Penn State 16, Indiana 10: You Are NOT The Father
by Chris Grovich on Oct 3, 2011 8:00 AM EDT
in Football
Email
PrintPenn St. 16, Indiana 10
4-1 Overall, 1-0 Big Ten, 1-0 Pig Division
Congratulations, Penn State! You have not lost your first game to Indiana in school history, despite your best efforts. So celebrate, for purposes of this metaphor, you are not the father.
Sadly, you are in a Maury paternity episode, and you cannot run the ball against the worst conference team on your schedule. Dance around if you must, this is still losing.
This Is A Very Bad Football Team. Let's start with that. Penn State is a bad team with an above-average defense. They have beaten two tomato cans (Indiana State, Eastern Michigan), been snuffed out by a true national power at home (Alabama), and needed last minute defensive stands to beat a higher-end MAC team that was just pounded at home by 23 points by Toledo (Temple) and one of the worst Big Ten teams in recent memory (Indiana) which lost to Ball State and North Texas. Despite the mind-blowing fact that Penn State started as a two-point favorite against Iowa on Sunday (note: this will totally change by Monday morning), it's hard to picture this team having more than a coin flip's chance of beating anybody but Purdue, given its current trajectory. That's not to say OMG 5-7, but...that's kind of in play, isn't it?
But, We're 4-1. Hey, how 'bout that. As if anything other than 4-1 wouldn't be a five-alarm dumpster fire, given the schedule.
So, We Change The Fight Song To "Suicide Is Painless"? It would be a good Blue Band song, but Guido D'Elia would probably find a souped-up, 1980's cop drama version of it to blare through the PA system. Can the Blue Band perhaps secretly practice this? For me? I don't ask for much.
Defense? Still Good. Although, it's hard to escape the likelihood that they're going to be left on the field way too long against quality Big Ten opponents and will wear down in the fourth quarter. They're very good, but not particularly deep (and with Stephon Morris' ankle injury, less so). This became a bit of an issue late against Indiana, which converted 3/7 third downs and 3/3 fourth downs in the last fifteen minutes.
Let Me Count The Ways. It is not impossible for this team to improve in the final seven games, but here are the inescapable truths after nearly half the season:
- The quarterback rotation is not working. #TeamPickAnyone has a point (and it's become very difficult to ignore that Anyone should be Matt McGloin). Again, while both quarterbacks are either relatively or absolutely deficient, it's clear that treating these guys as interchangeable parts in a much larger Machine Of Terrible is failing the entire team. In fact, it has accomplished nothing other than forcing Penn State fans to wallow in their own crapulence. However, Jay Paterno is still cool with this.
- The offensive line is abysmal. Frankly, the fact that they're not allowing sacks is kind of irrelevant. Penn State is 103rd out of 120 FBS teams in Pass Efficiency. Why even try to sack these quarterbacks? Of paramount importance is the inability to run the football, even against the dregs of the football world. The offensive line is not only failing to get a push against practically all opponents, they too often appear confused as to their assignments.
- No, really, they are terrible. In the midst of a game-clinching fourth quarter drive, Silas Redd gained eight yards on first down. Two more yards puts the game away for Penn State. Joe Suhey gains one yard on second down. Silas Redd loses a yard on third down. Penn State punts from the Indiana 39 on 4th and 2 -- and I'm not even sure if this is sarcastic or not, but why would anyone have faith in Penn State to pick up two yards against Indiana's defense? They seriously have no idea who to block, with alarming frequency. Too many unblocked defenders, too many Penn State linemen loafing and wondering who to hit.
Those Should Only Count As Two Things. Guilty. But they're two amazingly important things, and totally crippling the offense. Look at the video if you can stomach it -- Indiana wasn't exactly using nine-man fronts. Chima Okoli and DeOn'tae Pannell were pulled for Mike Farrell and John Urschel, respectively. It didn't much matter. Curtis Dukes and Derek Day (!) got playing time at running back. It didn't much matter. I'll remind you that North Texas ran for 226 yards and a 4.7 average against Indiana one week earlier -- and it's not like North Texas has some sort of high-powered aerial attack to defend (they're 94th nationally in passing yards). Penn State ran for 193 yards and a 3.9 average against the same awful Indiana defense. Joe Paterno is fine with this, and if you point out that Indiana was pushed around by North Texas and Ball State, he wonders if you've ever seen a football game before.
These issues aren't news to anybody who has watched Penn State lately. These are simply the results of the larger problems facing the program, especially on offense. Use of personnel, playcalling, apparent lack of preparation and motivation, and a stunning lack of development of what is generally (perhaps charitably?) considered a talented roster. It's galling. Also, things are taking a decidedly weird turn when I find myself agreeing with practically every word of Cory Giger's Sunday column.
Why is Penn State, a program built on old-school, conservative, smash-mouth offense, only able to put together an effective offensive line twice per decade? Why are they trying to run a 1980's gameplan when the immense talent gap enjoyed during those years has been narrowed by scholarship limits and the slow erosion of the program's foundation? Because it's easy? How are the quarterbacks on this roster getting worse? How is an utterly incompetent defensive team like Indiana able to hold Penn State to a 44% completion rate and 3.9 yards per carry? Does Joe Paterno actually care?
Random Statistics, Presented Without Comment. Here is Penn State's playcalling breakdown:
The first down runs went for a total of 101 yards (4.39 avg.) and include a 29 yard run by Curtis Dukes. The 12 first down passes include the touchdown bomb from McGloin to Moye (74 yards). Look at the rest of them:
McGloin to Kersey (#8K) was the only other completed pass on first down.
Oh, And About Those Remaining Winnable Games. Purdue is now eyeing us up as a potential victim. Didn't think that would be an issue in August.
208 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
2-for-9 on 1st down
is VASTLY superior to Bolden’s 0-for-3, right? It should at least get MM some all-conference honors this year, right?
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
It boggles My mind that people continue to argue for Bolden
Based solely on “preparing for the future.” it isn’t necessary that a kid who can’t read even obvious blitzes be put in position to get killed in order for him to develop. I’d argue that DC always had more “upside” than Morelli, and you know how he harnessed it? Sitting the fuck on the bench and learning during practice. Bolden will not learn by being constantly concussed due to his blatant inability to read the blitz. He will learn by spending time learning the game. And you know what? While he’s doing that, the clearly less bad QB (NOW) can go out and win some games.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 12:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It boggles My mind that people continue to argue for Bolden
Based solely on “preparing for the future.” it isn’t necessary that a kid who can’t read even obvious blitzes be put in position to get killed in order for him to develop. I’d argue that DC always had more “upside” than Morelli, and you know how he harnessed it? Sitting the fuck on the bench and learning during practice. Bolden will not learn by being constantly concussed due to his blatant inability to read the blitz. He will learn by spending time learning the game. And you know what? While he’s doing that, the clearly less bad QB (NOW) can go out and win some games.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 12:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If he sits for a few games he might learn more and not stress
Really – he is one play from being the starter with this O line
I blame HITS
DAMN Servers!!
"It's never a bad thing thing to vote for the suckiness of tOSU." -RWReese
Follow @Paige2PSU
It boggles my mind that people continue to double post
based solely on hitting “Post” twice. It isn’t necessary for someone to do that, unless they’re so impatient that they insist on hitting it repeatedly in the hopes that it’ll post their comment twice. I’ll argue that the PREVIEW button is your best friend, and you know how YOU harnessed it? You probably didn’t.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
Follow @GSchofield50
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 3, 2011 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
It happened on a mobile phone.
