Penn State Defense Grades Against Michigan State
by BSD on Nov 29, 2010 2:00 PM EST
in Football
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It's been a long time since I have seen a Penn State defense this painful to watch. The fabulous defenses of the past few years have spoiled us. We're used to seeing domination. When a big stop was needed, they usually came through. But not this year. Too often they gave us a sinking feeling in the pit of our stomachs as we watched them getting run over again and again. This team has a lot of work to do to get ready for a bowl game, and they have a long offseason ahead of them with a lot of questions to answer. Let's just get to the grades and close out this disasterous defensive season.
Defensive Line
It was basically the same story we've seen all year. Ollie Ogbu is the only one worth a damn trying to fight through constant double teams. Devon Still and Jack Crawford have no answers for cut blocks. Still single handedly gave the Spartans 20 yards by roughing the passer and punter on two devastating penalties. The defensive ends get shoved around like Walmart shopping carts on Black Friday.
The good news is that everyone but Ogbu comes back next year. The bad news is they need to show a lot of improvement. I'm not expecting much from Eric Latimore, Jack Crawford and Devon Still since those guys have been in the system for over three years now. They are what they are at this point, which means they are solid players, but not play makers. We're pinning our hopes on guys like Pete Massaro, Jordan Hill, DaQuan Jones, C.J. Olaniyan, and Evan Hailes to mature, bulk up, and become the stars we expect them to become. It would also be nice if Brandon Ware could maybe put down the iPhone once in a while, stop tweeting and maybe ran a few minutes on the tread mill or watched a little film. What a waste of a scholarship.
This post is starting to take an ugly turn, so I'll move on.
Final Grade: D
Linebackers
I'm not sure any team has exposed Penn State's poor linebacker play as well as the Spartans did. They gobbled them up in the running game, and Kirk Cousins was hitting his tight ends for 20 yards over the middle seemingly at will. Chris Colasanti and Bani Gbadyu are wonderful kids that gave it all and kept their noses clean, but man will I not miss those guys next year. The former is always a step slow, and the latter is always a step in the wrong direction. Gbadyu had a few good plays on Saturday, but every time the running back gave a shoulder fake inside, Gbadyu got sucked in and sealed completely giving up containment.
At one point someone on twitter asked me directly why they don't pull Bani. In response I asked, "Who would you replace him with?" to which they responded "Hodges, Carson, Van Fleet...anyone would be better."
Well, that's a freshman, a walk on, and a kid that has a ton of physical tools, but like Bani, can't seem to figure out what he's supposed to be doing out there. So, sadly, in the absense of Michael Mauti, Gbadyu was the best option.
On the plus side, Nate Stupar played one of his best games of the year leading the team with 10 tackles. He's showing signs of getting it, but he's not quite there yet. I still cover my eyes and peek through the cracks when he has to make an open field tackle. But he's the best blitzing linebacker we have, and he has a knack for getting his hands on the ball in pass coverage. Sometimes he even catches it. It was Stupar that caused the critical fumble at the end when there were two minutes to go and Penn State had exhausted all of their timeouts.
Looking ahead to next year they have to replace two linebackers. You have to figure Mauti will start in the middle and Stupar will likely be the other starter. Khairi Fortt and Gerald Hodges will duke it out for the last spot while Glenn Carson and Mike Hull should make capable backups. I'm not feeling great about that lineup to start the year, but there is a ton of potential there.
Final Grade: D (Stupar gets an A)
Secondary
These guys weren't tested often as Michigan State had a comfortable lead for most of the game and was content to just run the ball. And a lot of the time the Spartans attacked the linebackers with the tight end. But when they were tested the secondary mostly failed. Cousins comlpeted 17-of-22 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Malcolm Willis had two boneheaded plays. The first came when he failed to cover B.J. Cunningham when D'Anton Lynn left him to blitz. Then late in the game he hit a ball carrier after the guy took about five steps out of bounds.
I don't know what happened to Stephon Morris. The guy looked so aggressive last year. Now it's like he's afraid of contact. And now that teams have noticed he's only four feet tall, they love to line up their tallest guy on him. The fact that he has lost the starting job to a guy that played wide receiver last year speaks volumes. He's got to get his swagger back somehow. If he could grow about five inches that would be cool too.
Chaz Powell got absolutely torched by about five steps. He's just lucky Cousins overthrew his guy by about one foot or that would have been a touchdown.
Final Grade: D
Special Teams
Man do we miss Anthony Fera. Collin Wagner's kickoffs only averaged 62 yards not factoring in the onsides kick. Anthony Butterworth's punts averaged 34 yards. Michigan State was averaging 46 yards on their punts meaning Penn State was giving up 12 yards per punt exchange. That's not helping your offense or defense. Penn State averaged a pathetic 16.4 yards on their kick returns. It was an all around special teams FAIL. Utterly disappointing considering special teams was a strength of the team in the early part of the season.
Final Grade: F
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Comments
There were a few pretty obvious holds
I HATE complaining about missed holding calls, but it was apparent that about half the stadium saw a few on the left side when MSU was driving toward the north end zone, specifically.
We lost by more than the score reflected, but at the same time if we would have been more disciplined and not shot ourselves in the foot EVERY drive during the first half and maybe gotten a few of the holding calls on defense, it might have been a completely different game. But we didn’t deserve to win in any case. Just saying this to give the game some context as “not as bad as it might have seemed”.
Officiating was TERRIBLE on Saturday.
It’s not the reason we lost, but it was ugly ugly ugly ugly ugly.
At one point, after they finally called some type of offensive penalty on Michigan State, the crowd sarcastically applauded.
Personal favorite moment – sometime in the second half, I think MSU had an illegal man downfield right in front of the referee. McQueary says something, he gets some nonsense response fromt he official, and he goes completely apoplectic. I thought for sure he was going to get tossed.
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
Proud to say I was part of the sarcastic applause.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe, but I figured it had just filtered down from his hair.
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
I was afraid it was just me
since I didn’t know if the officiating was really that bad or I was just being a homer, but I thought those refs were terrible too. I feel there was a huge hold on the one reverse that went for big yards too.
Everything looks more important when written in gray italics.
Definitely.
Also, on Baker’s big run on their first drive, one of their linemen had Massaro completely turned around right in front of the official.
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 7:59 PM EST up reply actions
Heard only part of the game while driving home from Ohio.
(Took the family to Kalahari.) Picked it up on some MSU station. Even their announces said MSU “got away with one” on that play and that they had an ineligible man downfield.
The non-call on Cousins' hold in the first (second? forget) quarter
was egregious. I never stand and yell jibberish when in my seats. I did then. Loudly.
The other special teams issue: going for 2 when down 12.
Just a boneheaded coaching decision, or that chart has some flaws. With the failed conversion, PSU put the FG opportunity out of the equation and had to get two more TDs.
@jschnauzer
Bloggin' at http://joepasdoghouse.com
Gotta make it sometime
If you are down 12 and kick the extra point, you are now down 11. Meaning to tie you would need a TD with the 2 pointer along with the field goal. So why is it a problem going for two when down 12?
by wek5000lion09 on Nov 29, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
I prefer to go for it on the next score myself,
but you had to go for it eventually. It was the only way that the game could get within 3 scores. You can’t kick the XP twice and then be down 4.
'We've got too many people analyzing everything and sometimes they don't know what they're talking about.' -Joseph Vincent Paterno
by PSUinBOSSton on Nov 29, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, ya could, but you'd end up in the exact same situation
we were in anyway. :)
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
What the other guys said.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
I disagree
It was suitably late in the game to go for 2, assuming MSU doesn’t score again (which would have put the game further out of reach and likely iced the game. Of course if they just get a FG, then we would still need 2 TDs, but with regular extra points, and so the missed 2 could hurt us). The only 3 reasons I can think of for holding off on the 2 pt conversion would be the aforementioned MSU getting a FG, or a potential increase in chance to score with the momentum swing of staging most of the comeback so far, and finally the chance that if you are staging that comeback, then the defense may be more tired. Those are definitely possibilities.
On the other hand, say we kick the 1 pt. Now we are down 11, and still need at least a FG and a TD with a 2 point conversion just to tie it up. Say we get into a 4th and short situation around the 20 yard line, what do you do? Probably kick the FG, since you need that anyway, right? So then we onside kick and eventually get our next TD and have to go for 2, but if we go under the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that the chance for making the 2 pt conversion is equal, then our chance of missing it and losing is just as equal as what actually happened.
Now let’s replay that scenario with having gone for it and missing. We now are in that 4th and short, but we know we can’t settle for a FG, so we go for it. Who knows if we make it, but I’ll say we do, drive, get the TD, do the onsides kick, get it back, and get our other TD.
By going for the 2 pt conversion on the first TD we gained an information advantage for future potential situations in that we knew for certain whether or not we should kick a FG or go for it.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 29, 2010 2:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was okay with that call
If they had got it they were down by ten just needing a TD and a FG. But not getting it they knew they needed two TD. If they kick the PAT, then they know they need a FG and a TD with a 2 pt conversion.
