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FB Recruiting Alex Tatsch shoulder surgery

Missed this last week but Alex Tatsch has undergone shoulder surgey for the second time in his career. Quickly becoming something that has to be a bit of a concern. Think he's a very talented player but two shoulder surgeries in two years.

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Film Study - Penn State's 2nd Half Revival vs. USC

PENN STATE USC FILM STUDY


See link above. Normally, we like to have a tighter, more specifc focus for these...but if we did that for this game we'd have left too much on the cutting room floor. So we just examined the key plays from the second half (all offense, except the last play). Thankfully we were able to get non-tv angles of the Warren TD so we could illustrate the acting/showmanship involved in hiding who exactly was snapping the ball.

Beyond that schoolyard play, the thing that comes across snap after snap is how much Kotelnicki gives defenses to process in a matter of seconds...not everything works (sugar huddles - which we did a whole preseason video gashing over - have largely been a dud, for example) but all of it HAS to be mentally and physically draining for defenders.

Mertz career over with torn ACL

I never really liked the kid as he was kind of arrogant 5 star douche coming out of HS. I was a fan of his critical INTS when playing PSU. He made a mistake playing for UW ie where QBs go to die. (Wilson was really NC ST product). Still, he ate some humble pie and ended up in cherry role as starting FL QB. Hope he saved NIL money though. Pro career is lost now.

Football Warren & Barker earn multiple national honors

Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Ryan Barker need to make some room on their trophy shelves after each racking up multiple national honors this week.

Football PFF Grades - Penn State vs USC

We'll check back in on these later in the week as they do change plus we'll have takeways on the advanced data tomorrow but here are the intial grades nonetheless.

Important to note that PFF's grading scale is approximately the following;

PFF Grading Scale
90+ - Elite
80 to 89 - Great
70 to 79 - Good
60 to 69 - Average to Above Average
50 - 59 - Below Average
49 and below - Poor

OVERALL

WEEK@ TEAMOVEROFFPASSPBLKRECVRUNRBLKDEFRDEFTACKPRSH
1​
@ West Virginia
73.2​
67.0​
55.5​
75.7​
72.3​
70.2​
53.9​
69.5​
73.8​
63.4​
65.5​
2​
Bowling Green
86.5​
77.4​
78.2​
73.7​
71.1​
73.8​
66.5​
77.5​
81.2​
62.7​
73.9​
4​
Kent State
93.3​
90.6​
90.3​
69.7​
87.1​
90.0​
61.2​
84.0​
91.4​
75.4​
74.8​
5​
Illinois
84.3​
77.6​
75.1​
69.3​
61.8​
84.0​
67.7​
78.2​
79.8​
63.8​
88.7​
6​
UCLA
84.9​
80.3​
83.7​
56.6​
69.4​
74.9​
72.6​
74.1​
65.4​
80.4​
71.0​
7​
@ USC
81.2​
75.4​
76.2​
62.2​
73.6​
63.5​
71.6​
78.7​
79.6​
81.1​
59.1​

Overall, Penn State graded out reather well against the Trojans, I think what comes off as a surprise is PFF (grains of salt) thought the Nittany Lions run blocking did a really good job and the lack of rushing success was more on the running backs and USC's defensive line. Pass rush recived their lowest grade of the year but perhaps mos most importantly, the tackling was good for the Nittany Lions with just five missed tackles in the game.

