Do Not Question the Morelli

by BSD on Sep 13, 2007 9:08 AM EDT in Football Comment 25 comments

Whether or not Anthony Morelli is a smart quarterback is still up for debate. Similarly, his ability to handle questions from the media is still up for debate as well.

Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli temporarily lost his cool yesterday.

He became agitated during a conference call with reporters when it was pointed out that some critics believe the Nittany Lions beat Notre Dame, 31-10, Saturday at Beaver Stadium despite his play.

"I don't know how I didn't have a good game," Morelli said. "We won the football game. So many people are so caught up on stats. Stats are so overrated. I'm so tired of hearing about it. It's so ridiculous. It's just unbelievable. No one's ever satisfied with a victory."

Not true! 26% of the people were satisfied. But enough about stats since they are apparently overrated.

Anthony, let me tell you how you didn't have a good game. Your second pass of the game was intercepted and returned for a touchdown to put your team down early. Then with 0:50 seconds left in the first half you scrambled on first down. Instead of just running out of bounds to stop the clock you chose to dive for the first down even though you were three yards short. Instead of stopping the clock and giving your team a 2nd and five you fumbled the ball and gave Notre Dame the ball in Penn State territory.

Now, you made some nice plays. In fairness, the interception was a nice read. You had single coverage on Williams. It was just a bad throw. But the 51 yard strike to Chris Bell was a thing of beauty. And the touchdown to Jordan Norwood was a great read and reaction. But you have to realize that people don't remember these things.

Ask the average college football fan to remember the top three plays you remember about Anthony Morelli last year. 99% of the people would say the errant toss to Tom Zbikowski and the two pick sixes against Ohio State. Now name the top three memories of Michael Robinson in 2005. For me it's the throw to Derrick Williams to beat Northwestern, his total annihilation of the Minnesota safety, and the late fourth quarter drive against Michigan.

Michael Robinson was a special player that could strap a team on his back and carry them to victory. Anthony Morelli, to this point, isn't. Nobody remembers mistake free blowouts against Florida International. What matters as a quarterback is making plays when the chips are down. Until Morelli comes through in the clutch this will be his legacy as a Penn State quarterback. So he better get used to hearing more of these questions if he's going to make mistakes in big games.

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Morelli

Would it be crazy to think that the coaches should start planning like the Bucs and Ravens did when they won their Super Bowls? Get a lead and then let your defense hold it? I know we have amazing talent at WR and TE but do we really NEED to throw the ball 30 times a game? What if our offensive line gels and can perform in the first half like they do in the second?

I could be totally off base here because I am in fact an idiot but I'm just sayin.
Just something I've been thinking about lately. Any thoughts?

by nittanyroar on Sep 13, 2007 9:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Think.........

PSU needs to keep throwing the ball. Players like Michael Robinson come along once in a lifetime. This isn't 1950. PSU need playmakers to come to keep signing up and if PSU's QB play blows or doesn't utilize the playmakers they have, they aren't going to get them moving forward. Like Colin Cowhurd said yesterday........this whole 5 yards and a cloud of dust ideology doesn't really appeal to the best atheletes in the country anymore. 18 year old African Americans who run 4.3 40's could care less about the 1982 PSU National Champions. That isn't their reality. That is our memory. As Terrelle Pryor stated on Rivals this week......he's wants an exciting offense. I don't think that entails handing the ball off 50 times a game. If PSU can't win on Morelli's arm, I think they have to go down trying. And one more thing........could Morelli have fit the word "so" into that response any more than he did ? For a 2nd I thought I was reading a piece of satire written for the BSD.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Sep 13, 2007 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1982 champs

That 1982 team was the first MNC winner ever to gain more yards through the air than on the ground.

by M1EK on Sep 13, 2007 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WFY

I wish he had just said something like "scoreboard" and moved on. That would have made me feel a lot better about him as our quarterback.

by WFY on Sep 13, 2007 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is he really a dumbass?

This guy has been absolutely hammered about being a dumbass ever since he ditched Pitt to sign with PSU. Don't know if his HS coach had some agreement with Pitt, but he's been spouting off about this from day 1. What kind of coach does that shit, especially to a player that played great for him?

That kind of non-stop crap has to get to you. Now, every error is spotlighted and pointed to as proof of his boneheadedness. Morelli's probably still sensitive about it, but I was hoping his tirade last December got it out of his system. I'm sure a win and a decent game against Michigan would do wonders for both his peace of mind, and for putting these comments to rest.

