Game thoughts and other musings....

[BBrown]

Still looked like a tool.

He absolutely did.
Do you think him doing the practice kicks in front of the students was to get used to the booing?
I've never ever seen another kicker do that on our side.

 

[Grant Green]

On business travel this week and was finally able to watch the entire game - certainly more fun to watch when you know the outcome. Anyway, wanted to share some thoughts and get more feedback from folks now that I have some context.

1. McSorley was awesome - I haven't seen him run like that before; he was so much more confident and sturdy. Really opens up the offense if you have to account for his feet being a serious threat.

2. Focus on Barkley, and everyone else will kill you. And they did. Especially Hamilton, who is quietly having the best WR career ever of any Penn Stater. We've been lucky recently with Robinson and Godwin, but Hamilton - after what seemed like a shaky year last year - has become Mr. Consistent. And I love that Michigan thought they had him figured out when they put Hill on him in the slot only to have him beat time and time again. Thanks Desean!

3. Speaking of receivers - what is up with Irvin Charles? He's huge, fast, and plays mean (see him destroying everyone on ST). Is he in the doghouse? Can he play LB (only sorta kidding)? He has the right number....

4. Nordin looked like a chump.

5. Bowen has really come into his own. He's going to be super important next year.

6. Have to love the emergence of some guys on the DL - especially Toney and Buchholz. Again, will be really important next year given our losses there but plenty of talent in the cupboard.

7. Really concerned when I heard the entire secondary will be gone next year. Will be great to get Reid back and of course there is a lot of talent waiting in the wings, but will be hard to replace the leadership of guys like Allen, Campbell, and Haley.

8. Thought Herbie and Fowler were pretty fair, though I did hear Herbie dig a bit into this new metric for determining how good a team is - and that is 'last year's performance'. He's at least the third major sportscaster I've heard start to talk about this. They mostly do it with Bama, but he mentioned in Penn State's context (that they only lost a few players from last year).

9. Hate to look ahead, but this is going to be a really different team next year. No Allen, Barkley, Campbell, Cabinda, Gesicki, Haley, Hamilton, Cothren, Cothran, Nelson, Mahon, Smith, Blacknall, or Apke (I can't imagine someone like Johnson would go pro, but he could). Really going to miss the leadership and experience of those guys.

10. White Out was amazing - truly one of the most impressive and intimidating venues in the world. Wish we could take another 15 recruits in this class because after Saturday night I bet many would love to be Lions.

I watched at a bar with a friend, so I missed some details here and there. Did Nordin do something specific, or are you just referring to the missed XP?

I thought the TD drive to end of the 1st half was absolutely key. UM was gaining momentum and it was a great response to the UM TD. UM may come out with a little more confidence in the second half with only a one pt deficit.

Two stats that concerned me - Sacks allowed and 3rd down efficiency. PSU averaged over 2.6 sacks allowed/game and only allowed 2 in this game against a top defense. PSU was about 39% on 3rd down coming into the game and went 4 for 7. Not only an improved percentage, but they didn't face 3rd down that often. I hope these trends continue.

 

[Gnat91]

[/QUOTE]I thought the TD drive to end of the 1st half was absolutely key. UM was gaining momentum and it was a great response to the UM TD. UM may come out with a little more confidence in the second half with only a one pt deficit.[/QUOTE]

This team just wills it's way to a score when needed. Don't see that changing this Saturday.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I watched at a bar with a friend, so I missed some details here and there. Did Nordin do something specific, or are you just referring to the missed XP?

I thought the TD drive to end of the 1st half was absolutely key. UM was gaining momentum and it was a great response to the UM TD. UM may come out with a little more confidence in the second half with only a one pt deficit.

Two stats that concerned me - Sacks allowed and 3rd down efficiency. PSU averaged over 2.6 sacks allowed/game and only allowed 2 in this game against a top defense. PSU was about 39% on 3rd down coming into the game and went 4 for 7. Not only an improved percentage, but they didn't face 3rd down that often. I hope these trends continue.

Mostly referring to his douchey hair cut. Major League was cool when I was in HS.

And kicking on Penn State’s side of the field during warm ups is bold, to say the least.

 

[Gitzit]

Wade lost track of the UM receiver on the long pass leading up to one of Michigan's TD's.
He looked a little slow trying to catch up to the UM guy. I was surprised to see him get meaningful minutes in this game.

I didnt notice that. The game is on again tonight at 9 I will have to look for that. He is still a young DB

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I didnt notice that. The game is on again tonight at 9 I will have to look for that. He is still a young DB

Thought save for the one play where the receiver got behind him, he played really well. Only going to get better too.

 

[SR108]

1. McSorley was awesome - I haven't seen him run like that before; he was so much more confident and sturdy. Really opens up the offense if you have to account for his feet being a serious threat.

Trace is the X factor of this team. He never gets rattled. Picks and sacks don't bother him. He came back and played great after Wisconsin pounded him in the first half last year. He came back and played great after USC picked him off a couple of times in the first half last year. He came back and beat Iowa after all those batted balls. He came back and led the team to a score at half time after Michigan scored twice to almost tie it up this year. The kid is a leader and a gamer. He is the main reason why I believe we have a good shot at the shoe this year. If TOSU spends all their time on Barkley, like everyone else we have played, Trace will find a way to keep us in the game.

 

[Grant Green]

Mostly referring to his douchey hair cut. Major League was cool when I was in HS.

And kicking on Penn State’s side of the field during warm ups is bold, to say the least.

I walked back from the bathroom and saw a stupid haircut, but couldn't see who it was. Not it makes sense. Obviously a kid that has made bad choices in life.

 

[royboy]

I thought the TD drive to end of the 1st half was absolutely key. UM was gaining momentum and it was a great response to the UM TD. UM may come out with a little more confidence in the second half with only a one pt deficit.

Trace is an absolute champ at the 2-minute drill. Just off the top of my head, there were also the winning drive vs Iowa, the drive to tie Minnesota in regulation, and the late 1st half TD vs Wisconsin in the B1G championship game to get the game within reach.

J.T. Barrett? Well, perhaps some visiting Bucks fans have some examples of his prowess, but my memory is the FAILED last drive by Ohio State in their loss at Happy Valley last year. Maybe the new, improved Barrett can now handle the 2-minute drill?

This edge goes to Penn State.

 

[tboyer]

The reason McSorley ran so hard (IMHO the hardest he ran all year) was cuz of the interception---he was pissed and wanted to make up for it thus his extra motivation and grit...

whatever the motivation, he was on fire. Best he's played this year. And what a good time for that to happen.

 

[tboyer]

I've heard rumor that Barkley hasn't made up his mind whether to stay or go. He kind of lives in the moment and won't make up his mind for some time... it would NOT surprise me if we don't win it all this year and/or he does not win the Heisman that he comes back.

One can dream....You'd have to think Barkley will be ready to move on, but he's an unusual human being and what motivates him may be different from what motivates the average football player.

 

[tboyer]

J.T. Barrett? Well, perhaps some visiting Bucks fans have some examples of his prowess, but my memory is the FAILED last drive by Ohio State in their loss at Happy Valley last year. Maybe the new, improved Barrett can now handle the 2-minute drill?

I remember that drive too. It really wasn't Barrett. Their OL was gassed -- the PSU DL rotation wore them out, so he just didn't have a lot of options. And they had no experience at a do-or-die drive to win the game. Being behind in a hostile stadium - that's just not an experience Ohio State gets very often. PSU players know what it's like to be behind -- they've come back from down 28-7. That's an experience the average Ohio State player might not get in 4 years.

 

[CDLionFL]

It's halfway thru what could be a historic season and we're worrying about next year. SMH

 

[artsandletters]

LOL, someone please "burden" me. I do know for a fact that bills are a burden.

“For some”

Lots of money can be a dangerous thing (burden/access) for some. That same person, without all that money, can keep life on an even keel. I’m not talking about Saquon. It’s money being the motivation for a decision and what the consequences can sometimes be. Kind of, be careful what you wish for.

BBrown, you get nothing. Zero. Bupkis.

 

[artsandletters]

Ok.

You agree?

 

[artsandletters]

Mostly referring to his douchey hair cut. Major League was cool when I was in HS.

And kicking on Penn State’s side of the field during warm ups is bold, to say the least.

And for all that, Nordin and his teammates got their collective asses handed to them.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

You agree?

Yeah it could be to some people and that isn't some huge revelation. It didn't have a thing to do with this particular discussion on him going pro or not. SB has a good head on his shoulders and seems to come from a pretty grounded family.

 

[artsandletters]

Yeah it could be to some people and that isn't some huge revelation. It didn't have a thing to do with this particular discussion on him going pro or not. SB has a good head on his shoulders and seems to come from a pretty grounded family.

I had a thought and I’m sorry I brought it up.

Huge revelations are hard to come by here or anywhere.

 

[PSUcup1]

I would imagine the entire staff would tell him to go. Starting at the top. No doubt they would love to have him back, but they know what is up.

Yeah. I'd wager that CJF will not allow him to come back