OFFENSE (BY GRADE)
POSPLAYERSNAPSSNAP SHAREOFFPASSPBLKRUNRBLK
LGTyler Warren
68​
89%​
91.3​
92.6​
33.0​
60.0​
56.1​
QBOlaivavega Ioane
76​
100%​
85.6​
93.5​
80.7​
74.0​
CDrew Allar
76​
100%​
76.6​
76.2​
64.1​
60.7​
LTAnthony Donkoh
75​
99%​
73.5​
59.5​
62.9​
76.1​
RTCooper Cousins
5​
7%​
67.2​
73.0​
65.3​
TE-RKhalil Dinkins
33​
43%​
66.0​
52.0​
71.1​
78.4​
RGKaytron Allen
41​
54%​
65.2​
63.8​
73.3​
63.8​
60.0​
SLWRHarrison Wallace III
52​
68%​
62.9​
62.6​
60.3​
RWRNick Dawkins
76​
100%​
61.9​
52.7​
63.0​
HBDrew Shelton
76​
100%​
61.2​
59.5​
61.8​
66.2​
HBOmari Evans
17​
22%​
61.0​
60.7​
60.3​
LWRNolan Rucci
3​
4%​
60.3​
73.3​
59.7​
TE-RQuinton Martin Jr.
2​
3%​
60.1​
60.0​
67.4​
RWRNicholas Singleton
43​
57%​
58.3​
72.1​
31.2​
56.1​
59.1​
TE-RSal Wormley
63​
83%​
57.7​
64.1​
60.1​
RTLiam Clifford
58​
76%​
55.5​
55.7​
56.8​
LGBeau Pribula
5​
7%​
55.0​
54.0​
60.0​
QBJulian Fleming
37​
49%​
54.4​
56.9​
61.0​
RTJB Nelson
13​
17%​
54.4​
79.9​
50.3​
HBLuke Reynolds
17​
22%​
51.9​
53.1​
56.1​


OFFENSE (BY SNAP COUNT)
POSPLAYERSNAPSSNAP SHAREOFFPASSPBLKRUNRBLK
LGOlaivavega Ioane
76​
100%​
85.6​
93.5​
80.7​
74.0​
QBDrew Allar
76​
100%​
76.6​
76.2​
64.1​
60.7​
CNick Dawkins
76​
100%​
61.9​
52.7​
63.0​
LTDrew Shelton
76​
100%​
61.2​
59.5​
61.8​
66.2​
RTAnthony Donkoh
75​
99%​
73.5​
59.5​
62.9​
76.1​
TE-RTyler Warren
68​
89%​
91.3​
92.6​
33.0​
60.0​
56.1​
RGSal Wormley
63​
83%​
57.7​
64.1​
60.1​
SLWRLiam Clifford
58​
76%​
55.5​
55.7​
56.8​
RWRHarrison Wallace III
52​
68%​
62.9​
62.6​
60.3​
HBNicholas Singleton
43​
57%​
58.3​
72.1​
31.2​
56.1​
59.1​
HBKaytron Allen
41​
54%​
65.2​
63.8​
73.3​
63.8​
60.0​
LWRJulian Fleming
37​
49%​
54.4​
56.9​
61.0​
TE-RKhalil Dinkins
33​
43%​
66.0​
52.0​
71.1​
78.4​
RWROmari Evans
17​
22%​
61.0​
60.7​
60.3​
TE-RLuke Reynolds
17​
22%​
51.9​
53.1​
56.1​
RTJB Nelson
13​
17%​
54.4​
79.9​
50.3​
LGCooper Cousins
5​
7%​
67.2​
73.0​
65.3​
QBBeau Pribula
5​
7%​
55.0​
54.0​
60.0​
RTNolan Rucci
3​
4%​
60.3​
73.3​
59.7​
HBQuinton Martin Jr.
2​
3%​
60.1​
60.0​
67.4​



DEFENSE (BY GRADE)

POSPLAYERSNAPSSNAP SHAREDEFRDEFTACKPRSHCOV
ROLBAbdul Carter
52​
87%​
81.9​
74.6​
62.4​
64.9​
85.9​
FSJaylen Reed
60​
100%​
81.2​
74.1​
67.2​
73.6​
78.2​
MLBKobe King
42​
70%​
74.2​
84.0​
82.2​
57.2​
61.6​
DRTZane Durant
43​
72%​
71.0​
70.0​
74.3​
64.5​
60.0​
RCBJalen Kimber
54​
90%​
69.9​
63.2​
78.5​
69.7​
SCBZion Tracy
31​
52%​
69.7​
64.9​
79.0​
59.4​
69.4​
RCBElliot Washington II
28​
47%​
69.4​
64.7​
78.5​
68.4​
SCBCam Miller
32​
53%​
69.3​
62.9​
75.1​
59.7​
69.5​
DRTAlonzo Ford Jr.
11​
18%​
66.9​
63.0​
64.5​
DLEDani Dennis-Sutton
49​
82%​
66.4​
68.6​
77.0​
55.8​
60.0​
WLBDominic DeLuca
11​
18%​
63.2​
62.4​
57.0​
62.7​
MLBTony Rojas
49​
82%​
63.0​
60.0​
52.1​
63.8​
FSZakee Wheatley
58​
97%​
62.7​
67.7​
84.4​
59.7​
DLESmith Vilbert
14​
23%​
61.1​
65.9​
72.2​
54.6​
FSDejuan Lane
2​
3%​
60.3​
60.0​
60.0​
RCBA.J. Harris
47​
78%​
59.2​
57.9​
65.4​
59.5​
ROLBAmin Vanover
17​
28%​
58.2​
61.4​
56.3​
DLTCoziah Izzard
11​
18%​
57.9​
59.9​
69.7​
56.8​
DLTHakeem Beamon
8​
13%​
54.5​
56.3​
57.7​
DRTDvon J-Thomas
35​
58%​
53.6​
55.5​
22.2​
54.5​
MLBTyler Elsdon
6​
10%​
52.9​
51.9​
73.2​
60.3​

