Blue-White Game Preview - Offense

by BSD on Apr 15, 2011 2:05 PM EDT in Football

We are not officially T-minus 24 hours away from the Blue-White game, the most anticipated and most highly disappointing sporting event in all of Penn State sports. Where every event is a positive and a negative, and we all come away not really sure what to think about anything. One thing is for sure, it looks like there's going to be some bad weather which is going to put a damper on the festivities.

Yesterday we talked about the Penn State defense. Today we look at the offense. Here are the thoughts of your BSD contributors minus jtothep who elected to start not caring today instead of waiting until the third quarter of the game tomorrow like the rest of us.

BSD Mike Says...

Like everyone else, I'll be most interested in seeing the quarterbacks. From Rob Bolden, I want to see if he's showing confidence in throwing down field. Last year I felt the coaches were justified in yanking him when they did because he looked like he was looking for his check downs right away without letting the play develop. Whether or not he should have got another shot later in the year is up for debate, but I thought it was the right thing to do at the time.

From Matt McGloin I'm looking to see if he has learned to make smarter decisions. Does he realize the limitations of his physical ability and not try to force a ball into a space where it doesn't belong?

It will be interesting to see which guy starts with the first team to begin the game. That will lead to a ton of speculation. If I were JoePa, I would start Paul Jones just to mess with everyone.

Beyond the quarterback situation, I'll be watching the offensive line. I really think those guys are going to make or break the season. Whoever plays center and right guard better show me something.

Qbsneak12 Says...

I've set some realistic expectations for the offense. I know JoePa isn't going to name a starting QB, but I want to see some growth in the areas Rob Bolden (ball security, decision making, confidence) and Matt McGloin (ball security, decision making) struggled in during the 2010 season. How the QB derby goes, so goes the 2011 season. With games against Alabama, Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, the QBs can't afford any 5 INT games. I don't expect a starter to be named, but I do expect for us to find out which guy is actually in the lead for the job.

Silas Redd is the frontrunner for the starting RB spot replacing Penn State's all-time leading rusher (wow, that's weird to say) Evan Royster. I expect Redd to flash some of those Zoo Zoo moves, but come out of the game early, especially if the weather is not ideal (no need to lose your best back in the Spring Game. For the receivers, I want to see Devon Smith make some big plays with all that speed he has and will this be the spring Justin Brown turns the corner?

The brightest light will be shining on the offensive line, which for the 46th consecutive season is a major area of concern for the Nittany Lions. I want to see the depth, the kids that will replace the entire interior portion of the line and will some of the big time recruits, mainly Eric Shrive, finally step up (whoops, that phrase is the equivalent of a four letter word at this point) and live up to all of those stars he had bestowed upon him three years ago.

NGameday Says...

Assuming that the game isn't being played in 6 inches of water the only real thing I'm looking for is a pulse on the offensive line. With people getting pulled into different positions throughout the game I don't need the line to look great, but I want to feel like it isn't going to such with a little work. My hope is with all of the reports of swagger and raging hormones that these guys go our there and hit somebody. If the offensive line plays well that opens up the rest of the offense. I already know what to expect from the backs and the wideouts, so it's just about that final part of the puzzle coming together.

Quarterbacks are also important, so I'm looking for McGloin to throw a couple interceptions and help my cause.

Spakajewia Says...

Like most everyone else, I'll be watching the offensive line to see if we've got the big uglies to win all three games in November: Nebraska at home, followed by Ohio State and Wisconsin on the road.

Realistically, I hope to see competence from the offense in general and the o-line in particular. My approach to the offense is like my approach to golf: a couple of good shots and I'm happy, regardless of the overall score. If there are just a couple of flashes of brilliance -- or excellence -- I'll be happy.

Fugimaster Says...

I don't know...I've been staring at the screen for an hour now trying to think of something insightful to say, but the truth is, until the offensive line gets squared away, it's pointless talking about how good or bad anything else looks or doesn't look. By all accounts, the line has been crappy all spring. Even if it has a good day on Saturday, that doesn't change much. There's still a lot of work to be done. I don't expect to take much away from this game offensively. If I do, it'll either be a terrible or pleasant surprise.

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I'll break the ice

Now that the celebration's over, lets go beat Ohio State--Joe Paterno

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by Ben Jones on Apr 15, 2011 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

Now send it off to psuwxman to find out the weather in his neck of the woods.

by The JuggerNitt on Apr 15, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

You know what's funny?

That is literally my job from 7AM until 10AM. Al says let’s see what’s going on in your neck of the woods, and I pop on TV for everyone in Upper Michigan.

The weather in your neck of the woods tomorrow? Turrble. Rainy. Thunderstorms in the later afternoon.

by psuwxman on Apr 16, 2011 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions

This is undeniably awesome.

On the train back to Central Jersey so I can get on the road with Pops early tomorrow morning. Stay dry everyone and enjoy the weekend!

Take a shower, shine your shoes...

by Adam Collyer on Apr 15, 2011 8:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Central NJ?

Where? I’m from near Asbury Park, and have family in Edison and Bound Brook…

by psuwxman on Apr 16, 2011 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Originally from Bridgewater, parents now in Basking Ridge

Now residing in Hoboken.

Take a shower, shine your shoes...

by Adam Collyer on Apr 16, 2011 7:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Thinking differently

Regressing to this time last year, I, like many pretty much expected ‘all things Newsome.’ Not only did he not start in the fall, nor did PJ (based upon his B/W Game performance.) It was a kid that wasn’t even on campus during the B/W game.

The starter was the first true freshman to start the season under our most admirable coach; not to mention the first true freshman to start in ~ the last 100 years of this programs storied history. – But we all are more than familiar with these facts.

However, since this situation last year is now in and of itself ‘storied,’ my viewing of whom the starter could be – or perhaps even more interesting – when the ’11 starter is named might just be the next story.

The QB decision in ’10 was simply so unexpected and in a sense, unconventional for all whom have followed PSU and JoePa for decades. Because of this, and again, my viewpoint and waiting to hear/see this QB outcome will be one held with quite on open-mind for ’11.

At this point, I won’t as surprised if someone is dubed ‘the starter’ in the coming weeks. Now, do I think it will happen? No, not really; I just simply won’t be as surprised as I was with last years decision.

So many different scenarios could play-out here. If all 4 potential QB’s (& perhaps I am writing this more with KN & PJ in mind) show a solid grasp of the plays that are called and execute them well – and raise the coaches eyebrows in positive/maybe unexpected good thoughts – then you’d doubt a starter would be named ‘early.’ They’d need to ‘see’ more. And that is a product of time.

As we are presently led to believe, the race is between RB/MMc. Results could be neck-n-neck by Sat. eve. Therefore the coaches would hold their cards close to the vest.

One more: RB just simply has a visible edge in ‘all things QB.’ Do the coaches call it as they see it shortly after the game? Do they have to consider ‘player psychology,’ in that if they believe RB ‘believes’ that he himself has proven enough distance that in his own mind he believes he should be ‘named?’ If this is true, and the coaches do not name him, could that be another hard to swallow ‘decision’ that negates any playing momentum that he might have gained?

Again, obviously you can keep peeling-off these scenarios; but this one (above) is the one I don’t like. I don’t like it because of the ‘history.’ All parties involved might just feel the same way. It’s in the side-view mirrors – but it’s really in the middle view mirror. And this fact just could cause the coaches to pull the trigger a bit early…

I still maintain: “may the best man win!” Whom ever you are…

" 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 Apr 15, 2011 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

I think it's very telling that Jay's pushing to name a starter by the end of this session.

If he thought it was McGloin, I’m inclined to believe that he’d encourage waiting until the summer in order to try and hook Bolden into sticking around. That he wants to name someone now tells me he thinks it’s Bolden’s job and we need to do that in order to put the brakes on any tranfer thoughts now.

I think it’s very likely they’ll let the kids know where they stand (if they haven’t already) without telling the media until 2 wks into fall camp.

Take a shower, shine your shoes...

by Adam Collyer on Apr 15, 2011 8:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah

I buy into this scenario as well. And you even lean into the psycological bit too. Pretty unavoidable now, my guess.

" 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 Apr 16, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions