Five Reasons For Hope For Penn State In 2009
by BSD on Aug 18, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
in Football
66 comments
I love this time of year. Another college football season is just around the corner. Everyone is 0-0 and full of hopes and dreams for a National Championship. But everyone has their holes to fill as well, and Penn State is no exception. So with that we'll start a series that has kind of become a BSD preseason tradition: Five Reasons for Hope and Five Reasons for Concern for Penn State. Since I'm the heavy Kool-Aide drinker I'll be handling the Hope end of things while RUTS will be playing the part of Debbie Downer. We'll count down starting today with...
Reason for Hope #5: The Spread HD Offense
In the spring of 2008 it was a running punch line that started just after the Alamo Bowl when Jay Paterno described the offense Penn State planned to employ in 2008 as the "Spread HD" offense. Penn State was going into the season with a new quarterback, a new running back, and a group of wide receivers that nobody outside of the Penn State family could find much of anything good to say about. But after a few games the critics were silenced as Penn State's offense showed it could light up the scoreboard with the best of them.
In a lot of ways the Penn State offense reminds me of Purdue. Stick with me here for a second. Year in and year out the Boilermakers rank near the top of the conference in passing offense. But who was the last Purdue wide receiver to go in the NFL draft? (Answer: Vinny Sutherland in 2001 - 5th Round to Atlanta) They don't overwhelm you with amazing athletes. They just spread the ball around and mix up the play calling to keep the defense guessing.
There isn't anything particularly innovative about the Spread HD offense. A lot of people, including Joe Paterno, have drawn comparisons to the Wing-T offense of the 1940's. It's just an offense that is highly diverse in its personnel and play calling. They spread the defense and distrubute the ball getting everyone involved. The defense can't just focus on shutting down Evan Royster.
A main talking point for those who doubt the Nittany Lions this year is the new receiving corps. They say Daryll Clark will not be the same quarterback without Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood. These same people were the ones calling Butler and Norwood average at best and Williams a bust a year ago. And I suspect they were the same people who said Michael Robinson wouldn't have any receivers back in 2005.
But I say Penn State doesn't need a Michael Crabtree that can catch 12 passes a game for 185 yards and three touchdowns. When you look back at Penn State's stats the past few years, we didn't have a dominating wide receiver. But all three guys would usually finish the day with three or four catches for 50-70 yards. At the end of the day none of their stats jumped out at you, but Daryll Clark would get his 250 yards and two touchdowns. This is what made Penn State so effective.
When I look at this team this year I see plenty of talent for Clark to work with. Chaz Powell will play the Derrick Williams role with the quick slants, screens, and crossing patterns. Graham Zug will be the mid-range to deep threats. Though he lacks Butler's speed, he runs precise routes and has good hands. Brett Brackett will be the guy in the middle replacing Norwood. He's not as shifty, but he's a big physical presence that can fight off linebackers and safeties with his body. Add to this mix some of the talented freshmen like Justin Brown and Curtis Drake and I think there will be plenty of weapons for Clark to work with.
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Huh
I always saw it with Powell as D-Will, but Zug as Norwood (Great hands, short routes) and Moye as the Butleresque deep threat.
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
by PSUdevon on Aug 18, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jokes aside, Zug is sneaky in that way.
I think he tends to get behind defenses because nobody believes he can actually get behind defenses. That long catch in the Ohio State game comes to mind.
--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.
by Run Up The Score on Aug 18, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But yes, I think you'll see a lot of Moye going deep.
--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.
by Run Up The Score on Aug 18, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The test for Zug
Last year he got open typically because he was forgotten. Teams focused their best three defensive backs on Williams, Butler, and Norwood. Zug was often covered by a nickelback or linebacker. This year Zug will see the best the defense has to offer. We’ll have to see if he’s up for the challenge.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Aug 18, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Receivers
You might be drinking Kool-Aide, or you might be drinking Red Bull (I couldn’t think of a drink that you make you NOT delusional.). What we need are receivers who KNOW they can succeed.
Confidence is something that Norwood, Butler, and Willams had no problem with. Only time will tell if Zug, Moye, and Powell can step up. With luck, the Spread HD will be a system that any player can be plugged into (think Texas Tech).
by Dinsdale on Aug 18, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yah I was thinking the exact same thing
The other day I was watching an offensive highlight video from last year and it struck me that our receivers were making some amazing plays. Zug aside, I seriously doubt we’ll be seeing anything close to that level of receiver play in 2009. It took our 2008 guys four years to get that good.
Now I’m going to attempt to embed said video which I’m sure will create a huge mess of this post. Just ignore it and search youtube for ‘psu 2008 spread hd.’
Do I know what rhetorical means?
by NLseattle on Aug 18, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think I'm drinking Kool-Aide
I recognize the fact these guys aren’t fast like Williams and Butler. But they have experience and we’ve seen they have good hands.
I’m ok with Brackett and Zug. I’m still not sold on Powell yet. He didn’t look sure of himself last year and dropped a few easy passes. Moye is a complete unknown to me. He’s big, but I’m not sure about his speed or hands yet.
I’m also excited to see The Drake and Moo-moo get in the game. These guys are fast and can turn a five yard pass into a 40 yard gain. We have a bunch of freshmen that can play WR and I think we’ll see two of them in the regular rotation.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Aug 18, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moye is a burner
He was a track star at Rochester and won some PIAA titles there. Granted, that doesn’t always translate to football. But he does have good speed. I think he ran the 200 hurdles (?). I can’t recall, but I know he dominated at receiver while at Rochester.
by Spats on Aug 18, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
But he ran the 200m. You could run a 4.6 40 time and still be a great 200m runner. The 200m is all about controlled acceleration and hitting top speed at just the right moment so that you can sustain it to the finish line. It’s a much more mental race than the 100m.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Aug 18, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He ran the 100, 200, and 400
I know because he was burning our sprinters badly. He was the fastest kid in Western Pennsylvania his junior and senior year, so yeah, he got speed
by WPIALkid22 on Aug 18, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moye was the only one
who didn’t drop a pass in the practice they showed on BTN, not that that means much.
by PSUisMyHeart on Aug 18, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just to add to that
We may have lost the speed of the Trio, but we’ve added the height element this year with our receivers. They’re not slow by any means, but what speed they lack they make up for in height, so they seem to be a different kind of receiver than we’ve been used to, which just adds extra element to the diversity of the SpreadHD.
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 18, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As horrible as the OOC schedule is
it could be a perfect prescription for giving the WRs some solid, confidence-building experience. If they do that, DC may not have the same level of talent surrounding him, but he’ll still have plenty of tools. And that’s pretty much the definition of PSU football and what was described in this post as the definition of the Spread HD.
The WRs just need to be good enough to give DC confidence that he can go to them when we need a gain and good enough to make the opposing D respect the pass threat. Throw some ball possession plays designed to go to the TEs and screens to Green into the scheme and I see us moving the ball and controlling the clock.
"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"
by nitwit86 on Aug 18, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Look for Justin Brown
he ws a great player and an awesome person. i think if he gets PT he will make an immediate impact.
by Delaware Boiler on Aug 18, 2009 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Justin Brown
looks like a beast. I haven’t seen a WR that looks like him physically and moves as fast as he does since Bryant Johnson. If he doesn’t get some kind of PT this year and/or starting time, I will be shocked. My dream WR setup would include Zug in the Norwood role, Brown at the Butler spot, and Devon Smith/Powell mixed in the D-Will role.
by AlmostAYardShy on Aug 18, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
speed is nice but don’t mean jack at the WR position… I’ll take a guy that runs routes under control and gets good separation with solid hands every time for a guy that’s fast… i.e. I’ll take 4 more Norwood’s this season and we’ll win…
Look at Williams… I loved Williams but he was not great WR in my mind… He probably lead the group in dropped passes… dropped passes don’t move chains… kids like Norwood keep drives alive… ball control is the key to success…
by WETSU on Aug 18, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
With that attitude
You’ll never make it as an offensive coordinator in the Nintendo 12.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Aug 18, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Possesion receivers will be the key early in the year
While they’re figuring out the OL, I think we’re going to see a lot of dink ‘n dunk passing. Nothing more than 15 yards. Get the ball out of Clark’s hands quickly, keep the ball moving, spread them out for long gain runs. I think the only time you’ll see down field shots before Iowa will be in ideal situations like 2nd and short or following mid-field turnovers. Once we get into conference play (and the OL has solidfied) they’ll start working the deep ball to both break pattern and create mismatches underneath.
Plus: You Gotta Unleash the Dragon.
by PaOhWi on Aug 18, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Phil Steele listed AJ Price as a starting WR
This confused me. Is there any sign that Price will play this year?
by Cairo on Aug 18, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No
I’ve been reading all of the updates on the practices and scrimmage and I never see Price’s name mentioned. And it looks like he’s just as skinny as when he signed.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Aug 18, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and
is dropping passes to boot.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 18, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
freshmen WR:
Do they all play or do we end up red shirting most of them. I would like to see Justin Brown as long as Curtis Drake out on the field. I just remember in past years we always use to red shirt our Freshmen. Is there a change around or is that the way it is going to be this year again?
by jetskijoe on Aug 18, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it seems that with JoePa
unless there is a HUGE disparity between the freshman and the upperclassman, Joe tends to go senior.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does he?
How would he go here:
Or does this constitute ‘huge disparity,’ iyo?
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 18, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
first off, that is a big enough disparity
but second off, this is a trick question, as we know the answer would be
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the answer
lasagna?
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 18, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd hit that
Megan Fox isn’t too bad, either.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Aug 18, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you're like JoePa and go for the seniors
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 18, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a few more weeks
She’ll turn 69!
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 18, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On opening day, no less
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Aug 18, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Could make for an interesting
first TD celebration by Zug. I spose it’d be nice for him to put a senior spin on things this year after impregnating all those Song Girls last year.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 18, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
69? Graham H. Zug, are you serious?
She had to have had work done to look as well as she does.
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 18, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Raquel Welch
is one of the few people over the age of 50 that I’d willingly engage in activities with…and she’s almost friggen 70.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 19, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel as if
a small challenge has been posed. So, without further ado, ‘wouldja?’ (willingly engage in activities with)
Age 62
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 19, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Susan Surandon?
I’d go yes on this one. I’ve always like her.
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 19, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldja?
Age 60
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 19, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldja?
Age 55
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 19, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't see the picture
But if it’s Katey Sagal or Rene Russo, then yes.
Oprah Winfrey? Not so much…
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Aug 19, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't know who that is
Body looks good, face not so much.
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 19, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is Rene Russo
And though she might not look so good in that picture, I gotta stick with my original answer above.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Aug 19, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got one (and this one is a definite yes for me)
Sigourney Weaver, 59
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 19, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way
I love how this thread has gone from “Reasons for Hope for Football” to which MILF (or Mother I’d Like to Zug, for the younger readers) would you “engage in activities with”. Who wants to be this ends up it’s own FanPost?
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 19, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a good pic
It’s a fair tangent from ‘Reasons for Hope.’ For both Men & Women PSU fans. Age ain’t nuthin but a number, but we all must succumb to the sands of Time. Cept for Zug of course.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 20, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now that I think about it
all women becoming MILFs is a “Reason for Hope”
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 20, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my brother...
…saw sigourney weaver at a convenient store up in New Hampshire or some where up there in New England…anyway…said she looked hideous.
by hbeach08 on Aug 19, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I've always considered her pretty sexy
then again, I’m a big fan of Alien, so I might be a little biased since she begins and ends the film in skimpy panties and a low cut shirt even though that movie came out 30 years ago.
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 19, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
for….I dunno, just funny.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 20, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
re: freshman WR
I mean, we played Butler/Williams/Norwood when they were Freshman and they ended up fine. I think Drake/Brown/Smith all see some time this year, and maybe even a lot more than anyone expects. The beautiful thing about the Spread HD is the ability to throw off the defense on what you’re doing, and I think working in the freshman will definitely do that.
by AlmostAYardShy on Aug 18, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but in that instance you had
two redshirt freshmen and a spring enrolly (if that’s a word). In the current situation, you have a bunch of kids that just showed up on campus. I agree that some of the younger kids will see PT, but I doubt it will be significant until late in the year.
by cpm126 on Aug 18, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
also, if you know anything about the 2003-4 teams
you’d know that not only were our cupboards bare, but we barely even had cupboards when it came to the WR position. I mean heck, our 2 leading WRs in 2004 were 2005’s starting QB and RB.
Not quite the case here in 2009. I’d imagine these freshmen will have to wait their turns.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you saying Terrance Phillips never panned out???
by cpm126 on Aug 18, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shut you Zugging face, Uncle Zugger
Your a Pryor sucking, ESPNing Uncle Zugger.
Your an Uncle Zugger, yes it’s true! Nobody Zugs Uncles quite like you!
Uncle Zugger, that’s U, N, C, L, E, ZUG YOU, Uncle Zugger!
One of the funniest movies EVAR
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 18, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you will see some
Powell is the only upperclassman with real burner speed, and I’m not so sure about his hands. So I’m almost positive we’ll see The Drake and maybe Devon Smith get some playing time.
The problem I’m hearing with Smith is that his endurance is terrible. You would expect this in a trained sprinter like him. He trains all month for a race that lasts ten seconds. Maybe he runs two or three heats and that’s it. Now he has to get into football shape so he can go full out like that play after play. Until then I bet we see him used a lot like Justin King was in 2005. When he’s on the field you can bet he’s getting the ball on an end around or reverse. He might get a look on kick and punt returns if he proves he can catch the ball under pressure.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Aug 18, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And don't forget
There’ve been hints that Royster could slide out to the slot on occasion and you could still have Green or Beachum in the backfield. If the line works out, I think the receivers will be fine. There are just a ton of weapons to utilize and a ton of ways to deploy them, but it’s all contingent on solid line-play,
by Spats on Aug 18, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hands
For me at this point, hands is the only thing that matters. Catch the friggin ball. Clark is as efficient and as seasoned a quarterback as we’ve ever had — we’ve never had a guy who’s won the conference title or NC return the next year.
Clark is going to buy time in the pocket, he’s going to know where his receivers are, he’s going to find the ones who are open, and he’s going to throw them a catchable ball. All of this we can rest assured. But if they start dropping balls on 3rd down, we are in big friggin trouble.
As others have said, what we need is possession receivers, we need guys who can go out and catch the ball that’s thrown to them. We don’t necessarily need someone who’s a homerun threat, just catch the friggin ball and don’t fumble.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
by millzners on Aug 18, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The beauty of the spread offense.
Don’t need one guy to be amazing when you have four or five weapons to spread the ball around.
I think we’ll be fine.
by Tailgate Shogun on Aug 18, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have nothing to add to this thread.
Aside from Zug jokes.
sigh
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Aug 18, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Zug jokes are all you have to add to this thread
then you have Everything to add to this thread.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
by jtothep on Aug 19, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously
When have you ever shied away from bringing attention to our Supreme Overlord?
by dawsonPSU10 on Aug 19, 2009 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zug bless you.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Aug 19, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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