Blue & White Roundtable :: Moving on

No. 8 Penn State hosts Indiana this week, as we all try to cope with the Iowa loss. I thought some questions were appropriate.

The usually unusual suspects:
There is No Name on My Jersey
Tangled Up in White and Blue
Y. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout

1. What's something you noticed during the Iowa game, that you haven't heard anyone else talk about? Could be something good, or bad.

ZN: Where has Deon Butler been this season? Although he's the leading receiver so far, he's not been the big-play guy we're used to. This became horrifically visible last week in Iowa City. Penn State won its last Big Ten championship by using Derrick Williams the same was he was Saturday, but also by getting the opposing defenses out of the box, using Butler more in the passing game. Penn State never maximized Butler's talent Saturday, or this whole season.

2. We all know Daryll Clark won't lose his starting job, but what should the coaches really do this week? Will they, should they, let the offense open up? Or keep it tight? What will be the repercussions of either?

ZN: I think the coaches open it up this week. Penn State had a kooky game plan last week, that could have worked, if it were incorporated into the normal "Spread HD" offense, rather than sub one in for the other. The coaches have to come out roaring this week, and get the team ready to go. Penn State can't afford to come out flat this week, especially with a hungry Michigan State team on the horizon. Remember, the Spartans are trying to win a championship, too.

3. If Penn State does win out, and faces USC in the Rose Bowl, what will the media folks say before the game? if PSU wins? if PSU loses?

ZN: There will be a lot of buzz around Oregon State, actually. I fully expect the media to talk about how Penn State crushed OSU, but USC lost. If Penn State wins, the media won't be impressed, as USC has been "down" recently, and won't be an "elite win" like it would have been three and four years ago. If Penn State loses, it will be a horrible bombardment of "I told you so" for the entire off-season.

Bonus Round

-Penn State comes out focused, or flat this week?

ZN: Focused. (I'm hopelessly optimistic)

-Will Pat Devlin finally play again?

ZN: I think so.

-What could happen first: Notre Dame in Big Ten, or College Football Playoff?

ZN: Playoff.