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Should we look to the future and start Devlin or Clark?

A lot of our problems in these big games i feel can be attributed to our quarterbacks not having much experience in the big game.  I'm in no way a Morelli hater, but what are we playing for the rest of the season?  We're definetely bowl eligible but there's no chance of getting a BCS bowl.  We're looking at Alamo bowl or maybe the Outback bowl again at best.  So why not the last three games of this season get Devlin and Clark some more reps and get them more experience so next year their ready and maybe this year we as fans can see what their made of.  Ohio State has been doing this for years, why can't we?

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[1] Point to one example of Ohio State doing this.

[2] You owe your seniors the opportunity to have the best season possible.  You don't flush senior day and play a red shirt freshment so that some other team might be better.  That's bullshit.

You play your best guys today, not your best guys ten months from now.  That is not how you build a program, that's how you save your job for another season.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 29, 2007 12:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Your Best Guys........
I am not sure what everybody else watched, but I thought Clark has looked good both times I have seen him play.

That fumble on the sidelines was a laser.  I haven't watched either he or Morelli live, but from what I could tell on TV I don't think Morelli would have made that play.  

I think we are too caught up in the 5-Star Morelli hype machine to even suggest that Clark would do better than Morelli.

Its like when a radio station plays a song until its a hit.  Or when a musician is deemed a genius (Kurt Cobain) and to suggest otherwise brings an onslaught of ridicule.

From what I have seen, I have no reason to believe this team is any worse with Clark back there.  And in my opinion, Paternos allegiance and responsibility is to the program, not to the Sr's.  If that means benching Morelli, then so be it.  Another analogy, let's play Charlie Frye because we wasted a number one draft pick on him when we have other QB's (Kelly Holcomb at one point, and now Derek Alexander) who didn't come in with the fanfare but clearly have outplayed Frye when the lights came on.

This isn't about looking good in practice, its about looking good under the camera and the lights.  We won't know if Clark or Devlin are any better cause we won't play them.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 29, 2007 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

yea
I agree with your point about the Browns. It's just life and the better player should play. Now I dont feel Morelli blew that game at all, the defense shouldve actually played the game. But a new qb change couldn't hurt. We're only playing Purdue, Temple, and Michigan State.
WE ARE, PENN STATE! http://bleedblueandwhite.blogspot.com/

by LinebackerU on Oct 29, 2007 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

One More Thing.........
Do we have any proof that the Sr's want Morell in there ?  How do we know they would feel let down if Clark were put in there ?  I don't know.......just saying.
Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 29, 2007 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

You're right!
I am not saying there is any underclassmen on the bench that are better than any of the starters. However, does this mean all freshman are not able to become productive in the program till they are upperclassmen. Until recent years, the coaching staff would not start a freshman. I still believe this happens today to some degree. Like you said. They should be the best eleven on the field.
Settle it on the field!

by PSUncle1981 on Oct 30, 2007 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

fair analysis...
...but I think at the end of the day you have to leave it to Coach Paterno to decide who gives the team the best chance to win.  My experience from following the team is that when he says Player A is better than Player B, he is usually right.

Second, I don't think he has blind loyalty to seniors, rather, I think that seniors win ties in terms of who gets playing time.  But if a underclassmen beats out upperclassman the better player will be on the field.

Finally, I never said he has an obligation to play seniors, I said he owes the seniors their best chance to win their remaining games, as opposed playing Clark or Devlin just so they gets more reps for next season. I think it was implicit in the original poster's point that Morelli is superior to both Clark and Devlin today, but they will be more successful next season if they started playing next week.  I truly believe that if Joe Paterno thought putting Darryl Clark in would give the team a better chance to win, that he would do it.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 29, 2007 12:54 PM EDT reply actions  

It's happened before
Joe's pulled quaterbacks before.  Does anyone remember matt seneca a few years ago.  There have been other times before that too.  Morelli is a bust.  Lets man up and face the facts.  Its time for a change.  I dont know that the offense could be any worse with either Devlin or Clarke.  The defense will keep us in these last couple of games, let one of the younger guys try running the offense.

by psuaar on Oct 29, 2007 2:58 PM EDT reply actions  

That's a good point
That I think backs up my arguement.  Matt Seneca was pulled for a freshman because Coach Paterno thought it was best for the team.  If he thinks that it would be better for the team to start Clark, or Devlin for the remainder of the season, he will.

Anthony Morelli is not a bust.  Austin Scott is a bust.  Anthony's not an all time great, but he has been more than adequate most of the season, and he has had flashes of brilliance, that we have not seen out of any Penn State quarterback since Kerry Collins.

Also, it was the Defense that lost the game on Saturday, If you would have told me Saturday that PSU would score 17 points I would have given us a better than 50% shot to win.  His intercetpion, while awful, happened long after the game was over.  If the Defense could have gotten off the field on third down, State might have had a chance.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 29, 2007 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agree
I think Anthony was trying to make a play, but at that point the stadium was half empty.  I was still there, but it was clear that most of the fans had long given up.  

I don't think there's any chance that Morelli won't start the remaining games (unless he gets seriously injured), so any discussion of his being replaced is pointless.  

by CDRS on Oct 29, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

I just hope
that we crush the remaining opponents so much that Clark and Devlin get playing time.

by WarStreets on Oct 29, 2007 3:55 PM EDT reply actions  

Hey can we
get off Morelli a bit and focus in on the defense. They let any team with some athleticsm score on them, almost at will. We don't have a parade all american qb but we have "future" draft picks(according to nfldraftscout) and all americans on defense. They should take some of the blame for the losses to be fair. Morelli did blow the Illinois game but I've seen defense give up 20 points or more 4 times. Buffalo is included in there lets not forget that 1.
WE ARE, PENN STATE! http://bleedblueandwhite.blogspot.com/

by LinebackerU on Oct 29, 2007 5:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Let Morelli start but give the young guys some PT
I'd let Devlin and Clark each play a series or two per game the rest of the way.  Morelli will probably get drafted no matter what happens in the games because he has a cannon and will move up the draft charts during the offseason.  Next year should be good with 20 of the 22 starters returning, so get your QB for next season (whoever that is) some actual PT.

by jubjub on Oct 29, 2007 6:47 PM EDT reply actions  

Well
#1 any talk of benching the quarterback after 3 good games, and a game in which he was given absolutely no time to throw anything more than screen passes is absurd.  Total bull crap.  Morelli didn't lose to Ohio St., the complete lack of defensive effort did.  22 minutes is not enough time to sustain enough points to win.  Period.

#2 Just because we aren't going to win the Big 10 doesnt mean we should start getting ready for next year.  Do wild card teams in football start playing rookies going into the postseason?  Hell no.  Why should Penn State be any different?  This is such a stupid conversation, I can't believe I'm acknowleging it.  Mark it down, Penn State isn't going to win the NC next season because Pat Devlin started at Michigan St.  Benching the Sr. is something struggling teams do, not one fighting for a marquee matchup on New Year's Day.  What will impress recruits more?  A team that won the Outback Bowl by beating Florida on New Years Day or beaking K-State in the Alamo Bowl on the NFL network Dec 26?

Use your freaking head.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Oct 29, 2007 8:03 PM EDT reply actions  

PG
The picture caption on the sports page for the game reads the Penn State defender who made the tackle in the picture was "Anthony Sareant"

They mean Lydell Sargeant.

F the Post gazette.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Oct 29, 2007 9:19 PM EDT reply actions  

Hmmm...........
You are right.  Morelli didn't lose the game.  On the flip side, he hasn't won any game for PSU either.  But he certainly could be tagged as the reason for a few losses.  

Clearly you know something that flys in the face of the body of work put forth by Morelli.

Here are some quick hits on Morelli this year:

Vs. Bufflo and FIU - 43/65 66.1 500 yards 7 TDs

Against other teams: 116/203 57.1 1353 6 TD 8 INT

Let me point this out......6 TDs in 7 GAMES!!!

So 27% of his yardage and 53.8 percent of his TDs came against Buffalo and FIU.  

Even with the cream puffs factored in:

PSU is 54th in 54th completion percentage
    63rd in total passing yards
    58th in passing TDs
    78th in passing yards per game
    104 teams with longer longest pass play than us.

Pretty paltry...especially with all those "weapons" at wide out.  

Florida - Tim Tebow has scored 30 TDs.
K. State - QB has very similar numbers to Morelli, but Josh Freeman is a True Sophmore.

I'm sorry, Fugi.....I understand where you are coming from, but to dismiss the idea of somebody else coming in totally out of hand doesn't make sense to me in light of these numbers.

I also think you could just as easily make the argument that any recruit looking at this from the outside-in could be turned off by this Coaching Staffs reluctance to make a switch to get a spark.  If I have one college career, I would hate to think if I came in behind some stud that I couldn't compete for the job.  I refuse to believe that Clark would do WORSE than Morelli.  Am I saying bench him....no...but the idea isn't ridiculous.  I think Michael Robinson sat and stagnated behind Zack Mills.  Why let Clark or Devlin totally stagnate behind Morelli.  At least with Mills there was a bit of a track record to lead and win.  With Morelli, there has been nothing but a few games where he managed the game well and some doofus for Rivals telling us all what to believe despite what we have seen.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 29, 2007 10:01 PM EDT reply actions  

For the gajillionth time
We're playing for this season.  Morelli won games against good team like Wisconsin, at least a good defense in Iowa, and led the team down the field to win at Indiana.  Go ahead.  Assess his stat line.  I see a 6-3 record with a legit shot at a New Year's day bowl.

