Blog Mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, everyone!  Filled with turkey and dreams, the Blue/White Roundtable flies out to Madison (alongside Milwaukee native and Wisconsin alumnus Steve Miller) to see the Nittany Lions take on the Badgers in a contest to decide the Leaders Division Champion.

Welcome back this week's participants - all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse and William World News' William F. Yurasko!

The Penn State offense has struggled week in and week out throughout the course of the season. The implementation of the wildcat formation by interim Head Coach Tom Bradley appeared to signal a shift in offensive philosophy from the rest of the year. What did you think?

The Underdogs: Early in the year, perhaps even in these roundtables I've been suggesting (and only half jokingly) that Curtis Drake at QB should be given legitimate thought. Sure, his throwing is limited, but then again so are our other quarterback options. We finally got somewhere closer to a 75-25 run-pass ratio which is where we need to be. Theoretically, it should open up the passing game more as the defenses cheat forward. However (and bizarrely), OSU seemed unprepared. The wildcat, ie the zone-read with a non-QB playing as QB, is intended to isolate one defender against the two players in the exchange. In the first half, it didn't seem like (whichever wildcat was in) ever made the right read (technically). But nor did they have to. Ohio State was standing around watching as Penn State players ran past them in all directions.

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Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

(via sandrapalmer69)

We may lose and we may win, but we will never be here again.  So open up, I'm climbin' in.  Take it easy.

With heavy hearts, the Blue/White Roundtable returns.  Ohio State is a worthy opponent and we still have a shot at the Big Ten Championship, so I encourage everyone to take a break from reality and enjoy some football talk.

Also, #ProudPSUforRAINN has raised over $422,000.  We're just $78,000 away from the goal, so here's your friendly reminder.  DONATE NOW.

Say hello to this week's panelists - All of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse and Michael Canzoneri, Bill Engel, and Ali Soheilian from Penn Live's 50-Yard Lion Blog!

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Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

(via megasuggs)

Even though the Nittany Lions are on a well-deserved bye week, the Blue/White Roundtable never takes a week off.

Say hello once again to our panelists - Kevin McGuire from the Nittany Lions Den, William F. Yurasko from William World News, all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse, and Timothy Johnson, Bill Engel, Bob Smith, Michael Canzoneri, and Ali Soheilian from PennLive's 50-Yard Lion Blog!

The Nittany Lions now sit at #15 in the polls, having won 7 straight. Think back to the morning of September 3rd. What were your expectations for this team? Are they were you thought they would be today?

The Underdogs: I didn't really have expectations going into the season. I had no idea what we had as a team. I thought there might be a good defense in there, but didn't know that Hill/Still would become the wrecking force they have. I think we all knew the schedule, save Alabama, was pretty easy over the course of the first two months and that the fate of the entire season would swing one way or another in November. And I find myself in the exact same place as 9.3.11, I have no idea where these final three games will take us. The fulcrum of our season wasn't the beginning of September but the beginning of November.

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Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Video clip) (via gferdinandus3)

This week, the Amateur Blog Mob returns to the friendly confines of Beaver Stadium as the Fighting Illini (accompanied by Illinois natives Earth, Wind and Fire) try to rekindle their magical September run!

Say hello once again to our panelists - Kevin McGuire from the Nittany Lions Den, William F. Yurasko from William World News, and all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse!

Northwestern's offensive output against the Penn State defense was rivaled only by Alabama. What made the Wildcats so effective? What adjustments did Penn State make in the second half?

J Schnauzer: For once a prediction of mine was correct: Persa would get his 300 yards but Penn State would do just enough on defense to keep the Lions in the game. The Wildcats were effective in the first half because they exploited the weaknesses that occur in the Cover Two and Penn State couldn't make the initial tackle. Credit where credit is due: I don't know if there is a more underrated corps in college football than Northwestern's wide receivers. Nine different Wildcats caught passes of eight yards or more. Jeremy Ebert stole the show with some acrobatic catches and MRob-in-purple Kain Colter will give Penn State fits in the future. Penn State must have adjusted the secondary coverage at the half because Persa often had time to throw but ended up taking a loss.

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Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

Kanye West - All Of The Lights ft. Rihanna, Kid Cudi (via KanyeWestVEVO)

This week, the Amateur Blog Mob heads to the site of one of Penn State's greatest triumphs (re-live it here), as the Nittany Lions fly to the Chicago suburbs to take on the Wildcats of Northwestern in a game under all of the lights on the Big Ten Network.

Say hello once again to our panelists - Kevin McGuire from the Nittany Lions Den, William F. Yurasko from William World News, all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse, and Bill Engel, Ali Soheilian, and Timothy Johnson from PennLive's 50-Yard Lion!

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Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

John Mellencamp - Authority Song (via JohnMellencampVEVO)

This week, the Purdue Boilermakers (and Indiana native son John Mellencamp) roll into Beaver Stadium to fight the authority of Penn State football.

Say hello once again to our panelists - our own Ben Jones, Kevin McGuire from the Nittany Lions Den, William F. Yurasko from William World News, all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse, and Bill Engel, Michael Canzoneri, Ali Soheilian, Bob Smith, and Timothy Johnson from PennLive's 50-Yard Lion!

How satisfying was that win against the Hawkeyes?

Rowlff Dogg: After some crushing defeats, it was great to get the Iowa monkey off our backs. Our struggles with the Hawkeyes epitomize the dissatisfaction with Penn State's middling status since joining the Big Ten. Back in 1993, who would have thought that Iowa, IOWA?!?!, would give us fits for an entire decade?

While beating Iowa was fantastic, the 4th quarter in particular was a thing of beauty. Pounding the rock down their throats. Defenders with their hands on their hips. Their white quarterback getting picked off twice. Pinning our ears back and knocking Iowa backwards on their last gasp drive. Awesome. Simply awesome!

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Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

The Fabulous Fryers - Bringing Home The Roses (via BLP1261)

This week, the Amateur Blog Mob heads back to Beaver Stadium where Penn State and Iowa continue to...ahem...run for the roses.

Say hello once again to our panelists - our own Ben Jones, Kevin McGuire from the Nittany Lions Den, William F. Yurasko from William World News, all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse, and Michael Sedor, Bill Engel, Michael Canzoneri, Ali Soheilian, and Thomas Knauer from PennLive's 50-Yard Lion!

Are we about to see the second coming of the 6-4 spectacular?

WFY: I anticipate more scoring by both sides - that 6-4 game was something else. An amazing defensive effort by Penn State wasted by a simply incompetent offense. That being said, I'd take either 2004 Zack Mills or Michael Robinson over the current options.

I expect Penn State to get in the end zone once or twice on Saturday and the same for Iowa.

The Underdogs: Nothing can be that bad can it? Oh wait... SEC SEC SEC.

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 Blog mob . . . ASSEMBLE!

Brice Fox & Daniel Weber - This is Indiana (Official Music Video) (via IURemix)

What is Indiana?  A basketball school.

This week, the Amateur Blog Mob opens the Big Ten schedule with a trip to Bloomington as Penn State faces off against the Indiana Hoosiers.

Say hello once again to our panelists - our own Ben Jones, Kevin McGuire from the Nittany Lions Den, William F. Yurasko from William World News, and all of the D-O-double-G's from JoePa's Doghouse.  And joining us now for conference play, the 50-Yard Lion blog's Michael Sedor, Bill Engel, Michael Canzoneri, and Ali Soheilian!

Is it worth starting Matt McGloin this week at QB?  Will we settle the QB competition this week, or are we destined to see this last throughout the Big Ten schedule?

Sedor: Yes, Matt McGloin should start against Indiana. He's the only Penn State quarterback that's put in a watchable performance in 2011. And, yes, it was against Eastern Michigan. OK, sure, the 1-10 for 0 yards stinker the Man with Moxie put up against Alabama didn't do much to dispel the "he can't do it against good teams" chorus. But what exactly did Rob Bolden do in September to deserve playing time? Call him what you will -- McPickSix, McGroin, McLovin -- but the Scranton Gunslinger should also be called PSU's starter.

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