Tell Us How You Really Feel

by Run Up The Score on Oct 2, 2008 9:53 AM EDT in Football Comment 46 comments

From Adam Rittenberg's Big Ten blog on ESPN.com:

"Everybody looked at the way that he carried himself, looked at the way he carried the scout team. You can definitely see then that he was going to be a great quarterback when it was his turn, and he definitely waited it out. ... There definitely were a lot of days when Deon [Butler], Jordan [Norwood] and myself were like, 'Man, we can't wait for Daryll to come in.'" -- Derrick Williams

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wow

That’s a pretty bold statement coming from someone who is normally pretty reserved. Why didn’t we utilize this talent more. I am all for seniority as long as the players are more or less equal. For instance if you have two players playing the same position that are of equal caliber go for the guy that has that extra experience. Obviously we didn’t do that…

by b598650 on Oct 2, 2008 9:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We ALL fell

for Ammo’s great bowl game against Tennessee (who’s fans are now costing them recruits, as Jesse points out below), and anticipated a breakout senior year. And for 4 games, he had the numbers to stay in.

It’s a tough call to put in a newbie once we got into the heart of the Big Televen.

But – the hell with it. That’s over, and we all like what we see. If the players themselves are true believers, then so much the better.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Oct 2, 2008 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey!

Has anybody noticed that we’re 5-0 and we have a big road game this week? Some people have said we might be a national title contender, and we have a real good shot at winning the Big Ten.

Last season is over. No reason to rehash old wounds in my opinion.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Hindsight is 20/20. The players have to deflect the media attempts to keep throwing Anthony Morelli under the bus. All this is going to do is drive Morelli and his crazy dad into making a public scene like they did with his high school coach. Last season is over. They need to keep looking ahead one week at a time.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 2, 2008 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would argue, counselor

That his comments are also about this season.

I would lose, but I would argue it.

by Run Up The Score on Oct 2, 2008 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're a lawyer

So you probably know how important referral sources are. You certainly don’t need a guy running around town mother fu#$ing you to everybody who will listen.

I kind of look at this the same way.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree, but

I think we all underestimate the effect of Morelli on the locker room last year. It was a total nightmare and caused a lot of divisions between coaches, and between the coaches and the team.

Just the fact that everyone seems to be on the same page is a refreshing change this season. And I don’t really think that Derrick was trying to retroactively knock Morelli as much as he was expressing his current satisfaction with the current QB.

by Run Up The Score on Oct 2, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1. I don’t necessarily disagree.

2. Absolutely.

It’s just one of those comments that has the potential to restart the whole litany of Morelli sucked and Jay Paterno was an idiot for playing him, etc.

Derrick is a real smart kid, and sometime I think he tries to push the envelope to see what he can get away with saying in public. I cringed a bit when I saw the National Championship comments after the Illinois game too.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

Williams has said that (MNC hopes) a lot more explicitly.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Oct 2, 2008 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't D-Will

talk a bunch about the MNC before last year, as well? To be honest, I’m a fan of the guys talking about big hopes (as long as they have the ability to back it up, and don’t act like asses in the meantime).

by The JuggerNitt on Oct 2, 2008 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This quote

I read it yesterday and immediately inferred the same thing. Based on DW’s history, though, I’m hesitant to spin it as a total Morelli jab.

I agree it’s time to move on.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Oct 2, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think recruits don't notice how you treat your players?

Think again.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very Interesting

If Tennessee commits start jumping ship I wonder what effect that will have on Je’Ron Stokes?

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 2, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe they were saying boo-urns

I don't know, Mello Yello is pretty awful. What's the worst that could happen?

by psu on Oct 2, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was sayind boo-urns

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great so far, but still early

We are playing incredible and mistake free fright now. I am still worried that our defense can be exploited, especially in the middle with our weak linebackers, but for once our offense looks like it has to carry the D. This hasn’t been true since 94 and everyone knows how our team did then.

Was Ill a real test? Yes and no, they were overrated this season. The season lies in the next 4 games. Purdue at home may be tricky, Painter is an excellent QB and they throw the ball a lot which could exploit our D. I believe our Offense is no match for them, but a big away game is always trouble in the Big 10. We need the momentum to take us into Wisco. I know we have the team to go 4-0 in the next 4 games, if we do National Talks will be on the line, but before then, forget them. If we can go 3-1 I think we are still talking BCS game.

by Craig07 on Oct 2, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Clark in '06

Not that I’m a Morelli supporter, but what did Clark do that would have been so impressive to take over the starting job? The best thing he did in ’06 was get knocked out of the Michigan game so that Cianciolo could make it a somewhat respectable 17-10 loss. He looked like a deer in headlights the entire time he was on the field.

As for ‘07, that’s another story. Morelli was garbage against decent teams but it’s not like they had any idea Clark would be better in real-game situations.

I will now go pull out my nose hairs for defending Morelli.

by The Mess on Oct 2, 2008 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

first post

been reading for 2 years now, beautiful blog.

The mess, i see your point, but unless clark has the mindset that “im the guy”, getting shoved in there would probably have been the worst thing in 06 and 07. he took minimal first team reps in those years, he ran the scout team, AMO was a big strong qb that probably wasnt going to get hurt because he had the legs of logan el, they ran an offense that didnt suit his abilities. ect ect. After a sping, summer, and fall camp of knowing that clark knows he is the man this year, those headlights are now just a small mag lite to him. I am anxious to see how he does when he throws a meatball on the PSU 35 and Ohio state takes it to the 5 and scores (hopefully not) and to see how he responds, because we all know how AMO responded…take all talent away, i think Clark has the upperhand when it comes to what is inside the helmet

by nator76 on Oct 2, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morelli........

