Penn State Ranked 22 In Coaches' Poll And Has A Roadmap To The B1G Championship Game
by Kevin Powers on Oct 16, 2011 1:08 PM EDT
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Penn State climbs up the USA Today Coaches' poll:
4. Wisconsin
11. Nebraska
13. Michigan State
17. Michigan
21. Illinois
22. Penn State
In stark contrast to last week, the Top 25 was subject to some exposure yesterday. The top nine all survived, but along the way formerly #22 Texas, #20 Baylor, #18 Arizona, and #16 Illinois all fell semi-comfortably. The Zookers ("get on the ZOOKTRAIN or FEEL THE ZOOKPAIN") allowing just one(!) completed pass all day and stay one spot ahead of Penn State. The OSU-PSU game is looking more and more like the kind of game that will earn the conference headlines in the spirit of this one.
And then there's Michigan. The anger and frustrating of losing four in a row is being targeted predominantly at this incredible display of poise:
The post-game press conference was saturated with the words "dirty" and "cheap" thanks to the reporters, but the players seemed uninterested and dismissive, responding in large part "well that's football." It makes me very pleased to have Hoke around, who instills that kind of culture from the top rather than the one that leads to delightfully trolly but still kind of pathetic sound bites like this one.
But anyway, Denard remains remarkable to watch but unable to get over the hump so far, inputs for things like a 33 ELOCHESS ranking but 11 PREDICTOR from Sagarin. They remain higher than they probably should have in the polls because of the soft ramp that got them to #10, but then again who after Oregon really deserves their name in the paper either?
Oh, and Bret Bielema? Still a total dick, but good for him. He's got two ESPN love-children from the SEC to jump, plus what looks like a freight train Oklahoma team that was able to roll FSU back when people were expecting them to be good at football. He'd be running trick plays while blowing out lesser competition anyway, but at least this year there's some strategic justification for it.
The Big Ten Standings. This is way more promising than it should be. Everyone keeps losing.
Legends/West/Corn (6-8 Total Record)
Michigan State 2-0
Michigan 2-1
Nebraska 1-1
Iowa 1-1
Northwestern 0-3
Minnesota 0-2
Leaders/East/Pig (9-7 Total Record)
Wisconsin 2-0
Penn State 3-0
Illinois 2-1
Purdue 1-1
Ohio State 1-2
Indiana 0-3
An update from last week:
- It just got a lot easier for Penn State to keep everyone but Wisconsin behind them. Fickell found his new strategy: "The game plan was to win -- that's the ultimate, most important thing." But they still have two losses plus Wisconsin, and perhaps a talented Michigan team. The Purdue win sinks the Fighting Forgettables. Illinois's loss is a big one, not only because it ruins the momentum of the ZOOKTRAIN but also because they're likely to get steamrolled by a Wisconsin team that will decide to throw zero passes and gain 700 yards anyway.
- I'm not sure which division is better, and frankly I'm not sure it matters. Only Wisconsin is a real national team, and the bottom of each division is impossible to muck through. Nebraska and Michigan (or Iowa?) don't seem any more sane or capable than Penn State and Illinois, and the inverse holds true as well.
- Minnesota may not be the worst team in the Big Ten since Paterno started coaching, but it's going to be a fun exploration anyway.
So, the roadmap? Ohio State just proved Illinois can be beat ugly, and I think Penn State has that in their repertoire. Paterno can lose once to either Nebraska or Ohio State and survive, and then it's the division championship game against Wisconsin on the last day of the season -- just the way Delany hoped it would be.
Now do I expect this team, after some modest regression this week in everything but the run game, to pull that off? No, but I don't know why anyone else in the Big Ten not located in Madison should feel better about their problems than Penn State. How's that for a rallying cry?
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I don't see how Wisconsin is anything other than a slightly better Illinois or Michigan
The offense is great against terrible, and I mean terrible, defenses, but as Illinois and Michigan discovered, facing a defense with a pulse changes things.