Sometimes BSD hangs up on mobile commenting and you don’t think your comment posted. So you try to post again and it double posts.
"It's never a bad thing thing to vote for the suckiness of tOSU." -RWReese
Follow @Paige2PSU
1
The number of second and short snaps pretty much sums this team up.
"I'll keep it short and sweet. Family. Religion. Friendship.
These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
"You don't want to analyze it...you want to admire it!" - Play by play guy on O.J. McDuffie TD catch against Ga. Tech.
re: Giger... the only thing I don't agree with
is his ridiculous assertion that McGloin is a much better quarterback than Bolden. Okay, that, and that long-term development has no place in college football. Maybe he’s been following the Russell Wilson story too much lately. Maybe college football should start allowing free-agency during a player’s career. Maybe there should be in-season trades. Maybe Joe should have allowed Bolden to transfer, and not hold BOTH him and Penn State hostage this year.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
Giger for once is looking at the glass half-full.
McGloin is a much less bad quarterback than Bolden.
Rob has been unlucky, but the statistics are telling a VERY different story between the two. Case in point, although Penn State is 103rd in passing efficiency, Matt McGloin ranks 42nd in pass efficiency for NCAA quarterbacks. Bolden’s is not on the ranking scale, but if you have two quarterbacks and one is sixty points above the average, the other is making the difference.
Bloggin' at JoePasDoghouse.com
I'll return to my Shakespeare-ABCs analogy from twitter the other day...
in that each are asked to do completely different things on this team, yet are held to the same standard of results.
Case in point: The 1st Down Pass attempts chart.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
But they at least let both guys run a QB draw
And nice to see McGloin is taking running lessons from Devon Smith by tripping over the 20 yard line.
by GMac14 on Oct 3, 2011 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He also leads in "wounded ducks"
and Bolden leads in “throws 40 yards downfield with no air under them.”
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
It kills me to think how well Bolden might perform
if given an offense that is quick-strike, short/medium range pass oriented. I’m not saying he has the knowledge (that’s all on the coaches) to run it right now, but my mind drifts toward him running the 2008 offense. Too bad the line couldn’t handle it.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Part of me still
thought hoped . . that it was closer than this. I thought hoped that McGloin’s day against Bama would keep it closer. But it’s not:
- McGloin: 144.3 passer rating, 44-of-76 (57.9 percent), 625 yards, 8.2 yards per attempt, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
- Bolden: 85.3 passer rating, 39-of-85 (45.9 percent), 455 yards, 5.4 yards per attempt, 1 TD, 4 INTs
That, and my desire to see screen/swing passes to non-WR’s completed thanks to the touch necessary to complete them, has me officially switching camps from a slight lean to Bolden, to a screw it I’m all in for McGloin.
by Nittany SeaLion on Oct 3, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
It doesn't matter who throws the screen pass
Tom Brady could be throwing it, the o-line sucks on screen plays. Bolden actually completed a screen pass Saturday and he ( Dukes I think) almost got killed because the the line didn’t block anybody.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
This
I have no problem with hating on JayPa, but he isn’t the o-line coach. Any staff adjustments need to start there.
by pricecheck on Oct 3, 2011 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Doesn't the offensive line have to at least block for a few seconds on a screen pass?
It seems like whenever PSU runs a screen this season they just let every defender run through untouched. And by the time our QB is ready to throw, he’s got 5 guys in his face.
yeah, but
Redd might still make 6 guys miss if he has a catchable ball. Big Red is ineliegible on the sideline 20 yards beyond him.
by Nittany SeaLion on Oct 3, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
"Bolden actually" . . . my point exactly.
Finally, Surprisingly, Against all odds, despite his untamed arm . . . they all fit with “Bolden completed a screen.”
by Nittany SeaLion on Oct 3, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Pressure?
I’m going to ask the unthinkable! Is Rob mentally and emotionally able to effectively lead this offense? It seems that he is regressing each week. He was at his worst on Saturday. I was wondering if pressure from the steadily increasing criticism and possibly losing the quarterback competition has physically and psychologically shaken him. Perhaps someone close to the situation will comment.
Jimmy the Greek and Al Campanis don't appreciate you treading on their schtick
no matter how lightly you tread.
And just to be clear, I think that both guys are mentally up to the job.
Thanks, Chris
for making me laugh this morning (a tough feat after Saturday and #epicfailPhillySunday). The “You Are Not the Father” analogy is quite apt, but the meta humor of the M*A*S*H theme song bit is the best. Laugh to keep from crying, I guess. We are…
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
Props Chris
For incorporating Suicide is Painless in the column – you got a smile out of me. Channel-surfng late last night and caught an episide or two of MASH reruns (always great to see who might show up in a cameo) and remembered the words (yes, it has words). Timely thought – but keep in mnd the last words of the chorus are “…but I can take or leave it if I please.”
*
I think the defense is very good, and did play a little thin this week like you talked about. I’m even willing to chalk the late game stuff up to the fact that the defense has to change their game because of the offense. I mean a fumble recovery in the red zone, and your offense gets zero points? That kind of thing is a pattern. Even if they play agressive, gets sacks and turnovers, nothing comes of them. The result is a feeling in the fourth quater that the big play doesn’t matter, and all that matters is keeping their offense out of the end zone, which forces an otherwise very good and agressive defense into the Lure The Other Offense To Sleep And Then Suffocate Them With A Pillow strategy.
And this series:
In the midst of a game-clinching fourth quarter drive, Silas Redd gained eight yards on first down. Two more yards puts the game away for Penn State. Joe Suhey gains one yard on second down. Silas Redd loses a yard on third down. Penn State punts from the Indiana 39 on 4th and 2
…was 1,000% playcalling IMO. Even Indiana should be able to defend a run up the middle against if they know it’s coming, which they did (and so did all of us), twice. We don’t have the Packer’s offensive line and that doesn’t make us a bad football team, it makes us a lazy one for doing what we did with those two play calls. And revolutionary news, I know, but there are other ways to kill the clock besides running the ball predictably right up the middle. We should have coaches that bother to figure that out.
Agree
And I love that the fullback is still a part of the PSU offense, and this might get my fan card removed, but a few less fullback dives would be nice. I mean, if I know it’s coming, I’m pretty sure the other team’s coaching staff knows it’s coming.
And to drive this home--
for all the people thinking “well Penn State should be able to run the dive up the middle on Indiana,” if we’re in that same exact situation against Alabama this year, up with a chance to ice it, what two plays do you think we run there? If you guessed “The same two,” you just won all the change in my left pocket.
I almost shed a tear watching the Wisconsin game. Granted they have some talent to work with, but they also adapted this year to be able to take advantage of every singe one of those assets instead of demanding, for instance, that a line that isn’t good at raw push off the line and create a big hole between the tackles be able to do so consistently and when the other team knows it’s coming.
Congratulations, Big Ten, your wisest and most effective coach right now is Bret Bielema. Think about that for a second.
by Kevin Powers on Oct 3, 2011 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
+1
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions
It's going...
to be real sad if Wisconsin goes unbeaten. The undressing that team will get at the hands of LSU or Alabama in a MNC games is scary.
"I'll keep it short and sweet. Family. Religion. Friendship.
