ADVERTISEMENT

30 years old, fan since birth, telling it like it is

PSU08Iraq11

PSU08Iraq11

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2014
52
45
1
This Penn State team is far from the disaster that way too many "fans" on here want to peg it as. Franklin has made a few calls or non-calls that violate the basic tenets of clock management and predictability, but they have also been in the position to win games; even the Ohio State game would be a vastly different outcome given a few early penalties and dropped passes. But let's look at the one thing so few fair-weather fans like to look at - the record: 7-3.

By many measures this team is doing better than it did last year. So we had our "Illinois" game of this year against a better team in Northwestern, and we skunked the Illinois team that sadly got by us last season. I'll take that reversal. We also inched past Maryland who beat us at home last year. That is improvement even if there are areas of concern, which of course there are. However, I know it gets beat to death around here but the sanctions did have a major impact. To ignore that impact would be to ignore the rate of cancer in Japan following the atomic bombs...the sanctions are a direct link to performance on the field given the depth issues and overall youth. Sorry, but it's true.

Play calling and in-game adjustments have been issues at times and those things fall on the coaches; predictable play calls, lack of creativity and lack of playing to the strengths is a concern. None of that is the entire reason why they lost against Northwestern, however. In fact, maybe if Grant Haley had put a little pine tar on his gloves and we'd all be a bit more chipper today. Maybe if we had run a QB sneak on 3rd and 1, maybe if Joey Julius were kicking off instead of Davis, maybe if we threw down the field more....we'd be 8-2...

But we're 7 and 3. Still have a chance to be 10-3. Won't be any worse than 7-6. Some non-sanctions era Joe teams finished worse than 7-6. Remember that.

Give Franklin a little leash. Let's see what happens over the rest of this year and the next 2. I'm guessing we won't be too upset come this time next season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pkg5002, PSUnormal, wslee1 and 20 others
PSU08Iraq11 said:
This Penn State team is far from the disaster that way too many "fans" on here want to peg it as. Franklin has made a few calls or non-calls that violate the basic tenets of clock management and predictability, but they have also been in the position to win games; even the Ohio State game would be a vastly different outcome given a few early penalties and dropped passes. But let's look at the one thing so few fair-weather fans like to look at - the record: 7-3.

By many measures this team is doing better than it did last year. So we had our "Illinois" game of this year against a better team in Northwestern, and we skunked the Illinois team that sadly got by us last season. I'll take that reversal. We also inched past Maryland who beat us at home last year. That is improvement even if there are areas of concern, which of course there are. However, I know it gets beat to death around here but the sanctions did have a major impact. To ignore that impact would be to ignore the rate of cancer in Japan following the atomic bombs...the sanctions are a direct link to performance on the field given the depth issues and overall youth. Sorry, but it's true.

Play calling and in-game adjustments have been issues at times and those things fall on the coaches; predictable play calls, lack of creativity and lack of playing to the strengths is a concern. None of that is the entire reason why they lost against Northwestern, however. In fact, maybe if Grant Haley had put a little pine tar on his gloves and we'd all be a bit more chipper today. Maybe if we had run a QB sneak on 3rd and 1, maybe if Joey Julius were kicking off instead of Davis, maybe if we threw down the field more....we'd be 8-2...

But we're 7 and 3. Still have a chance to be 10-3. Won't be any worse than 7-6. Some non-sanctions era Joe teams finished worse than 7-6. Remember that.

Give Franklin a little leash. Let's see what happens over the rest of this year and the next 2. I'm guessing we won't be too upset come this time next season.
Click to expand...
I disagree about some of what you said, but, over all, a decent analysis. Rather than nitpick, I'll just day that, looking at schedule before the season, 7 wins at this point was almost a given. I expected a regular season record of 9-3. If we finish 7-5, and that is certainly likely, I will consider the season a disappointment. We have not beaten a good team. Sanctions or not, the schedule was not that difficult. Much of the criticism I have seen here is both fair, and deserved. I have said a number of times I am not yet ready to judge Franklin and I will see where we are in 2 years. I think he will get the job done.
 
