College Football News 2018 Penn State preview

[Beachwineguy]

https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/05/penn-state-nittany-lions-college-football-preview-2018

He gives us a pretty fair shake this year. Last year, he didn't believe in Saquon, and predicted we'd lose four games (including to Maryland). This year he has us losing three, which isn't too much of a stretch given what we lost personnel wise.

 

[sss]

OSU fan boy writes these for CFN. Always manages to slam PSU. Don't bother clicking.

 

[interrobang]

Between getting player names wrong, making comments that show he never watched a game, and slipping in a snide job at Paterno, this was a pretty worthless preview.

 

[PSU20]

O line won’t exactly be Wisconsin’s, it’s at least experienced enough to be okay.

I hope the OL see's this just like they did prior to the Washington game when we put of something like 579 yards of offense, and handled their dominant DL with no problems. This OL should be much better than just "OK."

 

[jrd23psu]

O line won’t exactly be Wisconsin’s, it’s at least experienced enough to be okay.

I hope the OL see's this just like they did prior to the Washington game when we put of something like 579 yards of offense, and handled their dominant DL with no problems. This OL should be much better than just "OK."

Our line won't be Wisconsins. They'll have the best OL in the country this year. Our OL hasn't been good in years. It's been OK at times.

 

[psuro]

We. Are. Doomed.

 

[MtNittany]

"...but remembering that a big part of the problem in the Paterno era was that a football coach became more than a football coach..."

He should stick to football - assuming he knows something about that (which others here seem to question).

 

[Obliviax]

If the PSU offensive line isn't better than "OK"...…

1) I think PSU will struggle, a lot.
but
2) I will be VERY surprised.



I expect PSU to have one of the top offensive lines in the country this year...…

I'd put more concern for the offense on:

- The ability of Rhane to put together a scheme and a gameplan anywhere near the ones that Moorhead put together.
- The emergence of third and fourth options in the passing game (Hamilton, Gesicki and Barkley were incredible pass game weapons). Who do you "go to" after Johnson and, perhaps, Tompkins. Polk? Shorter? Sanders?
- Sanders staying healthy (Who's the back up? Allen? Brown?) and being reasonably effective at replacing Barkley's run game numbers.

Well, you forgot the fact that we are very light at LB and DT. Also, I think we will miss Barkley's drawing attention of 7 or the 11 defenders on just about every play.

 

[JWB389]

"...but remembering that a big part of the problem in the Paterno era was that a football coach became more than a football coach..."

He should stick to football - assuming he knows something about that (which others here seem to question).

He must be referring to that era where everybody thought Paterno was equivalent to the local police. Ya know, the guy you reported potential felonies to.

 

[ChiTownLion]

Pete Fiutak? On ANY topic?


Why not just approach some 1/2 comatose wino and ask him his thoughts on Astrophysics?
The 1/2 comatose wino would have more value to add to the conversation.

Is this jag an OSU grad?

 

[Grant Green]

Very fair preview. I totally agree with the take that losing Barkely won't be as big of a deal as people think and McSorely is really the key to the offense. Overall, PSU will be slightly undervalued for that reason. Also, interesting that he cites Bates as a key to a successful season. The OL has to do better this year.

 

[jim cummings]

We. Are. Doomed.

Bob hates us

 

[Obliviax]

Very fair preview. I totally agree with the take that losing Barkely won't be as big of a deal as people think and McSorely is really the key to the offense. Overall, PSU will be slightly undervalued for that reason. Also, interesting that he cites Bates as a key to a successful season. The OL has to do better this year.

I disagree. I like Sanders, who will be a very good back. i am also impressed with Journey Brown (who was much larger than I expected at the B/W game). I am also anxiously awaiting Slade, who's HS film is all world. However, Barkley was as good a RB as I've ever seen. Even when he didn't carry the ball, most of the defense keyed on him. Not only that, there was no drop indication PSU would run him, pass him or have him pass block. I'll be shocked if that happens with Sanders/Brown/Slade. There will definitely be a drop off, the only question is how big (and if McS and the WR's can close that gap/dropoff).

 

[AldenT]

Is this jag an OSU grad?

aren’t they Pitt grads?

They’re obsessed with Paterno being a part of something he wasn’t. Can you imagine going thru your life being that pathetic? That owned by someone/something else?

 

[Notsofastmyfriend21]

OSU fan boy writes these for CFN. Always manages to slam PSU. Don't bother clicking.

Yep. As soon as I saw CFN I hit the ignore button. Same Bucknut fanboy clown with the same anti PSU hate spew. Wait for the real previews.

 

[Notsofastmyfriend21]

I disagree. I like Sanders, who will be a very good back. i am also impressed with Journey Brown (who was much larger than I expected at the B/W game). I am also anxiously awaiting Slade, who's HS film is all world. However, Barkley was as good a RB as I've ever seen. Even when he didn't carry the ball, most of the defense keyed on him. Not only that, there was no drop indication PSU would run him, pass him or have him pass block. I'll be shocked if that happens with Sanders/Brown/Slade. There will definitely be a drop off, the only question is how big (and if McS and the WR's can close that gap/dropoff).

While everything you say is true, it was a double edged sword. For every clip like the one above, there were two that ended in no gain, or tackled in the backfield. Now, yes, you can blame the RPO(tiresome) or you can blame this, or that, but really, at the end of the day, it was due to Barkley being keyed on.

I'm interested to see what will happen this year, with defenses no longer playing the "6 guys on Saquon" defense on every play.

 

[LionJim]

We. Are. Doomed.

WOMEN. AND. CHILDREN. FIRST

 

[Grant Green]

I disagree. I like Sanders, who will be a very good back. i am also impressed with Journey Brown (who was much larger than I expected at the B/W game). I am also anxiously awaiting Slade, who's HS film is all world. However, Barkley was as good a RB as I've ever seen. Even when he didn't carry the ball, most of the defense keyed on him. Not only that, there was no drop indication PSU would run him, pass him or have him pass block. I'll be shocked if that happens with Sanders/Brown/Slade. There will definitely be a drop off, the only question is how big (and if McS and the WR's can close that gap/dropoff).

When teams keyed on him, they completely took away our running game. I'm sure the passing game benefited some, but not sure if it made up for just about losing half your offense.

Also, as I've learned from handicapping football games, people place way too much weight on losing a single player. If you want to gain an edge on sports betting, bet on teams that just lost a high profile player (and after the spread has been over adjusted).

 

[Beachwineguy]

WOMEN. AND. CHILDREN. FIRST

Very underrated album.

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

Pete Fiutak? On ANY topic?


Why not just approach some 1/2 comatose wino and ask him his thoughts on Astrophysics?
The 1/2 comatose wino would have more value to add to the conversation.

I think that would be a mistake. 66% of astrophysicists are winos themselves, so you may actually be getting some valuable astrophysics insight!!

 

[Obliviax]

fair nou

When teams keyed on him, they completely took away our running game. I'm sure the passing game benefited some, but not sure if it made up for just about losing half your offense.

Also, as I've learned from handicapping football games, people place way too much weight on losing a single player. If you want to gain an edge on sports betting, bet on teams that just lost a high profile player (and after the spread has been over adjusted).[/QUOTE

fair enough...but I don't care about handicapping...I care about W's and L's. We've got a really tough schedule with Wiscy, tOSU, UM, Iowa and Sparty. Barkley will be McSorley missed. You can't replace that guy, and it isn't just the rushing yards.

 

[tboyer]

I don't know what people are complaining about, it's a very reasonable take, I don't think he missed anything.

The offense should be fine, the OL will be another step better but not dominant and not consistently great. Tight end is a total question mark, and the losses at wideout the last two years are tremendous. Running back will be OK and could be very good if Sanders can step up and deliver.

The D will take some time to develop but hopefully be good enough to get through the early season without an upset loss.

going 2-2 against Ohio State, Michigan, MSU and WIsconsin, with one other wild card loss, seems achievable, and would be a good coaching job.

If they can do better than that, Franklin is really a magician.

 

[ChiTownLion]

I don't know what people are complaining about, it's a very reasonable take, I don't think he missed anything.

The offense should be fine, the OL will be another step better but not dominant and not consistently great. Tight end is a total question mark, and the losses at wideout the last two years are tremendous. Running back will be OK and could be very good if Sanders can step up and deliver.

The D will take some time to develop but hopefully be good enough to get through the early season without an upset loss.

going 2-2 against Ohio State, Michigan, MSU and WIsconsin, with one other wild card loss, seems achievable, and would be a good coaching job.

If they can do better than that, Franklin is really a magician.

"...but remembering that a big part of the problem in the Paterno era was that a football coach became more than a football coach..."

^^ Not reasonable, nor acceptable.

 

[bdgan]

https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/05/penn-state-nittany-lions-college-football-preview-2018

He gives us a pretty fair shake this year. Last year, he didn't believe in Saquon, and predicted we'd lose four games (including to Maryland). This year he has us losing three, which isn't too much of a stretch given what we lost personnel wise.

I don't understand last year's Maryland prediction but in fairness Maryland lost 3 QBs to injury.

Wrt 2018....On the negative side, PSU loses 8 starters on defense along with their kicker. On the positive side, PSU has recruited very well. The question is how fast can PSU reload. Time will tell but IMO 3 losses isn't an unreasonable position when the schedule includes OSU, UM, MSU, and WISC.

 

[BobPSU92]

Bob hates us

What choice do I have?

 

[psuro]

What choice do I have?

Loathing is still an option. Disgust should be taken into account.

Don't give up so easily Bob. There are levels of outrage that you can still achieve.

 

[Schizophrenic_MackDaddy]

https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/05/penn-state-nittany-lions-college-football-preview-2018

He gives us a pretty fair shake this year. Last year, he didn't believe in Saquon, and predicted we'd lose four games (including to Maryland). This year he has us losing three, which isn't too much of a stretch given what we lost personnel wise.

So, LAST year this NOSTRODUMBASS was completely and utterly wrong. Wasn't even close. And, you admit that.

Yet, I am supposed to believe him THIS year? And, people think I have issues.

 

[PSU20]

Our line won't be Wisconsins. They'll have the best OL in the country this year. Our OL hasn't been good in years. It's been OK at times.

After their performance against Washington, which many experts said would defeat us because of their dominant DL, this OL will be better that OK. How much better, we will have to wait and see, but the talent is finally there with experience. We know Bates and McGovern are studs, and the NFL scouts rated Gonzalez as our best OL which was a bit of a surprise.

 

[Madsol]

"...but remembering that a big part of the problem in the Paterno era was that a football coach became more than a football coach..."

^^ Not reasonable, nor acceptable.

tboyer has yet to find an article or opinion piece that puts a negative spin on PSU that he can't fully embrace. His act got old a long, long time ago. Thanks for calling him out.