DEFENSE (BY SNAP COUNT

POSPLAYERSNAPSSNAP SHAREDEFRDEFTACKPRSHCOV
FSJaylen Reed
60​
100%​
81.2​
74.1​
67.2​
73.6​
78.2​
FSZakee Wheatley
58​
97%​
62.7​
67.7​
84.4​
59.7​
RCBJalen Kimber
54​
90%​
69.9​
63.2​
78.5​
69.7​
ROLBAbdul Carter
52​
87%​
81.9​
74.6​
62.4​
64.9​
85.9​
DLEDani Dennis-Sutton
49​
82%​
66.4​
68.6​
77.0​
55.8​
60.0​
MLBTony Rojas
49​
82%​
63.0​
60.0​
52.1​
63.8​
RCBA.J. Harris
47​
78%​
59.2​
57.9​
65.4​
59.5​
DRTZane Durant
43​
72%​
71.0​
70.0​
74.3​
64.5​
60.0​
MLBKobe King
42​
70%​
74.2​
84.0​
82.2​
57.2​
61.6​
DRTDvon J-Thomas
35​
58%​
53.6​
55.5​
22.2​
54.5​
SCBCam Miller
32​
53%​
69.3​
62.9​
75.1​
59.7​
69.5​
SCBZion Tracy
31​
52%​
69.7​
64.9​
79.0​
59.4​
69.4​
RCBElliot Washington II
28​
47%​
69.4​
64.7​
78.5​
68.4​
ROLBAmin Vanover
17​
28%​
58.2​
61.4​
56.3​
DLESmith Vilbert
14​
23%​
61.1​
65.9​
72.2​
54.6​
DRTAlonzo Ford Jr.
11​
18%​
66.9​
63.0​
64.5​
WLBDominic DeLuca
11​
18%​
63.2​
62.4​
57.0​
62.7​
DLTCoziah Izzard
11​
18%​
57.9​
59.9​
69.7​
56.8​
DLTHakeem Beamon
8​
13%​
54.5​
56.3​
57.7​
MLBTyler Elsdon
6​
10%​
52.9​
51.9​
73.2​
60.3​
FSDejuan Lane
2​
3%​
60.3​
60.0​
60.0​
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College Football Playoff Outlook

These are the possibilities that I see:

AAC - Army or Navy could get in if undefeated. Do we root for ND to beat both?
ACC - I think they get 2 teams, Clemson & Miami. Not Pitt even if 11-1.
Big 12 - BYU or ISU
Big 10 - Oregon, PSU, PSU
CUSA - Liberty if they remain undefeated
Independent - ND probably gets in if they beat Army & Navy but lose to USC
SEC - Texas for sure but probably 3 more (GA, AL, TN, LSU, Missouri)
Mountain West - Boise State or UNLV

That's 14 teams but only 12 make the playoffs. ND, Army/Navy winner, and Liberty are the most likely to miss the cut.

I am tired of people putting a ceiling

on this team. It's always Penn State is very good, not great, etc. What I saw yesterday is the kind of game that great teams win on their off day, and very good teams usually lose. We may look at this game as fondly as our 1994 Illinois game if the season turns out how I think it will. Record aside, USC has top-tier talent. This is a game they had to have at home. We played our B-/C+ game, fell behind 2 TDs at the half, trailed in the 4th and still won after traveling 3000 miles or so. This team has a little something we haven't seen for a while. The main weakness I see is not finishing drives in the first half. If the coaches can figure that out and we continue to improve each week this team will be close to unbeatable.
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