This was a game of momentum. With apologies to Yogi Berra, 90% of football is half mental. UM jumped to a lead of 7-3 until PSU fought and clawed its way to a 10-7 lead with about 3 minutes left in the first half. A very close game where neither was able to move the ball much but taking the lead just before the half should have a been a huge boost for the Nits. But on that final drive UM marched right down and scored a TD to reclaim lead (more on drive later) That was huge momentum shift. Conventional wisdom says the two biggest possessions of a game on the last of the first half and the first of the second half.
Second half was also very close with the Lions again clawing back into the game despite no running game. After giving up a TD due to a fumbled punt return, they were down 21-13 but they again clawed their way back into reach of a win 21-16 midway through the fourth gtr with another field goal. Then old Mo shifted again. Post Gazette says the KO returner said in huddle before kick, "I'm gonna break their hearts" and he did with a 50 yrd return. That was followed by a 30 yrd gainer down the left sideline, setting up final TD. And it was pretty much game over.
Back to that 2nd qtr TD drive by UM. Almost all the yardage gained were to quick out passes right or left. Seems that Harbaugh looked at OSU film and saw that our OLBs and CBs are lousy open field tacklers. He knew that he didn't have the quick-footed QB that OSU had so or a fast running back to get outside he used the quick outs to expose our outside D. Multiple missed tackles allowed them to move quickly downfield to retake the lead. Our guys missed several tackles for loss because they came charging up too hard and fast to make a big play. They need to learn to come in under control so they make the tackle.
No need for me to rehash what many have.....bad O-line, red zone failures, play calling, Hack inconsistent, dropped passes, special team play. There is an old adage in football........you will lose one game for every rookie you start. Inexperience has its costs. Seems about right.
We couldn't run the ball but neither did UM. We didn't get enough pressure on the QB and he completed just enough.
Proud of the way they kept fighting back in a game against a 12th rated team. Disappointed they made too many mistakes to pull it out. We've lost to four teams, all four in the the top 25, . And we were in every game and could have won each. Pretty good for a very young, inexperienced team recovering from the worst sanctions in NCAA history.
Second half was also very close with the Lions again clawing back into the game despite no running game. After giving up a TD due to a fumbled punt return, they were down 21-13 but they again clawed their way back into reach of a win 21-16 midway through the fourth gtr with another field goal. Then old Mo shifted again. Post Gazette says the KO returner said in huddle before kick, "I'm gonna break their hearts" and he did with a 50 yrd return. That was followed by a 30 yrd gainer down the left sideline, setting up final TD. And it was pretty much game over.
Back to that 2nd qtr TD drive by UM. Almost all the yardage gained were to quick out passes right or left. Seems that Harbaugh looked at OSU film and saw that our OLBs and CBs are lousy open field tacklers. He knew that he didn't have the quick-footed QB that OSU had so or a fast running back to get outside he used the quick outs to expose our outside D. Multiple missed tackles allowed them to move quickly downfield to retake the lead. Our guys missed several tackles for loss because they came charging up too hard and fast to make a big play. They need to learn to come in under control so they make the tackle.
No need for me to rehash what many have.....bad O-line, red zone failures, play calling, Hack inconsistent, dropped passes, special team play. There is an old adage in football........you will lose one game for every rookie you start. Inexperience has its costs. Seems about right.
We couldn't run the ball but neither did UM. We didn't get enough pressure on the QB and he completed just enough.
Proud of the way they kept fighting back in a game against a 12th rated team. Disappointed they made too many mistakes to pull it out. We've lost to four teams, all four in the the top 25, . And we were in every game and could have won each. Pretty good for a very young, inexperienced team recovering from the worst sanctions in NCAA history.
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