Blue White Roundtable :: Syracuse

Syracuse comes to town this weekend, but Penn State could face a tougher test than we thought. All that and more in this week's Blue White Roundtable. Also, we welcome two new participants this week: Nittany Lounge and Penn State Clips.

This week's usually unusual suspects:
W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Nittany Lounge
Penn State Clips

Blue White Roundtable - Week 2, Syracuse Orangemen

1. Coach Paterno says the biggest improvement in a team happens between week one and week two of the season. What area needs most improvement? What facet of play needs the least improvement?

Running game sucked last week. I know, I know. The passing game was lights out and Akron put all their defensive eggs into the rush defense basket. But still, Penn State shouldn't have had so much trouble with the Akron front seven.

The defensive front seven were great last week; better than I expected. It was a pleasant surprise that I don't think needs any improvement at all.

2. Syracuse is running what it calls the Stallion, a form of the Wildcat offense. It appeared to be effective against Minnesota. At one point during the Minnesota game, Syracuse had run the Stallion seven times, averaging over six yards per play. What does the PSU rush defense need to do break the Stallion?

The SINGLE WING works best against lesser opponents, or teams that aren't ready for it. Penn State has run the SINGLE WING in the past, and has had a week to study how Syracuse uses it. So, I'm not to worried about stopping it.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, just one game into this season. But, Penn State's defense looked so dominant up front, I'm not sure this won't be our best statistical rush defense in years.

Wildcat? Stallion? Single frickin' wing?

No thanks. I'll take Sean Lee and Jared Odrick.

3. Minnesota squeaked out a win against the Orange(men). What expectation does this create for Penn State when playing Syracuse? And perhaps more importantly since it is a conference game, Minnesota?

It was the first game of the year. Teams are sloppy. Syracuse was on the ropes early in that game, but then sputtered to a drip in the second half. Minnesota woke up after the break, but still wasn't all that impressive.

That being said. Penn State will look at Syracuse the same way they looked at Akron -- an opponent not to be taken lightly, no matter what the line is. As for Minnesota later this year, who knows? We're not even finished with September.

4. This week next year Penn State will be playing Alabama on the road. What do you think about State playing Bama instead of the Cuse? Would you rather be tailgating in Happy Valley and attending another FCS beat down? Or sitting at home watching the game on the big screen? Should the Big Ten play at least one OOC game per year with the SEC or Big 12?

Ok, I'll bite. Penn State needs to schedule an eastern rival every single season. I don't care how bad they are. If the other teams don't want long-term deals, fine. Set up four or five game series. Maryland, West Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College, Rutgers. Take your pick. Just get them on the schedule, NOW.

As for the rest of the OOC slate. I don't care if it's filled with MAC schools. But stop scheduling FCS opponents. If you want a crappy team to beat up on, there are plenty of fine FBS teams that are just as bad. I promise.

I'll still go to all the game I can, though.

Extra Points

1. The current line is -28. Cover or Not? No cover this week. PSU didn't even cover last week.

2. Does Penn State show up for the second half? Sure do.

3. True/False: Syracuse is a better opponent than Akron. True.

4. Fact or Fiction: Sue Paterno once painted the Nittany Lion statue orange. Fact.