Either way, at some point you are going to have to score on a 2 pt conversion. Might as well get it out of the way now. That way if you don’t make it you still have time to recover and you know exactly what you need to do. I think every coaches nightmare is scoring a TD as time expires and needing a 2 pt conversion just to send it into overtime.
Take the points first, then go for the tie.
Yes, there are a number of factors at play, but why would you definitely take a FG out of the equation with a 12 point gap than keep it alive with an 11 point gap?
@jschnauzer
Bloggin' at http://joepasdoghouse.com
I think that's the issue.
It’s making the game as winnable as possible for as long as possible.
Doesn’t matter all that much anyway, but I would’ve kicked the PAT at that point.
--
@scrappled
SlowStates.com - Podcasts now (finally) on iTunes.
by Run Up The Score on Nov 29, 2010 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
Ok
But you’re still not making a very convincing argument that it was a “boneheaded” decision. It’s, at worst, a 50-50 decision.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
This
Seems like people are pretty much split. Some people see the logic. Others don’t agree with it. Since it didn’t work, the ones that don’t agree with it have the trump card. If they make the two points, Joe is a genius and nobody is complaining today.
I'll try to explain this another way.
When you are down by 18 points, you need a field goal, two touchdowns, and a 2 pt conversion. No matter what order you get them in, that’s what you need.
In my mind, you might as well go for two now while there is still six minutes on the clock. If you get it, great. Now you’re only down by ten. If you don’t get it, you’re down by 12, but at least now you know a field goal won’t help. That will make that 4th and 7 decision at the 30 yard line a lot easier to make later in the game.
Ok, but why leave the FG in the equation, if ultimately it won't be enough if you aren't able to make a 2 pt conversion?
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 29, 2010 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
Like I said
When they missed the 2 pt conversion, it took the FG out of the equation. Now, later, when you’re down by 12 at the 25 on 4th and 7, there is no debate. A FG won’t help you, so you go for it.
But what if you’re down 11 points on 4th and 7 at the 25 with 2 mins to go. You might be tempted to kick the FG there hoping to get the TD and 2 pt PAT later. But what if you get the TD and miss the 2 pt PAT later. Wouldn’t you wish you had gone for it on that 4th and 7?
Personally, I understood going for 2 there and I liked the call.
Fair enough
difference of opinion
I would go for two only when I absolutely had to, and as late as possible.
@jschnauzer
Bloggin' at http://joepasdoghouse.com
I would go for two only when I absolutely had to
the difference is, as soon as I knew I absolutely had to, I’d do it. Why put it off and leave the uncertainty in the air?
The only real downside is if MSU later scores a FG ( and only a FG), which would make it a 15 point game (instead of a 14 pt game with a regular PAT), but at that point it would have been a 2 TD lead with only a few minutes left anyway, so that quite possibly would have iced the game anyway.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 29, 2010 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
Still
2 times he killed a chance for the defense to get a stop. No, I take that back, one time he killed a chance for the D to get a stop, the other time the D did get a stop and he took it back. Both in the first half, both when the game was still very much up for grabs. It felt like the D was starting to get some traction and he completely sucked the life out of them. It’s sad to see the physical talent get wasted with boneheaded plays.
'We've got too many people analyzing everything and sometimes they don't know what they're talking about.' -Joseph Vincent Paterno
Unfortunatley, bigger problems than boneheaded moves
I agree that the penalties hurt, but the running into the kicker was followed by another forced punt. So that didn’t kill us as much as it could have. I worry about Still and the D line because they can’t get any penetration, rarely stop a running back behind the line, and have got beat by every screen/misdirection this year. How many screens do these guys (lb’s included) need to blow before they realize that if 4 of them who can’t beat a block all game all see each other in teh backfield, they were probably let in and are about to let up a big play??? As stated in the post, this is starting to take an ugly turn, I’ll move on.
by wek5000lion09 on Nov 29, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
I was having Boston College 04 flashbacks.
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
UGH.
If I don’t repent and live a good life, I assume I will be faced with an eternity of BC and Iowa from 04 on continuous loop.
I was at that game
And I’ve blacked it out of my memory. The only reason I even know I was there was I found the ticket stub in my collection the other day and I thought “jebus why did I keep this?”
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
Coaching
We need to add a coaching grade to this post. Although this post would have gotten uglier. I understand the talent is not what we have had in the past but Tom Bradley has no creativity. Every play is vanilla zone cover 3, with the corners 8-10 yards off the receiver. If Bradley is such a great coordinator why do we not here his name mentioned for high profile jobs.
