Fearing Not That I'd Become My Enemy

by Kevin HD on Jan 6, 2009 7:47 AM EST in Football Comment 68 comments

Some thoughts about the Fiesta Bowl, seen in blue and white...

Eyetvsnapshot_8__medium

All Growns Up. Jim Tressel is going to grow up and be exactly like Joe Paterno. The old man used to have a big enough talent advantage against his opponents to successfully use the zero-risk, zero-reward model; now that Ohio State has established itself as the most talented team in the Big Ten,Tressel is all of the sudden falling under its spell. I thought OSU's only chance was to come out with higher risk plays and do things no one had seen them do. Minus the two quarterback system, which was really just a mash up of Ohio State's last two years of offense, they did none of this. A lot of up the middle runs, no risks on 4th down and, of course, several long field goal attempts. I don't know if the adaptation of the model Paterno made famous has anything to do with their Big Ten success and Big Stage failures, but it is something to think about.

You know what the worst part about the strategy is, too? That sometimes it works. And even worse, sometime is almost works. Like last night.

There Is Always The Future. Pryor is very athletic, and despite what seems like a slow acceleration he can fly. That being said, he has a long way to go. The Rivalry, Esq. noted that Ohio State sported the "most efficient" passing attack in the Big Ten, but this is only because Tressel was smart enough to realize he should only throw the kid when absolutely necessary. He makes up for all of this with his size, he's very difficult to bring down and his two receptions (one negated because of a push off) do a lot to show how much taller and stronger he is even as a freshman. He is something to look out for, of course, but there is no guarantee he'll go from pretty good to elite. Nothing a good defensive line and quick linebackers can't handle.

And what was with him repeatedly running out of bounds five to ten yards before he had to last night?

Up And Down And Back Up Again. At first it seemed like Todd Boeckman's inclusion in the game plan was a hat tip from his coach and a reward for being a good teammate. In reality, it was a desperate act made necessary by the fact that Tressel wanted to throw the ball more than 20 times a game (good for a dead last in the conference and a eye catching 116th nationally).

This bodes well for the rest of the Big Ten next season. With Boeckman leaving and Well's likely entering the draft, Ohio State is in faced with becoming dangerously one-dimensional. Ohio State is always loaded with talent, so this is subject to change depending on the players we haven't seen yet, but they lose enough players this year and have enough difficult road games ahead to slide a bit next season.

Six In One Hand. Like most of you, I didn't like all the soft zone defense Bradley decided to play in the Rose Bowl. Last night, Tressel thought he had the athletes to play man defense against Texas.

See? It can suck just as bad.

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man coverage

i still think that man coverage would have limited the damage against USC. OSU held a better offense than USC’s to less points using it.

by millzners on Jan 6, 2009 8:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not only that

It doesn’t hurt to mix up coverages once in a while.

by Screen Name 20 on Jan 6, 2009 8:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I agree. Don’t think I like the bend but don’t suck, but you can have the same exact problems with man, that’s all.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 6, 2009 8:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We just don't have the personnel for it against 4-5 WR's.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 6, 2009 8:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who are all faster and taller than our corners.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 6, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And

I love that the “failure” post RUTS put up a couple of months ago is tagged to this post.

Awesome.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 6, 2009 9:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Astorino and our sh*tty cover 3

Astorino had one of the better games in the secondary. I think Timmons (who is probably as fast as anyone on USC) and our young frosh from TX, Lynn, could have been used to help the D. I think we could have gone man at times and also think we could have overloaded with a corner/safety blitz on occasion. We also did not play enough cover two and our corners (as always) gave too much cushion (I can not remember the last time PSU ran bump and run – probably Justin King against OSU). Unlike some experts say…..I do not think that we vastly outmatched. We were however vastly outcoached. Though Green had a good game…..Royster’s loss can not be ignored. He definitely would have helped PSU slow down the game…akin to what Beanie did last night in the 1st half against Texas. I am bummed about the loss, but as long as we don’t lose half our D-line to the NFL…….I am optomistic about next year’s D! A final thought…….how could our coaching staff think that a basic cover 3 would have worked against a pro-style offense……..I am still confounded!

