• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

College Football Week 10

My Penn State thoughts. The defense is out-maned. The defense missed a few opportunities for plays, like a missed sack on 3rd down which led to a long TD pass a lay or so later. Then a tipped ball on 3rd and goal which turned into a TD reception. The small front 7 has to be perfect not to get gashed in the run game. They held up fairly well against the run until late.

Overall though, it was a step forward. They played hard and I didn't see a ton of miscommunications and missed assignments which is a big improvement. The secondary got burned by 2 future 1st round NFL WRs, just like every secondary they play will get burned.

The offense is still a joke. Specifically, the OC. He had 2 weeks to come up with something and he came up with #3 WR Liam Clifford running wildcat and a ridiculous double reverse flea flicker. That's what they wasted their practice time on. Not on vertical pass routes, but on more nonsense trickery.

In the first half, they had some success running with an extra OL. They didn't do that in the 2nd half. Nope, had to do some stupid trick plays instead.

Klatt called it out again. They have a few good plays, just start to get a bit of momentum and Kotalniki can't help himself but then do some trick play that goes for a loss and derails the drive.

Klatt also correctly pointed out that the picture for the QB is almost always bad, meaning, nobody's open. They had a bit of success late when they threw just a few vertical passes. Maybe it was just surprise that they called a pass play deeper than 5 yards downfield.

Caleb Downs absolutely should have been ejected for targeting. He launched himself up to make contact to the head area. If that's not targeting, what is?
 
This game was not "a step forward" for Penn State. Ohio State could have named the final margin. The only reason the score was close for PSU at halftime was a bad late turnover/mistake by the other team, just like with the ridiculous blocked 66 yard field goal against Iowa.

Yeah, the offense is atrocious, but there is also next to zero pass rush on defense. That's how you allow a redshirt freshman to sit back there and complete 87% of his passes for 300+ yards and 4 touchdowns on only 23 attempts. I think I could have thrown for 250 and 3 scores myself.
 
This is easily the worst Penn State defense I’ve seen in years. There’s no pass rush and little coverage. They struggle against the run. There is literally nothing the defense does well. They brought back a lot of good players from last season, and the only thing that changed is the DC. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what they are trying to do. Jim Knowles might be the worst college football coaching hire in a decade.

I’m not even gonna mention the offense. Screen, screen, screen. You aren’t beating anyone that way, much less Ohio State. Embarrassing.
 
Where are all of those “way too early mock drafts” now? Sellers is terrible, hopefully he stays and saves the Steelers from themselves.
 
Sarge said:
This is easily the worst Penn State defense I’ve seen in years. There’s no pass rush and little coverage. They struggle against the run. There is literally nothing the defense does well. They brought back a lot of good players from last season, and the only thing that changed is the DC. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what they are trying to do. Jim Knowles might be the worst college football coaching hire in a decade.

I’m not even gonna mention the offense. Screen, screen, screen. You aren’t beating anyone that way, much less Ohio State. Embarrassing.
Click to expand...

I recorded the game and just FFWD through some of the highlights and most of the defensive suck. I am not sure which is worse, the PSU D or the Steelers lol. Looked like PSU copied Steelers defensive plan from the Bengals game LOL. PSU hiring Knowles sure looks like a huge mistake. And did anyone catch what Ryan Day said about PSU at the half? Something like they seemed to get down and give up as soon as things go wrong? Ouch.
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
Caleb Downs absolutely should have been ejected for targeting. He launched himself up to make contact to the head area. If that's not targeting, what is?
Click to expand...

Refs are garbage. That was textbook targeting. But the fumble right before half was just as bad. The running backs forward progress was stopped for literally 5 seconds with no whistle. Both of these calls were horrendous. Something needs to be done about the officiating.
 
Hartline, Hartline, Hartline. Before this game, his name was being talked about the most in State College. We shall see.....
 
A lot of people seem to think Penn State is going to land Urban Meyer, Nick Saban or -lol-John Gruden.

It doesn’t matter who Penn State hires, people are going to throw a fit. Just hope it’s someone that can turn this ship around Indiana kinda fast.
 
topseed said:
This game was not "a step forward" for Penn State. Ohio State could have named the final margin. The only reason the score was close for PSU at halftime was a bad late turnover/mistake by the other team, just like with the ridiculous blocked 66 yard field goal against Iowa.

Yeah, the offense is atrocious, but there is also next to zero pass rush on defense. That's how you allow a redshirt freshman to sit back there and complete 87% of his passes for 300+ yards and 4 touchdowns on only 23 attempts. I think I could have thrown for 250 and 3 scores myself.
Click to expand...

The defense did play better, they just faced an nearly unstoppable offense. It's a big improvement over UCLA and Northwestern where guys were out of position constantly. This week they just got physically beat, instead of beating themselves. That is a positive step.
 
Sarge said:
This is easily the worst Penn State defense I’ve seen in years. There’s no pass rush and little coverage. They struggle against the run. There is literally nothing the defense does well. They brought back a lot of good players from last season, and the only thing that changed is the DC. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what they are trying to do. Jim Knowles might be the worst college football coaching hire in a decade.

I’m not even gonna mention the offense. Screen, screen, screen. You aren’t beating anyone that way, much less Ohio State. Embarrassing.
Click to expand...

Abdul Carter covered a lot of the issues. He was such a monster that he allowed other guys to look better than they are. Denis-Sutton looked like a beat last year but this year he's showing he's a good player but not a great one when he's the main focus. They had stouter DTs Cozziah Izzard and Dvon J-Thomas to play next to the quick Zane Durant. They also had a big run stuffing LB Kobe King. Zane Durant could do his thing as an undersized DT because the offense was worried about Carter and Sutton outside plus he had a better run defender playing next to him. Now Durant is just roadkill inside without that protection.

Without all those players, they are just too damn small. Tony Rojas is a really good LB and he was holding things together, but once he was injured, it was game over. The DTs are getting manhandled and Dom Deluca is not big enough or athletic enough to help much.

This is on Franklin. This is a roster construction issue, a recruiting and portal issue too. You're not going to pull a Jalen Carter DT from the portal but I guarantee they could have gotten a pair of small school guys who weigh 320 and may never sniff the NFL but at least they can plug a gap in college.
 
Sarge said:
A lot of people seem to think Penn State is going to land Urban Meyer, Nick Saban or -lol-John Gruden.

It doesn’t matter who Penn State hires, people are going to throw a fit. Just hope it’s someone that can turn this ship around Indiana kinda fast.
Click to expand...
Top coaches will have their pick and can use schools to negotiate against each other for how many jobs are available right now. A lot of high-pressure jobs like Penn State with others that winning 9 games a year will put them in legendary status and give them a lifetime contract.
 
I know most of yinz guys might say I’m being a homer or having some wishful thinking.
But I believe we’re gonna see a rematch of the championship game this year.
That is all…. Carry on..
Oh, I almost forgot.
Love for Heisman!
 
Auburn fired their coach and reports are Maryland did too.

I heard on a podcast that Penn State firing Franklin sent shockwaves through the coaching ranks. He was successful and PSU is viewed as a school that doesn't make rash decisions. It also somewhat gave permission to other schools to eat a payout to get rid of a coach.

I've also heard many of the top coaches want to go to the NFL. They want out of this NIL world where your roster is year to year. They'd rather go to the NFL where at least you have contracts and can plan ahead. That's why Saban retired. He wanted no part of recruiting the same players 4 years in a row.

We also have to remember these coaches are human beings who value jobs for different reasons. Some might visit rural Penn State and their wife is a city girl who likes 5 star restaurants and she says No Way. Others may visit and think it's heaven to be in a relaxed setting with views of farms and mountains out your window.

I think LSU is an awful job. First, I would never want to live down in that sauna. Second, they will expect you to get to the playoff nearly every year and compete for the title. Franklin got 12 years at Penn State. Kelly was on the hot seat almost from day 1. So will the next coach.

What if guys like Sark and Kiffin do go to the NFL? This offseason will be nuts. Just imagine all the player movement after all these coaching changes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top