Don't understand why some of the DE discussions do not include Joseph when talking about the redshirt freshmen competing to get on the field.........
2017 Preseason Practice Articles/Discussion
- Thread starter Judge Smails
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Don't understand why some of the DE discussions do not include Joseph when talking about the redshirt freshmen competing to get on the field.........
Greg, I agree; I was very impressed with his HS highlights when he came on board, and think he's got the tools to be a very good player. The good news is having several talented candidates for DE.
That could have gone a lot worse.
As a former
Not trying to start a panic, but is there any word on Saeed Blacknall's status? He, of course, did not play in the Rose Bowl. He also didn't play in the Blue-White Game. Barkely didn't play in the Blue-White Game, but many starters did. There were some questions in April whether Blacknall sat out of the Blue-White Game because he was in Franklin's doghouse. Any word on him? He should be a starter, yes?
Very well written and complimentary article on SB by Omaha Nebraska newspaper. Really, aren't Nebraska fans the classiest and most respectful of their opponents of all the B10 teams? Excluding PSU, of course.....
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/bigten...84f873b57e.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/bigten...84f873b57e.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
Barkley article (Bleacher Report)
Just came across this. Great read. Sorry if it was posted/discussed already.
Go State http://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2722988-saquon-barkley-is-the-superstar-college-football-and-penn-state-needs.amp.html
Just came across this. Great read. Sorry if it was posted/discussed already.
Go State http://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2722988-saquon-barkley-is-the-superstar-college-football-and-penn-state-needs.amp.html
Blacknall is apparently competing with Thompkins for the starting outside position opposite Johnson. Looks like Johnson outside and Hamilton in the slot have those two starting roles locked up. Charles seems to be backing up Johnson right now, and Polk has showed up big-time to be the #2 behind Hamilton, although Hamler might be pushing him there.
I don't know about Blacknall but in an interview Moorhead responded to a question about replacing Godwin by saying that Juwan had the speed, size and skills to be a boundary receiver like Godwin. He said that Juwan would fit in nicely.
Someone else can disagree, but it is my interpretation of what I have heard that both he and Bowen are basically back at the starting block. Whatever they did, it was bad enough to warrant having to perform their way back into the lineup. So, yea kind of still in the doghouse
He was injured in the spring. Couldn't practice. I think he and Bowen are both 2nd string as part of the message that you screw up, you lose your starting spot. Have to earn it back over time. Thompkins is a quality player, a blazer in his own right, and they are going to rotate anyway.
My guess is the Pitt football program, and their official twitter feed, should be focused on Youngstown State. No auto wins on their schedule for that team.
Great stuff. Big year for Sterling to get in position to contribute if either Bates or Wright get banged up. We talk a lot about the line's interior talent and depth, but if Jenkins establishes himself, we could potentially have five tackles that can play in Bates, Wright, Fries, Nelson, and Jenkins - and Mahon, too, really.
Why do those morons have periods in the hashtag in the video?? #Thats.not.how.it.works
A
anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
It depends on whether or not you have stolen said fan's over sized novelty hat or not.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
FC Good article on Miles Sanders in the CDT
You might think heading into college as the No. 1 running back recruit in the country, only to be relegated to a second-string role as a freshman, would have been the toughest part of Miles Sanders’ transition.
That assumption would be incorrect.
What was tougher? Fielding kickoffs in front of 107,000 people and national television audiences.
“They never kicked it to me in high school,” he said during the team’s media day on Aug. 5. “That was probably the biggest adjustment.”
In both cases, the Penn State sophomore back figured out how to make it work.
When the Nittany Lions’ football season kicks off Sept. 2 against Akron at Beaver Stadium, Sanders will have the same roles, but he is a different — and improved — player and person from the experience.
“He’s learned a lot from being able to take a step back out of the limelight and take a look at some of his flaws and some of the areas he needed growth in,” running backs coach Charles Huff said.
