◊ Here's a little something going into the weekend. Did you ever wonder where JayPa came up with the idea for the "Spread HD" offense? Well, we just got a peek. This is just begging for a caption, and I'm leaving it up to all of you!
Post your captions in the comments:
(HT: BWI reader, sneakypete21)
I’ll go through each unit and the coaching, sizing up how each one performed against the Hoosiers.
OFFENSE :: C
Line – Can we start asking ourselves, "where the hell has this line gone?" Daryll Clark had a bit more time to throw this week, but still not enough, considering it was Indi-freaking-ana! Clark was sacked, twice. Pat Devlin was sacked. Not only was it bad to surrender that kind of pressure on the passers, it came from the worst possible place–the blind side. Gerald Cadogan has taken a big step back the last two weeks, consistently getting beat by speed-rushing ends. And when he does keep them off the passer, he's ususally holding them, drawing the penalty. Tackles and TEs coach Bill Kenney better get on these guys' cases this week. The run blocking as a whole still needs fine tuning, which is ridiculous at this stage of the season. I'm not sure, but it looks like Mr. Kenney's boys, especially the tight ends, could use some blocking drills, pronto. Moving Stefen Wisniewski and Rich Ohrnberger back to their old guard spots worked better. I'm not eve sure why they did that for Iowa, as even the Big Ten Network announcers this week said it was a bad idea, and that Penn State regretted the move. That begs the question, then, "why didn't Penn State's coaches switch the two back at halftime of the Iowa game?" We'll never know, moving on.
Receivers – I thought they had a good day. The best play called all day was the TE Drag to Mickey Shuler for a big gain on third down. Penn State was able to get its receivers in open space more this week, something we haven't seen since the first half of this season. Derrick Williams had probably his all-around best day as a Nittany Lion (123 rushing/receiving yards, 2 TDs), while Deon Butler finally grabbed a touchdown (and passing Bobby Engram as career receptions leader at PSU), and Jordan Norwood made up for his bad day at Iowa, with 7 catches for 69 yards this week. I'm already getting choked up thinking about these guys graduating.
Quarterbacks - Clark looked more like Zack Mills than the quarterback once known as Daryll Clark. There was little zip on the ball. The two times he threw long, they were under-thrown (one was bailed out by Williams' great TD catch, the other was intercepted). He was nervous in the pocket, and made several mistakes. But overall, he got the job done, throwing for 240 yards and two scores. Like I said, it really brought me back to the "Zack Attack" days. You spend most of the game wondering why Clark can't play well the whole game. But it was alright, since Penn State never felt it would lose, even when leading by only 3 at the half. Overall, I thought it was a good cushion game for Clark, before the Big Ten Championship Game next week.
Rushers – You have to give Evan Royster credit. No, not for his outstanding running. But rather for dealing with the obvious lack of carries he's getting. For the last two weeks, he's been in a position to take over a game, but the coaches go to someone else, just when Royster's getting in his rhythm. But that aside, his 19-yard touchdown run was probably the best individual-effort play of the game. I would love to see Stephfon Green and Royster in the backfield at the same time. Green has been very effective, and while he didn't gain super stats against Indiana (10 car, 30 yds), he got the job done as a sub for Royster. Imagine the aneurism Penn State could give opposing defenses, if Penn State lined up Royster, Clark and Green in the backfield, and then threw Williams in motion from the slot, just for fun?
DEFENSE :: A
Line – I thought the pressure put on Kellen Lewis was fantastic this week. Aaron Maybin registered his 12th sack of the year, while Jared Odrick was again a menace in the backfield. I know I've been praising Odrick's play a lot lately, but I really think he's the biggest factor–figuratively and literally speaking–on the defensive front for Penn State. Against Indiana he only logged three tackles, and one TFL, but he was constantly penetrating the IU offensive line, disrupting both the pass and run. He is easily a first-team all-Big Ten selection this year. Saturday, we also saw the re-emergence of Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma, who both made four tackles, with Evans getting one for loss. It's a big deal to see these two slowly returning to form, with Javon Ringer coming to town next week.
Linebackers – I don't know if it was just that Iowa had really good blitz protection, or Indiana is really that bad at picking up the pressure, but Penn State had much more success this game at putting pressure on Lewis. Josh Hull could still stand to be a step quicker, but remember that Lewis is a very fast quarterback, who's ankle sprain looked perfectly fine against Penn State. I was a bit discouraged by some missed tackles, and still getting jammed in the middle of plays, like on the 57-yard touchdown run. I thought the linebackers did a much better job this week, though, getting into position to make some good plays. Navorro Bowman might have had an interception, had the ball not been thrown full speed from ten yards away. I'd say the biggest problem I had was the shaky tackling. Again, something that can't happen against Michigan State.
Secondary – Has there been a better individual-coaching job than what the staff has done with Mark Rubin. I know, the interception was practically gift-wrapped for him, but Rubin was alert enough to make a huge play on the ball. Penn State held Indiana to 57 total passing yards, one interception and two sacks. Lewis completed 9 of 21 passes. Indiana came in averaging almost 200 pass ypg. This wasn't a very daunting test for the Penn State secondary, so there's not much learned from the performance. Indiana completed a few passes, but mostly when Lewis was on the run away from pressure, after the plays were broken. We can't be sure the defensive backfield can come through until the Spartans offense takes the field, unfortunately.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: A+
Kickers – Kevin Kelly missed a field goal. Oh well, he's still be outstanding this year, and should be first-team all-Big Ten. On top of that he contributed to the field position battle, dropping a pooch punt downed inside the two. Jeremy Boone boomed both of his punts for a 51-yard average. Kelly's kickoffs have also been a thing of beauty this year, usually nailing them just deep enough to force the returner to take them out, right into the teeth of Penn State's vastly improved coverage units.
Returners – Williams took a few that I didn't think he would, with one longer return being called back on a horrible block-in-the-back call. Indiana didn't score, so there weren't any real kickoff returns.
Coverage – Field position was key in the win, and it wouldn't have been possible without the Penn State coverage unit's hustle to get down the field, and in front of the kicks. Nate Stupar is easily the special teams player of the year (if there was one), having gotten a piece of another punt this week. Long snapper Andrew Pitz made the biggest play of his career, downing a punt inside the two.
COACHES :: B
I'll admit, it was better, but not good. Penn State shouldn't have had any problems with Indiana. We should have been watching Devlin, Green, Brandon Beachum and James McDonald for the entire second half, not the first-teamers frantically trying to put the game away like it was some upper-echelon BCS team. I said earlier that the play-calling did a better job of getting guys open, but still not the way Galen Hall and Jay Paterno were getting them open during the first half of the season. Where's the "Spread HD" that was once all the rage in college football? Penn State rumbled for 400+ yards against Indiana, but it should have been somewhere around 500+. Sorry, I know it was raining. I was there, wet, cold and frustrated. But Penn State should have been able to handle Indiana like a championship team would. I'm going to give Penn State a mulligan this week, considering it was the first game after that gut-wrenching loss in Iowa City, Clark was still getting back into his groove, and the weather was extra-Pennsylvania-autumn crappy. These Nittany Lions are good, and can win a championship. So let's see it.