Wisconsin crushed Nebraska, but Nebraska, in spite of having some legit defensive talent and an alleged defensive guru as a head coach, is defensively mediocre at best. The crazy thing: according to the Annar total defense rankings, Nebraska (#47) has (by far) the best defense Wisconsin has seen thus far. The second best is Oregon State (#58) and the third best is UNLV at #76. Northern Illinois (#99) and Indiana (#111) don’t play defense.
To put that in perspective, the third best defense PSU has faced is Purdue (#44), who has a better defense than Nebraska. Alabama and Temple are both in the top 11.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat OMHR
by ckmneon on Oct 16, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Interesting defensive stats.
It’s pretty easy to see one or two performances thinking it’s against good competition and letting that stick. I’ll admit that’s happening for me with Wiscy right now, but then again the number of tools they used to dominate Nebraska was pretty impressive regardless.
I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt only because they seem complete, even if against weaker teams. This is going to be a pretty fantastic finish, maybe not the best football the conference has played, but just about everyone is in it right now.
by Kevin Powers on Oct 16, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
The Big Ten is weird this year
7 teams in the top 37 in Sagarin. That’s solid. Only the Big 12 and SEC can boast similar numbers, and neither can boast better. 5 teams are in the top 14 in either Elo or Predictor. To put that in perspective: that’s as many as the ACC, Big East, and Pac-12 combine for. If Iowa doesn’t blow a 10 point lead to lose an overtime road game, it would be even better.
But holy crap, the bottom 4 in the league are bad, bad football teams. Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana, and Minnesota are all worse than #90 overall and #115 Elo.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat OMHR
Interesting, indeed - thanks for sharing
The positives I saw from our D yesterday:
(and yes, building on more individuals improving from last week)
- Still and Hill are solid and are a handful; will continue to give an O coord. fits – do you just double team one, or both and have to worry about up the middle blitz, or from the blind side, or both???
- Crawford is getting better, as well is Stanley. Their hands are high in the air often and they are getting in the backfield more frequently and disrupting the QB. Lattimore played better yesterday as well.
- Stupar is playing like a veteran; Hodges is getting in a consistant groove.
- 2ndary played well; just not stellar on Sat. If Lynn has a good week a practice, they’ll be back to their cohesiveness from last Sat. The starters here and the 2-deep are nosing for the ball better and I believe it will continue.
I haven’t seen or read anything yet on the Iowa/jNW game … anyone care to share how they believe the Nittany Lion D should line-up against them, based on jNW’s performance last nite?
" When you cross that Blue Line, you are mine...Across the Blue Line, it's all football. " " And what you need to do in your life is paint Blue Lines everywhere. " - Joe Paterno 2009
by BlueWhiteLife on Oct 16, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
BWL, I kinda half-watched that game, and it felt like a WAC game
because the defenses lost containment many times. Persa/Colter scrambled around a lot, then would throw up a pass that the receiver grabbed. At times, it looked like your typical family Thanksgiving game: “Run towards the toolshed, but cut left at Betty Sue’s tricycle. I’ll run around in the backfield until you get free. Improvise as needed.”
The Penn State defensive coaches need to have someone (Hodges?) be a shadow on Persa/Colter. Wherever P/C goes, that Penn State player needs to follow. And, of course, the front four have to continue to pound on and disrupt the jNW O-line/running game.
Also, the Lion offensive scheme needs to create 3-and-3 or 4 opportunities. 3-and-long is almost invariably a pass play — we all shudder at that thought.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Oct 16, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
What do you think of Sparty's chances this Saturday night?
"Who do you think you are? You’re the son-of-a-bitch that sat at that desk over there and fired Johnny Cash. Let it go down in history that you’re the dumbest son-of-a-bitch I’ve ever met." - Merle Haggard
by ReadingRambler on Oct 16, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
3 huge unknowns
Will Worthy and Gholston show up? Will MSU have inexplicable, unforced turnovers? How much holding will Wisconsin get away with?
If the answers are Yes, No, and not much respectively, MSU could win easily. If those aren’t the answers, MSU could be in for a ride.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat OMHR
Will Gholston even be allowed to play?
I would hope he is suspended for his actions depicted above in the video.
