Audrey Snyder on the D's potential

[tboyer]

Good perspective from a writer who's been around PSU for close to a decade.

"It’s difficult to remember the last time Penn State’s defense came into a season with so much stability. At every position. there aren’t just talented players, but at least one person who can change the course of a game with one play. Obviously Gross-Matos is that player for the line. Brown and Micah Parsons both could be it for the linebackers. Cornerbacks John Reid and Tariq Castro-Fields have played a lot of football at Penn State, and safety Garrett Taylor has the chance to build off a stellar first year as starter. "

(Can't link to the article -- behind The Athletic paywall)....

 

[northwoods]

Good perspective from a writer who's been around PSU for close to a decade.

"It’s difficult to remember the last time Penn State’s defense came into a season with so much stability. At every position. there aren’t just talented players, but at least one person who can change the course of a game with one play. Obviously Gross-Matos is that player for the line. Brown and Micah Parsons both could be it for the linebackers. Cornerbacks John Reid and Tariq Castro-Fields have played a lot of football at Penn State, and safety Garrett Taylor has the chance to build off a stellar first year as starter. "

(Can't link to the article -- behind The Athletic paywall)....

Her lengthy article in today's "The Athletic" is terrific. I just joined on their 50% off first time subscriber annual deal, and her preview of PSU Football going into the 2019 season was worth the minimal cost all by itself. Very positive/upbeat, and a tremendous amount of true "insider" observations and comments. Lots of new insights and just great stuff!

 

[step.eng69]

Agree with you, stormin

 

[Obliviax]

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

I think very highly of her work. As for the D, I re-watched the 1 hour version of the Indiana game from last year. Good Lord did the D look horrible, just horrible. Unlike others I am not overly optimistic about the D yet. We'll see...

 

[NJPSU]

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

RB isn't an issue. We are loaded there. I'm more concerned about the growing pains we will experience from our new LT.

 

[NJPSU]

I think very highly of her work. As for the D, I re-watched the 1 hour version of the Indiana game from last year. Good Lord did the D look horrible, just horrible. Unlike others I am not overly optimistic about the D yet. We'll see...

We only allowed 14 points in the last 3 quarters of that game and 7 of them were in the last 49 seconds when we already had a multi score lead.

 

[OhioLion]

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

I’m not too concerned about RB. RB by itself, IMO, will be fine, but unfortunately RB success again, IMO, is a by-product of the OL. And, I really haven’t been comfortable with the OL in several years.
As for the defense, yeah, I’m looking forward to the schemes Coach Pry and defensive coaches with create to utilize the athleticism that’s there.

OL

 

[Obliviax]

RB isn't an issue. We are loaded there. I'm more concerned about the growing pains we will experience from our new LT.

i don't agree. We are loaded with raw talent but not experience. Our most experienced RB is Slade who had 45 attempts last season. While they are talented and can be good, they are very inexperienced. That means mistakes will be made, especially in high pressure situations.

 

[OhioLion]

i don't agree. We are loaded with raw talent but not experience. Our most experienced RB is Slade who had 45 attempts last season. While they are talented and can be good, they are very inexperienced. That means mistakes will be made, especially in high pressure situations.

Can’t argue this, but let’s hope they play to their level of talent and impress all of us.
Yes, growing pains will be there, so hope the bugs get worked out during OOC portion of the season.

OL

 

[tboyer]

Agree about QB, RB and OL but only because the new starters need experience. The talent and mix of skills looks good. Slade and Brown both have track speed and can both catch the ball out of the backfield.

I'm still concerned about wideouts until one or more of the tall receivers has the light bulb go on. Hamler and Dotson are gonna be great but they need tall guys to command attention on the outside.

But at least at every single one of those positions there is talent and depth. If one player has a bad day or gets hurt, there are other players who can pick it up.

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

 

[tboyer]

We only allowed 14 points in the last 3 quarters of that game and 7 of them were in the last 49 seconds when we already had a multi score lead.

+1. Plus, that was a pretty good Indiana team, the game was at Bloomington and the PSU linebackers were more of a work in progress than they are now. Indiana in November at the Beav should be a very different story.