The Nittany Lions laid a big, fat, rotten egg at Iowa. I really don't want to do this review, as this is the most painful loss since Michigan 2005. But, I intend to do my best. I’ll go through each unit and the coaching, sizing up how each one performed in Iowa City.
OFFENSE :: D
Line – How many times have we heard the phrase, "It all starts up front," when analysts spoke of Penn State's success this season? Well, it has to stand true in losses, as well. This loss began in the trenches, on the very first drive. The Iowa defensive line, especially the interior linemen, had no problem scorching through Penn State's front wall. There's been a lot of talk about Rich Ohrnberger and Stefen Wisniewski swapping spots, and the disaster which ensued shortly thereafter. The middle of the Penn State offensive line was the force and strong point of attack all year, but in one single outing, it all came crashing down. With it, so did the Penn State offense as a whole. Just to illustrate how poorly the offensive line performed last week, let's look at the "Opponent TFLs." Games 1-9: 3.7 TFL per game; Iowa: 7 TFL! That's nearly double the number off negative-yardage plays made by a Penn State opponent.
Receivers – I'm going to leave Derrick Williams out of this. He was used as a utility player, not a pure receiver. Now, on to the group of Penn State football players who claim to be wide RECEIVERS! It's one thing to struggle to break coverage, or get open, or gain a lot of yards after catch. But it's an entirely different monster when the receivers can't even make the catch. Daryll Clark received a lot of undue heat for his play, when really, no one else helped him out. This was very evident on the perimeter and downfield. Was there a more painful play than the Jordan Norwood drop on third down? I don't think so. Another surprisingly pivotal display of incompetence was Andrew Quarless. It wasn't so much his receiving that sucked–even though it really did last week–but rather his blocking was horrendous, mainly on the goal line.
Quarterbacks - Clark took all the blame, as most leaders do for their team's loss. But I really think Clark played a decent game. He had no protection, ridiculously bad play-calling, and receivers that wouldn't catch the ball. Would I have liked to see Pat Devlin come in for a series, considering Penn State wasn't running the quarterback at all? Of course, but I'm not sure it would have mattered. After the first three plays–all passes, into the wind, with horrible blocking–Clark was never in a rhythm, something he thrived on in the previous nine games. Even during the Ohio State game, Clark played a clean game, even if it wasn't impressive. Iowa got to Clark, and Clark got to himself. I think the critics look too deeply into the interception, as it was he only real mistake Clark made in the passing game. I know, it was at the worst time. But you can't blame this loss on Clark, and neither should he.
Rushers – Give these guys credit, they had less help than did Clark and the passing game. Evan Royster was recently named a Doak Walker Semifinalist, and the Iowa game just reinforced why he's viewed as one of the best. Again, I don't mean to harp on this, but with virtually no blocking help, Royster did a fantastic job Saturday, managing to gain 90 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. His lost-yardage total was a season-high 17 yards lost. And what's with Stephfon Green? He's averaged 9 yards per carry the last two games (6/54), but the offensive staff hasn't given him more touches (season-low, 7 tot. touches, last two games). With two of the best running backs in the conference, Penn State sure knows how to waste their talent. Now on to Williams. I loved the game-plan the staff installed for him, but I wish it was incorporated into the Spread HD, rather than push it aside. The "Williams Factor" was one we've all been waiting for, but didn't expect it to smother the rest of the regular offense. Combine those two, and these next two games (and bowl game) will look more like the first nine.
DEFENSE :: D
Line – The down linemen couldn't shed run blocks to save their lives at Iowa, and it completely killed any chance at stopping Iowa's Shonn Greene. But it wasn't just the run defense, as the pass pressure never materialized when Penn State needed it most. Aaron Maybin was a non-factor in this game. It was one of only two games (the other being Illinois) in which he didn't record a sack, and it really hurt the defense. I thought things were going to turn around when Jared Odrick blasted his way through the line so fast, Iowa's Ricky Stanzi was sacked before he even completed his drop. This was the first game all season where the defensive line looked really tired in the fourth quarter. Could it be that all those losses up front have finally come crashing down on Penn State? Maybe not, but maybe so.
Linebackers – Penn State wasn't getting any pressure up front with just four rushers. So they rushed five and six, yet still couldn't get pressure. This has quickly become a disturbing pattern for the 'backers. Not only that, but Josh Hull, Navorro Bowman and Tyrell Sales were frequently jammed up by the tackles and tight ends, sealing off the edge for Iowa's Greene. One of the few bright spots was Sales coming up with a pick, but we have to remember that Stanzi threw that ball into about four defenders. If one of our guys didn't pick it off, it would have been truly pathetic. And what the hell happened to Bani Gbadyu? He wasn't a world-beater at linebacker (he did lose his starting spot to Bowman), but he hasn't registered a single stat or played a down in three weeks.
Secondary – Like Clark on offense, the secondary has been taking a lot of unjust heat for the Iowa loss. Three plays stick out, all in the fourth quarter. Lydell Sargeant dropped a sure-interception. One play later, broken coverage allowed an Iowa touchdown. Then, on the final drive, Anthony Scirrotto went up over the receiver's head, trying to intercept the ball, but was flagged for interference, keeping the drive alive. Yes, they were all horrible plays at the worst times. But overall, the Penn State secondary played up to it's own talent level. In the beginning of this year, many worried about the secondary and the linebackers. So we shouldn't be surprised when either of those two groups fail to win games for Penn State. No single unit, or player can be blamed for this loss, especially the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: A
Kickers – Kevin Kelly probably wishes he only had to kid PATs, but he came through on every kick. He could end up as a Groza finalist. Jeremy Boone had a so-so night, averaging 33 net yards per punt. He did his job.
Returners – Boy, Penn State could have used a spark. But there was none to be found in the return game this week. Although this group of Williams and Chaz Powell didn't do anything good, they didn't do anything bad, either.
Coverage – Penn State gave up one big return, a 27-yarder, but overall did a good job. I'll throw the kick-block unit into this part, just because I had to have it somewhere. But looking at the final kick by Iowa, it was eerily similar to the Minnesota 1999 game. It looked like Penn State had the height, the leverage and the speed to block it... but no.