Apparently
that punch was after he got a similar face mask pull to the one he gave Denard. Shockingly, the Michigan fan that put this clip together like 2 minutes after the game ended cut that out.
This is not in any way an excuse, by the way, but if we’re vetting bullshit let’s do them all together.
by Kevin Powers on Oct 16, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
ck
- care to produce the same for their O and their opposing teams O’s? And then PSU’s???
“Please!”
" When you cross that Blue Line, you are mine...Across the Blue Line, it's all football. " " And what you need to do in your life is paint Blue Lines everywhere. " - Joe Paterno 2009
by BlueWhiteLife on Oct 16, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Possibly, but those are just stats
Nobody will deny Wilson looks much better, as does Ball. Yes, they haven’t faced a very good defense all year, but Wisconsin has the ability to throw is well and has a proven commodity at passer. Illinois didn’t. Everybody knows the game plan to stop a 3 man offense that Denard has. Also, entirely different game plan from those 2 teams. And honestly, how many teams have faced a stout defense this year? Very few.
Needs moar Dukes
Sean Lee is the only tolerable thing about the Cowboys
by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Oct 16, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess that offense just has too much of a 2010 Michigan feel to it
An offense that could effortlessly put up 530+ yards against bad defenses, which is an accomplishment no matter what, but looked mediocre-to-bad against Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan State, who were above average-but-not-great defenses, and putrid against Ohio State and Mississippi State, who had good-to-great defenses (don’t let the respectable point totals against PSU and Iowa fool you, both teams had massive leads and were content to let Michigan get 8 yards a pop scoring drives while the clock bled to death)
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat OMHR
You've obviously proven you think Wisconsin is overrated
But you really cannot be serious with this drivel, can you?
@Kunk7
curious, but what is wrong with what he said?
He supported his opinion with stats, it may be refutable but how can you call it drivel. Wisconsin has not played anyone with a defense, and if they have, who?
My grammer skills need improved.
Specifically calling out this line
“I don’t see how Wisconsin is anything other than a slightly better Illinois or Michigan”
Which is then backed up by citing defensive stats. Everyone can have their opinions, but the fact of the matter is Wisky would be a double digit favorite over either the Illini or the Wolverines right now on a neutral field, which in my book is a big upgrade over “slightly better”.
Stats are stats, but with only 6/7 games in the books for most teams, a whitewashing at the hands of Wisconsin (which they have done to all of their opponents) will certainly hurt your defensive numbers. On the other hand, playing PSU’s feeble offense as one of your 6/7 opponents will sway your D stats in the opposite direction. Small sample size is really the problem with citing any stats as the reason Wisky isn’t as good as “everyone” is making them out to be.
At this point, any argument against Wisconsin as a top flight team is not based in reality.
@Kunk7
I see nothing in this post that justifies calling any of what he said "drivel"
"Who do you think you are? You’re the son-of-a-bitch that sat at that desk over there and fired Johnny Cash. Let it go down in history that you’re the dumbest son-of-a-bitch I’ve ever met." - Merle Haggard
by ReadingRambler on Oct 17, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I found the statement I called out to be nonsensical.
And basically implying all of Wisconsin’s offensive success is a byproduct of playing terrible defenses.
He’s entitled to his opinions, but I find them to be way off-base. Perhaps drivel sounds meaner than it really is.
@Kunk7
THE FIGHTING ZOOKERS
Because the most Ron Zook thing ever would be to take this moment, light it on fire, and then flush it down the toilet of opportunity, and that’s where real learning starts, people.
Spencer has a gift for prophecy.
The most Ron Zook thing ever
would be to make PSU’s QBs look like Heisman candidates and follow that with holding Wisconsin to under 20 points in a span of 3 games
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat OMHR
+1
That actually is not beyond the realm of possibility. But if somehow we and Wisky both win out until Nov. 19th I would want Wisconsin to crush Illinois that day. I don’t want to face a mad Badger team if the division title is on the line.
tO$U sucks-ALWAYS the right choice!
I'm a game-at-a-time guy,
but a cautious peek at the rest of State’s schedule gives room for guarded optimism. Will we run the table (except for maybe Wisky)? I don’t think so, but everyone else has as many challenges as we do. And most of those teams are vulnerable to a strong defense. IF (how does such a tiny word create such anxiety?) we can muster a meh passing offense to go along with a decent, clock-eating rushing game, we may continue to win low-scoring games.
I hope the coaches do a great job of dissecting yesterday’s jNW-Suckeye game; looks like OSU found a formula to beat Persa et al.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
Sorry, meant OSU-Illinois
and that OSU found a way to corral Scheelhaase (sp?).
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Oct 16, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
With This Team
I have to take it one game at a time. There are no guaranteed wins left on the schedule. The margin for error is still too small.
tO$U sucks-ALWAYS the right choice!
I agree with you and just am not sure how people can say that PSU shouldn't worry about this team or that team
I’m pretty sure the PSU team I watched almost lost to 2 of the worst teams in the Big10 (Indiana and Purdue). Did they lose? Nope, and I’m very happy they are 6-1. But I feel this team is a lot closer to being 3-3 or 2-4 than they are to the 6-1 record they currently have.
So until I see some things change, I don’t think you can count any game as a guaranteed win that is left on the schedule, no matter who they are playing.
This makes no sense, none. PSU is 6-1, they don't feel like they lost those games, they didn't.
But I feel this team is a lot closer to being 3-3 or 2-4 than they are to the 6-1 record they currently have.
I may feel PSU has not played great, but they have played well enough to beat those teams and still has tons of room to improve. I don’t think any of those teams “outplayed” PSU in the close games either. PSU has left a ton of points on the field against PU, IU, Iowa and Temple so saying they are closer to a losing record than being 6-1 makes no sense. Those teams are lucky PSU is not playing up to potential or they all would have been blown out.
My grammer skills need improved.
by BMAN13 on Oct 17, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I watched that Illinois game and the Zookers were awful
but there were 40+ mph winds that were affecting the passing game. I don’t think Zook deserves any credit, but I’m pretty sure on a day without near hurricane wind levels, Illinois scores more points and probably wins that game. The pick that led to OSU’s 1st touchdown was a good throw, to an open receiver, but you could tell the wind took it and just carried it too far to the OSU defender.
Also, Illinois’ defense got manhandled, but they also had a mobile QB to worry about. Aside from a few QB draws against Indiana, I wouldn’t characterize or QB’s as mobile. I mean, I’m not trying to be a pessimist, but I don’t read as much into this Illinois loss as others. I still think they will be a tough test for PSU….as well as this NW game.
I'm with you
Any time Illinois plays, someone WILL be Zooked. It’s just a total crapshoot whether its themselves or the other team.
u
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by newenglandnittanylion on Oct 16, 2011 3:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 6 recs
sorry about that
Apparently hitting return in the subject line automatically posts. Backspace and return are very close together on my tiny keyboard.
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by newenglandnittanylion on Oct 16, 2011 4:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't even know what to say about this season any more
But I’m learning to expect uncomfortably close games and just enjoy the ride. There’s no logical reason to be scared of Northwestern this week, and yet I am.
When giving up 18 points, 300 yards and getting four turnovers is a slightly disappointing performance, you know you’ve got a great defense. We do. Still, Hodges, and Stupar are just fun to watch.
We’re seeing consistent, but gradual, improvement on offense. Redd hasn’t shown as much flash as some expected, but he keeps turning in clock-eating drives and 100 yard games. (Side note: I met Redd’s older brother this weekend. Awesome dude).
If the defense keeps up this level of play, everyone left on our schedule is beatable (yeah, even Wisconsin). The offense is going to need to get better if they’re going to get the job done against OSU and Wisconsin, but they’re making progress, and they’ve got time. In the mean time, we’re 3-0 in the B1G, and we’re in good shape to keep winning. I love it.
ACCEPTS THE PAYPAL
Hello, everybody, coach get old, the new coach approaching, click in.
Welcome to http://www.pennlive.com
by newenglandnittanylion on Oct 16, 2011 3:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 5 recs
A couple of random things:
(1) How many breaks have gone against us so far this year? The completion-fumble-Morris return that was overturned, the INT off the kicked-in-the-air pass, the cheap “celebration” penalty, etc., etc. (Yes, I know we got one — the pass off the foot last week). How many of those things will continue to go against us?