The biggest obstacle for Sanders, no matter how good his resume might have looked when he stepped onto campus last summer, was the guy in front of him — Saquon Barkley. It’s hard to beat out one of the nation’s best players and a potential top-5 NFL draft pick.
Sanders could have sulked, but he chose to learn.
“It was good for Miles when he came in,” Huff said. “Obviously (he was) a highly-touted recruit out of high school. (There was) a lot of hype about his ability, his potential, and it was good for him to come and be around a guy like Saquon who was also, now that he’s here, a highly valuable kid. I think he’s learned a lot from Saquon.”
The star out of Pittsburgh’s Woodland Hills appreciated what he did have instead of what he didn’t. He still got plenty of playing time as a freshman — one of just fiven true freshmen to play last year — setting a school record with 33 kickoff returns and recording 688 yards, the second-most in school history. He also got 25 carries for 184 yards, scoring his only touchdown on a 25-yard run against Maryland, and breaking off a 57-yard burst against Rutgers.
Those numbers were a far cry from the 1,523 rushing yards he had as a high school senior and the 4,573 yards for his career. Those stats, combined with his speed and now 5-foot-11, 209-pound frame, made him the nation’s No. 1 back according to a number of recruiting services, including Rivals, Scout and 247Sports.
“He’s a really, really, really talented back physically,” fellow back Andre Robinson said. “It was a little bit of an adjustment for him. He had to learn the offense and learn everything.”
Sanders watched and learned, especially from Barkley. He saw what the junior did in the weight room, he saw how hard Barkley worked in drills, how hard he studied the playbook, how many questions he asked and especially how the game is so much more than physical ability.
“It’s not just about running the ball,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to really know your plays. You’ve got to block. That’s one of the other main things ... be mentally tough. That’s what it takes.”
The need for mental toughness came in handy when he was standing under kickoffs too. He was happy to be on the field and contributing, even if it took until about midseason, he said, before he felt comfortable back there.
Now, he is looking forward to being out there for kickoffs this year.
“I have a much better feeling about it,” he said. “I can’t wait, really.”
As for stepping into the offensive backfield, his time will come. Huff tells his position group there are no backups in the running back room. The starter is the guy on the field at that moment, and those who prepare like a backup will perform like a backup.
Huff liked the way Sanders accepted the challenge.
“You kind of expect to come out and rush for like a million yards,” Huff said. “He handled it the right way. I think that’s a big testament to Saquon. He kind of coached him that, ‘Hey, it ain’t going to be like running against (Pittsburgh) Central Catholic.’”
You might think heading into college as the No. 1 running back recruit in the country, only to be relegated to a second-string role as a freshman, would have been the toughest part of Miles Sanders’ transition.
That assumption would be incorrect.
What was tougher? Fielding kickoffs in front of 107,000 people and national television audiences.
“They never kicked it to me in high school,” he said during the team’s media day on Aug. 5. “That was probably the biggest adjustment.”
In both cases, the Penn State sophomore back figured out how to make it work.
When the Nittany Lions’ football season kicks off Sept. 2 against Akron at Beaver Stadium, Sanders will have the same roles, but he is a different — and improved — player and person from the experience.
“He’s learned a lot from being able to take a step back out of the limelight and take a look at some of his flaws and some of the areas he needed growth in,” running backs coach Charles Huff said.
The biggest obstacle for Sanders, no matter how good his resume might have looked when he stepped onto campus last summer, was the guy in front of him — Saquon Barkley. It’s hard to beat out one of the nation’s best players and a potential top-5 NFL draft pick.
Sanders could have sulked, but he chose to learn.
“It was good for Miles when he came in,” Huff said. “Obviously (he was) a highly-touted recruit out of high school. (There was) a lot of hype about his ability, his potential, and it was good for him to come and be around a guy like Saquon who was also, now that he’s here, a highly valuable kid. I think he’s learned a lot from Saquon.”
The star out of Pittsburgh’s Woodland Hills appreciated what he did have instead of what he didn’t. He still got plenty of playing time as a freshman — one of just fiven true freshmen to play last year — setting a school record with 33 kickoff returns and recording 688 yards, the second-most in school history. He also got 25 carries for 184 yards, scoring his only touchdown on a 25-yard run against Maryland, and breaking off a 57-yard burst against Rutgers.
Those numbers were a far cry from the 1,523 rushing yards he had as a high school senior and the 4,573 yards for his career. Those stats, combined with his speed and now 5-foot-11, 209-pound frame, made him the nation’s No. 1 back according to a number of recruiting services, including Rivals, Scout and 247Sports.
“He’s a really, really, really talented back physically,” fellow back Andre Robinson said. “It was a little bit of an adjustment for him. He had to learn the offense and learn everything.”
Sanders watched and learned, especially from Barkley. He saw what the junior did in the weight room, he saw how hard Barkley worked in drills, how hard he studied the playbook, how many questions he asked and especially how the game is so much more than physical ability.
“It’s not just about running the ball,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to really know your plays. You’ve got to block. That’s one of the other main things ... be mentally tough. That’s what it takes.”
The need for mental toughness came in handy when he was standing under kickoffs too. He was happy to be on the field and contributing, even if it took until about midseason, he said, before he felt comfortable back there.
Now, he is looking forward to being out there for kickoffs this year.
“I have a much better feeling about it,” he said. “I can’t wait, really.”
As for stepping into the offensive backfield, his time will come. Huff tells his position group there are no backups in the running back room. The starter is the guy on the field at that moment, and those who prepare like a backup will perform like a backup.
Huff liked the way Sanders accepted the challenge.
“You kind of expect to come out and rush for like a million yards,” Huff said. “He handled it the right way. I think that’s a big testament to Saquon. He kind of coached him that, ‘Hey, it ain’t going to be like running against (Pittsburgh) Central Catholic.’”
Well, actually it will be like running against Pittsburgh Central Catholic when PSU plays Pitt, as after Duzzy strikes out trying to recruit against CJF and the other better programs for the top talent in the region he fills out his roster from down the street at PCC.....
So we have heard about so many different players so far in camp, and I think this is a good sign, much more depth than in the past. I think that's one good sign, while another good sign, is that the scrimmages are no longer one sided, sometimes the offense wins, sometimes the defense wins. Plays are now being made by depth players as well as starters. These are all things that excellent teams have in common. We've heard Petrishen is now making noise, and now we hear about Taylor making some waves. Hamler has wowed people, and the coaches are saying people like Jenkins are on course and getting better. The players are keeping the mood light and fun, while getting better every day and grinding tough.
Wow!! Maybe a late entry into the battle for the starting Safety spot!!!
Along with the note on Petrishen having a good camp, it looks like 5 players legitimately competing for playing time opposite Allen and backing up Allen.
Anyone know who has been playing behind Allen?? I'm hoping that is where Taylor is playing - a redshirt soph that would have 2 more years. A depth chart would give us a clue as to who is slotted where.....
We have a nice young but somewhat experienced group of Safety's competing right now, as well as a nice true freshmen class of DB's that will also yield 1 or 2 Safety's.....
Building the best depth we have seen here since '93-'99. Seems we are not only recruiting lights out, but we are finding role players who can contribute without a lot of transferring out.
Posts like this are why I asked if you were actually a new poster. Damn good post.
PSU is heading into a season where the questions, are good questions. This is another factor playing in our favor.
Yep, Safety looks to have a great group of talented players. But it makes you wonder where CJF will find the scholarships to sign 25 players in the 2015 class.....
Actually, when Sanders was at Woody High, Central's defense was better than the one Pitt will put on the field this year. Half the D was 4 star guys. The sum total of the defense that Pitt gets onto the field against us will barely be 4 stars.
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