These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
"You don't want to analyze it...you want to admire it!" - Play by play guy on O.J. McDuffie TD catch against Ga. Tech.
by Esteban d' Amur on Oct 3, 2011 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Why are you so down on Wisconsin?
They’ve absolutely destroyed every opponent they’ve played so far. I’m not sure what else you could ask from them at this point.
I’m also looking at Wiksy’s schedule and they’ll easily be favored in all of their remaining games, including a possible trip to the B1G championship game.
@Kunk7
by Kunk on Oct 3, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I under the impression Wisconsin played about as good as they could have on Saturday night, but I also agree with you. It pains me to say this, but I think they’re the real deal this year. Maybe the first legitimate MNC contender the conference has had in ‘02, and that’s only if ’02 OSU counts.
by Kevin Powers on Oct 3, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
They needed to cheat
and get the worst pass interference call this side of off-setting PI’s in Bloomington (the flag came in about five months after the game as the national champion Hurricanes were getting ready to visit the White House), so no, it doesn’t count.
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
What the hell was that?
Offsetting PI penalties? That is a new one for me. Even the announcers laughed at that. The defender pulled on the WR and as the WR tried to free himself, the DB fell down and PI was called on both guys!? WTF.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
Here's what I didn't get
once the defender is guilty of PI (thus negating his opportunity to make a legitimate play on the ball), how can the receiver then interfere with him?
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
I think what happened
was one official saw one thing, the other saw another and rather than settle on which it was, just called both. Which is retarded.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
Sounds about right
B1G officiating at its finest.
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
Hayden Panettiere
sure has come a long way
by PSU Mudder on Oct 3, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I'm down on Wisconsin...
because of coaching. I’ll take Saban and his staff and Miles and his against Bielima every time. I also think for as talented as Wisky is, Bama and LSU are that much better.
"I'll keep it short and sweet. Family. Religion. Friendship.
These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
"You don't want to analyze it...you want to admire it!" - Play by play guy on O.J. McDuffie TD catch against Ga. Tech.
by Esteban d' Amur on Oct 3, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Coaching
I agree with you (regarding Big 10 Coaching relative to Saban and others in the SEC). So, where does that leave us relatively speaking? Joe forcing more years into a careeer that should have ended a while ago.and Jay “coaching” QB’s and splitting play-calling with a former head coach (Hall). Is there any wonder why a mediocre walk-on is still competing for a starting job 5 GAMES INTO THE SEASON….with D-2 caliber Bolden??? This program is NO LONGER RELEVANT. I would hire Urban Meyer in a second and let him clean house.
Good luck for LSU getting in...
For all that talent they have, they still have an inexplicable ability to really, really fall flat against Arkansas/Alabama/Auburn. Assuming that they don’t turn in the real stunner of the year and drop one to Ole Miss. Strange things happen to Les Miles teams.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
Follow @GSchofield50
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 3, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
You never know the result of a game until it's played, they said the same thing about us in 86 before we faced Miami.
While WIsconsin this year may not even be as good as last year’s team, I don’t think Alabama is going to do to them what USC did to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Penn State isn’t that good this year and we looked better against Alabama than Arkansas or Florida did. Besides, the worst Wisconsin looked all year was a 35-0 shutout of Oregon State. I don’t think they even punted once in their opening 51-17 win over UNLV (it was 51-3 at one point).
I was watching the UF vs. Bama game most of the night
but flipped to the Wisc game to see Wilson run a naked bootleg at one point to score a TD. I don’t know a lot about Russell Wilson, but he doesn’t seem like the 2nd coming of Tommie Frazier. So again, creative play calling.
This
I don’t care how big or awesome your offensive line is, Wisconsin’s offensive line wouldn’t get it done if EVERYBODY in the stadium knew what was coming. We might as well have told Indiana what was coming, which basically we did.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
You wouldn't want the Packers offensive line
as it would lose you three yards on 3rd down instead of one.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
Follow @GSchofield50
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 3, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha. I was mostly just referencing it because of the graphic on Saturday night that said Wisconsin has a bigger o line than Green Bay.
by Kevin Powers on Oct 3, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I laughed at that
Like being 6’5 and 320 pounds immediately makes you a good lineman.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
Yeah.
We had that sort of lineup going into 2008, and the Ohio State game absolutely killed that team. If I’m not mistaken, we lost our starting RT AND LT, one week before playing Penn State.
That ended extremely well…for the Blue and White.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
Follow @GSchofield50
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 3, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Temple
averaged 6’4 and 330 or something like that along the offensive line this year and Devon Still ate them alive. If it was all about size then there would be 400 lb linemen all over the place.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
Interesting that out of the 12 1st down throws, Bolden only has 3 of them
I know game situations are different, but sure looks like they either have more faith in McGloin to throw on 1st down or just don’t trust Bolden and want to try and run the ball more.
Not sure how you can trust MM more than Bolden
when MM only completes 22% of his 1st down pass attempts.
And please, no one give me the “it’s better than Bolden’s 0%” retort. MM got three times the number of attempts to complete two passes. Laws of probability suggest he was bound to complete a few if given that many attempts.
Then again, the laws of probability didn’t help MM against Alabama.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Passing numbers and long TD aside
the offense’s median average yards per play when McGloin was in the game was 3.09. When Bolden was in the game, 2.45 median-average yards per play. If you’re not familiar with this stat, that’s a huge difference.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Unless someone sits down
and charts, with detailed notes on every play, every game, one cannot suggest that McGloin is the catalyst for the offense performing better.
If the plays called are very, very similar between the two quarterbacks, then I’ll agree with you. But right now, the idea that MM makes the offense “just better” doesn’t fly at all with me.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, I'm not saying
that he makes it better. But that it is better when he’s in, against bad defenses in particular, is getting harder to deny.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Absolutely
I’ve never, ever denied that the offense is better when he’s in the games against poor opposing defenses. In fact, if Penn State played in the MAC, then I’d be 110% in favor of MM as the full-time starting quarterback.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions
...or if PSU played 2010 Michigan, 2010 Northwestern or 2011 Indiana
four times each year.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
You are consistently baiting people into arguing about QBs
except you don’t want to look at the facts objectively. The stats are overwhelmingly in MM’s favor. Aside from potential, there is absolutely no compelling reason I can find to favor Bolden. And yet you mercilessly do so.
If that’s your position, great, but it leads to the most bone-headed argument ever, because you seem completely uninterested in changing your opinion unless someone can go back in time and erase any mistake MM made in the 2010 season.
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
by spakajewia on Oct 3, 2011 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Just looking at some other offensive metrics
We’re 10th in the Big Ten in yards per passing attempt, tied with Ohio State and .2 yards ahead of Purdue. We’re averaging 3.92 yards per carry through the first five games, which is also good for 10th in the conference. Aside from the Alabama game, the first five weeks were supposed to be the salad days of our schedule.
The offensive numbers will get better
because Bama is one of the top defenses in the country. And Temple could be a top 20 team….and ISU is pretty good….and EMU is better than before….and we just caught Indiana on a good week for them…..So just wait until the easy part of the schedule kicks in…
I feel bad for this D
They will be on the field a lot in the next couple of weeks.
That is when you get hurt…I really hope these guys can hold up but I don’t see the PSU Offense doing much against Big 10 teams moving forward
I blame HITS
That was the most impressive part of the 04 defense
In spite of the fact that they were on the field for 35+ min per game, they were still statistically excellent and stayed relatively healthy
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
4-1. So What?
