Joe Paterno Presser Highlights: Indiana

by Adam Bittner on Nov 17, 2010 1:53 AM EST in Football

It was a basketball night here at BSD so apologies for getting this up really late, but better late than never right? Here's a recap of Joe Paterno's press conference on Tuesday. (Transcript)

Believes linebacker Michael Mauti will miss this week's game but expects Stephfon Green to be OK.
On Matt McGloin against Ohio State and his playing time on Saturday: "Well, yeah, Mac, played really well until the second half, obviously. He had what you expect sometimes of young quarterbacks. He got a little careless with the football; made up his mind to whom he was going to throw the football, and threw it right into the hands of the Ohio State kids who did a good job. Their linebackers did a really good job amongst a couple of things. I expect him to start."
Said "We'll find out" about Silas Redd's playing status after his public urination citation.
Praised wide receiver Justin Brown's potential.
Isn't sure why Indiana is moving this week's game to Washington, but doesn't really care, either.
Gave opponents credit for playing well against Penn State's return game. Said the team continues to practice returns the same amount, but other teams are just making plays on special teams.

Believes Pete Massaro has a bright future, but hasn't had as much of a chance to show it this year as he might have liked because of injuries.

On tackling issues: "Well, the guys...when you miss tackles, obviously it's one of two things: Either you did a lousy job in your technique tackling, or the other guy is that good, he's that quick, and he sets you up well enough that he can beat you. I think it's a combination. Most games we have tackled pretty well. And then we've played against some people that have done well running the football."

Expects Nate Stupar and Khairi Fortt to replace Mauti this week.

Believes playing in Washington will be a good experience for the kids, but doesn't know what to expect.

On losing four games by 20 points this season: "So, I think there's a lot of things. And the fact that we only had...we had 59 kids on the squad that are freshmen or sophomores. And you are bound to have those days where things, you know, you can't make something happen for yourself, and anything adverse that happens, is probably a little bit more dramatic than it would be when you get all of the kids, but we are a very young football team. We don't have many the kids who are going to leave this football team who are players who won't be here next year"

Penn State will fly to D.C. because of the early kick.

Believes the quarterback position settling down will be important for improvement int the future.

On Indiana's game against Iowa: "I spent a lot of time looking at the game against Iowa because I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Iowa personnel and I thought that Indiana really did a good job against them. I was really impressed that they went toe to toe with Iowa. They went at it. And they were a good looking football team against Iowa"

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It's good to see

that Joe seems to be excited for what next season may hold.

by psuwxman on Nov 17, 2010 5:06 AM EST reply actions

"Praised wide receiver Justin Brown's potential"

From just an offensive skill position and with our group of LBs, I cannot wait until next season. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not writing off these next two (three?) games, but like Joe seems to be thinking, I am insanely excited about 2011 and 2012.

"Personal Attack"- R. Aceto

by Bob Sacamano on Nov 17, 2010 8:22 AM EST reply actions

I was discussing this with someone earlier this week (or weekend).

The problem with excitement is we’re losing several of the OL, which are generally our biggest problem. Sure, if the 4* guys pan out and our LBs learn to wrap up, things should be wildly fun, but until it’s demonstrated that the OL will be worth a damn, I’m still cautious about my hopes for next year. Certainly better than this year, but I don’t know how excited to get yet.

"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."

-J.V.Pa.

by psume06 on Nov 17, 2010 8:40 AM EST up reply actions

2 o-lineman, with one being very good, Wiz

Klopacz and Wiz are the only two not returning and Pannell gets lots of PT. Urshell, Stank and Farrell have been playing well when in too. Just to give you a bit of optomism about the o-line

eff it, I'm going derp

by BMAN13 on Nov 17, 2010 9:26 AM EST up reply actions

I thought Eliades was a Sr?

Save BSD

by Kyle_Martin on Nov 18, 2010 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Eliades is done and hasn't played in 5 games

Okoli will be a starter next year and has in my opinion been as good or now even better than Lou

eff it, I'm going derp

by BMAN13 on Nov 18, 2010 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

Diffenbach at center

I read something a while ago that Miles Diffenbach has looked really good at center on the scout team. He has put himself in a position to be the front runner for the starting spot this spring.

Mike
@BSDtweet
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Nov 17, 2010 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Paterno By the Book

I’m sure many of you have read this book before (if you haven’t it is a MUST read), but I reread it after Joe’s 400th. It is uncanny how many of the issues and ideas he talks about in this book, now written 20 years ago, we have seen with this group of young guys. But the biggest one is his idea that championships and great teams are cyclical about every 3-4 years and this group has an outstanding chance at proving the Old Ball Coach right once again!

by wek5000lion09 on Nov 17, 2010 8:29 AM EST reply actions

As mentioned above...

What is going to save us from an OL that takes half a season to look even respectable? Replacing a few pieces on said OL will also be a factor. The only thing have have going for us is that beasts like Clayborne from Iowa won’t be around to make our team look silly.

I just don’t see next year as the “riding into the sunset” year for Joe Pa. Realistically, the team may only be slightly better than this year’s.

A lot of our problems may not have anything to do with experience, it may have to do with talent-and that’s what worries me.

We’ll see though. I would love to be wrong.

Dark Knight feeling, die and be a hero-or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.-Jay-Z

by OMEGAMAN on Nov 17, 2010 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

Where is talent the issue? skill positions are looking tremendous. The entire secondary is back with a lot of experienced gained this year. Don’t say that guys don’t improve from year to year. There will be 8 very experienced d-backs. LB will have Hodges, Stupar, Mauti, and Fortt all with a lot of experience and Hull, Yannich, Carson all waiting to get some. The D-line loses Ogbu. DE is the only place where talent seems to be an issue but again, guys will develop over the offseason and there may be some new blood to booster the ranks. O-line, always our biggest concern loses one very good player in Wiz and one okay guy in Klopacz while Stank, Pannell, Farrell and Urschell have all looked decent in their PT this year.

eff it, I'm going derp

by BMAN13 on Nov 17, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

I see lots of reason for potential and an exciting season

After the bye week, the O-line has made tremendous strides. Nobody can deny that. Did they struggle in the 2nd half against OSU? Yes but the whole team did. The improvement comes in the fact that they never pushed YSU around yet did that to OSU for a half. Plus, there probably won’t be the massive shuffling of the O-line positions like there was this season. Most of the guys have already found their spots. Plus Troutman and Okoli have really been playing well as of late.

Pass me the sunscreen, the future is so bright I’m going to get a sunburn.

2010 PSU Football: You do not and will not understand it

by jman07 on Nov 17, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

Fly to DC.

They’re not flying in Sat. morning, right? I don’t get it.

Somebody make a play.

by Illegal Formation on Nov 17, 2010 10:06 AM EST reply actions

Not leaving till Friday evenin

They make sure everyone attends class Friday, then they leave. Its a 4.5 to 7 hour drive, depending on traffic on a Friday night between State College and DC. Why not take the hour and 10 min flight. Not like they can’t afford it.

eff it, I'm going derp

by BMAN13 on Nov 17, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

You pitched in to the kitty, right?

My accountant says we did, that’s for sure.

The offensive line was inspired by McGloin.

by jtothep on Nov 17, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

NLC and season tickets, yeah, I pitched in.

Figure it was budgeted for a flight to Indy anyhow so do they really save any money driving 3 busses to DC from SC? probably not a lot.

eff it, I'm going derp

by BMAN13 on Nov 17, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

this made me LOL

Isn’t sure why Indiana is moving this week’s game to Washington, but doesn’t really care, either

I am 100% sure that this statement is absolutely true

400. That is all.

by letsgopsu on Nov 17, 2010 10:52 AM EST reply actions

What bugs me is I see a lot of other bloggers thinking PSU was in on this decision somehow, and they were laughing at how FedEx field is having problems selling out the game. This had nothing to do with Penn State. This was all about Indiana selling one of their premier home games away for a money grab.

Mike
@BSDtweet
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Nov 17, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

I have seen that too

and have corrected them if there is the opportunity

I guess Indiana had to pay for those renovations to their stadium somehow. Oh, the irony.

“We have an improved Stadium! But we are not playing there!”

400. That is all.

by letsgopsu on Nov 17, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

That was my favorite part, too.

"We have the plainest uniforms you can make. We know who we are. We are Penn State, and that's something special."

by dwf5095 on Nov 17, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

If McNasty keeps improving year to year,

I could see a tremendous 2012 in the cards. Just too bad that has to be the year the world ends and everything….

by jimbo2psu on Nov 17, 2010 11:08 AM EST reply actions

People may be

excited for next year, but I’m not sure how high people should be placing the bar when we play OSU, Wisco, Bama, Iowa and Nebraska. Dont get me wrong, I’m excited about the schedule and the growth of our team, but to expect us to have a significantly improved team and record seems very debatable right now

by stewsplace on Nov 17, 2010 11:24 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Yeah

I think next year may be our highest SoS in program history. At least some of them are home games.

by OctaShields on Nov 17, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

The tough schedule is what I'm excited about, though.

We’ve got a solid team with a lot to prove and a lot of opportunity to prove it. It could end up being really rough, but no reward without the risk.

"We have the plainest uniforms you can make. We know who we are. We are Penn State, and that's something special."

by dwf5095 on Nov 17, 2010 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

We could legitimately have a better team than this year

and lose 5 games next year.

Games where we’ll be narrow favorites or underdogs: Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, @OSU, @Wiscy

Potential trap games (away against decent to good competition): @Temple, @NW

We’ve got to seriously bring the A game every single week. I think we can go 9-3, which would actually be an amazing season since I think we’ll have 5-6 games against ranked teams.

by OctaShields on Nov 17, 2010 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

Agree

I laughed when commentators were complimenting Minnesota a year or two ago for their willingness to schedule a couple tough teams including USC. I was thinking – if they dont have a good chance to win (which they didn’t), then all they’re doing is scheduling losses, which does more damage than good IMO. A hard schedule is good for fans, but wins are better

by stewsplace on Nov 17, 2010 5:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Depends on how you look at it, I suppose.

12 cupcake wins are just as silly to me as scheduled loses. But they could pull through and do something special, that’s what I’m pumped for. It’s an optomist’s schedule.

"We have the plainest uniforms you can make. We know who we are. We are Penn State, and that's something special."

by dwf5095 on Nov 17, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

I know what you're saying

But I wasn’t talking about 12 “cupcake wins” because if you’re in a major conference that’s not really possible. Point was just that a hard schedule is only great if you win or are really competitive. If you schedule 2 or 3 out of conference games against ranked opponents and get blown out, it’s not great for fans or the team. I’m all for a solid schedule and a test or two, but it’s got to be reasonable to the team you put on the field. Just my opinion

by stewsplace on Nov 17, 2010 7:05 PM EST reply actions

I get what you mean.

It’ll be rough on the team, and it’ll either hurt quite a bit or pay off nicely. But if the guys don’t pull off something big next season, it won’t be for a lack of opportunity.

"We have the plainest uniforms you can make. We know who we are. We are Penn State, and that's something special."

by dwf5095 on Nov 17, 2010 7:16 PM EST up reply actions