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Obli's "What I heard and what I think I heard"

General
  • I went to college in WVA and can tell you that Mountaineer Football is their everything. This is their Super Bowl. They play Pitt away this year. Their home games include Kansas and K-State as the only other ranked teams visiting this season. This will be the loudest crowd we play in front of with the only exception being tOSU. We should have a lot of upper class leadership on the field so we should be able to handle the noise and excitement.
  • PSU is more talented at almost every position. But mobile QBs, like Greene, can change the game.
  • Turnovers, penalties and mistakes need to be avoided. If we bring our A game we win. If we bring our B game we will be at risk. If we bring our C game this is an upset waiting to happen.
  • If it rains, that presents even more problems in terms of turnovers.

On Offense
  • The entire focus has been WR since the OC was fired after UM. CJF has expressed guarded optimism. But often times, the thing you work on gets better while other factions suffer. I expect to see much improved WR play.
  • WVUs glaring weakness is their defensive secondary which is almost entirely new as well as using a lot of xfers. You never know how a kid will play in a game as this is always different from practice. I expect PSU to attack the WVU secondary early and often. I am hoping for a big day from our WRs.
  • I am told Warren will be a big part of the gameplan. CJF called him one of the top two best TEs in the nation and said that he can do it all. I expect to see a lot of him as the WVU LBers will be challenged. They do have a kid that looks to be a really good OLB in Josiah Trotter. He played at St. Joe's prep and is the son of NFL pro bowler Jeremiah Trotter. He hurt his leg and redshirted as a Frosh last year. He was a 4 star and is 6-2 and 230. WVU is really high on him and he'll start. However, their depth at linebacker is really thin. If anyone gets banged up, they are in trouble.
  • I am hearing that we'll show a lot of 2X sets. In other words, two RBs. In some cases, a 2-2 which is two RBs and two TEs.
  • I expect we'll see a lot of pre-snap movement with WVU under adjusting as they expect us to play our typical offense disguised to look different by pre-snap movement. But with several TE's, RBs and WRs to choose from, PSU could come out with some creativity. But I expect us to be conservative, early, in a hostile environment on a potentially wet night. We'll see if AK opens it up in the second half.
  • I am not sure what to expect out of our Running Game. We replace a lot of OL and WVUs' front 4 has been good. I expect Allar to run more. I've heard he is much quicker and stronger this year. Moreover, the staff didn't want him running last year as they were not convinced the backup was ready. I understand they are much more comfortable at backup QB for both #2 and #3,
  • Overall, we should be able to put points up and I hope to be well into the 30s or more.
Defense
  • I am pretty comfortable but am concerned about two things: stopping the run and containing Greene.
  • I am told that much of WVUs success last year was their Center who played great against us last year. With two really strong RBs. CJ Donaldson was having a good year and is a load at 6-2 and almost 240 lbs. He got banged up and didn't get the carries later in the season but still had a good year with just under 1000 years rushing and a 5 YPC average. He was also a second-team all-academic B12 player. he may be the one most affected by the loss of their AA center as he is not an outside runner. So that guy is Jahiem White. A PA kid who played at Wiliam Penn in York. He is 5-9 and 195 so he is Mr. Outside. He had just under 900 yards last year as a Frosh and 7.7 YPC. They are really good at RB, perhaps as good as we are.
  • They also have a really good TE in 6-7, 255 lb Kole Taylor. he was a highly rated recruit that went to LSU and Xfers to WVU last year and played well against us. He's put on some weight as he was in the 230 range for last years game. He'll be good and we'll be challenged to contain him.
  • They've got a stable of WRs that are good but not great. They seem confident but they are not highly recruited guys but come after you with depth. Hudson Clement really came on at the end of last season and looks like one of those "steve largent" or "julian edelman" type of players.
  • While they lost a great C and really good LT they seem confident in their OL. They move a starter over to C. But they have a hole to fill at RT. I expect PSU to try and go after that hole by bringing a lot of heat from the Offensive right side in DDS and "Sticks" Abdul Carter. I would guess that we'll do a lot of spying with Rojas and the safeties to contain Greene.
  • WVU is going to be, IMHO, a better offense than USC. The only O we'll see better is tOSU's. They are going to score points.
My prediction is PSU 41, WVU 31.

2 weeks from tomorrow. We find out?

- If this offense is Coach K's or CJF's "same Ole, same ole"
- If Allar has matured enough as a QB to make the difficult decisions and accurate passes at all levels of the field.
- If the WRs have actually improved and can get separation.
- If the OL veterans and newcomers look like a cohesive unit in their blocking & protections

- How much a difference the new DCs scheme will be from Diaz's and if they are more stout against the runs up the middle.
- If the new starters at CB are shutdown corners.
-Who gets trotted out to attempt FGs if required and are they accurate from 40 yds in.
What are you wanting to see?

Troy Huhn update

Our 2026 4* QB lives about 30 miles north of me in San Diego...and my son and I went up to watch him play tonight.

The opponent was overmatched...42-0.

Huhn's accuracy and ball is incredible. He really only missed one pass all night. About a 45 yard bomb into the end zone where the receiver just couldn't quite catch up to it. Missed him by inches. The ball just went off of his sprinting fingertips. There was another incompletion that should have been a PI and another one was just dropped. I'd say he was about 17-20 for 280 on the night...3 TDs.

The most impressive throws...a 15 yard sideline fade that the receiver went up and got. Perfect amount of air. And the other, he rolled out to his right and flicked a 40 yard bomb in stride to his WR for a TD.

He doesn't have a lot of mobility...just seems a bit stiff. But his height and arm are stellar. I doubt Allar looked much more mobile than him in his junior year of HS. He looks like a Dan Marino or Jim Kelly of yesteryear...but I don't know if the NFL really features players like him today.

(Also of note, he lost last week against another top-4 San Diego team...the defending CIF champ, Granite Hills. Had a chance to close the lead in the final minutes but threw an end zone pick and that sealed the 28-17 loss. Nevertheless, his team is easily a top 8 county team.)

I'll post more updates throughout the season if I hear or see more...

I hope his commitment to PSU sticks. I'd love to get our SoCal pipeline stronger, especially with USC and UCLA in the league. And he could be the next QB1 at PSU after Grunkmeyer....
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