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Jan 6, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’m guessing Arizona, Cal and Oregon State all played USC man too, and none of them gave up more than 21 points.

by JBusinger on Jan 6, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Next year

I think we got a glimpse of what OSU’s offense is going to look like next year when Wells went down. Pryor has a looooong way to go as a passer, and won’t have Robiskie to bail him out either. No doubt they’ll have good athletes to fill in, but unless Pryor makes significant progress, I feel better about our chances against OSU next year.

by speedomike on Jan 6, 2009 8:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I feel good about it too...

as long as no one teaches that kid how to throw. It is scary as hell watching him run around big defenders and straight arming these guys like they were middle schoolers. If he ever goes two dimensional he would be a real freak

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member

by TheMightyErik on Jan 6, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought the same thing, Erik

He’s a scary mofo in the open field. I wondered if there were Sr. dudes on the Texass D who were reminded of scout team duty on Young.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Jan 6, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

1-6

Does anybody else think the Big Ten did a little better in the bowls then they thought they would? Hear me out, no favorites lost.

But, I thought Georgia (preseason #1) would beat Michigan State by 40, but MSU hung around the whole game.

I thought Missouri (Big XII Champ. Game) would beat Northwestern by 50, Northwestern almost won.

Iowa absolutely manhandled South Carolina.

Ohio State was able to control Texas’ vaounted offense.

Penn State was able to score on USC’s vaunted defense.

We were all perfectly aware that Wisconsin and Minnesota sucked.

At the end of the day, Penn State beats Iowa and Texas beats Texas Tech, we’re National Champs this year, because PSU would have beat Texas. USC was better than us, certainly more skilled, but not overwhealmingly more talented. They gave up on “these guys are a slow Big Ten team” what 5 plays into the game?

I really don’t think the Big Ten is as far behind the rest of the confrences as the bowl record might indicate at first indicate.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 8:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we're that far behind

It’s just that playing USC in the Rose Bowl is a ridiculously tough task. Yes, our defensive scheme is the type USC’s offense dominates, but they’re ridiculously skilled nonetheless. I know I know, Stanford beat USC @ home last year, but USC has those let down games. But when it comes down to a big game, USC normally crushes their opponents (including ESS EEE CEE teams), save for Tejas 05.

The rest of the games were like you said….

by Screen Name 20 on Jan 6, 2009 8:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, actually.

I was toying with the idea of writing something longer about it, but in general I think the Big Ten could’ve been much worse.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 6, 2009 8:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah....

I think the Big Ten would really benefit from only getting one team in the BCS next year. If that were the case this year, it would have been..

OSU vs. Georgia
Mich State vs. South Carolina
Iowa vs. Missouri
NW vs. Kansas

Right? I like those matchups for the Big Ten.

by speedomike on Jan 6, 2009 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One BCS team

While that’s fair, it’s also fair to point out that both the Big 12 and SEC sent two teams to the BCS as well. So, with the exception of the Champs Sports matchup versus ACC foe FSU, all the non-BCS games the Big Ten played in had teams on equal footing in regards to the whole “team getting bumped up” phenomena. The fact is that the SEC #3 simply beat the Big Ten #3 team this year (And so on down the list).

Oh, also, just FWIW: NW would have gone to the Champs Sports to play Florida St, Wisconsin would have faced Kansas in the Insight and Minnesota would ahve gone to the Motor City to play some MAC team.

by Laaaaazzz on Jan 6, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that the pundits are

going to have a lot of fun now and later hanging their collective proverbial hats on the B10’s bowl record rather than the actual performances -

In reality, each bowl game had its “but for” moment(s) that could have changed the outcome.

by PSUgirl on Jan 6, 2009 9:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Think of it this way

Assuming that USC is the best team in the country, and many people are, well then they are better than us. But not so much better that it was embarassing.

Texas is going to finish ranked fourth in the nation, at worst. I think Penn State is pretty clearly better than Texas.

Oklahoma and Florida, probably better than us, Alabama, however, is not and they spent half the season ranked #1.

At the end of the day, I think we had a top five football team this year. It’s not going to end up that way, and that’s a shame, but this was a real good football team. One of the best that Penn State has ever had.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 9:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I could not agree more.

Unfortunately, with a few occasional exceptions, if you’re not a flashy run up the score kind of team, then you will not finish in the top 5 in college football. But we know the truth.

by BSmith717 on Jan 6, 2009 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree

with this comment. Call me crazy and I thought that actually, our offense did OK against USC. I thought that DC showed poise while in the pocket. Royster and Green were running the ball somewhat effectively! Unfortunately, the mental mistakes (and there were a lot of them), Royster’s injury plus the HUGE fumble by Green seemed to take the air out of our game. Now for the defense, meh. I realize we rely on zone coverage due to the lack of DB’s speed, and this defense scheme relies heavily on pressure from the DL; at the same time, I thought that Scrap would have mixed it up during the second half; i.e. blitzes, DL stunts, etc. and it did not seem to happen (as best as I could see).

Anyway, back to your point; yes I think the B-10 actually did better than expected this year. Unfortunately, almost is not good enough, and even if each B-10 team, that lost, only lost by one point, the conference would still be 1-6 in bowls this year. That is the ONLY part that ESh*tPN and the rest look to when evaluating the conference. The sad part is that the pundits seem to be reveling in this aspect. I know it sounds bizarre and it appears to me, that now each sports personality is “graded” by how well they can bash the B-10. I have yet to see anything positive said about the conference. Iowa’s win has all but disappeared.

by unitboy on Jan 6, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Points Jesse

…and your sentiments would most likely be shared by the all Big 10 fans. We’ve rolled into ‘09, & the other conferences fan banter will pick-up where they left-off…“how many bowl wins did your conference have..?” I’ll hear it in Charlotte; you’ll hear it in GA/SC; BSD Mike will hear it in Houston.
As stated 100x’s here ( this #1 College Football Blog): “We need to play a tougher schedule” and win games. Every year we need to play and BEAT at least 2 non-conference, nationally recognized programs and consistantly finish either “undefeated”, or with 1 loss. Once we achieve that, we will be able to “come-out from under” that supposed Big10 Conference cloud.

We had a very good year. The team overcame many obstacles. I guessed @ a 2 to 3 loss season…they did it! Great job. Lot’s of class on this team. I hope the guys with the season ending injuries come back fully recovered and not only contribute, but re-gain starting rolls and provide leadership.

‘09 Big 10 Football will be interesting…PSU will be touted as the conference leader going into this coming season. Jesse’s last point should prove true in this next season; but the Big10 needs to pull waaaaaay out ahead of the rest…

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Jan 6, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They got blown out by more than expected in the losses.

Tomahawk Nation: No-Holds-Barred Nole Analysis

by FSUncensored on Jan 6, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Incorrect

Ohio State, Michigan State and Northwestern all clearly out perfromed expectations.

Don’t get too cocky, Wisconsin was awful. We beat them just as bad as you did in their own stadium.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nice retort and spot on

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member

by TheMightyErik on Jan 6, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we can point back to JoePa here...

“You’re never as good as you think you are when you win, and you’re never as bad as you think you are when you lose.”

Congratulations on the win, though. A dominating performance.

by jimbo2psu on Jan 8, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am done cheering for tOSU

I really don’t like them but feel as though I need to cheer for the B10 when bowl season comes around… I live in Austin so I have had to deal with this B10 sucks stuff all year (which perhaps we do…?) so maybe next year I cheer for Penn State excusively and pull for a tie in every other game….

by ilovejoe on Jan 6, 2009 9:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

OSU offense vs. PSU offense

I think our offensive play calling during the Rose Bowl was excellent. OSU’s was very very vanilla. That strikes me as odd.

I think Clark is 10 times the QB Pryor will ever be, and I think we’ve abandoned the old PSU offensive scheme that drove us nuts. Tressel on the other hand has embraced it whole-heartedly. If that holds true it bodes well for us down the road.

by millzners on Jan 6, 2009 9:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right

but I have a feeling Tressel is just calling the plays according to what his players on the field can handle. A freshman quarterback like Pryor doesn’t give you all the options of a more polished and more experience guy like Clark. I think Tressel will still surprise you here and there, but not when the risk is greater than the reward. He still seems like a smart guy to me.

by jimbo2psu on Jan 8, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pryor

Great point on how Pryor would run out of bounds WAY before he had to.

The kid is a stud athlete but not sure if he is the answer at QB. Makes a lot of bad decisions (I know only a freshman), over/under threw lots of balls, and seems like a quiter to me

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 6, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

There is something off.

I don’t know what word it is, but he seems to run a lot like Ginn used to. Avoid contact at all costs, lot’s of straight lines, and loves him some sideline.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 6, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pryor vs DC

Pryor has about 4 inches (zing) on Clark but they weigh about the same. Clark is a more physical runner and Pryor looks to take off, avoid contact, and not fight for extra yards. His passing motion is still awkward at best. He will need to develop a lot to stay at the postion down the road. Scouts don’t think Tebow will be a an NFL QB because of his slow/long release.