(2) How many times will we commit or get called for stupid penalties? Szczerba seems to be the lead culprit — snuffing drives single-handedly. But, there seem to be other situations where a silly foul ends a drive or changes the game tempo.
(3) Will the law of averages ever work in our favor this year, when it comes to red zone TD’s? Again, sometimes it’s a penalty, sometimes a stupid play, sometimes it’s something unfathomable (Suhey’s fumble into the end zone) — how many times can those things hurt us before they begin to swing in our direction?
Inquiring minds want to know . . . . .
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
Szcerba is terrible
The only good thing he’s done this year was make the one handed catch off the referee. Any other time I’ve heard it’s name it’s an easy dropped pass, or a penalty to cancel out a TD. GIVE ME HAPLEA
Formerly known as kmart93
@kmart93
Black Shoe Diaries
by Kyle_Martin on Oct 16, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I asked for Haplea to start yesterday instead of Szczerba
but the coaching Grinches didn’t see it my way.
Run4Peach just had a great post about how these players are still kids, so I am reluctant to call them out by name, BUT young Mr. Szczerba is testing that resolve. He has snuffed at least three drives I can think of (hold on Redd’s TD, cheap shot after the play was over that drew a flag, false start on 2nd-and-1 yesterday, etc.), and then refused to come out when the coaches sent in Haplea. I think he needs to count all the rivets in Beaver Stadium before seeing the field again . . . .
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Oct 16, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Szczerba
I have not been impressed with him. Absolutely no excuse for him refusing to come out of the game when Haplea was sent in. There needs to be some discipline for that. IMO this is why you need the man in charge on the sideline. Even at his age JoePa would not put up with that if he were down there.
tO$U sucks-ALWAYS the right choice!
I may be incorrect,
but I’m pretty sure he didn’t come back in the game after halftime. Hopefully this was someone on the staff stepping up and sititng the kid down his actions.
And I completely agree with you both. He’s cost the team at least 3 TD’s this season. He dropped the one yesterday, and then has had at least 2 holding penalties that resulted in TD’s being called back. Haplea definitely deserves a chance to see what he can do. Although it’s been so disappointing to see how little production the TE’s have produced for 2 straight years.
Cadogan for TE.
If Big Nate is sitting around waiting for another O-lineman to drop, put him in the game at TE. Start Haplea and use Nate as a back-up, or vice versa, but park Szczerba for awhile.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Oct 16, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Heck
even having Cadogan in there to block at TE couldn’t hurt.
Formerly known as kmart93
@kmart93
Black Shoe Diaries
by Kyle_Martin on Oct 16, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Stephon Green had a killer block on one of the few plays he was in
"Rabble rabble rabble; fire Joe; snarky meme; rude nickname; rabble rabble rabble
Yes he did
And I forget what play it was, but I remember saying that his block made the play happen. I think it was a screen to Suhey.
Formerly known as kmart93
@kmart93
Black Shoe Diaries
I don't mean to seem too harsh on him
I’m sure he’s trying his best out there and I wish him no ill will. I just wish that we had a TE that was less mistake prone taking the majority of the snaps.
Formerly known as kmart93
@kmart93
Black Shoe Diaries
by Kyle_Martin on Oct 16, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Huskers are #11
You left them out. I am glad that game is at home this year.
tO$U sucks-ALWAYS the right choice!
We'd kick Nebraska's butt anywhere.
"Who do you think you are? You’re the son-of-a-bitch that sat at that desk over there and fired Johnny Cash. Let it go down in history that you’re the dumbest son-of-a-bitch I’ve ever met." - Merle Haggard
by ReadingRambler on Oct 16, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
We'll see
I think we should win that game given what I’ve seen of Nebraska this year. But this is also the type of game I’ve seen Penn State come out completely flat in before, so I am a little cautious on that one.
Formerly known as kmart93
@kmart93
Black Shoe Diaries
by Kyle_Martin on Oct 16, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
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