about Alabama? They lost their starting quarterback, and their best receiver (although they have probably the best running back in the world), and they're sitting pretty at #2. I'm fine with it though. This team will surprise people. There's so much talent. As for this game that's being played this week...I don't expect it to be too tough and Silas Redd will probably run for close to 200 yards. It will be nice to see Beachum back on the field and will be a huge contributor.

What can I say? It's the most exciting time of year and I just wrote a small book. A pamphlet. Let's get this thing started. Lions roll 49-3. Get some

Bowl games are always tough to predict. Neither team has played in a month. Often one of the teams is disappointed with their season and in turn the bowl game they are in, and as a result, a win in some crappy bowl doesn't make much difference to them because it doesn't save their season. While the other team may be very pleased with the bowl game they are in, and look at it is an opportunity to cap off a tremendous year with a big win. Depending on the situation, you don't always get equal efforts out of both teams. Additionally, out of all of these bowl games, only one of them is for the national championship. So what, exactly, are all the other teams playing for? All of these factors contribute to making college bowl games so unpredictable, that professional gamblers avoid them like the plague. You just have no clue what you're going to get out of the two teams playing.

This particular bowl game, has a few extra factors thrown into the mix that make it a whole lot more confusing.

UF

1. Florida's Head Coach Urban Meyer is retiring and this bowl game will be his last. Does this mean he will work extra hard to go out with a victory, or does it mean he's already thinking about his retirement and hasn't really been preparing for this game as he usually would? Does this mean the players will work extra hard to make sure to send their coach out with a win? Or are they too disappointed/distracted to focus on this game.

2. Florida's Offensive Coordinator is leaving next year to take over as the Head Coach at Temple. How focused on this game can he be? Is he already looking ahead to his next gig at Temple? It's never to early to start recruiting... How much effort is he putting into this game?

3. Florida's starting QB is rumored to be considering transferring schools for next year. Again, how will that affect his focus/preparation for this game?


PSU

1. Rumors have been flying around about Coach Paterno's health declining and the possibility that this is his last game. Every indication from Paterno insists none of this is true and he will be back next year. If the rumors are true, the repurcussions on this game are obvious... The heach coach hasn't been around to coach the team, the players/assistant coaches may be distracted/worried about Paterno or wondering who will be taking over, etc. But even if it's not true, you have to wonder how much of this stuff is heard and believed by the players, and how distracted they are.

2. Tom Bradley interviewed for the Temple job and most reports indicate he would have brought Vanderlinden and McQueary with him there. That means three of the coaches were very close to leaving PSU. If they thought such a big life change was imminent, that had to have taken away from their focus and preparation for this game.


Anyway, as you can see, there are a lot going on behind the scenes leadinig up to this game. HBO could have done a 24/7 series for this specific bowl game and would have had plenty to talk about.

After giving you my list of reasons why this game is impossible to predict, I will go ahead and make my prediction:

In recent bowl games, Penn State has had success pulling out surprise victories in bowls I don't expect them to win against SEC teams I felt were superior (Tennessee in 2006 and LSU last year). So it's possible they could do the same against Florida this year. However, I think Urban Meyer is a great coach that is well liked by most of his players and assistant coaches, and I think, despite all of the potential distractions, the entire team is determined to send Meyer out with a win. As a result, I see Florida winning this game in a dominant fashion.

It is now post-Christmas and some of the coaching names that were being tossed around are now moot. I must first address the absolute shenanigans surrounding this whole coaching shake up. WTF? How in the world does Sue Paterno have to justify knowing her husband is not in the hospital? Is this what media in this country has become? A chain e-mail started by some mook with a subscription to Blue-White Illustrated? I mean good gravy. I actually lost it on my Dad pretty hard for spreading these rumors around at Christmas dinner, not because I knew they were false or anything but I automatically knew the source of them was totally bogus. I blame ESPN for coining the phrase "A source close to the program." Typing those words or saying them during an official broadcast should be punishable by death henceforth. Also let me say that I've been hearing for close to 15 years now that "This will definitely be Joe's last season/game." Also now punishable by death.