I'm not throwing that away for Devlin or Clark to get 20 snaps, sorry.  You build for next year in the spring, not going into the post season.  As I said, give me the Sr.  The only game he has overtly blown this year was Ill.  I have more faith in him that anyone else to get us to Janury.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Oct 30, 2007 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes we should start Clark
I think what some people forget is that Morelli is a selfish, self absorbed kid and his teammates know this. There are more reports of AM throwing a temper tantrum(and his helmet)in the locker room after the game. Great leadership AM, he's really taking pride in his role as captain. Please.
Clark is more enthusiastic, and more of a natural leader. I truly think the players would respond better to Clark. What is so vexing is that we don't even give Clark a shot, let's at least SEE if he can make some plays. I want to see Devlin too but that is a total lost cause, give the PD talk a break cause it ain't happening any time soon.

by nittanyroar on Oct 29, 2007 10:28 PM EDT reply actions  

oops
As soon as I clicked "post" I noticed my goof. I meant to say we should start AM but get Clark some meaningful snaps.

by nittanyroar on Oct 29, 2007 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

How about some proof...
Sir, which position do you coach or play?  Have you even met Anthony Morelli, or have you just read a bunch of newspaper articles about him?  That's a pretty serious charge; one that you better be able to back up with some first hand evidence.  Remember, he was elected Captian by his teammates, those same people who you are certain have abandoned him.  
For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 30, 2007 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

Morelli
It's a rumor floating around on the message boards from multiple sources. TIFWIW
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Oct 30, 2007 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

I'm sorry, but...
I have a real problem with this Mike.  

First, this is not quoted as an "an internet rumor", it is quoted as an established fact, that we "forgot".  Second, whether or not you are a Morelli fan he is one of our own, a Penn Stater, we chose him, and he chose us., and so long as Coach Paterno believes in him, so do I. Frankly, we should treat our own guys better than quoting unsubstantiated internet gossip as fact simply because we are upset that the team lost to a clearly superior opponent.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 30, 2007 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

Obviously
you're entitled to your opinion. I'm no insider, I'm lucky I know my ass from a hole in the ground. But I stick by what I said, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of his teammates are sick of his blow ups. Let AM start but get someone else some meaningful reps.

by nittanyroar on Oct 30, 2007 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Rumors
Several people reported eye witnessing him throwing a tantrum on the sideline and needing teammates to calm him down. This is coming from multiple sources so I tend to believe there is some truth to it. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it on the blog because I didn't see it personally and I haven't heard any comments from those involved first hand. But I did notice after the game that Morelli's quotes when talking to reporters seemed to throw the coaches under the bus. Here are some excerpts.

Q: Talk about the first drive and how well you ran the ball.

A: We mixed it up well. We had them on our heels and there was great play calling. We seemed to get away from that a little bit.

Q: During the second quarter, on the fourth and two, did the offense want to stay out there for that?

A: Absolutely. There is no team in America that does not want to stay out there and go for it. That is Coach Paterno's call. That is his decision. He gets paid for that. That is all on him, not us.

I didn't think this was commentary very becoming of a team captain.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Oct 30, 2007 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

And one more thing
I never said they abandoned him. Stick with what I wrote, not what you think you read. And they elected him captain before they found out what a jackass he is. Now I'm not saying they all are sick of his shit, hell, maybe none of them are(although I doubt it). But I find it incredibly difficult to believe they like seeing their captain act like a spoiled kid.

by nittanyroar on Oct 30, 2007 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

I did read into it a bit, but not too much
However, you did say that he was a "selfish, self absorbed kid and that his teammates know this", you went on to call him a "jackass" and a "spoiled brat".  

Those are simply personal insults levied against someone whom you have apparently never met, and what you think the opinions of the football team are, despite the fact that not one player or coach has said anything at all to that effect.  If you want to talk about football, talk about football.  

Personal attacks against a 21 year old kid who gives more of himself to Penn State in a week, then most of us will in our life are weak, lazy, and shitty.  

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 30, 2007 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Stop Right There
What evidence do you have that Clark is any kind of a leader whatsoever?
God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Oct 30, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

He the one going to
Morelli, the CAPTAIN, looking like he was trying to get him to pick his head up after the pick 6 and not get to down on himself.

by nittanyroar on Oct 30, 2007 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's what leaders do
Try to pick up their teammates when they make a mistake, not yell at them.

by nittanyroar on Oct 30, 2007 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Seriously...........
Austin Scott is a Sr. too.......that's turned out great.  

I obviously don't read every single line written abotu PSU or Morelli.  But I don't recall much if any praise in the press from ANY of Morelli's teammates this year.  That has to say something.

Joe not letting the 22 or 23 year old "Leader" of his team talk to the press ?  Maybe its because he knows he is going to say stuff like he did above.  

And what does it say if the team DOESN'T elect the 5th Year Senior QB as a Captain ?

I have the feeling there are a lot of parents of players on this team that are not very happy about this allegiance to Morelli.  But who knows, I have mis-read things before.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 30, 2007 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

Anyone remember...
Larry Johnson's comments after his tenure here?
At least he could back it up with playing.  

But really, the playcalling only changed with Michael Robinson.  I attribute all this mediocrity to the coaching staff.

Can you imagine this stuff happening with Jerry Sandusky and Fran Ganter?  no.  

by WarStreets on Oct 30, 2007 2:10 PM EDT reply actions  

You know things are bad
when people start fondly remembering Fran Ganter.
For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Oct 30, 2007 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

At least
Fran Ganter was able to produce an offense like the '94 team...

Jeez... he made McQueery look good.

by WarStreets on Oct 30, 2007 4:24 PM EDT reply actions  

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