As I sit here and think about this………..it probably has something to do with AM’s psyche. Perhaps if Paterno et al had more confidence that benching AM wouldn’t result in losing him totally in the head, they would have given Clark a shot. But if you throw Clark in there and he lays and egg, then you have to come back to Morelli.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 2, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One more thing.........

look at Vince Young……..probably just ran by everybody his whole life…….never having to face “adversity” on the field from the standpoint that everybody could run like he could. You have to lose to know how to win type stuff. Maybe that was the problem with Morelli too. Probably the best guy on the field right up through his Sophmore year in college. Gets picked off a few times etc etc and its whoa………what is this I am feeling. I don’t know how to deal with it, so I am going to hang my head or pick a fight with the fans.

Its the downside of accelerated greatness. When you are phsically superior to those around you, you don’t get hit the mouth when you are developing your ability to cope.

Dr. Phil signing off.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 2, 2008 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

He is from Pittsburgh after all…

by The Mess on Oct 2, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vince Young

and other young stars who grow up w/o a father in house seem to have a higher probabilty melting down in the face of big time adversity. They didn’t have the role model to be a man, it’s not their moms fault…they don’t know how to be a man also.

by SweepTheLeg on Oct 2, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But Vince Young’s mom sounds hot.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 2, 2008 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That line

gets better every time.

Well played, my Brutha.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Oct 2, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ZING

by SweepTheLeg on Oct 3, 2008 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally get your point.......

but I would add that for what its worth, black women are hard asses compared to white women. Generally speaking. But your right, its not the same as having a dad around.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 3, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

at least Jay saw the potential

that makes me feel a little better about our QB coach!

by PSU Jen on Oct 2, 2008 11:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What do you expect......

from a guy that tried to recruit Jim Kelly as a Linebacker. I think part of the “problem” is that Joe’s head is ingrained in an era where the QB position was largely responsible for turning around and handing the ball off. That isn’t the case any longer. Maybe Joe still puts up some resistance to that notion.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 2, 2008 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still remind people of the Kelly prospect

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Oct 2, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jim Kelly

would have been an excellent linebacker.

“I still remind people of the Kelly prospect” I still remind people that Chuck Fusina and Todd Blackledge were excellent college quarterbacks, and that we did just fine without him.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is that really the point Jesse ?

Sure he would have been a fine LB, but he turned out to be a Hall of Fame QB. And I think with QB prospects Jim Kelly carries more cache than Fusina and Blackledge put together.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 2, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is the point?

The linebacker comment was tounge in cheek, but my god your busting on a guy for a 30 year old decision that worked out just fine for us. No wait, a decision that worked out fantastic for us. Keep in mind we had Jeff Hostetler at the time too.

This is always a funny JoePa joke, but when it gets past humor into he didn’t know what we was doing, well, our record from 1978-1982 is pretty self explanatory.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How many converted players are out there?

hundreds at PSU under Paterno – High School kids generally play offense and defense-

Butler came in as a Dback. DWill played qb in high school. Jim Kelly would have made a great linebacker.

The “joke” when I was a kid was that any qb or rb that visited PSU would be told they’d make a great linebacker or safety. That’s part of the way Joe does things – if a kid excels on offense but has the build for defense, Joe is going to switch him – sometimes they switch back or do both – but if you have tackling hips – you’re gonna suit up for D.

by PSUgirl on Oct 2, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our best converted player

this year? The man snapping the ball. A.Q. had his heart set on being a nose tackle. And Joe told him, he might make a few years at the next level there, but if he switched to center, he could be a ‘ten-year guy.’

Convivite Nudem!

by jtothep on Oct 2, 2008 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaVar?

Wasn’t LaVar a linebacker converted to a safety then back to a linebacker? Does that count twice or not at all?

by The Mess on Oct 2, 2008 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaVar

was a better RB in HS then LB. Most schools wanted him as a RB but Joe said he could play either. Pitt changed coaches so he went here. IMO he would not have been as good of a RB because he had those chicken legs.

JoePa in '09

by JGuiher on Oct 3, 2008 7:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Curtis Enis

Started out as a linebacker.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 2, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why does everyone hate the (converted) punter?

How about Joe Jurevicius?

by The Mess on Oct 2, 2008 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who

was the NFL punter that was also a decent QB? Kinda recent?

by SweepTheLeg on Oct 3, 2008 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tom Tupa

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about this guy?

I mean, he’s done okay.

by Run Up The Score on Oct 2, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will have to disagree

I caught a bit of the ‘82 Sugar bowl this morning on big ten’s greatest games (doesn’t really make sense right?) and Todd Blackledge was whipping 20 yard passes downfield to Kenny Jackson all day. Yes he would hand the ball off to Warner, but it’s not like Joe hates the pass. I just think Joe likes a QB who protects the ball and doesn’t throw risky passes.

by whiteoutonly on Oct 2, 2008 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've noticed that

They keep showing “big 10 great game” highlights, and they keep showing JoePa pre-Big 10.

by The JuggerNitt on Oct 2, 2008 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Somebody winning a NC on Big Ten's Greatest Games

I will admit it’s a bit of a stretch to believe a Big Ten team could win a National Championship game.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 2, 2008 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of '82

“Air Paterno” Blackledge had a ton of TD passes.. well twelve.. thirteen sticks in my mine in the first three games of the season… and Warner didnt have a rushing one yet… he played the talent he had

Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024

by 3Yardout on Oct 2, 2008 8:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs