....from a non-coach ( me) so take it with a grain of salt!
How often do we see an effective play.....run once and then shelved.?
Perhaps in 2020 we will see something that few coaches have done effectively: Run what works until the other guys stop it. The lack of normal Spring and Preseason practices ought to mean that teams will have areas of strength and areas of perhaps profound weakness - all AMPLIFIED by the lack of practice, the lack of work as units. Hence, coaches who can identify the weaknesses and go after them - with a vengence - might have the opportunity to separate their team from the opponents by larger than usual score differentials.
Of course, the reverse is also true - a big lead isnt going to be as comfortable as it used to be. Which forces you to pile it on while the getting is good. Big plays will give you the lead. But good D - and/or exceptional ball control - will be required to keep it.
Something tells me 2020 will be a year where the Penn State O gets a workout. This may be critical, because, while the D may improve, I think they will struggle in certain games, and it might not be until the second half or final third of an already shortened season that they tighten up against better opposing O's.
2021 may be a different story, but THIS year is so compressed, so convoluted, that with the many new coaches on board it is down-right impossible to make needed changes and develop the teams excellent talent by knitting them into cohesive units in the allotted time. It cant be done. So we will have to play to our strengths to the max, to allow for growing pains that will inevitably surface in our challenging schedule.
Be prepared for blow-out games where we look like a #1 team, followed by unexpected hiccups where we struggle against teams that on paper we should manhandle. Turnovers are the elixir of upsets. Dropped balls/fumbles turn 7 sure points into a score for the other guy. Missed coverages will present "gift" TDs in a flash. What Im saying is 2020 is quite possibly going to be the wackiest season youve ever seen.
What's that sound I hear emanating from Bloomington? Is it a THUD? a Big W? or a battle to the finish where the winner eaks out a yuge opening day W? Dont count your chickens, folks. And dont take an easy W to mean the next week will be more of the same. That 14 point lead may vanish in a heartbeat.
CFB is great fun....if it doesnt break your heart or blow your mind first.
How often do we see an effective play.....run once and then shelved.?
Perhaps in 2020 we will see something that few coaches have done effectively: Run what works until the other guys stop it. The lack of normal Spring and Preseason practices ought to mean that teams will have areas of strength and areas of perhaps profound weakness - all AMPLIFIED by the lack of practice, the lack of work as units. Hence, coaches who can identify the weaknesses and go after them - with a vengence - might have the opportunity to separate their team from the opponents by larger than usual score differentials.
Of course, the reverse is also true - a big lead isnt going to be as comfortable as it used to be. Which forces you to pile it on while the getting is good. Big plays will give you the lead. But good D - and/or exceptional ball control - will be required to keep it.
Something tells me 2020 will be a year where the Penn State O gets a workout. This may be critical, because, while the D may improve, I think they will struggle in certain games, and it might not be until the second half or final third of an already shortened season that they tighten up against better opposing O's.
2021 may be a different story, but THIS year is so compressed, so convoluted, that with the many new coaches on board it is down-right impossible to make needed changes and develop the teams excellent talent by knitting them into cohesive units in the allotted time. It cant be done. So we will have to play to our strengths to the max, to allow for growing pains that will inevitably surface in our challenging schedule.
Be prepared for blow-out games where we look like a #1 team, followed by unexpected hiccups where we struggle against teams that on paper we should manhandle. Turnovers are the elixir of upsets. Dropped balls/fumbles turn 7 sure points into a score for the other guy. Missed coverages will present "gift" TDs in a flash. What Im saying is 2020 is quite possibly going to be the wackiest season youve ever seen.
What's that sound I hear emanating from Bloomington? Is it a THUD? a Big W? or a battle to the finish where the winner eaks out a yuge opening day W? Dont count your chickens, folks. And dont take an easy W to mean the next week will be more of the same. That 14 point lead may vanish in a heartbeat.
CFB is great fun....if it doesnt break your heart or blow your mind first.