I don't know what else you might add to the nitpick list - I think I covered a good bit of it. I will say that the criticism of some of the in-game coaching decisions have been warranted, more so on offense than defense, but those issues do not cause outcomes like Grant Haley dropping a sure game-winning INT. Also, I didn't know what to expect coming into this season and I especially was mystified after the Temple outcome. Based on that game alone, the current 7-win total seems like a miracle. I would love to see this team get to at least a 9-win season. I don't know if I see it happening, but it would be great. Michigan is not unbeatable, nor is MSU, but they are a tall order given the issues our own team has. It still could be done...let's hope CJF rallies the troops for competitive, entertaining games, at the very least.
 
IMHO the Michigan game is the game of the year. It's a WO, big recruiting opportunity and the opportunity to take on a ranked team in our house after a by-week. Win that game and you have national recognition and momentum going into E. Lansing.

The issues are the same week in and week out, an average, at best offensive line, iffy kicking game and overall special teams play.

The coaching staff has to figure out a way to get Hack going earlier in the game, we cannot forfeit the first quarter on offense every week.

This team is getting better week to week, however the improvement is not in leaps and bounds nor should it expected to be.
 
JoeLion said:
IMHO the Michigan game is the game of the year. It's a WO, big recruiting opportunity and the opportunity to take on a ranked team in our house after a by-week. Win that game and you have national recognition and momentum going into E. Lansing.

The issues are the same week in and week out, an average, at best offensive line, iffy kicking game and overall special teams play.

The coaching staff has to figure out a way to get Hack going earlier in the game, we cannot forfeit the first quarter on offense every week.

This team is getting better week to week, however the improvement is not in leaps and bounds nor should it expected to be.
Click to expand...

Well, we would appear to stack up better against UM than NW in that we've had problems with the read/option all year long. UM being more of a power running, pocket passing team. Out DT's and DL is stout against that kind of offense. On the other hand, UM will bring the best D we've seen, even better than tOSU's. We've got a shot at winning but will be a long shot.
 
JoeLion said:
IMHO the Michigan game is the game of the year. It's a WO, big recruiting opportunity and the opportunity to take on a ranked team in our house after a by-week. Win that game and you have national recognition and momentum going into E. Lansing.

The issues are the same week in and week out, an average, at best offensive line, iffy kicking game and overall special teams play.

The coaching staff has to figure out a way to get Hack going earlier in the game, we cannot forfeit the first quarter on offense every week.

This team is getting better week to week, however the improvement is not in leaps and bounds nor should it expected to be.
Click to expand...

Well, one unequivocal positive....this team plays much, much better at home. Of the 2 games remaining, I'd rather have Michigan @home and MSU on the road (MSU's defense looks far more beatable on the road imho).
 
  • Like
Reactions: mn78psu83
PSU08Iraq11 said:
But we're 7 and 3. Still have a chance to be 10-3. Won't be any worse than 7-6. Some non-sanctions era Joe teams finished worse than 7-6. Remember that.

Give Franklin a little leash. Let's see what happens over the rest of this year and the next 2. I'm guessing we won't be too upset come this time next season.
Click to expand...
JVP had 5 or more losses 10 times in what 46 years as head coach. That isn't too bad.

I just don't think you can judge what is happening now with what has happened in the past. It is pretty meaningless. What JVP did has nothing to do with Franklin.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bjf1984
And.....sanctions era still bests 2000 to 2004. I'm showing you that in recent years we have been worse when there was no reason to be worse.
 
Still in State College said:
JVP had 5 or more losses 10 times in what 46 years as head coach. That isn't too bad.
I just don't think you can judge what is happening now with what has happened in the past. It is pretty meaningless. What JVP did has nothing to do with Franklin.
Click to expand...
And won 10 or more games 21 times, which is very good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mn78psu83
PSU08Iraq11 said:
This Penn State team is far from the disaster that way too many "fans" on here want to peg it as. Franklin has made a few calls or non-calls that violate the basic tenets of clock management and predictability, but they have also been in the position to win games; even the Ohio State game would be a vastly different outcome given a few early penalties and dropped passes. But let's look at the one thing so few fair-weather fans like to look at - the record: 7-3.