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 6, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WR

he looked pretty good on that fade route….maybe WR is in his NFL future….

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 6, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

it should be in his college future, and Ohio State should put Boyd back at QB.

by PizzaDelivery on Jan 6, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but that's one of the reasons why

he didn’t want to come to psu…b/c he knew he would end up in the NFL as something not a QB. he wants to be a QB and that’s it.

by amandakt on Jan 6, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, he could be a better defensive end than Maybin or Evans if he wanted to.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 6, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I mean, assuming he had the balls to tackle someone.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 6, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i was just thinking the same thing...

i remember one play last night that was a bad pass and he had room to run. all i could think is that he’s a lil nervous when it comes to scrambling after getting the ball stripped from him when we played him.

he’s a good athlete. unfortunately he’s a pretty boy as well…

by amandakt on Jan 6, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

CFL

If he wants to be a QB than the CFL and AFL (if it opens for business again) are calling. He will not be an NFL QB if he doesn’t learn how to become a passer. He was only a True Freshman who played AA football in PA before this year. That is a huge change in competition. He would make a great WR or a dominant TE (Size/Speed mismatch).

And who is to say the 6’ foot Boyd would get anything done either? I know it worked for Troy Smith, but he took some time to develop as a passer.

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 6, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He

has the Randy Moss type body, high end speed, and a playboy…sounds like a NFL WR to me!!!

If OSU played Boeckman more they win, Pryor is a disaster trying to pass the ball

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 6, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His throwing motion if more of a push than a pass

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 6, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought the same thing. Real strange, right?

by NJ lion on Jan 6, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of another 6'5" awkward thrower

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 6, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

16/25, 226 yards

Doesn’t anyone remember how Pryor threw during the PSU game? Extremely efficient and accurate. I thought last night he was just off – much like Chase Daniels, if anyone watched that bowl game.

He came to OSU rather than Mich because he wanted to throw more, run less. I thought his paths out of bounds had more to do with inexperience (not knowing where the markers are) and the fact that he thinks of himself as a passer first, thusly avoiding contact is important. That’s what a non-running QB would do.

If he has more nights like last night then that’s a helpful sign (for PSU) of what’s to come. I have a feeling (unfortunately) that more performances like he had against PSU are in his future.

by InScoresOfOtherGames on Jan 6, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

he was helped by at least two blown coverage plays

he hit two big gainers where we fell apart and that stacked up most of his yardage. Most of his passes were shorties, from what I remember.

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member

by TheMightyErik on Jan 6, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why don't we run 4-5 receiver sets at PSU?

If tOSU and PSU can be beat using this scheme, doesn’t it stand to reason that we would have a lot of success against the rest of the Big Ten if we exposed their defensive backs?

by Nittany Raleigh on Jan 6, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We have.

We tried it a few times with Morelli, and it was a disaster 90% of the time. Generally speaking, we just don’t run it well. Not our thing.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 6, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

statistically insignificant

M*r*ll* was a disaster 85% of the time overall.

by Cairo on Jan 6, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because

When we spread out 4-5 wide the defense blitzes the hell out of us and usually forces a desperation pass out of it.

Where other teams would read the blitz and run a hot route over the middle, PSU does not adjust their routes well to blitzes. So we end up keeping a tight end and running back in there for added protection.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 6, 2009 11:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

More importantly

who has been successful in defending against this type of offensive scheme (College, NFL teams)? What type of defensive scheme do they use? What type of atheletes are required? These are the questions that TB should be trying to answer. Eventually a defensive coordinator is going to figure out how to defend against these offensive schemes and thus be very successful on the national stage. Maybe this will end up being the reemergence of the BigTen.

by kmpsu on Jan 6, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's simple

Press coverage and blitz. It’s how the Steelers and the Eagles defend the pass.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One difference in my opinion........

Until Polamalu came along, Pittsburgh hasn’t had zero talent in the 2ndary since Carnell Lake and Rod Woodson. Philly has had two of the best shutdown corners in the leage and a great safety. But you are right.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Jan 6, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But Troy’s biggest weakness is against the pass. When the Steelers don’t get pressure, they get get killed. The New England game last year being a prime example. It’s also why the Eagles gave the Patriots a better game, their secondary held up better.

It’s just a total philosophy shift from what Penn State does.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Force the QB to release the ball before the WRs can get into their routes and then make the tackle if they do catch the 4yd pass.

by Screen Name 20 on Jan 6, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

The PSU defense doesn’t dictate to anyone. We sit back and react to what the offense does. The trouble is we let the offense gain eight yards before we know what’s going on. You can’t do that against good teams and expect to be competitive.

You can’t give the quarterback time to throw. The pass rush has to be there, and if it isn’t you have to blitz. But if you are going to let the QB and WR play pitch and catch for seven yards it’s all for nothing. So you have to play bump and run with the corners. You either make the quarterback hold it for an extra second so the pass rush can get there, or you frustrate him into making a bad throw. Either way you are dictating what you allow them to do instead of them dictating to you. This is what the PSU coaches don’t get.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 6, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You guys

know more about Pryor than I do, but I was unimpressed. His throwing motion is horrrrrrrrible. If that’s what the next couple years look like at tOSU, you are fine, and maybe (fingers double crossed) we will be reasonably even.

Tressel put his team in position to have this game not even be close, and he screwed it up. Play Boeckman on 30-40% of offensive downs so UT has to defend the pass, max protect, send 3 out, intermediate routes were open, maybe he could actually score touchdowns. He deserved to be down at the half with decision making and clock mis-management at the end of the 2nd quarter and got bailed out by an indefensible McCoy interception.

Finally, I wish I could say the big televen bowl season was more than it’s record, but the conference was 1-6. That sucks and there’s no getting around it. Even if the Big xii isn’t as good as everyone thought (and I think FL will kill zero-U Thursday), the Pac 10 was better than advertised and the masses will overlook AL getting beaten by Utah after Thurs night. This conference has a lot of work to do. It’s better for everyone if Mich is relevant and tOSU stays strong, but someone will need to convince me that 2009 is going to be much different than 2008 as I don’t see Mich much improved, and tOSU will be the same or worse.

by txhawkeye on Jan 6, 2009 12:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

bowl season was more than it’s record

You are right in a way. But remember in 2005, Illinois went 2-9 and they were awful, lifeless, dead. They were the worst Big Ten team I ever saw. In 2006 they also went 2-9, but after the Penn State game I said that Illinois was a team that was headed in the right direction. The improvement had not translated to wins yet, but the improvement was there.

That’s how I feel about this Big Ten bowl season.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's take a trip in the Wayback Machine

A trip to Illinois’ 2006 depth chart is here. If you forget about Brasic who as far as I can remember never even saw the field that year, Illinois had a grand total of seven seniors on the two-deep. Ohio State had 15 this year. Penn State had 18. It is unlikely that either team makes a drastic leap forward to #1 unless the talent level somewhat subsides elsewhere in the country.

I think your gut feeling is right, but I’m willing to bet the Big Ten’s biggest friend this offseason will be graduation and NFL attrition elsewhere rather than an improvement in overall quality, and that 4-3 and a competitive Rose Bowl loss would be an excellent bowl season for us next year.

by gumbercules on Jan 6, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you forget...

that PSU has a solid core returning and, if the NFL doesn’t get Maybin or Bowman, a defense that could be down right nasty upfront. The offense has some holes on the oline, but should be able to compete at a high level, and the receiver position is the easiest position in college football for a freshman to jump into right away and make an impact, ’05 anyone?

PSU will be competitive and may just run into USC again next year if some things go their way.

Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno

by carolinaeasy on Jan 6, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You can't rationalize

1-6, there’s no moral victories here. The Big 10 sucks and it was proven on the field. If memory serves the conference has had losing records in six straight bowl seasons. The conference is likely worse than the ACC and Big East right now. Except for Wisconsin and Minnesota, every team this year should have been able to buckle up their chinstraps and get it done, there’s simply no excuse for the conference not being at least 4-3 in this years bowl games, they had many beatable opponents. Until Big 10 teams come up with more points than their opponents when the clock shows 0:00, it will deserve all of the abuse it gets.

by Joe 96alum on Jan 6, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree more.........

also……..I just bumped into Dan Reeves at Kroger during lunch. That is a big guy. Bear paws for hands and a huge mellon. Very nice guy too. Walking with a cane after knee replacement surgery I believe.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Jan 6, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree....

Sure the wins were not there but in many of the bowl games the Big Ten was competitive. It has been stated many times prior to this, but having to BCS bids has hurt the Big Ten recently.

Now as for you saying the conference is worse than the ACC or Big East, ask yourself these questions: Who would win if PSU played VTech? Who would win if OSU played VTech? Who would win between Cinncinatti and PSU? Or Cinncinatti and OSU? The Big Ten would be favorites in every single matchup and would most likely win the game.

Is PSU and the Big Ten that bad this year? Or is USC that good? I have pondered this alot the last few days and I am pretty sure I know the answer….That Fiesta Bowl last night only reaffirmed what I had suspected…

As for the immediate aftermath of this bowl season, yeah the Big Ten will get bashed, but if Florida beats OU, then the three of the top 5 teams in the Big 12 will have lost and the other two will have needed OT and a last minute score to save 0-5…that will be the story of the offseason, and OU will get ridiculed just as much as OSU for their short comings in the BCS title game as of late…Thursday night remember this post when Hierbie and Corso open up their pie holes after the BCS game….

Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno

by carolinaeasy on Jan 6, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am with you........

I think the Buckeyes showed that Texas was not the #1 team in the country. I also think Florida is going to devour OK. I mean seriously…..how many points was OSU able to score last night with a super vanilla offense. AND……as another blogger pointed out…..if Boeckman would have played more…..OSU would have won that game.

Also something to consider……though USC is clearly no joke……..how much did it help them to be playing a home game (75% of the stadium was Trojan)……especially when the wheels started coming off the track in the second quarter? Think about USC coming east to play in FL against the Gators or even PSU…..it certainly changes things a bit.

A last thought…….Was anyone else disgusted by the S. Cal players doing the Soulja Boy on the sideline or the dancing of the special teams and the coaching staff on the field, pre-kickoff? Never in my years as a participant or fan have I witnessed such disrespect. I would have thought Pete Caroll would have taught his players to show more respect for their opponent.

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Jan 6, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know what your are saying...

about the home game for USC in the Rose Bowl, but unfortunatley that is the breaks when you are a northern tier team…I didn’t think the PAC10 was as strong as it showed itself to be in the bowl season…but I also didn’t feel the Big 12 was that good either and that has turned out to be true…

The Big Ten will rise again, it always happens, for whatever reason right now the focus amongst youngsters is to score points and lots of them, so they are migrating to these flashy point scoring schools…the system will come around and defenses will adjust to the spread, when that happens the Big 10 will be right there leading the Pac (pun intended).

Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno

by carolinaeasy on Jan 6, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it's not that long ago

that people were completely dismissing the big 12 -

last year everyone picked on the ACC
every year people pick on the Big East -

a few years ago the pac 10 was the darling
and we all know about that sec speed

It’s a revolving door

by PSUgirl on Jan 6, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Saying the Big 10

is hurt by having two teams in the BCS makes things even worse. If we only have one team good enough for the BCS , then that means the conference is just that much weaker. Besides, the BCS teams are losing anyway.

Georgia and Missouri were regularly torched this year by other teams. But the Big 10 teams couldn’t beat them, which is pathetic.

by Joe 96alum on Jan 6, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Penn State & Ohio State

both murdered Michigan State. The Spartans were embarrassed in both games. Totally non-competitive. Michigan State was lightyears behind both States, Pennsylvania & Ohio.

That Georgia carried them for four quarters says that they were nowhere near on our level. Despite all their bullshit SEC hype.

Missouri beat fucking Northwestern. Just to reiterate, they beat Northwestern.

Don’t discount Michigan blowing chunks this year as well. It allowed Wisconsin to slide in to a bowl and get embarassed by Florida State.

"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 Jan 6, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well where is your response to the odds on the Big East/ACC and PSU or OSU?

Kinda kicks that arguement in the ass doesn’t it? Just realize that the big ten will rise soon…this always happens and things will readjust…

Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno

by carolinaeasy on Jan 7, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but unfortunately...

Ohio State always gets great recruiting classes. I always laugh every year when I watch the high school all star games and see all the names flash on the screen. One year it was Notre Dame, of course USC and LSU were big winners this year… It’s always funny to just say the school every time a new name pops-up out loud. You find yourself saying USC and the like a lot and I found myself saying Ohio State a lot like I did last season. Then, you may even get the occasional….PENN STATE, KICKER…ANTHONY FERA! (Who by the way got shafted out of an opportunity to kick a real long field goal because of a penalty…I would’ve liked to see that attempt).

Anyway, it’s amazing how many great recruiting classes Ohio State continues to put out each and every year. However, until that translates into bowl game success my friends, I say keep it up guys!

by phantom818 on Jan 6, 2009 3:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs