Penn State
- Thread starter Summy1
- Start date
Another Penn State alum checking in. Purdue is very close to my heart since my favorite person ever was a proud grad (my grandpa). Actually several of my favorite people.
In addition to adding my apology for any PSU ugliness you've encountered, I just want to wish you guys a great game today. I'm following your coaching situation as close as I can. It is so hard on the kids to deal with something like that, especially mid-season, so hope you get a great upgrade there. Your OC/HC seems like a good man.
In addition to adding my apology for any PSU ugliness you've encountered, I just want to wish you guys a great game today. I'm following your coaching situation as close as I can. It is so hard on the kids to deal with something like that, especially mid-season, so hope you get a great upgrade there. Your OC/HC seems like a good man.
Penn Stater here wishing you guys luck today! Penn State has not been a very good road team as of recent years... thinking this will be a hard fought, close game with winner being whoever turns the ball over less!
Good luck today -- odd to see Purdue fans not giving their team much chance. THis is the Big Ten on the road and nobody knows how hard it is to win on the road like this PSU team. One of their big challenges today is to motivate themselves without the PSU crowd to cheer them on.
Some asked about the PSU team. Offense: Strengths -- Barkley everybody knows about. His numbers are not great because teams have gameplanned for him, which has opened things for McSorley and the passing game. Godwin is a future NFL wideout -- just does everything well. Just about all the PSU receivers will make plays against single coverage, which they've seen a lot of given safeties are playing up to stop Barkley. Weaknesses - PSU playing without maybe their best OL, RT Andrew Nelson. Replacement Palmer is a good run blocker but not quick enough to defend against fast DEs. If Replogle plays Palmer will need help. PSU's short-medium passing game has not been great -- in part because opposing safeties play up. So PSU has a poor 3rd down conversion rate. Get PSU into 3rd and 7 and odds are good that the drive is over.
One of the biggest factors in PSU's turnaround since the start of the season has been the coaches more willing to use McSorley in designed runs or at least scrambles where he looks downfield but runs if the room is there. McSorley is playing better than his stats. Really good at throwing the ball away rather than trying to force a throw -- very smart guy who plays on an emotionally even keel and plays within himself. Good pocket presence and avoids sacks well -- which is critical because this OL is still young.
Defense: Defensive line is largely underclassmen and really got pushed around early in the year. But they've athletic and have steadily improved as they've gotten experience. They will give up yards but they stop a lot of drives with TFLs and sacks. Sickels is the senior DE -- consistent. Givens is an exciting player at DT -- smallish but very explosive. You'll see 8-9 DL rotate in -- some are better than others, different styles and skill sets, but they'll have fresh legs at the end of the game as Ohio State found out. LB are finally back to normal after a pretty incredible string of injuries at the position -- a solid group with Bell, Cabinda. Secondary is experienced and smart -- CB Reid and safety Marcus Allen are players to watch but really everybody can play. PSU plays a lot of zone so teams can move the ball against this D as they find gaps in the zone. But blitzes from a lot of angles and secondary shifts are designed to produce interceptions. Anyway, it's not a dominant defense, they will give up yards, but they are stingy about big plays and TDs -- in part because of that zone and safeties mostly playing back.
Some asked about the PSU team. Offense: Strengths -- Barkley everybody knows about. His numbers are not great because teams have gameplanned for him, which has opened things for McSorley and the passing game. Godwin is a future NFL wideout -- just does everything well. Just about all the PSU receivers will make plays against single coverage, which they've seen a lot of given safeties are playing up to stop Barkley. Weaknesses - PSU playing without maybe their best OL, RT Andrew Nelson. Replacement Palmer is a good run blocker but not quick enough to defend against fast DEs. If Replogle plays Palmer will need help. PSU's short-medium passing game has not been great -- in part because opposing safeties play up. So PSU has a poor 3rd down conversion rate. Get PSU into 3rd and 7 and odds are good that the drive is over.
One of the biggest factors in PSU's turnaround since the start of the season has been the coaches more willing to use McSorley in designed runs or at least scrambles where he looks downfield but runs if the room is there. McSorley is playing better than his stats. Really good at throwing the ball away rather than trying to force a throw -- very smart guy who plays on an emotionally even keel and plays within himself. Good pocket presence and avoids sacks well -- which is critical because this OL is still young.
Defense: Defensive line is largely underclassmen and really got pushed around early in the year. But they've athletic and have steadily improved as they've gotten experience. They will give up yards but they stop a lot of drives with TFLs and sacks. Sickels is the senior DE -- consistent. Givens is an exciting player at DT -- smallish but very explosive. You'll see 8-9 DL rotate in -- some are better than others, different styles and skill sets, but they'll have fresh legs at the end of the game as Ohio State found out. LB are finally back to normal after a pretty incredible string of injuries at the position -- a solid group with Bell, Cabinda. Secondary is experienced and smart -- CB Reid and safety Marcus Allen are players to watch but really everybody can play. PSU plays a lot of zone so teams can move the ball against this D as they find gaps in the zone. But blitzes from a lot of angles and secondary shifts are designed to produce interceptions. Anyway, it's not a dominant defense, they will give up yards, but they are stingy about big plays and TDs -- in part because of that zone and safeties mostly playing back.
Been to State College twice in the past 10 years and was impressed with the welcome we received. We met knowledgeable, realistic fans who were fantastic hosts. I feel for the way PSU fans have been dragged through the mud over things they had absolutely not knowledge or control over.
Of course, I'd still like to see the Boilers pull the upset today!
Weak defensive holding call there.....I guess it was a penalty.
Wow.....total blown coverage....walk-in TD for PSU.....and it's tied.
Wow.....total blown coverage....walk-in TD for PSU.....and it's tied.
Well-designed 3rd down play there.....just enough to avoid OPI call.
Am I in the "twilight zone?"
Am I in the "twilight zone?"
Purdue is playing like last 3 years, looking for things to give game away and doing what it takes to lose. Playing well then threw it all away
Don't feel too bad for the kids. They knew full well what they signed up for, and all but 2-3 have no business playing in the B1G.
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