Is he All-American material? Certainly not yet. But I actually agree with him: keep the stats, and give me a damn win. I personally don't care if he's got a 40% completion rate, a 1:1 TD/INT ratio, and fumbles twice a game as long as he keeps putting W's up.

by Pete the Streak on Sep 13, 2007 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Probably not

In August 2006, I remember Phil Grosz telling my alumni chapter that all the "Morelli is dumb" talk was vindictive, provincial Pittsburgh media.

by WFY on Sep 13, 2007 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hindsight must be 20/20

The Northwestern comeback was caused by 3 M-Rob turnovers in the first half and M-Rob rebounded.

Morelli has 2 in the first half but didn't blow a lead.

I'm not seeing how the top one is any better than the bottom one.

by stonewall435 on Sep 13, 2007 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MROb vs. Morelli

LEt's not forget that at halftime of the Northwestern game in '05 we were all calling for Morelli to be put in. But then MRob led that comeback. Until Morelli leads a comeback, he will never be as good as MRob in most people's eyes.

Having said that, I think the pass to Bell was a clutch play. It set up the score that put ND away for good.

He does need a media coach though.

Get up State.

by speedomike02 on Sep 13, 2007 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As I see it...

The pass to Bell could have been an interception - the nd defender took the wrong angle - which makes it look even fancier on tv (from the stands I couldn't understand how he caught it - it was amazing).

I'm not sure that Anthony's tantrum is a bad thing - remember how whiney he was before the Outback Bowl - and he played pretty well in that game - so maybe it's a ritual.

Yeah, we were appalled by MRob until late in the NW game - it was really that 4th and a city block play that was the "tide turner" (for me anyway) - he just took the team on his back and said, we're gonna win - and they did. I don't see AM doing that - he doesn't (imo) have the all around strength and talent to just "win games" - hopefully the team can work together (with or without the help of the playcallers) and get similar results.

BTW - the games on the College Pick 'em are brutal this week - the "ranking" shouldn't be for how confident you are, but for how much you really want it to happen.

by PSUgirl on Sep 13, 2007 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Harsh

Your comment about Morelli's defining moments versus MRob's isn't fair. At this point in MRob's QB career, I'd say his defining moments in my mind were A) concussion versus Wiscy B) overthrowing a WIDE open TE against Iowa by 10 yards which would've been a walk-in TD and C)fumbles and INTs against USF and Cincy.

It's a critical eye that remembers his fumble against ND last year and this year, his three INT pick 6's (doesn't anybody on offense know how to tackle?), his terrible sacks.

What about his 46 yard TD to Butler to start off 2006...or his clutch play versus UTenn...or his perfect pass to DWill when UM's fat DT fell on him and rattled his brain cage...or the TD to Bell on Saturday?

Just because a kid doesn't have media savvy doesn't mean the Nittany Nation should pile up on him.

by micahandme on Sep 13, 2007 12:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it really isn't apples to apples

See, if they'd just throw the ball to Butler - everything would be great.

Anthony was the starting qb last season - "in his career" by his 5th start, MRob was a bit of a superstar. He wasn't a great passer - he was a very good rusher - he didn't always execute plays exactly the way they were written - but he brought back a team (utilizing an unbelievably young team) that had been to the lowest depths - and for that we have canonized him.

So yeah, AM has a lot to prove before he can be compared to Michael Robinson.

by PSUgirl on Sep 13, 2007 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slight disagreement

/ At this point in MRob's QB career, I'd say his defining moments in my mind were A) concussion versus Wiscy B) overthrowing a WIDE open TE against Iowa by 10 yards which would've been a walk-in TD and C)fumbles and INTs against USF and Cincy. /

As I've said previously, this was Morelli's FIFTEENTH start at QB. 15. The first two things you mentioned about Robinson happened when he was still a RB/WR. Even worse, Morelli's been a quarterback his entire time at PSU, which is anywhere between 2 or 3 more years than Robinson, depending on how you'd like to measure it.

Comparing the QB careers of Robinson and Morelli is completely worthless, IMO. It's not even apples and oranges.

-- Run Up The Score http://runupthescore.wordpress.com

by Run Up The Score on Sep 13, 2007 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Catch to Bell

The Bell reception didn't go for a TD, nice gain though.

by nittanyroar on Sep 13, 2007 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Two words:

Rex Grossman.

