Rose Bowl Running/Open Thread
All day, I'll post my thoughts in the comments of this post, and during the game, I'll have constant comments, like I did during the MSU game. Feel free to join in!
Be sure to check out my Rose Bowl Preview.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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Ok folks, it's a few minutes before the Outback Bowl. Lee Corso just finished up telling us why each team (PSU & USC) has an advantage.
Desmond just picked USC...
Lee just donned the USC helmet.
"I picked USC to win the national title, they're gettin' screwed..."
Ok then...
ESPN just wrapped up one of their patented Year-In-Review montages... only two, TWO, positive clips of Penn State. The third, which was of Iowa's field goal, was not really about Penn State, but Iowa. There had to be more than 100 photos and clips in that montage, and only two went to Penn State.
Anyone else find that disappointing?
OUTBACK BOWL:
Wow, Iowa just put together a very, very impressive drive against one of the best defenses in the vaunted SEC. Ricky Stanzi looked composed, sharp, and Shonn Greene made just enough plays to keep the drive alive, and South Carolina guessing.
OUTBACK BOWL:
South Carolina just fumbled–its second turnover of the game. Iowa's already up by 14, and this could get real ugly.
On the first turnover (INT), South Carolina's quarterback overthrew his receiver up the middle, right into the arms of an Iowa defender. Sound familiar?
its halftime of the outback bowl...does anyone else want to take a knife to mark may's throat?
Dude, you knew he would say something like that. My favorite part was when Lou Holtz totally shut him up by mentioning Oregon State shutting out Pitt... 3-0. Did you see Mark's face? it was fantastic.
OUTBACK BOWL:
I'm going to move over to the Capital One bowl now. Where MSU is having trouble getting to Matt Stafford. UGA is driving, and making MSU look slow.
As annoying as Lou Holtz is, it is nice to see him stick up for state and put May in his place.
Also, we should be a lock against USC since Corso picked them to win. His record at picking games is worse than his coaching record, ouch.
MSU made the Interception but its still too early to tell if this is the MSU team that makes big plays and puts up big numbers or the MSU team that chokes on it in the spotlight. A field goal here for them is a loss for the team.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL:
I really don't like MSU's tackling. I understand it's against Moreno, but seriously. This is what you do on defense. Wrap him up when you get a hit on him. I think MSU is trying to knock him down instead of actually taking him down.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL:
Of course, when you aren't facing Moreno, you can knock the ball out, like Wiley just did.
Nice turnover.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL:
MSU just took the 6-3 lead. Not very impressive, but the MSU defense has gotten it all done today.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL:
UGA coach Mark Richt just admitted that his offense can't do crap against MSU. He said that he didn't want to put his defense pack onto the field, and just get the first down. He wasn't trying to score.
I thought the Big Ten sucked. Hmm... guess not.
CAPTIAL ONE BOWL:
I really hate these retarded halftime shows at the bowl games, and the Captial One Bowl set the bar to a new low.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL:
MSU is starting to fall apart. The offensive line can't open holes for Javon Ringer, or protect Brian Hoyer. The defense is doing alright, but you can't expect them to hold forever.
If MSU was going to win this game, it had to capitalize on every opportunity and punch UGA in the mouth. It didn't. Going into the fourth quarter, UGA has fantastic field position, up 10-6, and looks to put this game away.
ROSE BOWL!!!
The pregame show has begun, and I'm ready to throw up. It's easy to be scared of USC, but there's no reason for the Nittany Lions to feel intimidated. This is one of the best teams JoePa has fielded.
ROSE BOWL:
And now, the Blue Band's trademark drill... The Floating Lions!!!
Chris and Lee are talking about how PSU is "quietly skeptical" about the quality of Pac 10 opponents.
No, no one is "quiet" about whether or not the Pac 10 is a bad conference. Two teams: Washington and Washington State. Those were two of the teams USC shut out. Not a great feat.
Ok, ESPN, we get it. The Rose Bowl is the most amazing place in the world.
You know what this pregame talk reminds me of? The 1987 Fiesta Bowl.
All we've heard is about the "conservative Penn State," against the "flashy USC." All you have to do is insert "Miami" into any sentence about USC, and it would sound just like that fateful meeting 22 years ago.
I know I just mocked ESPN for gushing over the Rose Bowl, but you can't say you didn't just get chills during the National Anthem.
WE ARE!!!!
Lisa Salters (PSU grad) is talking about how pissed off Joe Paterno is at ESPN. Of course, they're all pissed, and had to throw in the "contractually obligated" to do the interview he skipped.
YOU GO, JOE!!!
I told you USC would defer. This is Penn State's chance to show right away what the offense can do tonight.
Penn State does look a bit tight, but they should be able to come down and play their game.
Looks like the defense will get an early shot.
That was a huge 3-and-out. Penn State's defense looked disciplined, calm and knew what USC was going to throw at them.
The first tackle by Bowman was key to setting that kind of tone. Let's hope they continue that way.
Even with the punt on the second series, I like how PSU established the run game with Royster.
Boone had yet another great punt. Forcing USC to drive a long field will be very important.
Dammit. That penalty was huge. But it really scared Sanchez. Maybin got there very fast, even being lined up offsides.
The PSU secondary is playing very smart ball so far. USC is trying to use the run to set up the long pass but it hasn't worked.
After that reversed fumble call, the PSU front seven hasn't looked the same.
TOUCHDOWN USC.
Dammit. Penn State has to answer on the next drive. But I'm very disappointed in how the PSU defense responded to the reversed fumble call. PSU should have clamped down. I saw the linebackers get jammed up in the middle, similar to what Iowa was able to do. That's not a good sign.
Great call by PSU to go with the option to Williams for the third down conversion.
Again going to Williams on third down was a good call. Getting him involved is huge. Clark was very smart to just dump it off quickly
Penalty or not. That was a great run around by Butler.
You have to wonder what motivation these SEC refs have today.
did you see AQ's downfield block on the screen? awesome!
Clark hit Green on the screen play, something PSU can kill USC with. The Trojans front is very aggressive, and screens will expose them.
Timeout, PSU.
Clark has gone from shakey to confident. It was a good call to go right back to Butler down the field, especially in the middle of that USC defense. Now, PSU has to use the timeout to get into the end zone. A field goal would be a huge win for USC here.
TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!!!
Great, great, great call by Galen Hall with the QB draw. USC was expecting another pass, and dropped everyone back, leaving the middle open. That was one of the most impressive drives by Penn State all season long.
End, 1st Quarter.
USC bound to score on anyone, and we had to accept that today. But right now, it feels like Penn State just erased any momentum the Trojans had going into the second quarter. It's now up to the defense to slow down USC's offense, and give the ball back to PSU.
Penn State is giving up way to much down field. The pass rush hasn't done anything since the reversed fumble call.
However, the run defense has been pretty good. But it doesn't matter if you get USC into second/third and long, if you give up big plays in the pass game.
TOUCHDOWN USC.
Penn State wasn't ready at all for that QB run by Sanchez. It was a great call by USC. But let's see if Joe McKnight returns. I know that USC has enough good players to fill in, but he is a very special back for the Trojans to lose.
Watch this next drive, as PSU will probably go back to the run with Royster and Clark. I hope they don't get to tight now. A few more screens could set things up very nicely.
And now Royster is getting a new brace. That was my fault for not seeing that earlier. He needs to be full strength. Otherwise USC will tee off on the PSU offense.
Green did have a nice run on first down, though.
I don't think the third down call was all that bad, contrary to Kirk Herbstreit's opinion. The USC defender just got a lucky hand on Green. The hole was there. Kirk said that PSU should have called the QB sneak. I don't think it would have worked, and when it didn't, Kirk would have said, "why didn't PSU go outside to the wide receivers?"
The USC error fielding the punt was a nice treat, though.
Who would have thought the PSU defense would be the biggest problem today? The pass rush is not getting to Sanchez, and the secondary is not playing aggressively enough. PSU has to start pressuring Sanchez, or this will turn ugly.
FIELD GOAL USC.
It could have been much, much worse, after the way USC was chewing up the PSU defensive backfield. Tom Bradley has to kick some ass over there on the sideline, and the offense has to start playing like it did on the scoring drive. Penn State now needs points, there's no alternative. This is the most important drive we'll see in the first half.
Three and out was pathetic. There's no excuse for Penn State to not even get a first down. Clark has to run the ball on the draws more, and use the screens. I've been saying that from the get-go. SCREENS!!!
If that was the most important drive of the game for the offense, this will be the most important for the defense.
I'm sure we'll have about 10 more "most important" drives before this night is over.
WTF! This team did not get penalized in a significant way all year and today we nearly 40 yards in the first half!?!
USC just shook off that Bowman sack like it never happened. The 211 pass yards given up by PSU so far is horrid. If these guys don't straighten up, it's over.