 

[NJPSU]

i don't agree. We are loaded with raw talent but not experience. Our most experienced RB is Slade who had 45 attempts last season. While they are talented and can be good, they are very inexperienced. That means mistakes will be made, especially in high pressure situations.

RB is probably the position where experience matters the least. You can usually tell immediately if the guy has it or not. It's not a position like the OL or DL where you see tremendous change in performance as they get older.

 

[nittnee]

i don't agree. We are loaded with raw talent but not experience. Our most experienced RB is Slade who had 45 attempts last season. While they are talented and can be good, they are very inexperienced. That means mistakes will be made, especially in high pressure situations.

Agree PSU is inexperienced at RB, but if there is one position in college football that has shown the least learning curve, it is RB. If they can block, we could see strength at the position quickly.

 

[sluggo72]

RB isn't an issue. We are loaded there. I'm more concerned about the growing pains we will experience from our new LT.

I'd worry about the other 4 guys as well. I hope I am surprised by how well they play.

 

[Option Bob]

i don't agree. We are loaded with raw talent but not experience. Our most experienced RB is Slade who had 45 attempts last season. While they are talented and can be good, they are very inexperienced. That means mistakes will be made, especially in high pressure situations.

Your points are well made; however, RB is one of the very few positions where a true freshman can come in and immediately make an impact.

Penn State's history is loaded with 1st-year RBs (included here are those sophomores who were ineligible as freshmen) who burst on the scene and established themselves as star runners.

Charlie Pittman, Lydell Mitchell, and Franco Harris were outstanding as true sophomores.

Once freshmen were eligible, we fans saw true freshmen like Jimmy Cefalo (a WB as a frosh), Mike Guman, Matt Suhey, Curt Warner, Booker More, DJ Dozier, Blair Thomas, Gary Brown (before being moved to defense then to RB in the NFL), Richie Anderson, Curt Enis.

I don't follow other programs very closely at all, but I think most of the power programs also have had tremendous success with true freshman RBs.

Slade (#3) and Ford (#2) were in Phil Steele lingo "very highly touted recruits. Cain was #5. Thought not so highly touted, Journey Brown has earned some serious praise since the spring.

Sure, these young guys will miss a block or 3, or run the wrong route at times, but they will also use their talents to explode through the LOS and force defenses to worry about them. As far as "high pressure situations" go, these superstar kids thrive on those.

I think all 4 RBs are going to be exciting to watch and a huge plus to the offense.

 

[tboyer]

RB is probably the position where experience matters the least. You can usually tell immediately if the guy has it or not. It's not a position like the OL or DL where you see tremendous change in performance as they get older.

The two big issues with young backs are fumbles and pass protection. Hopefully they can get the two freshmen backs some experience in the early games -- ideally before garbage time. They need to feel what it's like to have Div. 1 linebackers raking and punching the ball.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

The difference between a decent season, a good season and a great season will be the offensive line.

QB play will absolutely be better than last season. The running backs s/b more explosive than last season and hopefully won’t have anywhere near the number of drops (running and receiving) that Sanders had. The receivers are faster and much more talented than last year’s group.

Special teams should be better in all three areas: kicking, covering and returning.

The D should be fine. The difference between good and very good will be the quality of play from the two Safeties.

In game coaching decisions / play calling needs to be stepped up.....dramatically.

This team has the potential to go undefeated if it plays well and plays smart. Anything more than one loss would be a major disappointment.

 

[Linus1900]

Can’t argue this, but let’s hope they play to their level of talent and impress all of us.
Yes, growing pains will be there, so hope the bugs get worked out during OOC portion of the season.

OL

Only if the OC and OL coach grow too. I am skeptical.

 

[Obliviax]

Your points are well made; however, RB is one of the very few positions where a true freshman can come in and immediately make an impact.

Penn State's history is loaded with 1st-year RBs (included here are those sophomores who were ineligible as freshmen) who burst on the scene and established themselves as star runners.

Charlie Pittman, Lydell Mitchell, and Franco Harris were outstanding as true sophomores.

Once freshmen were eligible, we fans saw true freshmen like Jimmy Cefalo (a WB as a frosh), Mike Guman, Matt Suhey, Curt Warner, Booker More, DJ Dozier, Blair Thomas, Gary Brown (before being moved to defense then to RB in the NFL), Richie Anderson, Curt Enis.