Seriously, if the over/under for points on offense in your bowl game this year is 1, I'm taking the under. Beating mediocre to poor teams all year isn't proving anything.

by WakeUp on Sep 13, 2007 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Our very own Vinnie Intercepta-verdi?

I feel bad for Morelli but lets not forget that last year he went until the last game of our Big Ten schedule to throw a touchdown pass. If he had not thrown for a touchdown, we would have been the only Big Ten team not to air it for 6 against another Big Ten team. That kind of tidbit, unfortunately, sticks with you no matter what happened in the Outback Bowl.

I can understand Morelli's frustrations with the media, but as of now he's swimming in blood with journalistic sharks circling impatiently.

by Blood Meridian on Sep 13, 2007 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not true...

Tony Hunt caught a bunch of TD passes. Morelli just didn't thrown any to a wide receiver until the MSU game.

-- Run Up The Score http://runupthescore.wordpress.com

by Run Up The Score on Sep 14, 2007 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh...

And by "a bunch" I mean "a few".

-- Run Up The Score http://runupthescore.wordpress.com

by Run Up The Score on Sep 14, 2007 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And because I'm bored and it's late...

Here are Morelli's TD passes in 2006 conference games:

Ohio State: None.
Northwestern: None.
Minnesota: 2 (M. Hahn, T. Hunt)
Michigan: None.
Illinois: 1 (K. Darling)
Purdue: None.
Wisconsin: None.
Michigan State: 2 (A. Quarless, J. Norwood)

-- Run Up The Score http://runupthescore.wordpress.com

by Run Up The Score on Sep 14, 2007 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MRob

Yeah but Mrob was beaten out by Zach Mills how many times before he got his shot? Then when he was announced the started in 05 everybody moaned and groaned "here we go again" because everybody wanted Morelli. Like somebody said everybody wanted Robinson yanked at halftime of the Northwestern game.

Robinson had more heart than Morelli, and he had the "it" that so many pro players talk about. However he wasn't a great QB. He could improvise because he was a superb athlete, and Morelli is just a straight drop back QB.

How about we start blaming Galen Hall for the TERRIBLE (I cannot emphasis that enough) playcalling so far. Morelli can throw the ball 80 yards yet we insist on running 5 screens in the first quarter of games. I think the jury is still out on Morelli because the offensive line isn't great, getting better but not great, and the playcalling is god awful. However Morelli does seem to have trouble leading receivers on slant routes. (those get called twice a game)

by CBlack79 on Sep 13, 2007 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Against UM

Ciancolo had a TD Pass to Tony Hunt in the 4th Q on a screen pass.

by stonewall435 on Sep 13, 2007 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Monkey on AM's Back is Gone

He was taken behind the shed last year by ND and knocked around. Now he has to beat them this year but in front of everyone in a sold out Beaver Stadium...if I had the talent he had I know for sure I would not have the game of my life with all that pressure even leaders who show the most poise and courage hit bumps.

by whonext360 on Sep 13, 2007 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it's Paterno's fault.

He put Anthony in for a possession or two of the 2003 Indiana game just to show his critics that he (Morelli)was not ready to play yet and take the heat off of Zack Mills. This is one the short list of the worst things Paterno has ever done.

If Paterno had kept the red-shirt on Morelli, he would have had sophmore eligibility last season. Tony had a damn good year for a sophmore. Late last season Morelli started playing more like a Junior, and by the end of this year he is going to be strong. Which is unfortunate, becasue we wasted a year of eligibility for the greater glory of Zack Mills in a 4-7 season.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Sep 14, 2007 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

An opposing viewpoint

jesse,
You might want to check out this piece for a different viewpoint on whether or not it was a mistake to play Morelli: http://laschout.com/2007/08/16/did-psu-blow-anthony-morellis-redshirt.aspx

by Elihu on Sep 14, 2007 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

AM Stats

Are any of you old enough to remember Chuck Fusina or John Shaffer? Both were prototypical PSU QBs with not very good stats but darn good W-L records.

I agree with AM. I don't care what the stats are as long as PSU has a "W" at the end of the game.

Yes, it is frustrating watching other teams run their sleak "pro-style" efficient offenses, and it would be fun if PSU could create a '94 type offense every year, but after suffering through 2000 - 2004, all I want is a "W". Actually 10-12 of them every year, and I don't care how they do it! (except that they do it legally)

by BigDer on Sep 15, 2007 9:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs