Obli's Blue/White Game Observations

[Obliviax]

FWIW:

General

• Weather was WONDERFUL.
• With over 65,000, I was told that many stayed in the parking lot to tailgate. And by many I mean a lot. I am guessing an additional 5,000 to10,000 people but have no idea. Our tailgate buddy said that his lot didn't look that much different before or during the game in terms of party.
• I felt like I watched more of a football "exhibition" than a game. While BOBs weird B/W game was odd, I felt like the kids played. Not sure I've ever seen first team against second team before. I can only assume it was to gain familiarity for the offense, given a radically new offense.
• Had to be a fantastic recruiting opportunity.
• As such, saw Franklin interacting with JoeMo who was on the field, not so much with the defense. Again, more evidence that this was all about the offense. Will be interesting to see if JoeMo is on the sideline or in the booth next fall. I recall he wants to be on the sideline but I get the feeling CJF was telling JoeMo things he saw on the field (he was typically standing behind the O) that JoeMo may have missed. They'll see it on film, of course, but this may have been a test to see how effective it is for JoeMo to be on the sideline.
• Sat on the North goal line behind the bench. Anyone saying Hack wasn't popular is kidding themselves. He got a very warm greeting from the players, coaches and alum. I may have missed it but didn't see CJF talk to him (but he was busy). Cabinda was all over him.
• Sandy Barbour is ubiquitous. Said building a new stadium was kaput, if anyone missed that.
• Can't we just have the QB's play with red shirts on? Very confusing watching a blue QB, being blocked for by white players and tackled by blue defenders.

Offense

• Most encouraging of everything was the crispness of the offense. And this wasn't just White, but Blue as well. Team looked much more confident and comfortable knowing their assignments. Although kids were being moved around and plugged in, I didn't see any real confusion.
• Of course, McSorley was fantastic. He looked bigger than 6' 199 lbs. Reminded of when PSU was looking for a starting QB and McMoxie kind of came out an "Owned It." He didn't play better, but he owned the huddle and the offense ran better under him. Well, not only did McSorley own it, but he was fantastic. Short passes, long passes, read/option, on the run.....looked great. Now, the second team defense kind of phoned it in. (more on that later) Its a lot easier to pass when you know your not going to get hammered, but he couldn't have played better regardless of the situation. Kid throws a tight ball, high in the saddle that is very catchable. Knows how to give it touch or zip it. Good arm strength (not great, but good). He also looked more physical Saturday. He may have put on weight but he looked strong. Very encouraging.
• Stevens looks like a very good runner. We'll see if he matures with his passing but he's a very strong runner and plays the zone/read great. Hard to tell as he was rushed a lot and the refs blew down plays when he would have clearly beaten the defender. So he wasn't able to use his strength much. He may be good "change up" if McS needs a breather.
• Loved the team moving in and out of fast offense. I had trouble watching replays because the offense was at the LOS and you didn't know if it would be quick snapped or if they were going to check off to a play.
• Offense is very athletic. This is the most athletic offense since D-Will days.
  • Mark Allen, although only 5-6 and 180, pushed the pile several times and has serious quicks.
  • Hamilton looks great in the slot. Blacknall and Godwin not only look great, but know how to turn around a DB if the pass is short.
  • We have some really tall WR's. They aren't that explosive off the ball but are fast. We have other quicks. JoeMo will have a lot of flexibility on offense
  • Danny Dalton played a lot for a kid who was supposed to be in high school. He's going to be a good one. Gesicki looked good. I hope he is more confident and doesn't drop passes. He'll be a good one if he can catch the ball. Word is, he never drops a thing in practice and the team was stunned when he had the droppsies last season.
• OK, now the O-line. I am still very concerned. Not only didn't the first team impress me, the second team looked like last year's oline. Paris played on the second team and didn't look good. Several times I saw Dlineman beat their man and kind of let the offense go. At least three times there would have been sacks but the defender let the QB run out of the pocket or step up because he couldn't go full speed lest he flatter the QB. Other times, the QB had room to run but the refs blew the play dead (safety, for example). They, at least, didn't seem to be missing assignments but the defense played a very vanilla game. The good news is that this offense is not O-line dependent. Just getting in a defenders way may be enough. Plus, Barkley didn't play which will help the oline as well.

Defense

• The Dline looks fine, even at DT. We won't have the pass rush we had last year as there is nobody on the DL that looks like a true pass rusher. That will be a problem because.....
• Linebackers simply looked bad. Cabinda was great and we had starters that didn't play, but the linebackers were lost against the zone/read and short passes, defended by the LB, were wide open all day. In a real game, Stevens would have run all over our first team defense. We are going to struggle against zone/read teams next year, especially if anyone gets hurt. This will be, IMHO, the teams "weakest link" next season. Wow, at LBU?! Having said that, Cabinda is the real deal and may have been holding back a little. Also have to factor in that two LB's didn't play, but we are scary thin at LB.
• CB's are good and had their hands full against very athletic first, second and third team WR's. S will need some time. I thought they looked athletic but missed some assignments. They looked like they are thinking and not reacting. This is common for young players wanting to do what the coaches say, and may be part of a practice game, but they don't seem to be following their instincts.

Special Teams

• Hard to determine much as most of it was against no defense. But FG kick at the end was weak and missed by a mile. Kickoffs were inconsistent.
• Punting? I just don't get it. In warmups, our punters were kicking it either 35 yards of 65 yards. One kick was awful, the next was a perfect spiral far over the receiver's heads. I feel like our starting punter wasn't on the field.

Overall, a good day. One funny note, right before the half, 54 (Robert Windsor?) threw up on the five yard line. An attendant watered down the area to sink it into the grass and the refs repositioned the ball to the other hash so the players didn't have to play in it. What I was looking for, a crisp offense, was there. The team looked fit and athletic. However, they are young (outside of LB). Based on B/W, I'd have to say that next season's team will be better than last years but I fear the games with Temple and Pitt early. They key to next season will be those two games. Very happy for JoeMo and the offense. I feel like this game was "tricked up" to let the offense play well..and they did. But am just happy they knew what to do at the LOS, that alone is a huge step up from last year. We may struggle a bit in 2016, but the future is really bright.

 

[sluggo72]

some random quick thoughts I have

for a zone blocking team, we seem to pull a lot of linemen
that said, I think on the 1st TD pass (or maybe 2nd ) I swear Nelson is 5 yrds downfield. I don't think its his fault, as I think the OL blocks a run on every play but the QB has the option to throw the ball as well.
I think the base stance for the OT is a 2 pt stance, that is the OG gets down in a 3 pt (hand on the ground) but the OT never do (put their hand on the ground), even on the Goal line the OT were in a 2 pt stance. The game is changing.
I think Beh looks like a good young player, I think he tries to do what he is coached to do. I think given time, he will be pretty good, probably needs to be a little stronger at the POA.

 

[thecoolestfish]

FWIW:

General

• I felt like I watched more of a football "exhibition" than a game. While BOBs weird B/W game was odd, I felt like the kids played. Not sure I've ever seen first team against second team before. I can only assume it was to gain familiarity for the offense, given a radically new offense.

Did you watch last year's B/W game?

 

[SR108]

FWIW:

General

• Weather was WONDERFUL.
• With over 65,000, I was told that many stayed in the parking lot to tailgate. And by many I mean a lot. I am guessing an additional 5,000 to10,000 people but have no idea. Our tailgate buddy said that his lot didn't look that much different before or during the game in terms of party.
• I felt like I watched more of a football "exhibition" than a game. While BOBs weird B/W game was odd, I felt like the kids played. Not sure I've ever seen first team against second team before. I can only assume it was to gain familiarity for the offense, given a radically new offense.
• Had to be a fantastic recruiting opportunity.
• As such, saw Franklin interacting with JoeMo who was on the field, not so much with the defense. Again, more evidence that this was all about the offense. Will be interesting to see if JoeMo is on the sideline or in the booth next fall. I recall he wants to be on the sideline but I get the feeling CJF was telling JoeMo things he saw on the field (he was typically standing behind the O) that JoeMo may have missed. They'll see it on film, of course, but this may have been a test to see how effective it is for JoeMo to be on the sideline.
• Sat on the North goal line behind the bench. Anyone saying Hack wasn't popular is kidding themselves. He got a very warm greeting from the players, coaches and alum. I may have missed it but didn't see CJF talk to him (but he was busy). Cabinda was all over him.
• Sandy Barbour is ubiquitous. Said building a new stadium was kaput, if anyone missed that.
• Can't we just have the QB's play with red shirts on? Very confusing watching a blue QB, being blocked for by white players and tackled by blue defenders.

Offense

• Most encouraging of everything was the crispness of the offense. And this wasn't just White, but Blue as well. Team looked much more confident and comfortable knowing their assignments. Although kids were being moved around and plugged in, I didn't see any real confusion.
• Of course, McSorley was fantastic. He looked bigger than 6' 199 lbs. Reminded of when PSU was looking for a starting QB and McMoxie kind of came out an "Owned It." He didn't play better, but he owned the huddle and the offense ran better under him. Well, not only did McSorley own it, but he was fantastic. Short passes, long passes, read/option, on the run.....looked great. Now, the second team defense kind of phoned it in. (more on that later) Its a lot easier to pass when you know your not going to get hammered, but he couldn't have played better regardless of the situation. Kid throws a tight ball, high in the saddle that is very catchable. Knows how to give it touch or zip it. Good arm strength (not great, but good). He also looked more physical Saturday. He may have put on weight but he looked strong. Very encouraging.
• Stevens looks like a very good runner. We'll see if he matures with his passing but he's a very strong runner and plays the zone/read great. Hard to tell as he was rushed a lot and the refs blew down plays when he would have clearly beaten the defender. So he wasn't able to use his strength much. He may be good "change up" if McS needs a breather.
• Loved the team moving in and out of fast offense. I had trouble watching replays because the offense was at the LOS and you didn't know if it would be quick snapped or if they were going to check off to a play.
• Offense is very athletic. This is the most athletic offense since D-Will days.
  • Mark Allen, although only 5-6 and 180, pushed the pile several times and has serious quicks.
  • Hamilton looks great in the slot. Blacknall and Godwin not only look great, but know how to turn around a DB if the pass is short.
  • We have some really tall WR's. They aren't that explosive off the ball but are fast. We have other quicks. JoeMo will have a lot of flexibility on offense
  • Danny Dalton played a lot for a kid who was supposed to be in high school. He's going to be a good one. Gesicki looked good. I hope he is more confident and doesn't drop passes. He'll be a good one if he can catch the ball. Word is, he never drops a thing in practice and the team was stunned when he had the droppsies last season.
• OK, now the O-line. I am still very concerned. Not only didn't the first team impress me, the second team looked like last year's oline. Paris played on the second team and didn't look good. Several times I saw Dlineman beat their man and kind of let the offense go. At least three times there would have been sacks but the defender let the QB run out of the pocket or step up because he couldn't go full speed lest he flatter the QB. Other times, the QB had room to run but the refs blew the play dead (safety, for example). They, at least, didn't seem to be missing assignments but the defense played a very vanilla game. The good news is that this offense is not O-line dependent. Just getting in a defenders way may be enough. Plus, Barkley didn't play which will help the oline as well.

Defense

• The Dline looks fine, even at DT. We won't have the pass rush we had last year as there is nobody on the DL that looks like a true pass rusher. That will be a problem because.....
• Linebackers simply looked bad. Cabinda was great and we had starters that didn't play, but the linebackers were lost against the zone/read and short passes, defended by the LB, were wide open all day. In a real game, Stevens would have run all over our first team defense. We are going to struggle against zone/read teams next year, especially if anyone gets hurt. This will be, IMHO, the teams "weakest link" next season. Wow, at LBU?! Having said that, Cabinda is the real deal and may have been holding back a little. Also have to factor in that two LB's didn't play, but we are scary thin at LB.
• CB's are good and had their hands full against very athletic first, second and third team WR's. S will need some time. I thought they looked athletic but missed some assignments. They looked like they are thinking and not reacting. This is common for young players wanting to do what the coaches say, and may be part of a practice game, but they don't seem to be following their instincts.

Special Teams

• Hard to determine much as most of it was against no defense. But FG kick at the end was weak and missed by a mile. Kickoffs were inconsistent.
• Punting? I just don't get it. In warmups, our punters were kicking it either 35 yards of 65 yards. One kick was awful, the next was a perfect spiral far over the receiver's heads. I feel like our starting punter wasn't on the field.