I don't follow other programs very closely at all, but I think most of the power programs also have had tremendous success with true freshman RBs.

Slade (#3) and Ford (#2) were in Phil Steele lingo "very highly touted recruits. Cain was #5. Thought not so highly touted, Journey Brown has earned some serious praise since the spring.

Sure, these young guys will miss a block or 3, or run the wrong route at times, but they will also use their talents to explode through the LOS and force defenses to worry about them. As far as "high pressure situations" go, these superstar kids thrive on those.

I think all 4 RBs are going to be exciting to watch and a huge plus to the offense.

all great points. Saquon, although we probably can't even begin to dream that lightening will strike twice, turned around the team is FR year. Although, for a true frosh, pass blocking and turnovers are typically still a challenge.

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

We only allowed 14 points in the last 3 quarters of that game and 7 of them were in the last 49 seconds when we already had a multi score lead.

Watch it again... they were running all over us.

First Downs IU 32 PSU 20
Rushing IU 224 PSU 174
Passing IU 330 PSU 243

IU had 5 yards/carry

What saved us was their 3 turnovers.

Our D looked horrible

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

The difference between a decent season, a good season and a great season will be the offensive line.

QB play will absolutely be better than last season. The running backs s/b more explosive than last season and hopefully won’t have anywhere near the number of drops (running and receiving) that Sanders had. The receivers are faster and much more talented than last year’s group.

Special teams should be better in all three areas: kicking, covering and returning.

The D should be fine. The difference between good and very good will be the quality of play from the two Safeties.

In game coaching decisions / play calling needs to be stepped up.....dramatically.

This team has the potential to go undefeated if it plays well and plays smart. Anything more than one loss would be a major disappointment.

Oh my gosh. Run and hide. Incoming!

 

[tboyer]

Even if you assume Clifford comes in and just kills it (which is definitely possible), whether we think of QB play as better than last year depends on a lot of things -- including OL play, overall coaching of the passing game, a bunch of newcomers at receiver and running back. I'm hopeful but a lot of things can definitely go wrong, especially when your starter at left tackle is going to be a redshirt freshman.

Oh my gosh. Run and hide. Incoming!

 

[Connorpozlee]

I still need to be sold on the linebackers. There are some athletes there but they need to become more reliable. Parsons looked better in the bowl game but he needs to make a major leap in performance for all the hype he is getting. Hopefully playing the position for his second season allows for that growth.

 

[cyrizzle]

Clifford/Levis and Slade/Journey/and Noah are all game breakers. Not only is our D going to be outstanding, but our offense is going to be awesome. Slade and Brown have the potential to take it to the house every time they touch the ball and Sean can throw bombs all over the field to our speedy WRs.

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

d

 

[Obliviax]

Clifford/Levis and Slade/Journey/and Noah are all game breakers. Not only is our D going to be outstanding, but our offense is going to be awesome. Slade and Brown have the potential to take it to the house every time they touch the ball and Sean can throw bombs all over the field to our speedy WRs.

d

I like your enthusiasm. But there is no evidence to suggest your prognostication on Clifford/Levis or Slade/Journey/Noah is correct. It is just a guess. There are lots of three, four and five star players out there. UM thinks they got the best RB in the nation who will probably start as a true Frosh. tOSU got a great looking QB who couldn't cut it at GA, for whatever reason, who's never played a down at the 'shoe. and on and on it goes.

Lets hope you are correct but I don't see the evidence to support it....

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

RB isn't an issue. We are loaded there. I'm more concerned about the growing pains we will experience from our new LT.

As Phil Grosz pointed out, our LT will face three of the very best DE’s in the country while playing, Iowa, OSU, and MSU.

 

[cyrizzle]

I like your enthusiasm. But there is no evidence to suggest your prognostication on Clifford/Levis or Slade/Journey/Noah is correct. It is just a guess. There are lots of three, four and five star players out there. UM thinks they got the best RB in the nation who will probably start as a true Frosh. tOSU got a great looking QB who couldn't cut it at GA, for whatever reason, who's never played a down at the 'shoe. and on and on it goes.

Lets hope you are correct but I don't see the evidence to support it....

