How do we finish? @OSU, @MD, UM, Rutg, @MSU

[Harrisburg Dave]

That's really puzzling since CJF has had recruiting success at almost all the other positions

Where are all these great players he has recruited?

Offense? Only Dotson is a superior talent. OL, RB, TE are average at best.

Defense? PJ, AK, and DBs are superior talents. Everyone else average at best. Brooks is pushing it I will admit.

I was probably not wrong when I said at the beginning of the year that this is the least talented squad of the Franklin era.

 

[MacNit07]

Are you new here? He couldn't get them ready OFF A BYE WEEK for freakin' Illinois!!

Did not have them ready in 2020…and devastated the psyche of the team with the Indiana debacle…and after a nice start, did not have them ready in 2021. No back-up QB, no run game, and now no adjustments and allowing a putrid Illinois team trample you with a 1-D offense on our home field.

We have seen our ceiling.

Paging Matt Rhule…

 

[Obliviax]

9OT loss is tough to overcome but I think Franklin will get them ready.

 

[Wallace Breen]

Actually, MSU, UM, and OSU are terrible matchups after watching Illinois pound the ball for well over 300 yards on the ground. All 3 of those teams have bigtime running attacks especially MSU with Walker

I have had those games as losses since before Clifford and PJ got hurt. The issues we had with Illinois' running game have been there all year. I said before the season this was the worst D-line I have seen in Happy Valley and I meant it. PJ's injury is making it worse but we can't rush the passer without bringing extra players, our ends collapse against certain running players due to lack of size and without PJ, they are helpless inside as well.

 

[kgilbert78]

The ONLY bright side to the stats is that in spite of the atrocious run defense it only produced 10 points.

Almost any game I’d take whatever offensive stats the opponent can put up if it results in only 10 points.

That shows how bad Illinois really is.

 

[kgilbert78]

That's really puzzling since CJF has had recruiting success at almost all the other positions

Well, he had a good quarterback as backup. The transfer portal changes a lot of things.

 

[HartfordLlion]

Well, he had a good quarterback as backup. The transfer portal changes a lot of things.

Last time I check all P5 teams have to deal with the portal. It not an excuse anymore. It's reality, you adapt, either through the portal or with your recruiting. CJF did a poor job on this one.

 

[kgilbert78]

Last time I check all P5 teams have to deal with the portal. It not an excuse anymore. It's reality, you adapt, either through the portal or with your recruiting. CJF did a poor job on this one.

It's still new yet. We'll see.... But I can bet that tOSU would not have been able to win a national championship with a third string qb under the new rules.

 

[blion72]

I have had those games as losses since before Clifford and PJ got hurt. The issues we had with Illinois' running game have been there all year. I said before the season this was the worst D-line I have seen in Happy Valley and I meant it. PJ's injury is making it worse but we can't rush the passer without bringing extra players, our ends collapse against certain running players due to lack of size and without PJ, they are helpless inside as well.

I think the "bend but don't break" can take a tole on a defense. it has created several games where the number of plays and the time our DEF has been on the field adds to the wear and tear on our players. small things like letting a team get a couple first downs and punt, almost always puts the ball inside our 15 yd line. the starting position for our OFF has been in negative territory all year.
give me the suffocating defense that creates many 3 and outs, as opposed to the team that gives up yardage and stops. Not sure how we change this situation.

 

[nits74]

Worse would be the Pinstripe with NY City covid restrictions. Who would attend?

If anyone is going to New York I think there are far better options from which to choose than attending the Pinstripe bowl.

 

[Psugo823]

It’s all going to hinge on Sean’s health.

Looked like he's done for the year yesterday.