Also, why did we not Redshirt Forrt if all we do is play him on special teams? We lost his redshirt and he should play more. He can’t do any worse then the slouches out there.
Any thought to moving Hodges back to Strong Safety with the way the LB’s are stacked next year? He looks lost…
Hodges will be ok,
if he looks lost, which I think is an exaggeration, then you cannot put him at safety. That’s the last place for a player who can’t figure it out.
If you can’t get to the QB, there is no defensive scheme that is going to magically work. Man coverage with no pass rush is just asking for pain. much more than 28 points worth of pain.
'We've got too many people analyzing everything and sometimes they don't know what they're talking about.' -Joseph Vincent Paterno
by PSUinBOSSton on Nov 29, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
Scrap could catch a lot of heat
I don’t know if we can say Bradley has NO creativity after this year, because with the young guys and tons of injuries he might have been forced to go vanilla for most of the year. However, if these young guys don’t see improvement by next year, he may start to really be doubted.
That being said, I do question some of our strategies on defense, especially late yesterday. On a 3rd and 3 in which we NEEDED a stop late, we continue to play our 8-10 yrd cushion. Why is a tight man coverage on the corner never used? Bend don’t break doesn’t work if there is no room to bend.
by wek5000lion09 on Nov 29, 2010 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
Bradley is fine.
The biggest coaching blunder of the game was the failure to challenge the spot on the MSU third down play, just before their third TD. I do not think that was a first down. Two questions come to mind. Does PSU have a protocol for challenging plays on the field – shouldn’t someone in the booth be responsible for that? To those of you who attended the game, Was that play replayed on the scoreboard? I’m dying to know.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
It was not a first down.
I didn’t think it was a first down in the stadium and my DVR confirmed his elbow hit the field a full yard short. MSU probably would have gotten the first down anyway, but still.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
It was 3rd down,
right? So MSU would probably have gone for the FG. Maybe it doesn’t make a difference in the outcome, but still.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
It was third down.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
And actually, I may be wrong about them getting the first down.
If they had just run the ball up the middle, we may have stopped them. Remember that most of their success came with running outside.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
The play was not replayed on the scoreboard to the best of my recollection.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t remember seeing it replayed either, although I was surprised that a few of the questionable plays were shown in the Beav.
by wek5000lion09 on Nov 29, 2010 2:32 PM EST up reply actions
I was shocked they showed any replays. The main concern was, as per usual, showing crowd shots. Although that’s better than “Thank you, corporate sponsors.”
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Hey RR.....
did you notice during one of the “Thanks” they backed it with the MSU crowd.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Nov 29, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
I did not.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
If that's true,
the person or persons responsible for the scoreboard need to face some sort of disciplinary measure. I’m dead serious about this. Their Bon Jovi-inspired jackassery is now interfering with Penn State’s ability to manage a football game. Unacceptable.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
+1 !!!!!!!
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Nov 29, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
And if you really want.....
to bitch, “They” did NOTHING to commemorate The 50th Anniversary of Beaver Stadium…..oh wait, you could get a hot cocoa mug with a 50 on it.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Nov 29, 2010 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
I think they mentioned it.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
My other coaching complaint is about Mauti.
What happened during the course of the game that made him healthy enough to play late? He’s your best LB, either he plays or he doesn’t.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
I'm guessing they didn't see enough from practice to think it would be worthwhile.
He didn’t do anything of note when he was in, but then, maybe he needed time to warm up? I dunno.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
I agree,
I just wonder why they had him in at all then.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Bradley's Creativity
Every time he wants to try something different he gets torched by inexperienced players. The CB blitz? That was creative, and Wills’ inexperience left a receiver wide open in the endzone.
Our problem isn’t Bradley, it’s the players he’s working with. Cover-3 is made to stop the run and get pressure on the QB which makes throwing long passes to the open seems in the zone difficult. Well we can’t stop the run, and we never get pressure on the QB. Which means fundamentally we’re screwed. Even if Bradley went nuts with defensive schemes, if Bani can’t make a frickin tackle, what does it matter?
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
by millzners on Nov 29, 2010 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I agree with this.
But I can’t help but entertain the thought that the vanilla schemes may – I use italics there because I still believe Scrap is a really good defensive coach – have created an atmosphere that spawns the inexperienced play and often just plain poor play that forces us to continue using said vanilla schemes. I’m only thinking out loud.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
The TD on Lynn's blitz.
I admit that I don’t know much about x’s and o’s, but was Willis definitely supposed to slide over? I assumed so at first, but on the replay, Bani was scrambling toward the receiver like he had done something wrong.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 2:21 PM EST reply actions
We rarely rarely ever blitz
and I always wish we would do it more. BUT NOT IN THAT SITUATION. Good God that had no chance at being effective.
It would have worked
If Wills had slid over into coverage. With a fast Lynn coming right at the QB and the WR covered by the safety and LB, the throw would have been difficult already and made even more difficult with a tall CB coming right at you. That was the 1st read and so either the pass is incomplete/intercepted or he has to go to the next read in which case it’s likely a sack.
But instead Willis stands there like a statue and it’s an easy throw and catch…
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
Yeah
I see how execution could have made it work. However it was not even remotely CLOSE to being executed correctly. It almost looked like Lynn just decided himself that he was going in and didn’t tell anyone.
If we put some blitz packages into the regular D, I’d have more confidence in things like that.
Hodges asked to play LB
Because he saw that they were a little thin last year or this year I believe. I’d honestly like to see Hodges and Willis as the 2 safeties, but I think Hodges will be at LB since he’s put the weight on to play there.
Hodges is too slow to play safety.
I mean, really, people complain about Astorino being slow now…
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
The D line.....
has been average all year and the DEs have been terrible…..Obviously the LBs are not up to LBU standards and that is understandable considering the previous players there…and I gotta say that TB’s D calling left alot to be desired—-players not able to “play” the defensive set called or is it time for some newer plays? The BBNB D broke too many times this year and at the least , the DEs never contain the outside and have put our step slower LBs in jeopardy. Hopefully the practice the team gets from a bowl invitation will help for next year.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
Jack Ham kept hitting two points all day
One, our d-line is not physical enough and gets pushed around by good teams. Two, the contain and support by the defensive ends and outside linebackers has been horrible this year. I can’t argue with either of those points. The first can be fixed in the weight room, but the second is more frustrating because it’s a discipline issue. Surely LJ, Sr. and Vandy have been frustrated by it too.
You’re right about the bowl practices. Some of this stuff can be fixed now, and those practices should help.
this defense
was painful to watch all season long. no push from the d-line. slow, plodding linebackers who couldn’t tackle, and too many wide open receivers.
Bradley is NOT the answer when/if joe ever retires/dies.
we better pray that Royer, Hailes, Jones, Olaniyan, Baublitz are really really good, because big ten tackles are not losing sleep about facing Crawford and Latimore.
Amen to that.....
and the schedule next year only gets scarier/tougher. Hope the Kids that are left, and there are many, come back with an attitude to work harder and produce better.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Nov 29, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
The other side of that...
Is that Bradley’s being asked to bake a beautiful wedding cake with a cup of flour, spoiled milk, and a bunch of duct tape. It’s not all coaches or all players that are to blame.
--
@scrappled
SlowStates.com - Podcasts now (finally) on iTunes.
by Run Up The Score on Nov 29, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
True dat.....
and I’ve never seen TB shake his head on the sideline like he has done this season.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Nov 29, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
I believe Scrap is performing pretty mcuh as well as we can expect him to perform.
He’s a capable recruiter and, considering the injuries and lack of talented depth, building an average defense this year is proof that he’s a good coach in my estimation. Seriously, at least he didn’t let NW win the game in the second half like a team from the Hawkeye State.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
FIRE STANZI
Wait, What?
Wisconsin, Big Ten Champions for the first time since 1999...
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Nov 29, 2010 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
Also
I think we’re going to see improvement from most defensive players. Stupar may be good enough to at least be on the level of Tim Shaw. Mauti gives me no reason for concern. Hodges just needs to listen to the coaches. Vandy is Vandy. We just need luck in terms of injuries or lack thereof.
If the secondary were only to stay at this year’s level, they still wouldn’t suck too bad.
My only real concern with next year’s defense is the front four and I’m not seeing anyone waiting in the wings to provide us with the pressure and stability we need from the front line.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
I didn't think he was a liability on run plays on Saturday.
A few issues with contain, but he was actually getting into the running lanes every now and then.
There’s just no one there to finish these plays. We only have one Mike Mauti to go around.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
Right.
This is why I think the ends have been somewhat unfairly criticized (when it comes to run defense). They would look a whole lot better if the LBs read plays faster, took better angles, and made more tackles on or near the LOS.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
It's the 'stache, isn't it Paige?