Evidence, Clifford’s 95 yard bomb to Daniel George and his two long TD passes against Pitt. Evidence, Slade had a 60+ yard run against Illinois and a few other long runs. We all know Journey’s potential, and I believe he will have a few 50+ yard house calls this year. Noah is more a pounder, and he will be the perfect change of pace back for us and will be very valuable in the red zone.

 

[tboyer]

As Phil Grosz pointed out, our LT will face three of the very best DE’s in the country while playing, Iowa, OSU, and MSU.

He's as good a LT prospect as they come but it's not going to be pretty as he gets experience. He's going to look bad at times and probably very good at times.

A couple things could help a lot

1) Walker gets to see some big-time DE talent in practice.
2) He gets four games before he has to go to Iowa City and face Epenesa.
3) Friermuth is a kick-ass blocking TE and can help in a variety of ways.

 

[Obliviax]

Evidence, Clifford’s 95 yard bomb to Daniel George and his two long TD passes against Pitt. Evidence, Slade had a 60+ yard run against Illinois and a few other long runs. We all know Journey’s potential, and I believe he will have a few 50+ yard house calls this year. Noah is more a pounder, and he will be the perfect change of pace back for us and will be very valuable in the red zone.

OK, fair enough. A decimated Pitt team (late in the game) and the 2018 Ill team are not indicative of what they can/will do against tOSU, UM and Iowa in prime time.

 

[psuro]

We are doomed.

 

[SR108]

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

The beauty of a potential shutdown defense is that it can protect an inexperienced offense for awhile.

 

[SR108]

RB is probably the position where experience matters the least. You can usually tell immediately if the guy has it or not. It's not a position like the OL or DL where you see tremendous change in performance as they get older.

If your talking about just running ability, maybe. In today’s game pass pro and route running assignments have increased in importance.

 

[Countrylion]

He's as good a LT prospect as they come but it's not going to be pretty as he gets experience. He's going to look bad at times and probably very good at times.

A couple things could help a lot

1) Walker gets to see some big-time DE talent in practice.
2) He gets four games before he has to go to Iowa City and face Epenesa.
3) Friermuth is a kick-ass blocking TE and can help in a variety of ways.

Wait which of the first 5 games is he missing?

 

[81b&w]

We should finally have the depth on D to hold off the opponents 4th quarter scoring that led to most of our losses the last few years. That's gonna be huge going forward if we keep recruiting like we have

 

[Howie'81]

Good stuff. I am not concerned about the defense. I am concerned about QB and RB...and to some extent, the OL. We have ample talent due to recruiting in recent years....however, until you do it, it isn't done. So my guess is we have a learning curve in the first half of the year complete with dumb turnovers, missed assignments, and sloppy play.

Running back? We're loaded at running back.

 

[Obliviax]

Running back? We're loaded at running back.

We are? Can you tell me who is the 1,000 yard rusher who is returning? We have a lot of raw talent, IMHO. we do not have much experience. And when playing prime-time, in front of millions of people, that's a difference. I recall Sanders being a complete mess as a Fr. and he turned out to be a very good one.

 

[1000_OaksLion]

I'm not worried about the DB's or LB's (although Parsons needs to improve his reads which I expect he will). Last year he made a lot of tackles but he needs to fill the hole sooner and create negative yardage plays. Millen made that observation during the BW game. It is a fair criticism of his game. I expect him to be much more aggressive this year due to his experience. My biggest concern about the D is the DT's. Will Shelton and/or Mustipher be better than GIvens? Who will provide depth? Without above average DT play it really doesn't matter how great your skill players are. We need someone that needs to be double teamed on every play. Those guys are hard to find. I believe AJ was the last dominant DT. And I'm also concerned about Millers replacement at DE. Toney, Simmons and Joseph have not played to Millers level when they have had opportunities. So I'm not convinced that any of those guys will be as productive as Miller. The wild card at DE is Oweh. If he can turn the corner I believe he could be as or more productive than Miller. Can't wait for the show to start!

For the Glory!

 

[artsandletters]

Can’t Micah be used like LT on obvious passing downs?

 

[sluggo72]

We should finally have the depth on D to hold off the opponents 4th quarter scoring that led to most of our losses the last few years. That's gonna be huge going forward if we keep recruiting like we have

You really think those 4th qtr collapses were the D’s depth?