Let's get this out of the way:
Barkley IS the best RB in the country. Not just PSU colored glasses. Enjoy. I'm a semi-oldster, so I am partial to Warner, respectful to Moore & Mitchell with only having seen Mitchell when I was 6 or 7, and electrified by Carter and LJ during the 94 and 02 seasons. Should throw Blair Thomas in there but for some reason I don't. But I'm coming around to the conclusion that we may be seeing the best of the bunch. Which is really saying something here, great history of RBs.
Can't say I watch the game like some of you, I tend to only notice the OL when things go wrong watching in real time. But general impression of the OL is that they dominated a subpar opponent. Which doesn't tell us much in the way of a challenging opposing DL at this point, but is a big step in the right direction compared to the recent past. Lack of penalties was very encouraging.
In general, lack of penalties - not really going to count Windsor's with it being a new rule - was VERY, VERY encouraging for first game. Quality of opponent may impact that adversely later as with any team, but the "bone-head" and sloppy penalties that had appeared throughout recent seasons and are common in a first game were absent. Speaks that this team IS very focused and well prepared this off season.
Cam Brown is going to be very, very good. He is going to be our best LB this year, no matter what he weighs. I mean Bowen and Cabinda are good for D1, but not in the context of PSU as LBU. Brown is getting us back to where we were in terms of talent.
As expected and previewed, interior of DL is going to be just fine, in fact, a strength. Ends rush ability is the only question mark. Would have been nice to see if Miller answers this but I can wait a week. Matos looked like the best rush guy we had on the field yesterday, which is pretty friggin' good for a trFR - he was much better than I expected and may contribute this year. Toney is super fast around the edge, but that may be it (didn't notice him except for a play or two). Simmons looked pretty good and may be a year away. Again, Matos. Playing fast right from the start, something common in the great ones.
Stable of receiving options - check. People love to rip Hamilton, but he gets open. All the time. Yeah, he will drop a few. Johnson - check. Gesicki - check. Other guys are solid as well. No Charles, but he of the frequent bone-head decision is the victim of the increased level of talent here that now allows our coaches not to put up with that. He'll either fix it - sorry, sometimes it's just not fixable, hope I'm wrong - or he won't see the field.
McSorely looks quicker running the ball which is a big step up from last year. Although it could just be that Akron is not that fast on D, IDK. We will see. A couple balls not well thrown early, but then again, conditions were not ideal. I don't think he's ever going to be laser accurate, but he's one of the best QB's in college football, without a doubt. Guys that complain about him must not watch any games except PSU.
Special teams looked great, but could be the disparity of talent thing. KO coverage and KO's in general were a concern, although Davis looked like he could pull off the directional thing and this may be our MO this year. Davis is a very good FG kicker, will give him a pass on the early shank as the first three snaps (2 XPs & FG) were off. I think we have a new LS - may be wrong about that - and that's got to raise an eyebrow. But with conditions being what they were and the improvement after the first three, nothing to worry about as of yet. Same goes for McGovern. Shaky early, but let's chalk it up to conditions and newness and look at improvement as game went on. Hopefully, not an issue.
The "realists" on here will be quick to dismiss this performance as "against Akron." But that performance yesterday is what really, really good teams do to MAC level talent. It's not that easy to beat Akron 52-0 and play the dominant game along with it that was reflected in the score. Very good sign. We will have some ups and downs, as all teams including Alabama and, yes, even PSU '94, do during the season. But yesterday gives evidence that this team is capable.
Talent level increase is appreciable. Players all over the field yesterday that belong on a top 10 type team. Still don't think we are there defensively, although the three true frosh are a big step in getting us there, but on offense there is no doubt. We can stack up talent-wise with anyone on O - anyone.
Wow, we've come a long way in a few short years. Future is really bright.
Barkley IS the best RB in the country. Not just PSU colored glasses. Enjoy. I'm a semi-oldster, so I am partial to Warner, respectful to Moore & Mitchell with only having seen Mitchell when I was 6 or 7, and electrified by Carter and LJ during the 94 and 02 seasons. Should throw Blair Thomas in there but for some reason I don't. But I'm coming around to the conclusion that we may be seeing the best of the bunch. Which is really saying something here, great history of RBs.
Can't say I watch the game like some of you, I tend to only notice the OL when things go wrong watching in real time. But general impression of the OL is that they dominated a subpar opponent. Which doesn't tell us much in the way of a challenging opposing DL at this point, but is a big step in the right direction compared to the recent past. Lack of penalties was very encouraging.
In general, lack of penalties - not really going to count Windsor's with it being a new rule - was VERY, VERY encouraging for first game. Quality of opponent may impact that adversely later as with any team, but the "bone-head" and sloppy penalties that had appeared throughout recent seasons and are common in a first game were absent. Speaks that this team IS very focused and well prepared this off season.
Cam Brown is going to be very, very good. He is going to be our best LB this year, no matter what he weighs. I mean Bowen and Cabinda are good for D1, but not in the context of PSU as LBU. Brown is getting us back to where we were in terms of talent.
As expected and previewed, interior of DL is going to be just fine, in fact, a strength. Ends rush ability is the only question mark. Would have been nice to see if Miller answers this but I can wait a week. Matos looked like the best rush guy we had on the field yesterday, which is pretty friggin' good for a trFR - he was much better than I expected and may contribute this year. Toney is super fast around the edge, but that may be it (didn't notice him except for a play or two). Simmons looked pretty good and may be a year away. Again, Matos. Playing fast right from the start, something common in the great ones.
Stable of receiving options - check. People love to rip Hamilton, but he gets open. All the time. Yeah, he will drop a few. Johnson - check. Gesicki - check. Other guys are solid as well. No Charles, but he of the frequent bone-head decision is the victim of the increased level of talent here that now allows our coaches not to put up with that. He'll either fix it - sorry, sometimes it's just not fixable, hope I'm wrong - or he won't see the field.
McSorely looks quicker running the ball which is a big step up from last year. Although it could just be that Akron is not that fast on D, IDK. We will see. A couple balls not well thrown early, but then again, conditions were not ideal. I don't think he's ever going to be laser accurate, but he's one of the best QB's in college football, without a doubt. Guys that complain about him must not watch any games except PSU.
Special teams looked great, but could be the disparity of talent thing. KO coverage and KO's in general were a concern, although Davis looked like he could pull off the directional thing and this may be our MO this year. Davis is a very good FG kicker, will give him a pass on the early shank as the first three snaps (2 XPs & FG) were off. I think we have a new LS - may be wrong about that - and that's got to raise an eyebrow. But with conditions being what they were and the improvement after the first three, nothing to worry about as of yet. Same goes for McGovern. Shaky early, but let's chalk it up to conditions and newness and look at improvement as game went on. Hopefully, not an issue.
The "realists" on here will be quick to dismiss this performance as "against Akron." But that performance yesterday is what really, really good teams do to MAC level talent. It's not that easy to beat Akron 52-0 and play the dominant game along with it that was reflected in the score. Very good sign. We will have some ups and downs, as all teams including Alabama and, yes, even PSU '94, do during the season. But yesterday gives evidence that this team is capable.
Talent level increase is appreciable. Players all over the field yesterday that belong on a top 10 type team. Still don't think we are there defensively, although the three true frosh are a big step in getting us there, but on offense there is no doubt. We can stack up talent-wise with anyone on O - anyone.
Wow, we've come a long way in a few short years. Future is really bright.
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