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
i hope you're right
but the tackling is a football fundamental that was sorely lacking this year. stephon morris (whose position coach is bradley) regressed to an alarming degree. if our recent recruiting classes have been so great, then why is there such a lack of depth, to the point at which we’re sending Powell out there?
MehGloin and the offensive line are very worrisome spots, but the piss-poor defense is the most disturbing to me.
Losing Givens and D. Thomas hurts
Those were two highly rated DBs who were expected to contribute. If those guys were around, I don’t think we would be seeing Powell at DB
Mauti and Stupar is a very good start
Mauti earned everyone’s respect with his performance through the middle of the season. He has all the makings. Hopefully he can kick the lingering injuries and continue taking steps forward.
Stupar is a little underrated I think. Sure, he is sometimes out of position, but how many of our defensive players can create turnovers? He anticipates and goes for the big play, and a pretty decent amount of the time he can make it happen. Honestly, with the Scrap defensive philosophy, we need a few guys out there who aren’t just trying to minimize damage but looking to make a big play. And I’ll take a guy like Stupar who can get after the quarterback, strip the football or drop back and get a pick anyday. In fact, I think he’s a perfect complement for Mauti, who is a great runstopper and a very solid tackler.
There is a lot of potential for the third spot. Hopefully competition causes the best to rise to the top and we get back the LBU swagger for 2011
One of the things I really miss is not getting D turnovers......
you cannot count on them anymore.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Nov 29, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
and that has been the biggest let down for me...
because even if you give up some big plays…you should still play aggressive and try to bat down some passes and pick some balls off.
Our corners almost never pick off balls in coverage…usually we depend on a safety scooping up an overthrown ball.
2010 PSU Football......YOU'RE ALL FIRED
by Artiefufkin10 on Nov 29, 2010 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
How do you create them
When the offense knows exactly what our D is going to do?
Tamba Hali, where have you gone?
A successful team? Really? Have fun!
Wisconsin, Big Ten Champions for the first time since 1999...
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Nov 29, 2010 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
This year's defense is in that one picture.
Someone (Usually Ogbu) has shut off the inside run, but no one is there to help. Frowny faces and a seven yard run on 1st down ensue.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
Devon Still
Had a rough game, and a rough start to the Indy game by missing the bus (along with Ogbu, Pannell and Okoli, btw). But I thought he had a very good midseason. MSU took him back to the Bama game and had him off his feet, but the middle of the year, including vs. Iowa, he had plenty of good penetration.
He and Ogbu, tho, have been the loneliest DT’s in some years this year. No Puz, Connor, Lee, Bowman swooping in behind them to eat up runners forced out of their lanes, and, worse, no help Tamba, Evans, Maybin creating pressure from the outside. I need to look at more film this offseason to see if my boy Jordan Hill can still be effective (he was mitigated too by all the injuries, forced to line up at DE in the middle games), but I remember plenty of plays where Still was disruptive. He’s a mammoth athlete and plays with a good motor; I think he’ll be fine.
This defense will improve, obviously. It has to. Crawford and Latimore likely won’t turn into sack machines this offseason, like Maybin did the other year, but the D still missed them this year. And the linebacker rotation will improve drastically, even if only through graduation.
The offensive line was inspired by McGloin.
This may be the only time you get me to complain about recruiting
But this season’s aweful defense can be squarely blamed on recruiting following the 2007 season. We sandwiched a small, mediocre classes between great ones, and this season our number was up. You have to recruit well every season or you’re going to have seasons like this one on defense.
2006 was fantastic, 2007 was solid, but 2008 small and bad. The most talented group from 2006 left early after 2008, with more leaving after last season. What that left us with were the scraps of 2006, plus 2007, and all of 2008. With a few key injuries suddenly we’re dire straights.
If you look over the recruiting classes from those 3 seasons, you see why we were left so thin this year, and why we were forced to start guys like Bani and Collasanti when otherwise we’d really rather not.
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
Just thinking
How cool would it have been to have Maybin at DE this year? This would have been his senior year. I know he’s been a flop in the NFL and he was smart to get the money while he could, but we could have used his pass rush.
Evans too
I mean seriously, Evans had a near record-setting season in his 2nd season on the team. He could have returned for at least last season, when we could have really used him. That would have gotten him drafted and signed to a 3 year deal, whereas now he’s not even playing football. He might have even RS his freshman year, I’m not sure. That was just such a boneheaded move.
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
I was gonna post only once
but then I got high.
The offensive line was inspired by McGloin.
by jtothep on Nov 29, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We shouldn’t have been this bad at DE this year. Crawford and Latimore are not meeting expectations. Maybin should have been around. Latham was a total whiff on a project player.
Per scout
(obviously this isn’t a big deal) but we only picked up one DE prospect in 2008 and 2009 combined. Now I know that’s just a projection, and Stanley and Massaro became DE’s, but we could have done a better job.
My guess is that Olaniyan is going to blow up next year and we’ll forget all about this.
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
Crawford
Also a total whiff on a project player.
"Wherever you go, Penn State will go with you. You are now a part of her. Her image will be cast in your image. Your reputation will become her reputation."
by noodlebucket on Nov 29, 2010 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
or Phil Taylor
Good year at Baylor. I’d rather have him than Devlin back.
@jschnauzer
Bloggin' at http://joepasdoghouse.com
What if you were the one who got bit by his dog at the pool party?
The offensive line was inspired by McGloin.
I'd tell him Bruce Pearl's party was waaaay better than his.
@jschnauzer
Bloggin' at http://joepasdoghouse.com
And you know it would have been!
Ain’t no party like a coaches on coeds party cuz a coaches on coeds party don’t stop.
The offensive line was inspired by McGloin.
Speaking of
Did you ever have a chance to go to one of Larry Eustachy’s parties?
The offensive line was inspired by McGloin.
And then he literally slept with your mom.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
A lot of it is luck
And attrition. When players leave early or some don’t pan out, a weak class can derail a season. Just look at Texas and Florida and our defense this year. These things happen, we just really need that monster class from last season to be the real deal.
remember this
when someone posts that this year’s mediocre-at-best recruiting class is “no big deal”.
No one has said it's not a big deal
We have acknowledged this is a potential problem, we just don’t need to re-post it 100 times a day. We know it needs help, thankfully there is time to hopefully turn it around. We are not like tWWL here, we don’t need to rehash the same thing every single day on every thread.
I've probably come as close as any saying it isn't a big deal
and I still don’t think it is as much doom and gloom as is projected. I guess I can amend my statement and say that so long as the prior 2 classes don’t all have unexpected high levels of attrition due to various reasons (getting kicked off the team, graduating early, injuries, declaring for the draft early), then it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
If we’re at the point where the difference of 3 or 4 players who would under normal circumstances be the backup in a given year, but are thrust into the starting role because of high levels of attrition, then we may have a problem, but we’d be facing that problem anyway: we would have had high levels of attrition.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 29, 2010 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
Of course
Colasanti was a very good recruit. It wasn’t like we promoted some walk-on into the starting lineup.
Yeah
Colasanti and Gbadyu were four star recruits. Mauti was supposed to be a stud but can’t stay healthy. I think Hodges and Yancich haven’t worked out as they planned. We never recruited poorly at linebacker. Some guys just didn’t work out.
and Zordich was moved.
I can't believe I only have 4 hours to tailgate. Somehow this is Lee Corso's fault.
by Illegal Formation on Nov 29, 2010 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
I've given Colasanti some slack
after reading this article. The kid has battled and kept a good attitude. He might not have been superlative, but he strapped the helmet on and headed out there every Saturday and gave it all he had.
I think Wiz, Colasanti, Brackett, Zug, Ogbu and Royster were all great Penn Staters (and any others I’m forgetting). Maybe not the most talented class we’ve had but they caused very little trouble, worked hard, set a good example, and for the most part have had success in the classroom. I hope they get one last slice of glory in our bowl game.
It really adds a lot to my Penn State fandom
When I find out that guys like Wiz and Colasanti are in all likelihood more intelligent and likely to be more successful than me in their careers.
Who am I to sit here and criticize their play on the field? When I was at college I wasn’t even good at football on Madden or NCAA and still didn’t do as well as them grade-wise.
College athletes impress the hell out of me.
It really takes a lot of dedication to play a varsity sport and excel in the classroom. Granted they get a lot of advantages such as study halls, academic advisors, tutoring, etc., but it’s still very challenging to do that well.
Save BSD
this
they are COLLEGE athletes. Isn’t the whole point for them to come in and develop athletically as well as academically? Sure, it’s nice to have the 5 stars come in “ready to play”, and they are definitely necessary. But this, IMO is what it is supposed to be about. Somewhere along the way, when the money started rolling in this got lost and now kids are referred to as “garbage”.
It’s why I love McGloin. Worked his ass off, got better, does well in the classroom. He is a “college athlete”
400. That is all.
by letsgopsu on Nov 29, 2010 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
You summed up my thoughts perfectly
Its the reason why Ethan Kilmer is one of my all-time favorite Penn Staters. And his grades (and major) are the reason Puz is another one.
I may not love McGloin as our quarterback, but I have nothing but awe and respect for him as a person and a competitor.
by psuphysicist on Nov 29, 2010 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
I've recently subscribed to the idea
That Collasanti would be a solid player if we surrounded him with better talent. He’s a guy you could be happy with if you didn’t rely on him to constantly make plays, but simply be reliable and sure-handed like Hull was. Unfortunately without a Lee or Bowman around Collasanti’s weaknesses became paramount, just like Hull’s would have had he played along side of Bani and Stupar/Hodges.
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
Eh, I dunno millz
Hull’s on the Rams. Colasanti’s a good guy, but he’s definitely not making an NFL roster.
Our biggest mistake was leaving Stupar and Mauti to play the same position. Is it possible that one of these guys couldn’t have been switched with Bani?
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
I buy it to some extent
keeping in mind that he was beat out for the job by Hull for two consecutive years. I also think the fact that he was so banged up he couldn’t open a Gatorade bottle during parts of the year might go a decent way toward explaining some of his tackling/shedding blockers problems. He didn’t make a lot of great plays, but he was almost always in the right position. That’s the definition of a player that would be a nice complement to play alongside better playmakers.
Another year for CC would have made a big difference...
it did for Hull. Not saying CC would have made the NFL, but no doubt he’d get better.
2010 PSU Football......YOU'RE ALL FIRED
by Artiefufkin10 on Nov 29, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
I really hope you’re saying that this is the worst we’ll get from bad recruiting, because, WOO 7-5.
Oh, and just off the top of my head, are there any fresh faces besides Olaniyan who could contribute early? Baublitz?
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
I've heard Hailes looks good at tackle.
Sounds like Baublitz, Olaniyan, and Royer could be the kinds of elite level athletes to give us some help on the outside, although I think I had heard that Royer was playing outside backer.
D-Jones got some PT this year, which can only help us in the future.
Curious to see what they do with Oakman, who could play several different spots on either offense or defense. Ishaq Williams is still a strong possibility, and he’s an elite DE/TE recruit as well. Wherever they put him, he’s going to come in and contribute right away.
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
You win, Paige. You always do.
:)
"I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative. I believe that having a good, peaceful mind is the basic premise for a good life."
by Adam Collyer on Nov 29, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
plus you have that extra X chromosome
which seems to do wonders in debates
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 29, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
Royer also has grade issues that he better fix soon.
--
@scrappled
SlowStates.com - Podcasts now (finally) on iTunes.
by Run Up The Score on Nov 29, 2010 5:32 PM EST up reply actions
RUTS has been posting a lot..
reminds me of the old days when BSD was pure and virtuous. I like it.
2010 PSU Football......YOU'RE ALL FIRED
by Artiefufkin10 on Nov 29, 2010 5:56 PM EST up reply actions
He’s like an F-105 Thunderchief, diving in from above towards my jungle camp to napalm my hope and delusional optimisim.
At least we're not Michigan since 1855.
Beat some mediocre SEC team or whatever.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 29, 2010 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think he stinks...RUTS that is
Hire Mike Pettine Jr!!!!!!!!
by SweepTheLeg on Nov 29, 2010 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
I think your mom stinks.
--
@scrappled
SlowStates.com - Podcasts now (finally) on iTunes.
by Run Up The Score on Nov 30, 2010 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
Your grades are fairly similar to mine, here are all of my grades
I already explained about my blog in the offense thread with how I do offense, defense, special teams, and overall. I’ll avoid repeating myself and post all of my grades except to add that my grading system goes below an F, I’ve given out 0 before and even negative grades. Also if I give out borderline grades, say if I don’t know if it’s a B- or a C+, I just call it B/C.
Overall: D (I liked the heart they showed in this game, but they couldn’t score early)
Offense: C+ (I already gave my offensive grades in the other post)
Defense: D- (Played well in the 4th quarter, dominated for the first 40 minutes)
D-Line: F (Defensive Ends: 0/Defensive Tackles: C+, no outside containment)
Linebackers: C/D (I’ll second what you said, Stupar gets an A, everyone else a D)
Secondary: D (Stopped all but Cunningham and Martin, but couldn’t stop them at all)
Special Teams: F (We suck without Anthony Fera, we kept giving MSU short fields)
Gameball goes to: Kirk Cousins for making the big plays needed to win despite being in pain.
It was over when: Time ran out. Sparty led wire to wire but PSU made it interesting late.
Next Opponent – TBA: No idea what bowl we’re going to, but at least it’s not the Toilet Bowl.
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