The 1988 team was also 4-1 after 5 games-and also offensively challenged with a true freshman QB (Tony Sacca) and its best offensive player (Blair Thomas) out for the year. They like this team had a back-loaded schedule (Syracuse, WVa, Bama & ND). they ended up 5-6. This season could play out the same.
Indiana is still Indiana. Penn State is also Indiana.
Very much so...
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't see us going 5-7 due to our schedule and our defense, but I see your point.
In 1988, we lost to Rutgers for the first time since 1918 because not only was the offense weak, but the defense wasn’t great either. I see this team as the second coming of the 2004 team, not the 1988 team and see us finishing 7-5 at this point with a bowl win this time.
Sigh
The offense is pretty good at getting yards, not good at scoring. That’s what being #13 in the Annar Rankings and #26 in Sagarin Predictor, in spite of a defense allowing 12 ppg means.
The defense is kinda awesome.
The special teams have gone from a toxic trash can fire to acceptable. Fera, I’ll buy you any bottle of rum you want if you just stay sober for the rest of the season, mmmkay?
Basically, this is not a bad football team. This is a team more than capable of beating anyone. But when you’re bad at scoring, close games with terrible Indiana teams can result.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Capable of beating anyone
and capable of beating itself against anyone also. That’s what is so maddening to me right now.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
Yeah
there’s no team on this schedule or any other that I look at and say, “oh, there’s no way PSU beats them.” The offense has demonstrated that it is that capable, and the defense is that good. But when they almost lose a game with a bad, bad Indiana team, yeah, any game can make me nervous now too.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
It's all about picking one friggin' quarterback
and sticking with him. The rotation has killed the entire point (team development/improvement) of the first five games.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
And now the team is worse off at this point than when the season started
Still no leader on offense. Neither QB can get a rhythm. And it just makes the coaching staff and team look indecisive. It’s not like this is a Chris Leak/Tim Tebow situation where both QB’s are playing because they each bring something different to the table. The coaches have just mishandled it from the start.
Exactly. Neither are being used to utilize each QB's strength.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Does either have a strength(s)?
"I'll keep it short and sweet. Family. Religion. Friendship.
These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
"You don't want to analyze it...you want to admire it!" - Play by play guy on O.J. McDuffie TD catch against Ga. Tech.
by Esteban d' Amur on Oct 3, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Um, that team is Wisconsin
There is no way we go into Camp Randall and beat them. Bret “David Putty” Bielema has been having nightmares ever since the 48-7 thrashing we gave them at home a few years ago and has been chomping at the bit for pay back. Aside from UW I agree with you.
Silas Redd will break Evan Roysters all time rushing record and JoePa's last season will be 2011.
Prediction date 11/22/10
I don't think they'll be able to do a full reciprocation, though, our defense is just too good.
I do, however, see us getting creamed 28-7.
Regardless of all that is said......
regarless of all of the blame that may be assigned, it all boils down to the lousy job of coaching being done this year and last. We’ve been over all of the deficiencies, injuries and what not, but all programs deal with that. Joe’s insistence that the QB situation is a, “we’ll have to go home and review the tapes” option does not work anymore. If you don’t start Rob, will he quit? Is that a bad option compared to MM having a confrontation with Jay. This is starting to lok like a hopless, hapless situation. How many of us realize that in the BAMA game, when we burned the timesout in the 1st 3.5 minutes, that Rob called one of them because the played called was NOT on his wrist band!!! WTF!!! The O, what there is of it, is pre-historic terrible….the QB, 2-headed monster, rotation does not work—-whose feelings are we trying to salve?the OL is good, not great, maybe every 5 years or so—-have yunze seen the Wisky OLs latelty? The WRs can’t catch a ball when it matters….we still run 12yd patterns on 3rd and 7….the RBs are being used NOT to their capabilities….the STs are well below average and the D, well above good, cannot be counted on to score points, I DON’T care what the Coaches say—-“You gotta score points to pick up the O.” WTF!!!! The bottom line is that this team is not particularly good and the coaching staff is woefully assisting them in the effort…Overall, I just wish the coaches would be honest and address the problems and stop trying to shine sh*t with shinola. Oh, and the “clubhouse” atmosphere is starting to crack as one might suspect, replete with mumblings, clique formations, and the ever present lack of the coaches to take charge. Oh well, I’m just gonna go back and look at the tapes and make a decision…..
"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 Oct 3, 2011 9:15 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs
No need to review the tape.
Your comment was very accurate.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Reality
I wish a reporter would have the guts to ask Joe…“Coach, do you really think you and your staff are doing the best possible job for this team?” They ALWAYS look unprepared, waste timeouts, and rarely make in-game adjustmewnts (even after half-time!) that make any difference. This great institution needs to start a new era in its football program. Paterno is stubborn, selfish, and sense-less about this team.
Please be careful with these critical posts.
Some on here don’t want to hear it. PSU is 4-1 and that’s all that matters to them.
by J Breezy on Oct 3, 2011 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Look.....I am just very frustrated......
like I am sure that many of us are……Joe has never asked me for my opinions on his teams and I have never offered any to him in our relationship, BUT I just don’t want this year to become, when all’s said and done a,“I shoulda played this guy more and I shoulda done a better job of coaching and I gonna get more involved in the coaching.” Joe, that’s not going to work anymore. Not now, not this time….Oh yes, WE ARE 4-1, just where most of us thought we’d be. I just don’t think that most of us thought that we’d be hanging on by our thumbnails.
"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.
"Clap Louder" is for the people who are still happy.
by Chris Grovich on Oct 3, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Anyone not mildly disappointed by Saturday is insane
anyone who thinks PSU is just awful and doesn’t think things could get better (as is obvious, the only part of the team not performing well right now is the offense at scoring, but they don’t suck overall) is equally insane, but in a more tragic and less fun way.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
by ckmneon on Oct 3, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
mild disappointment
frequent washing of hands and a regime of bacon are the recommended treatments.
for symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks, seek golfing where disappointment means falling asleep.
Predicting Penn State's Offensive Scripts since 2005!
Ignorance at its best for those that are content.
I’m not sure how you can be happy with this team despite the record. We have beaten four over-matched teams, two of which were way too close. And the loss was an ass beating in our house. Disgusting.
Who says that not bitching and moaning
is the same as being content or happy? I’m not content with our performance at all. I am happy with our record and I can take some positive things away from both sides of the ball (although MUCH fewer on offense than on defense), and I just prefer to look on the bright side and not run the team down. That just depresses me even more.
And to me, it’s just as bad to be referred to as insane or ignorant as it is for someone to tell you to shut up.
"It's never a bad thing thing to vote for the suckiness of tOSU." -RWReese
Follow @Paige2PSU
by Paige2PSU on Oct 3, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Well said.
I think a lot of people are frustrated, but deal with it differently. IMO, it’s time (past time, actually) for the program to be turned over to the next person. That I personally don’t vent about it does not signify satisfaction with the current state of affairs.
Disclaimer: I did actually vent a little bit the other day. Who the heck decides to put Moo-Moo in the personnel package when we’re inside the ten yard line? Eh, a minor point I suppose in the grand scheme of things . . .
The Record (4-1)
is what I honestly expected after 5 games. The team’s performance in those 5 games has been well below what I had hoped for. My concern is that if that performance doesn’t improve significantly-starting this Satrurday at 3:300 EDT- that at most 2 wins will be added to that win total by the end of November.