I not only have a Christmasy name, but I've got a Christmasy list of coaches as well. When I heard the rumors of Tony Dungy, I was very surprised. He has ties to the Big Ten having played at Minnesota, but why Penn State? Why college football? It doesn't really sound accurate and I for one am not buying into it just yet. If it is true, I think that he would be a good coach, and he's a big name that will bring in recruits and is also African-American, which could be a tie-breaker for some recruits. Cowher is the other name thrown out there, but I just don't know if these guys that coached in the NFL would want to coach college, and would they be any good? The leagues are pretty different animals and some coaches just have a knack for one. Pete Carroll for example is a college coach. He has that demeanor...he can connect with kids, but probably isn't stoic enough to handle grown men. How would Cowher react to some of the nonsense that goes on with college kids? I think that he could be great, but might be a little too NFL for the NCAA.

As for Ferentz, I think he is a good coach as well, but he's never been great. He has pulled in some great recuiting classes in a state where there isn't much going on, but his teams always end up with good to pretty good years. They have always had our number, and I think that this sways a lot of our opinions of him. If you were a Northwestern fan and were asked about hiring Ferentz, you might respond with a laugh and reply, "Nah, I'm all set".

Bradley is a great guy and he's been so loyal to the team, but I don't know what benefit there is in making him head coach. He basically is the head coach right now, and keeping him would essentially keep things the way they are. A coaching change is something that could really jumpstart recruiting for a couple years before it settles back down to a normal level. Bradley just wouldn't get this sort of response.

So now...my list

1. Chris Petersen - Boise State. As much as I personally hate Boise State, this guy is good at what he does. He has only lost 5 games in 5 years. He is one of the most creative offensive minds in college football and has been able to consistently coach up quarterbacks. He has a lot of ties to California, where he was born and played, and has been able to bring in great players to a middle of nowhere school. He has performed well in big games, most notably against Oklahoma in 2007, and he is the kind of big change that I think Penn State is looking for. Surprisingly his defenses have played well, but I think that keeping Larry Johnson around as DC might be a good option. I believe that Bradley will be the next head coach at Temple. Other advantages are that he is relatively young, and PSU likely wouldn't have to shell out as much money compared to a Cowher or Dungy (right now Petersen makes ~800k a year).

2. Al Golden - Miami (formerly Temple). Yes, I know...he just took a job this month at UMiami, but Penn State IS this guy's dream job. It's always nice to get someone that wants to be where they are, and Al has made it no secret that he ultimately wants to one day be the HC at PSU. The trouble here lies in the contract he just signed for the Hurricanes, and if the Outback Bowl is in fact the last game for Joe Paterno, then it will be nigh impossible to get him. On the other hand, if Joe coaches one more year, Golden can coach a year at Miami, we can get an idea of how he does with a BCS program, and he may be able to get out of his contract with a buyout in 2012.

3. Pat Fitzgerald - Northwestern. Pete, I agree with you here. This guys is tough as nails, and was an outstanding linebacker in college and would have no trouble bringing in the best LB's in the country to play for LBU. Getting him away from N'Western would be tough, especially in conference, but the facilities and support for Northwestern just don't measure up with Penn State and he may be tempted to coach a National Championship caliber team.

4. Paul Chryst - Wisconsin (OC/QB). Like Fitzgerald, Chryst is serving at his alma mater, but unlike Fitzgerald, he has left his alma mater before. Chryst was the tight ends coach at Wisconsin before leaving for Oregon State to be their offensive coordinator. He later returned to Wisconsin as their offensive coordinator. What this tells me is that he may not be afraid to leave UW for a promotion. He has continually put together a powerful offense that I find myself dreaming about at night. Enormous offensive linemen, bruising running backs, great tight ends, and smart quarterbacks. The Wisconsin offense to me is the definition of Big Ten football, and even though his style and my #1 Chris Petersen are completely different, I would be glad to take either. Great offensive minds that are well connected and could bring in talent that PSU has had trouble getting (nation-wide recruiting, and offensive linemen).

This is something that we just aren't used to, but the ride will certainly be exciting. Regardless, I think that Penn State will get a quality coach. In the meantime, let's find a new basketball coach!

Merry Christmas! Or will it be a Merry Chrystmas????