COACHES :: F
I don't even know where to start with the coaching staff. I said after the game that this loss had "Joe Paterno written all over it." I might have been a little off with that angle. This game had Fran Ganter written all over it. I remember hearing Ganter say years ago, "We don't do a lot, but what we do, we do well." You know what that translates into? We don't adjust. That evil reared its head once again Saturday. It brought back horrible memories of the Michigan 2006 game, when Penn State seemingly refused to call screen plays to combat the UM pass rush. Then, when a screen was finally called, Tony Hunt takes it for a touchdown. Where was that at Iowa? If there was ever a need for screens–inside, outside, bubble, whatever kind–it was last week. Royster didn't catch a single pass, and Green grabbed only one, out on the flat. These two guys were built for screens, but none were called. Damn, I'll even take those dreadful bubble screens to the wide receivers. I don't mean to drag on about screen passes, but I really believe it could have made a significant impact on the offensive production last week. On defense, I have nothing to really say. Penn State bent. Penn State broke. That's not Penn State.
*Ed.- Now that this is done (finally), I'll have the full Indiana Preview up later today.
Here's some initial thoughts on Penn State's loss at Iowa. I'll have a full game review soon.
The Good: Most of the decent things I saw last night were individual efforts, so, yeah. Kevin Kelly went 3-for-3. He's become one of the most reliable kickers Penn State's ever had. I also really liked the gameplan for Derrick Williams. It was the sort of thing we've been begging for since 2005. Evan Royster had a pretty good game, considering the line didn't block for him. On defense, Jared Odrick was a monster yet again, highlighted by his sack of Ricky Stanzi. He got through the line so fast, it was scary.
The Bad: Wow, where to start. The offensive line didn't block; the wide receivers didn't catch the ball; Daryll Clark couldn't throw; the defensive line couldn't shed blocks; the linebackers got jammed in the middle; the cornerbacks and safeties gave up first down after first down; and the coaching/playcalling was some of the worst that I've seen since Galen Hall arrived at Penn State. Ok, so I think I made my point. Penn State played like absolute shit, and deserved to lose this game. I said that I liked the Williams-gameplan a lot, but the big problem with that was this: they didn't get the ball to anyone else! And when Clark did get the ball out, it was dropped, or it was six yards short of the first down. The red zone offense was horrendous again, mainly due to the lack of control up front. Tod McShay said a few weeks ago that this offensive line was overrated. I'm beginning to believe that now. I don't know, but it seemed like they were just off all day, with Rich Ohrnberger way out of whack. I just couldn't believe that Penn State felt the need to run right into the middle of the best pair of tackles in the Big Ten, when they were penetrating all night. I can't freaking believe that Pat Devlin wasn't put in for some of the second half. They weren't running Clark at all, so why not put in the best passer on the team?
Overall: This game had Joe Paterno written all over it. I won't go so far as to say it was any one person's fault, as this was a full team effort to lose. I have to congratulate Iowa for a fantastic gameplan, and for playing its heart out all night. However, I find it very interesting that Iowa had heaters on its sidelines, but Penn State had nothing, nada. It became very clear that Penn State was cold, affecting its ability to handle the ball. But we can't complain about that, really. This loss was one Penn State deserved in every respect. And it probably was due, because if we took that kind of team into Miami to face off with Florida, Alabama, Texas Tech or some other team with a pulse, Penn State wouldv't been Ohio State 2006 and 2007 all over again, and the Big Ten would've been forced to cease playing football. But onward and upward we must go from here. If Penn State wins out, we'll go to the Rose Bowl. If a few other teams lose-it's happened many times before-Penn State could end up back in the discussion. But, I'm sure we'll hear about this loss all week. Oh, and shut the hell up, Mark May.
Well, they did it. Penn State went on the road and actually beat a top-10 team. How did they do it? I’m not really sure, but I intend to do my best to figure it out today. I’ll go through each unit and the coaching, sizing up how each one did in Columbus.
OFFENSE :: C-
Line – Let’s face it, Penn State hadn’t seen a defensive front like this all year. Ohio State is good up there, very good, and Penn State did an “okay” job neutralizing the Buckeye pressure and penetration–hold the jokes, please. The pass blocking did the job, but there were some issues when Ohio State overloaded on one side of a blitz. I was very happy with Gerald Cadogan’s run blocking, especially when he was pulling as almost a lead blocker. The middle of the line had problems opening up running lanes, but that could be attributed to Ohio State’s commitment to just rush everyone all the time. It kind of reminded me of NCAA 09. But I think the Lions’ front held up nicely, and grew stronger as the game wore on, something they’ll need if Penn State faces Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma or USC in the bowl game.
Receivers – Where were these guys? I must congratulate Ohio State for covering Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood better than any team in the last four years. They didn’t get open, and when they were, Daryll Clark never saw them because of the defensive pressure up front. The biggest impact any of these guys had on the outcome was Williams drawing pass interference on the touchdown drive. Even their downfield blocking was off. Both Butler and Williams couldn’t sustain outside blocks, some of which could have sprung the rusher to bigger gains. On the up side, Graham Zug’s catch was great. That’s about it, though. Oh yeah, and does Penn State even have tight ends anymore? Yeah, I know they do, but not like they’re ever used.
Quarterbacks – Was Clark hurt? Probably. Did it seem weird that he reacted that way on the sidelines? Yeah. I don’t know what really happened when Clark was taken out, but you can’t be disappointed with Pat Devlin’s ability to step in and lead the offense. I know, he only threw one pass, and it wasn’t even counted due to the penalty. But you could see his demeanor, and it was just as cool and calm as Clark. Now back to Clark’s performance. He wasn’t very good in the ‘Shoe, but he wasn’t really bad. I would have liked to see Clark move out of the pocket more, instead of assuming he’d have the kind of time to throw he’s enjoyed all year. I guess when Penn State’s quarterback doesn’t throw a pick-six against Ohio State, it’s a good day.
Rushers – Considering how well Ohio State was stopping the Penn State run game, Royster, Green and Clark did a very good job churning out some yards. Out gaining the Buckeyes by almost 100 yards (160-61), Evan Royster showed why he’s one of the best backs no one is really talking about. He was somewhat neutralized through most of the game, but really turned it on in the fourth quarter. Royster’s 9 and 10-yard runs really stuck the dagger in Ohio State’s defense’s heart. But let’s not forget the very nice runs by Stephfon Green, who replaced Royster on a few series. He hit the hole so quick, James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman didn’t know he was already through. It was a great change-of-pace move, at the perfect time.
DEFENSE :: A+
Line – It figures that Aaron Maybin logged the only sack by Penn State, but we cannot appreciate enough the job Jared Odrick does in the middle. This is one of the best defensive lines I’ve ever seen at Penn State–including the 2002, 2005 and 2006 editions. But it wasn’t just Penn State’s ability to speed rush around the Ohio State tackles, or swim through the guards and center. No, it was that the defensive linemen basically never missed a tackle, and that was the key to stopping Chris “Beanie” Wells. You remember him, right? He used to be the near-lock to win the Heisman. The defensive line play was the cornerstone of a top effort by the Penn State defense. Larry Johnson, Sr., how do you do it?
Linebackers – Entering the showdown in Columbus, Butkus-winner and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, James Laurinaitis was the marquee linebacker in this game. Well, Mr. Laurinaitis, you just got served, by a sophomore. Navorro Bowman, while not exactly making us all forget about Sean Lee, has rapidly emerged as the best linebacker in the Big Ten. He’s leading the team in tackles, and has been everywhere, on almost every play. But on Saturday, one play really stuck out. When Bowman perfectly baited Terrelle Pryor into throwing right at him. No, he didn’t intercept it, but it sure did scare the crap out of Pryor and the Buckeyes. That would have ended the game right there. But the linebackers as a unit played very, very well. Like the defensive line, these guys just didn’t miss tackles.
Secondary – This was an up and down game for the defensive backs. Penn State played them close to the line all night for run support. It worked. But when Terrelle Pryor had time to throw, it didn’t work. It’s easy to remember the broken coverage when Ohio State was pinned deep, allowing a huge gain. But let’s not forget that the secondary made the two plays that won the game. Mark Rubin played like a man possessed, and not just on the forced fumble. He was making tackles all over the place, and stopped Wells dead in his tracks more than a few times. Rubin was named Big Ten and Walter Camp player of the week, and earned every bit of it. I can’t leave out Lydell Sargeant. The interception was something to behold, but the pass breakups were even better. Okay, maybe not, but they were still fantastic.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: B+
Kickers – I was a more than a tad upset when Kevin Kelly missed the fourth-quarter field goal, but he was two for three, and two outta three ain’t bad. Prior to the game, the staff felt confident he could perform under pressure, and really, he did. Jeremy Boone was a huge factor in the field position game. He was launching bombs all night, and kept the Ohio State offense pinned deep. If even one of his punts went awry, things might have been very different. But he was precise and powerful, a nice combination.
Returners – There wasn’t much to talk about here. It would have been the perfect game for Williams or Chaz Powell to make a big play, but there were no major screw ups by the returners.
Coverage – I don’t think it was this, but didn’t it seem like the Ohio State returners were so afraid of Nate Stupar and the Penn State kick coverage unit, that they couldn’t even concentrate on fielding the kick? No, you’re right, it probably wasn’t that. But Ohio State never got a good return.
COACHES :: C
I would have given the coaching staff an “F” if it weren’t for Tom Bradley’s defensive guys. So the grade is a bit misleading. We all know how well the defensive scheme was set up to deal with the Ohio State offense, so let me just talk about the Penn State offensive staff. The first drive Penn State put together was crisp, clean and fast. No, they didn’t score, but the first toss to Williams gained 14 yards, and the second play, a pass to Brett Brackett gained 18 yards. That’s the “Spread HD” we’re used to. Confuse the defense, use quick-hitting plays, and get Clark moving. But I don’t know what happened after that first series. Penn State tightened up, rarely throwing past the first down marker. Wow, does that sound like vintage-2004 or what? Where were the throws over the middle to loosen up the outside, or the outside power-O runs with Royster? This offense shut down on its own, as much as it was shut down by Ohio State’s defense. Penn State has four weeks to make a move on Alabama and Texas, and scoring 13 points–whether you agree with it or not, it is what it is–won’t get Penn State over those two. The margin of victory the last three games has to be at least 20 points per game.
Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from Penn State's win over Wisconsin. We haven't seen a more complete performance out of Penn State--over a very decent team, never mind away from Beaver Stadium--since the 63-14 win over Ohio State in 1994. Yeah, Penn State looked that good in Madison. I said I would go over the ups and downs, but there really aren't any downs to go over this week. Sure, Daryll Clark threw a pick, but who cares, the game was well in hand at that point. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week's revenge-fest against Michigan.
OFFENSE :: A+
Line - The run blocking could have been a little better, but Wisconsin's game plan blatantly centered around stopping Evan Royster. The beauty of that was Clark's ability to stay upright in the passing game, as the line didn't surrender any real negative plays this week. Even though Penn State rushed for a season-low 106 yards, it was mostly due to the short fields Wisconsin gave the Lions. So I'd say this was another dominant performance by the PSU offensive line.
Receivers - When Derrick Williams dropped the first long pass of the game, I said "here we go again." But that was the only big screw up by this unit all night. Wisconsin had a ton of trouble keeping the PSU wide outs from getting open, climaxing with Deon Butler drawing a holding call on his 44-yard touchdown grab. He just ran by the defender. On the route-running side, this was the best performance all year by the receivers, in terms of getting open on broken plays. They came back to the ball, and gave Clark a great big target to hit.
Quarterbacks - The best thing that could have happened to Clark this week was that interception. I was giddy seeing him freak out on the sideline, obviously livid at himself. That's the kind of attitude that wins championships. Clark hasn't pulled the ball down to run like Mike Robinson would have, but Clark is head-and-shoulders above M-Rob's passing abilities. He never takes his eyes off the receivers, yet somehow knows when the pressure's coming. The option pitch on the goal line was a work of art. I was pleasantly surprised to see Pat Devlin get some good throws in, but I'd like to see him get in earlier in blowouts. But that's just being picky.
Rushers - Penn State didn't need a big day from Evan Royster & Co. All he had to do was keep Wisconsin honest, and the Badgers took the bait. As I said above, Wisconsin went all out and committed to stopping the run. It worked, but not as well as we think. Royster was still able to get nice holes, and regularly pounded out five yards or more. Stephfon Green was effective, but again, didn't have to be anything more. This was a quiet week for the Penn State ground game.
DEFENSE :: A+
Line - Aaron Maybin is, right now, a First-Team All-America selection. The rest of the line just stuffed P.J. Hill and supposed-phenom John Clay, but it was Maybin's timely sack and forced fumble that closed any window Wisconsin had for a comeback. After losing so many linemen this year, we were all worried about this unit being the weakest link. Not by a long shot, now. Who would have thought, if you said Maurice Evans would have only one sack at this point, that Penn State would be this dominant up front? Not me. One of the most over-looked aspects of the line's play is in pass defense. There were two to three instances where Wisconsin's quarterbacks had an open receiver, only to have Jared Odrick or another lineman bat down the pass.
Linebackers - Sometimes a no-name unit plays harder, and this season's linebackers are the embodiment of that theory. Josh Hull, following weeks of sketchy play, has elevated his game to new heights. He was on that lose fumble like itch on a mosquito bite. Those are the plays Penn State needs to win games. Navorro Bowman led the team, again, in tackles. Tyrell Sales should have had that interception, but we're not complaining. I really like where this unit is heading, especially with guys like Nate Stupar (more on him in a minute), Chris Colasanti and Mike Mauti waiting in the wings.
Secondary - Does any team in America have a better rotation of cornerbacks than Penn State? I think not at this point. Lydell Sargeant enjoyed his first interception so much, he decided to pick off another. But those passes weren't just bad throws, Sargeant actually baited the passer on at least one of them. And I can't say enough about Penn State's safeties. (Wow, I'm getting way to gushy this week!) Anthony Scirrotto didn't come up with the interception, after pleading with Tom Bradley to challenge, but it was a good play. I thought Mark Rubin would have made the play of the game if his interception stood. He looked like a wide receiver on that play. Oh wait, he used to be one.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: A+
Kickers - Kevin Kelly is the best kicker in the Big Ten. His nagging injuries are apparently gone, and it's showing. I'll admit I thought he wouldn't nail that 50-yarder. But he proved to me that he can make the big ones. Jeremy Boone recovered from a very "meh" week at Purdue, booting punts for almost 45 yards per. I'm extremely confident with the Penn State kicking game, should we need it against Ohio State or Michigan State.
Returners - Do they give awards for the best return man anymore? I'm going to find out, and when I do, Derrick Williams gets it this season, hands down.
Coverage - This week was night-and-day better than earlier this year, never mind last season. Stupar was a monster at getting to the ball carrier, but the unit as a whole really clamped down on Wisconsin's return games. Looked like someone beat up these guys in practice the past few weeks, because they were out for blood.
COACHES :: A+
This is officially the Galen Hall & Jay Paterno show on offense. The "Spread HD" is sexier than sex itself. I wonder, when the coordinator of the year awards come out, who gets it? Galen or Jay? This wasn't old Penn State, conservative on the road, playing it safe. And I think Joe likes it, a lot. If I'm Ohio State, I'm getting very worried now that the prospect of a tight-assed Penn State gameplan is out the window. But this week we shouldn't overlook at the defense. Tom Bradley should get more respect for what he does with his group. With so many guys lost, from Sean Lee to the defensive tackles, to the injuries of Jerome Hayes and Devon Still, Bradley has done more with nothing than anyone in the nation. This is the first week I've given A+ to all four units.
*Ed-Later today, I'll post my top 25.
Penn State just blasted Wisconsin tonight in Madison. Here's some initial thoughts. I'll have the full review tomorrow.
The Good: The defense really showed up tonight. In a hostile environment like Camp Randall, you have to keep the opposing offense out of synch. Penn State did that tonight with a great pass rush, and the help of guys like Lydell Sargeant (2 picks). Aaron Maybin established himself as a First Team Big Ten selection, and if he keeps this pace, should be All America. On the offensive side, there were no big mistakes after the first possession. Evan Royster, the line, and the receivers all played great. But Daryll Clark IS Penn State right now. The first drive of the second half really defined this game for Penn State, driving down the field like a machine for a TD. Derrick Williams could just be the best return man Penn State’s ever had. Oh, and who is that No. 23 kicker kid? Can’t be Kevin Kelly, right?
The Bad: The first drive of the game, Penn State looked very shaky. That can’t happen at Ohio State. Derrick Williams dropped an almost sure TD, and Clark fumbled the snap on the next play. On defense, I wasn’t at all happy with the 85-yard drive Wisconsin put together in the second quarter. Allen Evridge should escape the pocket and get so many yards against PSU, but he did. Think Terrelle Pryor will have much trouble doing that?
Overall: This was a great win on the road in one of the toughest places to play. The offense looked like a championship-caliber unit, while the defense looked even better. Penn State hasn’t been this impressive through the first seven games since 1994. I’m not exaggerating. 1999, 1997, 1986 and the rest can’t compare to the complete dominance Penn State has exercised over its first seven opponents in 2008. I know there are a lot more games to play, but I’m getting really excited.
Kickoff: Sat., Oct. 4, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
Weather Forecast: Cool/Mild, Mostly Sunny.
Host: Purdue Boilermakers
Record: 2-2 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: Lost at Notre Dame 38-21
Confirmed Injuries: Saf. Frank Duong (knee - doubtful), TE Kyle Adams
(knee - doubtful), LB Jason Werner (back - out), RB Jaycen Taylor (ACL
- out season)
Key Players: (offense) QB Curtis Painter, LT Garret Miller; (defense)
DTs Mike Neal/Ryan Baker, LB Anthony Heygood
Head Coach: Joe Tiller, 12th season at Purdue, 85-56; 18th year
overall, 124-86-1
Season Statistics:
Offense - 125.8 rush/278.2 pass/30.2 points per game
Defense - 194.5 rush/244.8 pass/36.2 points per game
TO Margin - (-1)
How PU will win -- Big plays on offense. Purdue has a good offense. Not great, maybe compared to the Boilermaker offenses the Big Ten is used to, but still good. They can put up points against Penn State, mainly using the pass to set up the run. All Curtis Painter has to do is nail a few first-down passes, getting the PSU secondary to back out of the box. Illinois used the pass game effectively, and actually had its biggest plays from the wide receivers. Ball control. The load will rest on Kory Sheets to keep the chains moving. Without a decent run game this week, Painter's arm can't beat Penn State. But ball control doesn't mean only the offense has to keep the ball. The Purdue defense has to force a few three-and-outs from Penn State, especially early in the game to set a good tone. If anything, it will get the crowd riled up.
Visitor: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 5-0 (1-0, Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs. No. 21 Illinois 38-24
Confirmed Injuries: DE Jerome Hayes (knee - out), C Doug Klopacz (knee
- out), LB Sean Lee (knee - out), G Mike Lucian (ankle - probable), WR
Jordan Norwood (leg - probable), DE Devon Still (ankle - out), Saf
Nick Sukay (foot - out)
Key Players: (offense) WR Derrick Williams, QBs Daryll Clark;
(defense) Saf. Anthony Scirrotto, DE Maurice Evans
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season, 377-125-3
Season Statistics:
Offense - 267.6 rush/247.6 pass/49.8 points per game
Defense - 79.6 rush/172.6 pass/12.8 points per game
TO Margin - (+4)
How PSU will win -- The offensive line. Penn State's front has been the biggest key to averaging 49 points per game. Daryll Clark has three weeks to throw, and the running backs rarely get touched before reaching the linebackers. It will be up to the PSU OL to neutralize the PU tackles in the middle, and prevent any penetration. Fortunately for PSU, the middle of the line has been unstoppable. The defensive line. On the opposite side of the ball, but still up front, Penn State's defensive line is whole again. Last week, Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma were still working themselves back into real playing time. They will be full strength this week. Putting pressure on Painter and the PU pass game will help create down-and-distance situation beneficial to PSU. The line has been fantastic so far, considering all the losses, but was exposed a bit against the Illini. But Painter is definitely not Juice Williams.
What will happen -- Purdue will have trouble getting into a rhythm against Penn State, but will still move the ball. The lack of consistency will haunt PU all game long, as PSU will answer every score with one of its own. Eventually, Purdue won't be able to keep pace with Penn State, forcing the Boilermakers to move into come-back mode. Once that happens, the Penn State defense will pin its ears back, and tee off on Purdue's one-dimensional aerial attack. This game will be a good, quality Big Ten game, not a blow out. Both teams will come out to play, but one is just better than the other. It's that simple this week.
Prediction: No. 6 Penn State, 37 - Purdue, 28
Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from Penn State's win over Temple. There was the drama surrounding Joe Paterno's leg, and the offenses lackluster performance in the first quarter. Although many are pissed off at the Penn State offense right now, I think it was a good thing this kind of game happened against a team like Temple, instead of one like Illinois or Michigan. This will give the team a chance to look at themselves with a critical eye during film review, and maybe come out with more intensity versus the Illini than they would have if the Temple win was easier. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week's showdown with No. 21 Illinois.
OFFENSE :: B
Line - It was only a matter of time before Penn State gave up its first real sack--the one at Syracuse was more Daryll Clark's fault than the line's. Temple came out with a fantastic blitz package that overloaded Clark's blind side, and was the perfect call for PSU's play. The run blocking was great again, and there was still plenty of time for the quarterbacks to throw the ball. Two sacks in one game might seem like a lot, but three over four games is great.
Receivers - Penn State's game plan looked like it was designed specifically to get the younger wide receivers involved, and with the injury to Mickey Shuler, Andrew Quarless came up with a great game (50 yds). Next to the offensive line, the receivers on this Penn State team have been the best of all the units.
Quarterbacks - Clark threw an interception, but he's still having one of the best starts for any first-year Penn State quarterback. Penn State is currently leading the conference in passing yards per game (and total yards, rushing and points per game), and is second in the league in team pass efficiency, behind Minnesota, but Clark is the individual pass efficiency leader. Penn State's quarterbacks have thrown for a combined 10 touchdowns and only one interception.
Rushers - As if in competition with the quarterbacks, the Penn State running backs have made every attempt to steal the show this season. Against Temple, they might have succeeded. Evan Royster injected his usual spark, rumbling for a 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter. But it was Stephfon Green who made the biggest splash, on his 69-yard TD jaunt through traffic. After the instability at RB last year, this unit is one Penn State can lean on in 2008.
DEFENSE :: A
Line - Aaron Maybin's two first quarter sacks set the tone for the D-line this week, as Penn State clamped down on the Owls' run game, and sacking Temple's quarterbacks seven times. Josh Gaines continued to lead the defense, proving he's a great team captain this year. Penn State's defensive line is quickly tamping down any concern I might have had about productivity after Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma left. When/if they return, watch out.
Linebackers - I've already chosen my Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Navorro Bowman came up with one of the best days for a Penn State linebacker in years. Some have compared his effort against Temple to that of LaVar Arrington's all-star play in the late 1990s. Bowman looked the part Saturday, logging 11 tackles, five TFLs, three sacks, a forced fumble and a 29-yard interception return to the one-yard line. Although the rest of the PSU linebackers were relatively quiet, Bowman's performance more than made up for it.
Secondary - There were a few Temple passes that should have been complete with a better quarterback, and more than a few times TU wide receivers got behind the PSU defensive backs. Tom Bradley will have some words for these guys, especially since many of their mistakes were saved by the PSU pass rush. On the positive side, it was another good day for interceptions, as Tony Davis and Knowledge Timmons came up with nice picks. I thought I was being too hard on this unit, but no one gets a free pass next week.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: B-
Kickers - Kevin Kelly didn't have to do much, but did nail a beautiful 44-yarder. He looks to be completely healthy after some hip problems the last two season. Jeremy Boone had one shank early on, but dropped one inside the ten-yard line. Not a bad day overall.
Returners - It was another unimpressive day for Penn State's return men. Derrick Williams' fumble was saved by Anthony Scirrotto, and there were no real good returns by either Williams or AJ Wallace. I guess you can't get long runbacks every week, but the fumbles can't happen.
Coverage - Terrible. This was worse than Clark's interceptions and the fumbles on offense and returns. Although there were some great individual efforts (thumbs up to Timmons) to run down the Temple returners, the coverage units--especially on kickoffs--gave up way too many yards. It was like 2007 all over again.
COACHES :: A
The playcalling was as to be expected. The players didn't execute. Everyone's concerned about Joe Paterno's leg issue, myself included. But we have to just calm down. Team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli knows what he's doing, and wouldn't let Joe do anything stupid. I'm very interested to see how this develops throughout this week. If there's one thing anyone can agree with, Mike McQueary had a nice quiet game on the sidelines. There's no sign of this Spread HD slowing down.
The questions this week were brought to you by... me. I sent them to all the Penn State bloggers listed below, but not all of them may have gotten around to answering yet. I know TNL and TINNOMJ have, so be sure to check those sites. But I recommend visiting all the blogs for only the best PSU football coverage!
There is No Name on My Jersey
Tangled Up in White and Blue
YF Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout [Welcome back!]
1. Penn State has the best scoring offense (55.3 ppg) in the Big Ten, and top-five nationally. Of course, this has been against two bad teams and a mediocre Oregon State squad. This week's Temple game should be another 40-plus game for the PSU offense. That being said, do you think this has been a fluke so far? Or is the Spread HD for real? ZN: I really think it's for real. Jay Paterno just works better when he has a quarterback who can run. Anthony Morelli was a good QB, but not the right one for Galen Hall and Jay Paterno. And don't hink for a minute that Jay's the sole creator of the "Spread HD." Galen has been running spread-like offenses since the 1960s. Temple will be a great chance to get more of the younger guys experience in this system, before the dog fight with Illinois next week.
2. If Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma are convicted, what are the chances Joe Paterno will play either by the Illinois game? What message does it send to the team, and the nation, if both players are given light punishments? Conversely, what if the punishments are seemingly too severe, like dismissal? ZN: I think Evans and Koroma will get similar punishment to what Andrew Quarless received. They will not play this week, but will dress next week vs. Illinois. Evans and Koroma won't get into the game much, but will be on the sidelines in pads. I think Joe has to do what's best for the team, and not what's best for headlines. He's not stupid and not senile, and since it's both players' first run-in with the law, he'll give them appropriate time to think about what they've done.
3. Leadership has been a huge part of this year's team's ability to move past distractions. Who has to really step up this week and keep this team focused? How does the coaching staff figure into this, or should they just let the players handle it by themselves? ZN: I was really happy Anthony Scirrotto ripped into the team last week. This week I'd expect all the captains to get up and get vocal with the team. Even though teams would normally take Temple lighter than Illinois--trap game, anyone?--Penn State won't. This team has been amped up for every game so far, and this week shouldn't be different. The coaches don't need to do anything. Captains are there for a reason, and if the coaches feel there's a problem, they should have the captains address the issue. It's very different when getting yelled at by your peer leaders, as opposed to some old dude giving a lecture.
Lightening Round
Penn State throws its first interception this week? NO.
Evan Royster's YPC vs. Temple? 9.5 ypc.
Coke or Pepsi? Coke. Then Pepsi for a while (during PSU games, of course). But now Coke Zero has really brought me home.
Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from Penn State’s win over rival Syracuse. This week’s victory wasn’t as crisp as the first two of the season, but Penn State’s superior talent and power just overwhelmed Syracuse. The Lions lost the turnover battle --the first time this season--which should worry many around the team right now. It’s one thing to make a few mistakes against a really bad team, but as I said yesterday, those two fumbles by Anthony Scirrotto and Daryll Clark will be unacceptable when Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State come knocking. But the team settled down, and played well. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week against Temple.
OFFENSE :: A
Line - I don’t like the rule that a forced quarterback fumble also counts as a sack. In my mind, Daryll Clark’s opening drive fumble wasn’t a legitimate sack given up by the PSU offensive line. So while it will go down on paper as having one, we should consider this offensive line’s performance, so far, as perfect. Penn State lost only 16 yards rushing against Syracuse, including Clarks fumble (-7 yds). On the season, PSU’s only lost 43 yards running the ball.
Receivers - The last time two Penn State receivers eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a single game was 2003 (30-23 loss to Wisconsin). Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler did just that against Syracuse, while Norwood is the first WR to have consecutive 100-yard games since Bryant Johnson in 2001. But it wasn’t all about the starters, as Penn State’s backup WRs played equally well. Derek Moye’s 33-yard touchdown catch-and-run was very impressive, and showed these guys don’t just go through the motions.
Quarterbacks - Clark took a small step back this week, but is still having the best start by a PSU QB in a very long time. Actually, the entire PSU QB unit is flawless through the first three games, not throwing a single interception, while completing 57 percent as a team. I wasn’t scared when Clark fumbled on the first drive, but I was very unhappy that he didn’t just throw it away. Pat Devlin, after having an off-game last week, played extremely well. He really showed up Clark statistically, and it was really good to see Paul Cianciolo throw for a score.
Rushers - It wasn’t necessary for Penn State to run the ball right up SU’s gut from the beginning. Going into the game, I think it was the staff’s priority to get the passing game solidified before the Big Ten opener. It’s unlike Joe Paterno to allow his team to throw after running up a 35-point lead before halftime. Evan Royster gained almost eight yards a pop, and Stephfon Green reached the end zone. Brent Carter continues to prove that PSU has outstanding depth at this position.
DEFENSE :: A
Line - Even for the best teams, holding an opponent to negative yards through the first quarter is no small feat. This week, unlike the Oregon State game, the defensive line didn’t look too tired late. It’s my guess that suspended Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma will be out another week (Temple next week), so PSU will have to continue playing the young guns. That’s not all bad, though. These are the situations which build invaluable depth for the Big Ten slate. However, it would have been nice to see more than just one sack against Syracuse. Aaron Maybin is leading the team in this category, and is doing just what Paterno wants him to do, prove him wrong by getting it done on the field.
Linebackers - Navorro Bowman led the team in tackles for the second straight week. Oh, and he’s a backup. Once Penn State opened up the huge lead, as with the other defensive units, the staff wanted to get the backups in there. That could be seen by Chris Colasanti’s third-leading four tackles, and Nate Stupar’s two stops. I keep seeing teams throw over the PSU middle linebackers--whoever it happens to be--and gaining big chunks. I’m not sure if this is a scheme issue, or just the backers not knowing how to play the mid-level zones, but it has to be fixed.
Secondary - After this unit came into the season as the supposed-weakest link, the Penn State defensive backfield is looking better each week. The coverage has been plain vanilla, but individual play has been great. The staff has been raving about Drew Astorino, and we saw why, as he grabbed his first career interception. He also led the secondary in tackles. Scirrotto didn’t log a single tackle this game. This week was an overall improvement for this unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: B-
Kickers - Jeremy Boone had a net punting average of 40 yards per boot (six yards better than last week), and Kevin Kelly nailed a career-long 52-yarder. Colin Wagner also made a field goal, a not-so-easy 43 yard kick. I really liked the production from this unit.
Returners - Scirrotto’s fumble can’t happen against better teams. He’s supposed to be the sure-handed punt returner. The rest of the return guys did well, highlighted by Chaz Powell’s 69-yard kickoff return at the end of the third quarter.
Coverage - Good coverage all around, again.
COACHES :: A (last three weeks)
Paterno and Co. could have tightened up and played it super safe on the road. Not this time. The game opened the way it should have--well, after the teams traded turnovers--with the passing game taking off and the running game chewing up yards. This is the kind of team that coaches love to have, because it takes a lot of pressure off them. On offense, Jay Paterno and Galen Hall can call almost any play in the book, while Tom Bradley can keep his bend-but-don’t-break defensive scheme in place. Coaches on both sides of the ball know this team is good enough to get any job done.
Ok, so Syracuse isn't very good. They're quite bad. But Penn State--sans the early fumble by Daryll Clark--didn't let the hype get to them, and played with confidence. The offense is humming, and the defense has been surprisingly stout. How far will this team go? I don't know, but there's all the makings for a great run.
The Good: The offense cranked out 55 points. How can anyone complain right now? Penn State isn't going to win the time of possession. But by scoring so many points, it forces opponents to play catch-up from the beginning. Evan Royster didn't have a monster game, but his early runs set the balance for the passing game. All three Penn State quarterbacks had at least a touchdown pass.
The Bad: Clark's early fumble won't get a free pass next time. You can't lose the ball on the first series against Illinois, Ohio State or Michigan. Also, I was less than impressed by Penn State's return teams.
Overall: I thought it was a good game, but now is the time to start getting picky. Penn State relaxed too early. The wide receivers were fantastic, and the line didn't give up a sack, again. This was a good win over a very bad team. But a win on the road is a win on the road, and Penn State hasn't done so well away from Beaver Stadium. So I'm happy.
Tomorrow, I'll have the full Penn State game review, and a quick review of the USC/Ohio State game.
Kickoff: Sat., Sept. 13. 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC Regional/GamePlan
Weather Forecast: Inside Carrier Dome.
Host: Syracuse Orange
Record: 0-2 (0-0, Big East)
Last Game: Lost to Akron, 42-28
Injuries: WR Dan Sheeran (leg - out season), LB Chad Battles (leg - doubtful)
Key Players: (offense) RB Curtis Brinkley, QB Cameron Dantley ; (defense) DL Arthur Jones, DE Vincenzo Giruzzi
Head Coach: Greg Robinson, 4th season, 7-30
Season Statistics:
Offense - 170 rush/119 pass/19 points per game
Defense - 243.5 rush/237.5 pass/36 points per game
TO Margin - (0)
Why SU will win -- Forcing Turnovers: The Orange haven’t exactly been stellar this season taking the ball away from opponents. Frankly, it could be SU’s only option in this game. The defense has been gouged by Northwestern and Akron in consecutive weeks, and those two offenses are nothing compared to the PSU machine. A key interception or fumble could help keep things respectable. Luck: Yeah, SU will need a lot of it. Orange faithful are longing for the days when this was a serious battle of two great teams, not, well... this.
Visitor: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 2-0 (0-0, Big Ten)
Last Game: Beat Oregon State, 45-14
Injuries: DE Maurice Evans (suspension - out game), DT Abe Koroma (suspension - out game), Jerome Hayes (ACL - out season), LB Sean Lee (ACL - out season), DE Devon Still (ankle - out season), S Nick Sukay (foot - out season)
Key Players: (offense) WR Derrick Williams, QBs Daryll Clark; (defense) DE Aaron Maybin, LB Josh Hull
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season, 374-125-3
Season Statistics:
Offense - 286.5 rush/237.5 pass/55 points per game
Defense - 72 rush/224 pass/12 points per game
TO Margin - (+2)
Why PSU will win -- Just Show Up: That’s all PSU really has to do this week. I think it’s a matter of how well PSU plays, not if they’ll win. There’s been a lot of speculation that Joe Paterno will reel in the offense a bit, but it won’t be what PSU fans are used to on the road. I think it will be tough for PSU to not score 30 points. So, all they have to do is show up. Offensive Line: In case you’ve been living in a cave the last two weeks, PSU’s offensive line is really, really, ridiculously good. With these five, combined with the great lead-blocking of Dan Lawlor and Brett Brackett, PSU could run for 200 in the first half this week.
What will happen: Penn State will have no problem dispatching the Orange. Last week, I thought Oregon State would scare PSU a bit, but it was the opposite. So this week, I’ll expect PSU to come out strong. Maybe not as strong as last week, but it won’t give Lions fans reason to worry. Syracuse should be able to nab a couple big pass plays against the PSU secondary, but it might not be enough. SU has to hold PSU under 25 points, but won’t. I’ll just come out with it already, there’s not chance for the Orange.
Prediction: No. 17 Penn State, 52 - Syracuse, 16
Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from yesterday's win over Oregon State. I really don't think that Oregon State was that bad; Penn State was just too good for the Beavers. Some are already comparing this offense to the 1994 team. Not me, well, yet. Penn State "jumped on them early" as Joe Paterno said, and there was no better way to put it. After last week felt more like a glorified Blue-White Game, and then the "5204" incident, doubts began swirling around this team. Penn State answered with a complete domination over the Pac-10 visitors. Fans and the team need to stay grounded, even with a 4-0 start almost a lock. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week at Syracuse.
OFFENSE :: A+
Line - Another week, and still no sacks. The Oregon State D-line wasn't very good, but Penn State's O-line was even better. Daryll Clark just sat back in the pocket, had a snack, then threw when he was ready. I'll throw in the lead blockers with this, as guys like Dan Lawlor and Brett Brackett were laying out critical blocks all day. So far, the offensive line is the best unit on the team.
Receivers - There were too many receivers, and not enough passes to throw. It's a great problem to have. I was really pleased with the play from Jordan Norwood (116 yds, 1 TD) and Mickey Shuler (48 yds, 1 TD), especially coming up huge on third-down conversions in the 1st Quarter. Butler and Williams didn't get too many big plays this week, but weren't really even needed.
Quarterbacks - Daryll Clark really grew up this week. Any quarterback could have beaten Coastal Carolina, but Clark showed great poise and, at some points amazing, accuracy. We all automatically thought of Michael Robinson, but Clark doesn't throw like Robinson. Clark's better. The scariest part about Clark: He still has two more easy games to improve!
Rushers - If Evan Royster maintains this pace he'd finish with 1332 yards and 36 touchdowns! Yeah, so he won't score that many times, but the yardage is completely possible. While Stefphon Green and others didn't do much, like the wide receivers, they didn't really have to. Royster is the most fluid, smooth runner we've seen in a long time. Larry Johnson, Ki-Jana Carter, not sure yet. But so far, Royster's just as good.
DEFENSE :: B
Line - Missing three of the best linemen from 2007? No problem, we'll just make new ones. Josh Gaines is a defensive captain, and earned every part of it Saturday. He became a one-man show early, and set the tone for the rest of the defense. It's the kind of leadership Penn State needs right now. Unfortunately, the line got tired, and now with Jerome Hayes out for the season, there can be no more slip ups.
Linebackers - This group played much better this week, especially in pass coverage. Navorro Bowman seems to be out of the Paterno dog house (team-leading 10 tackles), and Josh Hull picked off a pass over the middle. Considering that OSU has much better athletes than CCU, the back seven played great. This will be an underrated unit throughout the season.
Secondary - Anthony Scirrotto had some monster hits, Drew Astorino nearly picked off a pass, and Mark Rubin came up big with his own interception. And those were just the safeties. While the corners were limited to underneath zone most of the day, the tackling was fantastic in the secondary. The only blemish was the OSU touchdown run, when half the defense couldn't bring the runner down. But overall it was a good outing by the defensive backs.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: A
Kickers - Jeremy Boone had a net punting average of 34 yards per boot, and Kevin Kelly only missed on a 60-yarder. The kicking game hasn't been a huge factor for PSU so far.
Returners - The return game didn't break anything real big, but didn't make any mistakes.
Coverage - I wasn't sure if last week's good kick/punt coverage was the result of a bad opponent. Well, Penn State has made good progress on this front. On five kick returns, OSU averaged only 25 yards. On three punt returns, OSU got only eight-per. On the season, PSU is allowing 18 yards per kick return, and six yards per punt return.
COACHES
Maybe this whole Spread HD thing will work. And after week two, PSU coaches said they still haven't let it all out? The playcalling was perfect for the personnel. We were treated to some Power-I, Shotgun, One-Back, Empty-Set and everything in between. Give Galen Hall and Jay Paterno their due, they called a great game. Let's hope they don't let Joe start calling plays next week on the road. The Syracuse trip should give us a real indicator how this team wants to play on the road. If things tighten up, it will be the same old. If we see the same as this week, look out Big Ten.
Not too long ago, I said the posting on ZN might take a dip because of the off season and how boring it can be. Well, we all know where that went. From the Tyrelle Pryor thing to Joe Paterno's contract, and Chris "Cooking Knife" Bell, we just can't stay away. I almost wish none of this were going, if for no other reason than I just want a freaking break.
But I know that will certainly not happen. No, this Paterno contract will loom dark over Penn State for the remainder of 2008. Paterno and the Nittany Lions could be standing high on the podium at the Orange Bowl, accepting the BCS National Championship Trophy in January, and the first question to come out will be, "Coach, will you step down now?" What I'm almost dreading more, is if Penn State loses a game it shouldn't, or worse, to possibly the worst Michigan team in 40 years. It will be worse than the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding down Mount Nittany laying slaughter to Happy Valley on their way up the hill to Old Main.
I'm not going to add anything else today. I'm basically taking off from now until Monday. I have no idea what will happen before the Blue White Game, hopefully nothing. We all just need to calm down, count back from 10 (like that actually ever works) and breathe. I might even break out the old game tapes from 2005. Just remember though, if this whole Spread HD crap works out, it will be something to take our minds off all the other bullshit being caused by Paterno and Graham Cracker Spanier.
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