Only positive about a 6-6 record-If so moved I could drive to Detroit for the Pizza Pizza Bowl in a less than a day. And my work schedule is slow between Christmas and New Years’-which obviously cooperates with my football watching.
Indiana is still Indiana. Penn State is also Indiana.
I've always been a glass half-full PSU fan...
but this season is turning me cynical in a hurry.
2010 was understandably a rebuilding season.
2011 is the staff actively stuffing the I-beams with dynamite.
A Garden State Nittany Lion...
"The way things are these days, 9-3 and one of the best graduation rates in the country doesn't seem like such a terrible bargain to make." - Michael Weinreb
by Mike Pettigano on Oct 3, 2011 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Critical is one thing
Saying “This is a very bad football team” when the team is in the Sagarin, Massey, and Colley top 25 at 4-1, the defense is awesome, and the offense is…well…whatever it is, but not very bad (even the strictly offensive computers have PSU comfortably in the top 50), is just wrong. Critical is fine. Wrong is wrong.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Oh wonderful, we're a top 50 team now....
Weeks back, I was criticized for saying they we’re not a top 25 team…..I still back PSU for all of its good and bad traits, HOWEVER, I refuse to “settle” for a top 50 team if we still believe that PSU FB really matters in the National scheme of things….we are starting to become non-pertinent and I DON"T like it, despite all the excuses that can be made for a bad team and its coaches insistence not to remedy the situation and simply saying that “we gotta do a better job of coaching.”
"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 Oct 3, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He wasn't saying PSU is an overall top-50 team
he was saying that they’re in the top 50 in offense. That’d be just fine if that came to fruition if you pair that with a top-10 defense.
Right on, Derry.
There are problems with this team and this program, some of which are systemic.
The coaching is bad….the o-line is bad….the qbs are bad. Saying so shouldn’t elicit “STFU” comments and scoldings on how we are bad fans and that we shouldn’t say such things because “the team is 4-1 so who cares”, and “yeah, well Ohio State sucks even worse so let’s make fun of them” and just ignore PSU’s problems.
I know you're not cool on BSD
anymore unless you’re tearing the staff a new orifice, savaging the playcalls, insulting one another over QB preferences, and generally forecasting the end of life as we know it. But remember long ago when Auburn was a crappy team that barely beat Utah State and South Carolina was headed for the SEC title game behind the tough running of Marcus Lattimore (clearly, it’s Jay’s fault we didn’t get him)? The tone of this site has become so caustic in anticipation of future losses, I can’t imagine how it could possible escalate if (when??) we lose to Iowa or any other team. I don’t know if this is some sort of defense mechanism, meant to prepare our collective psyche for what is seen as an inevitable let-down or what…
I am certainly frustrated and disappointed with the team so far this year; that Indiana performance had me drinking by 12:25 local time (and I was probably late in starting). But holy God, people, how can you possibly enjoy coming on here and saying the same damn thing again and again and again, week after agonizingly neurotic week? It may be that there are some masochists among us who relish in the self-flagellation, but the daily indulgence in it has significantly depleted the appeal of engaging in conversations here (cue: “if you don’t like it, then leave” response).
Maybe if I want to read something other than recycled cries of woe and lamentation, I can just come back once we have a new HC, since we’ll obviously then be going undefeated and winning the MNC every year while churning out NFL draft picks and Academic All-Americans.
Listen, I’m keeping a modicum of perspective after watching the Phils blow a 4-0 lead at home with Cliff Lee on the mound, so you can too.
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
by PSU_Buch on Oct 3, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Best post I've seen in months.
It sums up what I’ve been feeling lately. People are either saying “Oh boo hoo we’re 4-1 and you’re unhappy with us struggling with Indiana? You’re not real fans, all wins are created equal” or “Joe must go so we can go 14-0 every year, 2005, 2008, and 2009 only happened because Joe’s playbook was taken away and was turned into a figurehead”. And those aren’t strawmen, those are paraphrases of actual posts I’ve seen this year. Not only is there no middle ground anymore, but the bickering over petty crap, the people with egos that deserve their own zip code, and the arguing over QBs is just tiring. The QB discussion on here doesn’t look like grown men and women discussing football, it looks more and more like a bunch of 15 year old Twilight fans arguing about Team Edward versus Team Jacob (or whatever his name is, I don’t know because I don’t have a 15 year old daughter). And I completely agree with you about “if you don’t like it, leave”. If that’s said enough, people who are tired of it will leave, and I know that’s not what anybody wants.
by Altoona Man on Oct 3, 2011 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
College Football News
has us rated #50. Even for a critical fan such as myself that seems low. FTR-Iowa is 32, Temple 63, Indiana 110 and EMU 113.
Indiana is still Indiana. Penn State is also Indiana.
You're looking at it through numbers, which is your right.
I’m looking at it subjectively, and I say they stink right now.
by Chris Grovich on Oct 3, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Ok, I misunderstood, and do agree entirely that.......
THEY do Stink right now.
"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.
You also did a great job
of turning a positive (the defense) into a negative
Formerly known as kmart93
@kmart93
Black Shoe Diaries
This doesn't even make sense, Kyle.
Here’s what I wrote:
Defense? Still Good. Although, it’s hard to escape the likelihood that they’re going to be left on the field way too long against quality Big Ten opponents and will wear down in the fourth quarter. They’re very good, but not particularly deep (and with Stephon Morris’ ankle injury, less so). This became a bit of an issue late against Indiana, which converted 3/7 third downs and 3/3 fourth downs in the last fifteen minutes.
The defense is excellent, but they’re going to fail if the offense doesn’t find a way to stay on the field against good opponents due to their lack of depth — which is essentially 3 DE’s, 4 DT’s, and a thinning group of DB’s.
And they did give up a bunch of conversions in the fourth quarter against a bad Indiana team using their backup QB and 2nd or 3rd team RB. If you think that’s OMGZ NEGATIVE, I’m not sure what to tell you. These are all of Indiana’s 3rd and 4th downs in the last 7 1/2 minutes of the game:
Ind 3-4 at Ind29 Kiel, Dusty rush for 5 yards to the IND34, 1ST DOWN IND.
Ind 3-9 at Ind48 Kiel, Dusty rush for 4 yards to the PSU48 (Astorino, Drew).
Ind 4-5 at Psu48 Kiel, Dusty pass complete to Dedmond, Max for 10 yards to the PSU38, 1ST DOWN IND (Willis, Malcolm).
Ind 3-5 at Psu33 Kiel, Dusty pass complete to Wynn, Shane for 24 yards to the PSU9, 1ST DOWN IND (Sukay, Nick).
Ind 3-4 at Ind26 Kiel, Dusty pass complete to Chester, J. for 9 yards to the IND35, 1ST DOWN IND (Amos, Adrian).
Ind 3-14 at Ind31 Kiel, Dusty pass complete to Bolser, Ted for 13 yards to the IND44 (Powell, Chaz).
Ind 4-1 at Ind44 Kiel, Dusty rush for 6 yards to the 50 yardline, 1ST DOWN IND Ind 3-10 at Ind50 Kiel, Dusty pass complete to Belcher, D. for 7 yards to the PSU43 (Powell, Chaz).
Ind 4-3 at Psu43 Kiel, Dusty rush for 3 yards to the PSU40, 1ST DOWN IND, out-of-bounds (Stupar, Nate).
by Chris Grovich on Oct 3, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
This is what I meant when I said yesterday I wasn't sold yet on the D being great.
Bad teams like Indiana are moving the ball and converting a lot of 3rd and 4th downs. Many times, however, they end up shooting themself in the foot with some dumb mistake be it a turnover, dropped pass when wide open, bad pass when wide open..whatever – that’s why they’re bad teams. But the good teams won’t do that.
PSU’s D has faced one tough team thus far and did ok at best. I can’t call them great until they do what they’ve been doing most of the time so far against better teams.
And again like I said yesterday I am NOT down on the D. Not at all. I just think we may be getting ahead of ourselves in saying how great they are.
Sagarin, Massey, Colley, etc....
Honestly, who cares about them? No team or its fans….not even Pitt….runs around bragging about being the “Massey National Champ” or the “Sagarin Toughest Schedule Leader”.
Referencing those such things is really scraping the bottom of the barrel in my opinion. I want the Coaches, AP, and BCS polls to rank PSU highly. I want the idiots on ESPN and the like to talk about PSU as a good team and a title contender with good players who make good plays, not just things like, “Yeah, good old Joe…he’s an icon”….“did you know there have been 82,158 coaching changes since Joe’s been at PSU”…etc.
It’s just ridiculous to see the same old crap, game after game, year after year. How long are we going to hang onto 2005? Holy cow…I mean, we’re bragging this year about beating freaking Temple!!! Who the heck wants to hang their hat on what they did against Temple
Polls are stupid
Caring about the weekly sampling of the collective feelings of Kirk Herbstreit, Craig James, Doug Lesmerises, and people of their ilk is dumb. And the coaches don’t watch any games beyond what’s on their own schedule. Above all, they have no incentive whatsoever to be correct.
It’s roughly as reasonable as having a witch doctor interpret the entrails of chickens and whatever that witch doctor says, that’s going to affect your opinion of your favorite team.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Maybe they are, but they are what counts!
Sure they’re flawed, but they’re the reality of college football. And I hate ESPN, but they’re also the mainstream of college football. What they say carries weight amongst the vast majority fans and they generate gads of interest and money with their coverage of college football. I’d rather have them say good things about PSU and reference their opinions in debates (I live in Pitt country) than Sagarin, Massey, etc. Most college football fans don’t even know what those are.
I guess I am dumb then.
Right
because when I’m in an argument with Pitt fans (1-Why? 2-that’s plural, and therefore doubtful), screw logic, I want the feelings of Craig James on my side!
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Well, I guess I could just brag about how PSU beat Temple (barely).
That ought to impress them and any other college football fan right out of their shoes!
This season has made me into a "Joe Needs To Go" gal.
And I’ve always been an optimistic fan in every sport and I’m a Philly Sports fan.
What does that tell you?
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State."
- Cris Carter, NFL Draft, 4/25/09
twitter: @princessblueezy
I'll never say
Joe needs to go. But I will say, “Why yes, I will drink that handle of vodka now.”
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
by jman07 on Oct 3, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Young lady, This just in.......
JOE DOES NOT COACH ANYMORE, weather he’s in the booth (definitely not) or on the field…and that film of him screaming at practice is becoming annoying…it’s like seeing the pictures of Mao in the river swimming after he’d been dead for a few years or Fidel smokin’ a blunt when he was probably on life support…..anyways, I’m gonna review the game film.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
That's why I always laugh when PSU releases a 15 second clip of Joe screaming at spring practice.
It’s a joke.
by Chris Grovich on Oct 3, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I've been hearing that for years, but I just don't buy it.
A lot of people (I don’t know if you’re one of those who feel this way or not, but there are many who do feel this way) think that 2005 and onward only happened because they made Joe a powerless coach-in-name-only figurehead, took away his playbook, and gave all the power to the assistants. The truth is, if Joe was nothing but dead weight, he’d be gone by now or if not, his being turned into coach-in-name-only would have made the news, like when Bobby Bowden was given that as an alternative to retiring. I’m just asking in the sense of looking for clarification, but what would be the purpose of keeping around an old man whose age if anything would be a concern for potential recruits? Many times I hear that recruits reconsider because they’re worried that Joe won’t be coaching during their entire four year run as a Nittany Lion. Which makes me wonder why it’d be a concern in that case because if anything they’d chomp at the bit to meet Joe Paterno before he left. And why would they waste money paying a coach’s salary to a mascot? There might be something I’m missing here, but I’m just trying to understand the logic here.
Did no one else see
Joe talking to McGloin on the sidelines before one of the plays? Granted, McGloin messed up on the play, but Joe was coaching.
"It's never a bad thing thing to vote for the suckiness of tOSU." -RWReese
Follow @Paige2PSU
by Paige2PSU on Oct 3, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly. I can understand "Joe doesn't directly coach as much as he used to", but not "Joe is just glorified a mascot". That idea originated as trash talk from opposing fans to begin with so it baffles me why Penn State fans are saying it now.
by Altoona Man on Oct 4, 2011 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
we could pay Joe a salary of $10 million
and still come out ahead on the deal….the guy is a brand…a big, money making brand
I’m a huge Braves fan…it’s kinda like Chipper Jones…is his on field performance worth $15 or $18 mill or whatever it is? absolutely not, but he puts asses in seats in Atlanta, and on the road…
"my dad says Michigan used to be good"
Can we get a post with "Panic" by The Smiths in it?
PANIC ON THE STREETS OF LONDON…HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Yo, why not????
It’s better than the stomach problems I get from this team.
"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.
Prefer 'Panic in Detroit'
by Bowie, although I’m not sure what Detroit has to do with State College. Great song, though.
by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 3, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Detroit
is where PSU may end up this bowl season. See my post above.
Indiana is still Indiana. Penn State is also Indiana.
Nice.
Perfect tie in.
“The policemen warned of repercussions/which followed none too soon”
by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 3, 2011 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Our crack Vegas analyst (@am19psu) says the line is up to Iowa +3.
And he doesn’t expect it to move.
Virtually every computer and calculation I trust
says PSU wins a close one. Which, considering it’s Iowa and a game at Beaver Stadium, means a heart wrenching loss.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
"...And he doesn't expect it to move."
The spread or the PSU offense?
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Looks like it opened at a lot of online books at 2.5. Also interesting that PSU is still (and it’s early, and probably bad data but what we have) getting 50% of the bets.
Still don’t like it unless there’s some hidden playbook under Galen’s bed for some reasons — and really a couple variations on running plays is all it would take.
by Kevin Powers on Oct 3, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm off the team #JustPickOne bandwagon
and think we should continue to run the 2 QB system. Why? Because someone needs to EARN it. This is football, for crying out loud, not golf. Enough with the “he needs confidence” or “can’t be looking over his shoulder” or “needs a rhythm” crap. How much coddling does a QB need? No one is worried about Chima Okoli’s feelings!
Despite their claims to the media, neither guy has earned this job, and I don’t think the starting QB spot for the state university of Pennsylvania football team should be just handed to anyone just so we can “pick somebody.” Guess what, you play like a dogpile, you stand to get yanked. It’s that way with everyone on the team, and dare I say, everywhere in the real world. Can’t handle the adversity? Well then how can we trust you to handle a 2 minute drive from behind on the road in the 4th quarter. Buck up, make some throws, and win the job if you want to get the full time role.
But that's the whole problem.
Neither appears to be even close to good enough to earn it.
How much is it because they're rotating QBs?
How are the quarterbacks on this roster getting worse?
At this point, I’ve convinced myself that neither QB is getting the 1st team reps they need to improve, and that the offensive line would look slightly better if they had the same QB behind them for the significant snaps. (Just like my feet would soon have blisters on them if I took this long to pick out socks in the morning.)
Cliches aside, it’s the coach’s job to pick a starting QB. Just because their QBs are making it hard for them doesn’t mean the coaches don’t have to do their jobs.
"I wouldn’t trust Craig James to report on sixth-grade volleyball." Stewart Mandel on Craig James, who allegedly killed five hookers while at SMU.
I don't disagree with this
But I would actually prefer that they stop with the OR crap and all of that, and call one guy the starter. BUT—have a very short leash for him and pull him and replace him if he isn’t getting the job done.
That approach is distinct from the current approach which allows the starter to get all of the first quarter drives, then MM comes in for the second quarter, etc. The preconceived switching of guys—seemingly regardless of what happens on the field—is something I would like to see change.
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
Ok...I agree with most....
But strictly speaking, you don’t start the B1G Offensive player of the week and alternate players for no good reason except to alternate them? Just wondering. And let me know when Okoli wins any honors, because I don’t give a dump about his or anybody elses feelings.
"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.
Wow....
I really feel like this season has gone down the $hitter before it even began. I mean, most reasonable fans expected PSU to be 4-1 at this point, but the range of records from the pre-season, ranging from 5-7 to 10-2, just seems moot now.
I watched the game last night because I was out on Friday. (It was painful. I had a lot of good music and simultaneous twitter feeds to get me through it.) But I saw nothing in that performance that was inspiring. Worst of all, is that this offense is going to squander a really talented defense as the season (and other teams) wears them on.
I really can’t say what I hope for at this point. In the preseason Joe said “they didn’t do a good job of coaching last season” and right now I don’t see any difference. Will he admit it again this year?
Artie.....
What you said and this season looks, at this point, to be heading for a messy ending for both coaches and players. I say that most regretfully.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
What do your inside sources (or "gut") feelings tell you?
Do you think Spanier/Curley plan to extend Joe for another year?
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
My "gut" tells me that.....
this team must win at least 9 games for that to happen….if any less, 8-5 or 7-6 or worse, and rehiring Joe would provoke a backlash similar to the arrival of the STEP….I just don’t want it to be a messy ending, one way or the other.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
A Messy Ending
is to some degree inevitable. A good replacement will obviously help in cleaning up that mess.
Indiana is still Indiana. Penn State is also Indiana.
everything ends badly
otherwise it wouldn’t end.
#coughlin’slaw
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
ponderings
What benefit is there to Graham for NOT renewing Joe’s contract? Graham is on record as saying a winning football record has no effects good or bad on the entire University picture – financial or otherwise. And although I believe Graham is not personally enamored with Joe, I belive he has professional respect for him. Do we know a majority of the trustees are for or against this? Unless the trustees are on board with it, not renewing Joe’s contract has to be a non-starter with Graham.
*
In the past
circa 2000-2004 it has been said that the trustees were very much in support of Joe Paterno, and many of them are in business dealing with him (pure hearsay, I have no substantiation).
But I think it’s fair to say that Graham Spanier does not have the power to unilaterally fire Joe Paterno.
Just stop send him a check after the season and change the locks
Just like on Office Space
I blame HITS
I wouldn't surprised
if there is a shoe box full of uncashed pay-checks in Joe Paterno’s closet.
David, Shhh...Listen to Ohio State getting booed. It's like angels, singing Phish, covering Steely Dan.
I really can't picture..
what Joe does on Saturdays if he’s not coaching.
Its weird to think about, but ultimately inevitable if these teams continue to stink.
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't know if.....
he is ready(?) to become an ambassador for PSU, especially if the entire staff gets canned if he goes, which it should, especially if the new guy is out of the system. I am starting to revise my thinking on a “replacement in waiting”, regardless of the messes at other places…at least it gives everyone somebody else to rip into, before and after. It was messy with Bowden, but he recovered, wrote a book, took the payoff and doesn’t do much for promoting FSU at all. We can’t worry about what’s Joe going to do IF he departs…..I’m sure that the new coach will deal with that as well.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
He's a proud man..
and I don’t see him stepping aside for everything. I don’t know if Spanier/Curley would try to put “constraints” on his coaching like they tried with Bowden (i.e. you can’t touch the offense). Joe would never have it. Nor would I think he accept Jay being “bought out” by boosters.
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
That's why I am overusing the word.....
“messy”……“boosters” don’t have any power at PSU, Joe is loyal to his staff and still thinks he will coaching when he is a hundred…..I probably won’t be around for that, but Joe is/has always been potrayed as a “teacher and molder” of men in addition to being a FB coach….and the bottom line is as you said,“Joe would never have 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 Oct 3, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
It's crazy
we’re almost halfway through the season and I still can’t tell if this is a 6 win or 10 win team.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
(sigh)....
Those were the halcyon days my friend…
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Remeber.....
PSU went into MU and, by all rights, had a sh*t gameplan and couldn’t score a TD to beat MU by insisting to play into their hands and put the spread O into the crapper….Don’t blame Morelli for all of that loss.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Right.
Despite having the blueprint on how to beat them from Appy St & Oregon, they instead went with a gameplan that included punting from Michigan’s 31!
Just sayin'
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Something Sad
Michigan beat us that year.
by bbpennstate10 on Oct 3, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I got these stats from cfbstats.com
Some QB stats that are broken down by Quarter.
PSU’s NCAA rank in the quarters (sorted by QB rating) :
1st : 115th (84.11)
2nd : 60th (130.9)
3rd : 60th (135.5)
4th : 117th (81.7)
In the 1st Q : 18-37, 180 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT, 5 completions of 15+ yards, 1 completion of 25+ yards
In the 2nd Q : 27-51, 395 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT, 9 completions of 15 + yards, 5 completions of 25+ yards
In the 3rd Q : 24-45, 370 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT, 8 completions of 15+ yards, 3 completions of 25+ yards
In the 4th Q : 16-34, 164 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT, 4 completions of 15+ yards, 1 completion of 25+ yards
So what you're saying is
we fluctuate between mediocre and flaming dumpster fire?
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
Exactly.....
These stats don’t lie and there’s no indication that they improve…I’m NOT a “glass hal-empty” guy, but my “125th Anniversary” Stadium cup is developing a leak.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
It also shows that apparently PSU needs to "warm up" in the 1st quarter and "cool down" in the 4th quarter
But they are at least mediocre in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Time to make a decision
If Bolden makes another start, it could end up costing PSU an actual win. With all these winnable games on the schedule, PSU could possibly go on a run with McGloin at the helm and win ugly all the way up to Madison.
I’m confused as to where the support for Bolden is coming from. It’s not because he’s played better than McGloin this season. It can’t be because he’s played better than McGloin against “good defenses.” Is it because he got 4 stars from Rivals? I thought we already went through this with AM?
Maybe there’s some intangible value that I’m missing that Bolden is yet to unleash, or maybe I don’t know about it because I’m not in the locker room. All I know is that Bolden tried to transfer after sitting on the bench his freshman year like every other QB in PSU history. Maybe he had a better reason for that than what I’m imagining, but it’s certainly not a good sign.
Aaron
BT Powerhouse contributor
Let's go Mets, Giants, Knicks, Rangers, PSU
Bolden actually got off to a decent start on Saturday...
He made some nice intermediate throws. After the big drop by Moye (which seems to be a given with those two) on a well-placed ball, I just felt like the wind fell out of his sails. He was not the same QB afterwards and started making lousy plays.
I’m not sure what else I can say about that, except that I don’t think Mac lets things like that ruin his day and he seems better at playing through it.
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
As long as they alternate QBs.......
it stinks and MM blew-up at Jay on saturday after the game…..that does not bode well for him. Joe said, and has always said, “We’ll see how they practice this week.” Splitting the snaps does not help either.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
How did he blow up?
By saying that he deserved to start?
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
They had a "little" talk.....
after the game also.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Kevin Thompson
jacked McQueary up against the wall for not playing Pat Devlin in the first half.
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
by PSU_Buch on Oct 3, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sorry. Just trying to maintain a little levity.
I’m actually interested in the “real” answer too. I’m on the edge of sports fan despondency right now and trying to maintain a little more positive outlook than is prevalent here at the moment (see my post above).
"I don't think you can progress in this game unless you know about the past."
-Silas Redd
Funny.....
MM has the “moxie” and just became frustrated AGAIN with the changing of QBs….did anyone see them replacing MM after they went up 16-10? That’s one of the times I screamed at the radio.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
*ahem*
If that’s not coddling, i don’t know what is.
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
i agree with this
i know bolden supporters always get crap for the “what if” game, but bolden had 3 plays that if they succeeded (and they were close) we would probably be singing a different tune today. What if there was no hold on their opning drive TD run by Redd? What if Moye catches that pass from Bolden? What if Redd doesnt fumble on the 1 yard line in the 3rd Q?
this is not a commentary to say that Bolden is better or McGloin is worse. Both guys were inefficient moving the ball the majority of the game. But McGloin gets one pass to go 75 yards for a score and we all go “aaahhhhh”. Bolden has at least 2 TD drives stop because of the mistakes of others, and a dropped pass, and hes not ready. if one of those three things outlined above doesnt happen, are we still so sure McGloin is the better option?
Ahhhhhh.....
We did go through this with Morelli….and with the threat of leaving the University put on Joe, he is repeating the act with Rob…..to what end? I tell you, it’s another,“I shoulda played______more and I gotta do a better job of coaching.”
"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 Oct 3, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Enough
Bolden applied for a transfer. We get it (and some of us understand it, given the circumstances). It doesn’t mean that he is holding the team (or Joe) hostage. I find it impossible to believe that if Joe really thought McGloin was better, that he would risk the season in order to protect one player’s feelings. I can’t think of a single time when he has done that in the 25+ years that I’ve followed PSU football. Can you?
by kijana's acl on Oct 3, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I'll give you one----Morelli
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Thank you.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Right, because Morelli would have transferred or quit if Clark had played
The parallels are amazing.
by kijana's acl on Oct 3, 2011 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually #14 walked "out" at Pitt.....
an Joe rescued him and promised his father that PSU was the place for him.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
That's what I expected
Because everyone knew that Clark was a worldbeater in 2007. Oh wait, no.
by kijana's acl on Oct 3, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Gotta agree with Derry here....
For some reason, QB is the most coddled position at Penn State. It doesn’t happen anywhere else.
And I bet if DC17 wasn’t a sure thing in terms of talent/success on the field. You would have seen a two QB system with Devlin too.
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
The very idea that Morelli/Clark is a parallel to Bolden/McGloin
is enough to make me lose faith in anyone ever being objective about anything. Clark never played a meaningful snap except for when he was knocked the hell out against Michigan.
by kijana's acl on Oct 3, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure how that changes the fact that there was NO quarterback controversy in 2007
by kijana's acl on Oct 3, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Listen, I'm not even sure what we're arguing about anymore and frankly I don't care...
My point was PSU coddles their QB’s as of late. Otherwise, I don’t see the reason why they can’t let one guy play an entire game.
Maybe Devlin wasn’t coddled because they knew Clark was good enough and didn’t care. And perhaps, now, they’re so worried about depth they don’t want to lose Bolden, especially with PJ ineligible.
Going back to 2006/2007, Morelli was serviceable at best. And as several have stated, we’d almost prefer him to the current cluster frick.
by Artiefufkin10 on Oct 3, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Kijana, Artie et. gang......
I’m not looking for an arguement……as I said before, I am extremely frustrated over this team and how they are being handled.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Joe, if we all recall,......
Is an old QB, an old QB coach and now Jay is the same…..they both feel that they know that position better than anybody else. That’s ego and you must have an ego to coach in the “big leagues”. No problem there.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Just a question…
and now Jay is the same
It is my understanding of history that Joe was actually quite good and “successful” as a QB at both Brooklyn Prep and Brown. I am hardpressed to recall Jay ever playing a meaningful snap at either State High or PSU. So, although Jay may have been listed as a QB, I think the analogy may not be so “analogous.”
*
THIS WEEKEND = PANCHERO BURRITO LIFT
Bring it to beaver stadium Iowans. DO IT. It will be more interesting than the game!
Just saw this.....
Panchero Burrito Lift opened at 5&1/2 and it will not move.
"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 Oct 3, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Anthony Fera, B1G Special Teams player of the week
“Sure, but it was only Indiana!” Evan Lewis’ supporters shout.
by swiggy04 on Oct 3, 2011 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
You can't be 1-0 in the Pig Division! We're in the Pig Division! You're in the Turtle Division.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Who would have thought that Monday afternoon
would bring a thread heading for 200+ comments? As a bonus we have hostage situations, self-flagellation, and Chairman Mao swimming in the river.
Since I no longer know what to think about our football team, simply count me as entertained.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Listen up:
Everyone needs to relax, and start drinking.
All of the complaining and internet message board moaning in the world isn’t going to fix this team. But you drinking more and relaxing certainly might help. One, because you’ll be sloshed. Two, see number one.
by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 3, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
04.
That D was even better and would get more defensive scores. Neither offense would score.
Hey, let's let them earn this suck on the field.
Just awarding to them is unfair to suck.
David, Shhh...Listen to Ohio State getting booed. It's like angels, singing Phish, covering Steely Dan.
PSU 11
There’s at least some talented players on ’11’s O. There was no Moye or Redd on ’04.
by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 3, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
There were Tony Hunt and MRob.
Granted, Moye was great in 09 and Redd in 10 but both seem to be regressing.
Don't blame it on the nails.....
Don’t blame the nails!!! It’s the hammer!!!
It’s not the “kids.” It’s the coaches. And it starts at the top!
JoPa built a legend ~~ now he’s deconstructing! Sad but true. Joe, by his own words, has moved from coach to cheerleader. As such, he should put a dress on his son and make him a cheerleader, too. Joe can no longer coach on the major college level. The game has passed him by.
Jay Paterno deserves no place on the coaching staff. Can’t recruit. Can’t coach QB’s. Never could. Never should have been hired. His dad’s second-biggest mistake was elevating him to QB coach. His dad’s biggest mistake is keeping him.
PSU needs to keep the legend ~~ but allow the man to retire at season’s end!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Black Shoe Diaries
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SHOP THE BLACK SHOE DIARIES STORE
