I’ll go through each unit and the coaching, sizing up how each one performed against USC in the Rose Bowl.
OFFENSE :: B
Line – Many were quick to blame Penn State's offensive troubles on the offensive line. But that's only true to an extent. Problems persisted in too many other places to heave so much blame on the line. Penn State was called for holding only once, and the other two offensive penalties were a false start and delay of game. Surprisingly, when all was said and done, Penn State's line held up very well against USC's front seven. When PSU went to the screen game, allowing the offensive linemen to block in space, it was a sight to behold. PSU runners averaged 4.7 yards a pop, while Daryll Clark threw for 273 yards, and was sacked only once. I really think that if Evan Royster didn't go down, and the defense didn't give up so many points, PSU could have played knowing it wasn't catch-up mode in before the half even ended.
Receivers – As if I wasn't going to miss Deon Butler, Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood before, this Rose Bowl just made it worse. While Clark played one hell of a game, it was the receivers that continued to give his passes life. Early in the game, I thought going right to Butler on the long pass plays was fantastic, and he delivered as he always does, finishing with 97 yards, not including the 45-yarder that was called back in the first quarter. Williams and Norwood both caught touchdowns, and combined for seven catches for 66 yards. That doesn't sound like a lot, but there were a few key receptions (like the two touchdowns, duh!) that really kept PSU afloat. I'm going to throw in Green here, as he was actually the team leader in receptions, with six for 67 yards. Outside of the fumble, Green had a very good day replacing Royster. So I can't get on his case too much, since Green was supposed to be a change-of-pace back like he was during the season.
Quarterbacks - Lost in the post-game depression, was Clark's performance against the best defense in college football. He frequently made plays when even the best quarterbacks wouldn't have, scrambling away from pressure, taking the hits knowing they were coming, but above all, making super-accurate throws while two and three defenders were actually holding on to him. If there was doubt in the "experts" minds about Clark's ability to be a leader, and make plays when he absolutely had to, this Rose Bowl loss just wiped them out. It was a gutsy performance, and a very productive one at that. Clark, after all, did account for all three of PSU's touchdowns, with two passing and one rushing. And the final stat sheet is very misleading. The first of Clark's interceptions came under the usually strong pressure rush, and was slightly tipped at the line. The second, came on a Hail Mary pass on the final play. USC could have knocked it down, but I guess they felt the need to make their own stats look better than they were.
Rushers – My heart sunk when I saw Royster on the trainer's table. While the medical staff was working frantically, I knew it wasn't going to happen, and Royster was done. When he was in the game for less than one quarter, PSU's offense was going about its workman-like performance. Royster carried the ball six times for 34 yards. That's an average of 5.7 yards per rush, including no lost yardage. If Royster had played all four quarters, you can bet your ass he would have gone over 100 yards. With Royster out, and Green in, we have to commend the young speedster's performance, the fumble aside. Green himself rushed the ball 10 times for 57 yards, matching Royster's average, including–again–no yards lost. If this isn't the best running back duo in college football next season, I don't know who will be. Even Clark and Williams had some success running the ball. PSU had the right idea on offense, and it was working, until...
DEFENSE :: D
Line – ... until the defense blew it, big time. Let's start with the line. At first, this was a huge area of pride for PSU, especially on that first USC drive when Aaron Maybin got Mark Sanchez and knocked the ball from his hands. Well, talk about a bad omen, as Maybin was called for the worst single penalty of the game. He was lined up in the neutral zone. Ballgame. USC went on to score its first of many touchdowns. I did think the line was getting decent pressure on Sanchez, but he released the ball so quickly (due to the PSU secondary playing 10 yards off, but more on that in a bit) that even the blitzes weren't getting to him on time. On run defense, even though USC didn't really need to run, the line held up extremely well, limiting USC to its lowest rush total for the year. But there's one thing that makes me think that the line was better than we originally thought. On run plays, the defensive linemen were able to suck up enough blocks to allow the linebackers to make a ton of TFLs. That tells me that the line did its job, but the secondary (again, more in a sec) didn't help it in any way.
Linebackers – And speaking of linebackers making TFLs, how about Navorro Bowman making FIVE behind the line of scrimmage, and PSU's only sack. On top of all that, seven of his eight tackles were solo. But he didn't even lead the team in takedowns. Josh Hull racked up nine, with a TFL of his own. I really thought the linebackers played well in this game. Even unsung Tyrell Sales, the only defensive player to have started in 2005, made four solo tackles, and forced a huge fumble. Sales may not have been the fastest, or the strongest, but he was a true team player, and always worked hard. The only other linebacker to register a tackle was freshman Michael Mauti, with two. Nate Stupar, Andrew Daily and Chris Colasanti all played, but none recorded anything. This unit was the most consistent during the Rose Bowl. Well, I should correct myself. The linebackers were the most consistently decent defensive unit, unlike this next unit...
Secondary – ...which was consistently horrible, terrible, no good, very bad. You could blame it on the scheme (and I will in a minute, trust me, but not right now), or USC's superior talent. But none of that flies with me as a truly legitimate reason for PSU getting torched. I realize that the players are told what to do, but even when they did it, this secondary played scared. I'm sorry, but once that ball is snapped, you go and make the play that's given to you. I didn't see one corner, or safety go up for a ball, or even get a good knockdown. But the worst moment of this game, the one that cemented which unit would be to blame for the loss, was after Penn State pulled to 31-17. USC was scared, and PSU was amped. What happens next? The safeties get caught with their pants around their ankles, and the corners are no where to be found. USC's Ronald Johnson is all alone, soon joined by the ball, for a 45-yard touchdown. The air was officially gone from the Blue and White side of the field.
SPECIAL TEAMS :: B
Kickers – Don't peg this loss on special teams. Kevin Kelly was a monster on kickoffs, and nailed the only field goal he was given. As pissed off as I was at that point, I was very happy Kelly got to make that kick. He's had a great season, and it would have been a shame if he didn't get to contribute at least that much to the score. Of course, I'm sure he'd give up that field goal for a few more extra points. Then there's Jeremy Boone. He averaged 47.8 yards per boot, with a long of 56. Yeah, PSU had some good kickers this season.
Returners – I can't really rate the return teams here, because when you're only given five kickoffs and no punt returns, there's not many opportunities to make a big play. I was really hedging my bets that PSU would launch a big punt return in this game, figuring that kickoff returns are harder to make big plays. But it would have been nice if Chaz Powell or Williams could have done something on the kickoff returns. We've seen better days here, but then again, we haven't really needed better days until this game.
Coverage – A little told story about this year's team, was the vastly improved play of the return coverage units. In 2007 PSU gave up two kick return touchdowns, and a 26.4 average. In 2008, no opponent scored a kickoff return touchdown, and PSU held them to only 21.3 yards per return. Special teams was definitely a strength, and even though it didn't make any huge plays in the Rose Bowl, it sure didn't cause any problems.
COACHES :: C-
I gave the coaches the "C-" because I really thought the offense did fine, but was forced out of its game by USC racking up 24 unanswered points in the second quarter. The "C-" represents just low enough for failure. Sure, there was a turnover, and penalties, but the offense wasn't the majority share of PSU's woes. Galen Hall and Jay Paterno called a good game, and it showed early one with the passing down field to Butler, and the strong runs by Royster and Clark. PSU gained 410 yards of offense, and was very balanced under the circumstances, with 273 passing and 137 rushing. That's not bad considering the hole PSU was stuck in by the defense. But that was the problem. Tom Bradley coached his worst game, probably of his career as defensive coordinator. He refused to adjust to USC's passing calls, and got torched in the process. I know he tried, and works very hard, but this one was bad, real bad. There's a difference between playing disciplined and playing tight. PSU played tight, and in the process lost its discipline. That what coaches are for, and Bradley had a tough time with restoring his unit's confidence and composure. His playcalling didn't help, either. Joe Paterno even admitted that this game got out of hand early, but didn't he just compound matters later in the game? Where was the onsides kick? Where was the fight? Where was anything from the coaching staff? It looked like Clark had to will this team to point, almost fighting against the coaching staff as much as USC's defense. In 2008, we saw Penn State football at its finest, but in the 2009 Rose Bowl, it was less than fine.
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