Penn State can't do anything right today, while USC is rolling like an NFL team. The Green fumble was the first turnover of the game, and wow, it was just a killer to PSU.
Oh yeah, there was another USC touchdown. PSU seemed to give up on defense. But I won't completely blame it on the players. The defense is playing super soft, and you can't play USC like that.
31-7, USC.
HALFTIME:
There's a slim to no chance that PSU will be able to beat USC now. But there's still respect to be won.
I just don't know what PSU can do at this point. Really. The only thing I can think is to move the corner backs up to jam the receivers, but again, that what PSU should have done in the first half.
Start, 2nd half.
USC just doesn't have to run anymore. PSU is still playing off the WRs, and the line isn't getting to Sanchez. USC is driving once again. Even on the broken play, Sanchez got 6 yards on a scramble.
That was a bullshit spot on 3rd and 15. It was a full yard short. Even Kirk said it was a great spot.
But wasn't that series just a summary of this game? I mean, PSU makes a decent play with Josh Hull's TFL, then PSU gives up a big play, and then a 4th down conversion. The secondary now looks very scared to attack this passing game.
Tony Davis got the ball!
I know it is almost too little too late, but if PSU scores a touchdown on this drive, and mimics Davis' play, it could at least close a little bit.
NOW TO SOMETHING!!!!
Very nice throw to Williams on 3rd and 5 by Clark. That's what the PSU WRs can do, but you have to get the ball to them! Let's hope this will be a better half, even if it's not a winning half.
Keep faith.
Well, PSU tried, and couldn't come up with it. I don't mind so much that USC is happy they're winning another Rose Bowl. I do mind that they're so arrogant about it.
At this point, USC is just running out the clock. They know their defense is good enough to hold PSU down, while the offense just has to get a few first downs per drive and the game is over. Penn State can still play some ball, and even if the Lions score only a few points, it will be something.
It was pretty funny to see how many defenders PSU had out ther on the punt.
Why is Clark under center so much. Just line up in the shotgun and pass away. But PSU knows better, and will continue to play their offense. I'd just like to see a little more "HD" out there.
See? PSU must be reading this. They go right down the field to Butler. Why has it been so hard to do that? My guess is that USC is playing a bit softer with this lead.
Norwood looks real bad after that hit. Wow, I really feel bad for him. Taylor Mays really went in helmet first. That's sad.
What are these refs looking at? Clark was obviously down, but they initially ruled it a fumble. We'll see.
His knee was down. Good call. PSU has to do something with this new life.
TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!
Nice job by Clark to be patient and not take off right away.
Just when PSU gained some momentum, USC turned it back on like a light switch. But it's all going back to the coverage and the pass rush. Both are ineffective.
TOUCHDOWN USC
...aaand that's what happens.
On 3rd and long, Butler comes up with a fantastic over-the-head catch. He's my early vote for MVP.
Argh! Brackett was wide freakin' open! Clark should have hit him for the score.
That timeout by Pete Carroll was crap. The officials didn't blow the whistles until the play was over, and Lawlor already had the first down.
FIELD GOAL PENN STATE
Nice to see Kevin Kelly get one last shot. He's been great for PSU. Too bad he couldn't kick more extra points in this game.
But how huge was that timeout USC called? PSU had the first down on the first attempt.
Way to go Bowman, not giving up on the game. Just tackled the USC back for a 7 yard loss.
Timeout PSU
I think I know who the defensive MVP is...
Time for PSU to get the offense rolling, even if it won't make too much of a difference. Keep playing, boys!
Great, down to our 3rd string running back.
TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!
The offsides won't matter. Clark has looked super sharp this half. Where the hell was this in the first half??? In this half, that pattern has worked twice for touchdowns. Yeah, learn from it.
USC faces a 3rd and short. Will PSU show up and make the big stand? If there's one stop PSU has to make, obviously, that's right here, right now...
Good stop, but will USC go for it on the fake punt? I hope not.
Go get another score!!!
Interception USC.
Well, we played tough in the final quarter.
Interesting substitution. Mike Lucian is in for Wisniewski. Is that a senior thing, or a performance thing?
HIGH SNAP!
This might not be enough, but it'll make it fun!
Even though it was once a blowout, it turned into a watchable game, which is more than we could have hoped for at halftime.
Interception USC.
This was a game of two halves. The first was domination by USC. The second half was resurgence by PSU.
I'll have my initial reactions in a little while. Stay tuned. I need some time to recover from this one.
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