By many measures this team is doing better than it did last year. So we had our "Illinois" game of this year against a better team in Northwestern, and we skunked the Illinois team that sadly got by us last season. I'll take that reversal. We also inched past Maryland who beat us at home last year. That is improvement even if there are areas of concern, which of course there are. However, I know it gets beat to death around here but the sanctions did have a major impact. To ignore that impact would be to ignore the rate of cancer in Japan following the atomic bombs...the sanctions are a direct link to performance on the field given the depth issues and overall youth. Sorry, but it's true.

Play calling and in-game adjustments have been issues at times and those things fall on the coaches; predictable play calls, lack of creativity and lack of playing to the strengths is a concern. None of that is the entire reason why they lost against Northwestern, however. In fact, maybe if Grant Haley had put a little pine tar on his gloves and we'd all be a bit more chipper today. Maybe if we had run a QB sneak on 3rd and 1, maybe if Joey Julius were kicking off instead of Davis, maybe if we threw down the field more....we'd be 8-2...

But we're 7 and 3. Still have a chance to be 10-3. Won't be any worse than 7-6. Some non-sanctions era Joe teams finished worse than 7-6. Remember that.

Give Franklin a little leash. Let's see what happens over the rest of this year and the next 2. I'm guessing we won't be too upset come this time next season.
Click to expand...
Maybe.
As far as expectations go, it depends on whose.
FWIW, Town & Gown's preseason poll of 14 PSU writers predicted an 8-4 season, both average and median (9 of the 14). The most optimistic were 9-3, the most pessimistic 7-5.
So unless the final two are wins, at or below those preseason expectations. Also consider: So far there has been one surprise loss this year and no surprise wins. Two wins in the final two games + Bowl would exceed expectations.
No one can predict the future, though recruiting looks good. Let's just say I would guess most fans think the current regime deserves at least another couple of years but some changes in the O staff would be viewed as a positive sign.
 
Still in State College said:
I'm not saying this season is a dumpster fire only that there is no relevance to anything PSU has down in the past. Everyone has their own expectations for the team. So will be satisfied and others will not.

Why post opinions if you do not want to have discourse?
Click to expand...

Because you were posting irrelevant stats to the point I was making. I was comparing a relatively recent era of Penn State football without sanctions to the one with, and then you plopped in the other years where they did well, but the point that I was making remains the same. We SHOULD have had seasons like 2005 and 2008 in those times, but the 2000 to 2004 seasons were senseless given the situation at the time.
 
PSU08Iraq11 said:
But we're 7 and 3. Still have a chance to be 10-3. Won't be any worse than 7-6. Some non-sanctions era Joe teams finished worse than 7-6. Remember that.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone can say the team is not better than last year. Go on Youtube and look up the way Northwestern pushed Penn State around at home in 2014. That was a embarrassing beatdown.

BUT. Saturday was a winnable game and moral victories still add up in the L column...that's frustrating.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fairgambit and mn78psu83
Even with the breaks on the sanctions, anybody who did not think it would be a 5-10 year rebuild job is living in a dream world. If Hack stays, we could be pretty good next year but I don't see us getting back into top 10 status until 2017 or 2018 at the earliest. Need more depth and total rebuild of O Line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mn78psu83
Great post (initial one)! Many are on same page as you. Franklin is going tp make it happen. Lets play our roll as Penn St fans ad support the fellas!
 
  • Like
Reactions: NedFromYork
Of course we're all disappointed that we lost a winnable game on Saturday to NW. However, our losses have come to legitimate teams that are all currently ranked in the top 25. Given the sanctions, one could argue that this year we lost to the teams who were better than us and beat the teams we were better than. Last year we lost to Maryland and Illinois, in addition to the ranked opponents. I don't understand any argument that we're not better than last year.
 
gogolion said:
Of course we're all disappointed that we lost a winnable game on Saturday to NW. However, our losses have come to legitimate teams that are all currently ranked in the top 25. Given the sanctions, one could argue that this year we lost to the teams who were better than us and beat the teams we were better than. Last year we lost to Maryland and Illinois, in addition to the ranked opponents. I don't understand any argument that we're not better than last year.
Click to expand...
Most telling is the fact that our historically abysmal online from last year lost its two best players and it has still improved to the level of bad to mediocre. The team this year is better this year than last and will be better next year and better still the year after that.
 
We can deal with young kids making mistakes, we can allow for sanctions and we can allow for losses to obviously better teams. The following part of your post is what is tough to deal with:
PSU08Iraq11 said:
Play calling and in-game adjustments have been issues at times and those things fall on the coaches; predictable play calls, lack of creativity and lack of playing to the strengths is a concern.
Click to expand...
This Staff is getting paid some terrific bucks and the lack of imagination in play designs and "predictable play calling" is not going to cured by sanctions effects wearing off and having more senior athletes. This is what wears on me because when the sanction effects are gone and we are using more senior athletes, we will still be at the mercy of a very vanilla offense. For the bucks this Staff is getting, we deserve better. If we don't start getting better Staff performance, you can expect this board to bitch.
 
First post
My basic problem with the offense over the last two seasons is that they seem to lack an understanding that football is a down and distance game. Play calling does not seem to take what we need into consideration. We play for what they want. Anyone care to think about how lack of field position hampers what plays you can call. High recruit should have been a punter
 
Everyone posting that before the season our schedule was set up for at least 9 wins was looking at Temple and NW as locks. If all these writers and psychics knew that Temple and NW were both going to be good enough to be ranked and that NW would be good enough to beat Stanford, and that Harbaugh would have Michigan playing at a very high level, would their 9-3 prediction be the same? I seriously doubt it. It would have been 7-5 at best with some saying 6-6. Everyone says preseason rankings are a joke but apparently preseason predictions are sacred. Our schedule this year is tougher than it was last year and our record is going to end up better. Sounds like improvement to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kgilbert78
AWS1022 said:
Everyone posting that before the season our schedule was set up for at least 9 wins was looking at Temple and NW as locks. If all these writers and psychics knew that Temple and NW were both going to be good enough to be ranked and that NW would be good enough to beat Stanford, and that Harbaugh would have Michigan playing at a very high level, would their 9-3 prediction be the same? I seriously doubt it. It would have been 7-5 at best with some saying 6-6. Everyone says preseason rankings are a joke but apparently preseason predictions are sacred. Our schedule this year is tougher than it was last year and our record is going to end up better. Sounds like improvement to me.
Click to expand...

Well stated.
 
Nittany Ned2 said:
I agree. I am not looking for a national championship. Far, far from it. I just want to see some discipline, player development and execution. Win the ones your supposed to win and be competitive in the ones you aren't.

This team seems like they are doing the "bunny hop" two steps forward and one step back. It's week to week. I understand that they are kids and both, the players and coaches, are trying to move forward from the crippling sanctions but showing some pre-snap discipline, simple straight forward run blocking technique and quarterback progressions. The 3rd down percentage is just abysmal.

Let's strive to do the basic things well and build from there.
Click to expand...
I"m sure that is exactly what the coaches are trying to do. Not only do they still lack depth, but they are one of the youngest teams in the country. It's going to take awhile, but as far as I'm concerned they have made steady, tangible progress.
 
PSU-Knocker said:
We can deal with young kids making mistakes, we can allow for sanctions and we can allow for losses to obviously better teams. The following part of your post is what is tough to deal with:
This Staff is getting paid some terrific bucks and the lack of imagination in play designs and "predictable play calling" is not going to cured by sanctions effects wearing off and having more senior athletes. This is what wears on me because when the sanction effects are gone and we are using more senior athletes, we will still be at the mercy of a very vanilla offense. For the bucks this Staff is getting, we deserve better. If we don't start getting better Staff performance, you can expect this board to bitch.
Click to expand...

Bingo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P

Is Peacock worth it?

Replies
9
Views
751
Penn State Football
Kasparaitis
K
L

48 Team Super League Concept

Replies
26
Views
1K
Penn State Football
PSU Lion 2000
P
P

Any concerns that Franklin could be telling AK to scale down the aggressiveness on offense a little?

Replies
8
Views
1K
Penn State Football
PSUWrestlingFanSince2011
P
mgkpsu

EIGHT of Penn State's Opponents

Replies
25
Views
2K
Penn State Football
bcspsu
B
J

Initial CFP rankings out tonight

Replies
100
Views
4K
Penn State Football
Crusher1950
C
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back