Don't Forget - losing Bates and Buchholz was the difference in these last two games

[proud2bpsufan]

I am nearly certain we would have hung on last week and this week had we not lost these two players. Buccholz would have got into the backfield a few times both games or allowed other defensive players to get to the QB by drawing double teams.
You can't lose the best lineman on the team and not lose the cohesiveness they had up to that point. The injury bug and lack of depth isn't allowing us to close the biggest games...yet. Hopefully this will change next year and so on...You have to give this team credit for almost pulling out these huge games on the road against some pretty damn good competition.

 

[artsandletters]

I am nearly certain we would have hung on last week and this week had we not lost these two players. Buccholz would have got into the backfield a few times both games or allowed other defensive players to get to the QB by drawing double teams.
You can't lose the best lineman on the team and not lose the cohesiveness they had up to that point. The injury bug and lack of depth isn't allowing us to close the biggest games...yet. Hopefully this will change next year and so on...You have to give this team credit for almost pulling out these huge games on the road against some pretty damn good competition.

Not.

 

[nits74]

A refrain for losing teams. No consolation.

 

[royboy]

injuries happen....how many teams are not affected by injuries? very few

 

[VaNtyLion]

I am nearly certain we would have hung on last week and this week had we not lost these two players. Buccholz would have got into the backfield a few times both games or allowed other defensive players to get to the QB by drawing double teams.
You can't lose the best lineman on the team and not lose the cohesiveness they had up to that point. The injury bug and lack of depth isn't allowing us to close the biggest games...yet. Hopefully this will change next year and so on...You have to give this team credit for almost pulling out these huge games on the road against some pretty damn good competition.

Last 4 running defenses we've faced have been ranked 20, 6, 11 and 4 against the run. Having to play 3 of those 4 on the road only compounds the challenge...and then you also account for the best player on the OL missing the past 2 weeks. Add it all up and not even remotely shocking the offense is struggling to run the ball.

Good news - Rutgers, Nebraska and Maryland are 84, 71 and 68 respectively.

10 wins is still an excellent season and a lot to build on.

 

[PeetzPoolBoy]

I am nearly certain we would have hung on last week and this week had we not lost these two players. Buccholz would have got into the backfield a few times both games or allowed other defensive players to get to the QB by drawing double teams.
You can't lose the best lineman on the team and not lose the cohesiveness they had up to that point. The injury bug and lack of depth isn't allowing us to close the biggest games...yet. Hopefully this will change next year and so on...You have to give this team credit for almost pulling out these huge games on the road against some pretty damn good competition.

Ummm....No

 

[psu2016]

injuries happen....how many teams are not affected by injuries? very few

None. But I doubt every team has lost their best player in the secondary, best offensive lineman, starting DE and the replacement for that starting DE.

That said, while a healthy Buch and Bates probably makes the difference, both games were there for the taking regardless. We don't turtle and go ultra conservative on O last week and we probably escape with a win. We catch the ball and scrap the stupid RPO on every play this week and we probably win.

 

[psu2016]

Last 4 running defenses we've faced have been ranked 20, 6, 11 and 4 against the run. Having to play 3 of those 4 on the road only compounds the challenge...and then you also account for the best player on the OL missing the past 2 weeks. Add it all up and not even remotely shocking the offense is struggling to run the ball.

Good news - Rutgers, Nebraska and Maryland are 84, 71 and 68 respectively.

10 wins is still an excellent season and a lot to build on.

Doesn't really seem to matter how good the run defense is. We were mostly stuffed by Georgia state and Indiana as well. Our only run game is when Barkley does a magician act to break a big run like vs. Michigan

 

[artsandletters]

Doesn't really seem to matter how good the run defense is. We were mostly stuffed by Georgia state and Indiana as well. Our only run game is when Barkley does a magician act to break a big run like vs. Michigan

Add NW.

 

[PSU20]

This OL has been getting totally whipped for the past 2 years. Losing Bates made a minor difference, but what about the other OL who can't block a freaking shadow for Christ Sake!

JF said before the start of the season that this OL will be one of the better ones in the Big 10. I wonder if he still feels that way.

The other main reason for this loss: Mich St in 3rd and 11, 3rd and 13, 3rd and "18" no problem, just throw it to the wide open W/R who is standing there waiting for the throw. I've never witnessed such lousy DB in years, even though the Big 12 also sucks!

 

[proud2bpsufan]

This OL has been getting totally whipped for the past 2 years. Losing Bates made a minor difference, but what about the other OL who can't block a freaking shadow for Christ Sake!

JF said before the start of the season that this OL will be one of the better ones in the Big 10. I wonder if he still feels that way.

The other main reason for this loss: Mich St in 3rd and 11, 3rd and 13, 3rd and "18" no problem, just throw it to the wide open W/R who is standing there waiting for the throw. I've never witnessed such lousy DB in years, even though the Big 12 also sucks!

The reason the DB were wide open was because we couldn't get to the QB. When the field is wet the receivers have a massive advantage getting open especially when they have 4-5 seconds to do so.

 

[AngleseaLion]

I am nearly certain we would have hung on last week and this week had we not lost these two players. Buccholz would have got into the backfield a few times both games or allowed other defensive players to get to the QB by drawing double teams.
You can't lose the best lineman on the team and not lose the cohesiveness they had up to that point. The injury bug and lack of depth isn't allowing us to close the biggest games...yet. Hopefully this will change next year and so on...You have to give this team credit for almost pulling out these huge games on the road against some pretty damn good competition.

Nah. The OL is weak. RPO SUCKS. Barkley is not being used correctly.

 

[PSU20]

The reason the DB were wide open was because we couldn't get to the QB. When the field is wet the receivers have a massive advantage getting open especially when they have 4-5 seconds to do so.

Even with pressure on MSU's QB, he was finding wide open W/R's.

Absolutely no reason for a 3rd and "18" to be completed with ease, I don't care how wet it was. Both teams played on the same field and our W/R's should have been superior to MSU's, but not today!

 

[RedBankerEngr]

Reasons: Haley, #2, OL,DL, Barkley running East, West and South instead of North! Trace, JoMo, JF