Overall, a good day. One funny note, right before the half, 54 (Robert Windsor?) threw up on the five yard line. An attendant watered down the area to sink it into the grass and the refs repositioned the ball to the other hash so the players didn't have to play in it. What I was looking for, a crisp offense, was there. The team looked fit and athletic. However, they are young (outside of LB). Based on B/W, I'd have to say that next season's team will be better than last years but I fear the games with Temple and Pitt early. They key to next season will be those two games. Very happy for JoeMo and the offense. I feel like this game was "tricked up" to let the offense play well..and they did. But am just happy they knew what to do at the LOS, that alone is a huge step up from last year. We may struggle a bit in 2016, but the future is really bright.

The first vs second units did not really tell us a whole lot, especially considering the number of players that did not play. It was probably good for confidence, and it also probably was good for recruiting the offensive skilled guys in attendance. Would have liked to see what the starters
could do against the first D. Remembering that there was no Bell, Wartman-White, Cothren, Apke.

 

[Obliviax]

Did you watch last year's B/W game?

I was there....Oline looked pitiful and offense was skittish. Defense dominated but it was left as "defense is always ahead of offense at this time of year). RB's looked weak but quick. Hope was that the Oline could hold off the D until the WR's got open. Temple broke the code early by getting up on the LOS denying the short route and stuffing the run game but also not allowing enough time for long patterns.

 

[SR108]

some random quick thoughts I have

for a zone blocking team, we seem to pull a lot of linemen
that said, I think on the 1st TD pass (or maybe 2nd ) I swear Nelson is 5 yrds downfield. I don't think its his fault, as I think the OL blocks a run on every play but the QB has the option to throw the ball as well.
I think the base stance for the OT is a 2 pt stance, that is the OG gets down in a 3 pt (hand on the ground) but the OT never do (put their hand on the ground), even on the Goal line the OT were in a 2 pt stance. The game is changing.
I think Beh looks like a good young player, I think he tries to do what he is coached to do. I think given time, he will be pretty good, probably needs to be a little stronger at the POA.

The fact that he started instead of Palmer and Bates started at guard is just one indication of just how bad the OLine was last year. Guys with a full years experience, and some with two years experience, cannot hold their positions in Spring ball.

 

[SR108]

I was there....Oline looked pitiful and offense was skittish. Defense dominated but it was left as "defense is always ahead of offense at this time of year). RB's looked weak but quick. Hope was that the Oline could hold off the D until the WR's got open. Temple broke the code early by getting up on the LOS denying the short route and stuffing the run game but also not allowing enough time for long patterns.

Yea, I guess that the fact that first O looked bad against the second D last year makes what happened Saturday look like good news, although that second D we saw Saturday was more like a third D.

 

[bmw199]

Paris played on the second team and didn't look good.

I think Beh looks like a good young player, I think he tries to do what he is coached to do. I think given time, he will be pretty good, probably needs to be a little stronger at the POA.

I am starting to suspect that Menet might get a look at RT when he gets to campus and bypass playing G entirely.

 

[john4psu]

Thanks Obli. I thought Hack got a nice round of applause when he received the player of the game awards from last season.

Personally, I thought he deserved a standing O but it was done so quickly, much like Michael Robinson being introduced as part of the 2005 team at the end of the 3rd qtr. Quite a few fans were headed for the exits at that point.

I thought Mark Allen and Robinson looked good and we have a kid named Sanders coming in. Nice to see Gesicki hang on to the ball.

I saw Jessie James before the game. He looks like he still could bulk up some. Donovan Smith is one large individual and I thought Zettel looked trimmer than I ever have seen him. I thought he'd of been bigger in person. I saw Sam Ficken as well. Was he on an NFL roster last year? Hopefully he will be this year if he can.

 

[Obliviax]

Yea, I guess that the fact that first O looked bad against the second D last year makes what happened Saturday look like good news, although that second D we saw Saturday was more like a third D.

Right....we all know the B/W game isn't much of an indicator, really. You have to read between the lines...so...:

• CJF felt the O needed confidence so tricked up the B/W game
• Team is either sending a message or searching for an O-line
• Staff isn't concerned with defense
• Since CJF and JoeMo were all over each other, this was all about JoeMo and the O. (sounds like a "Mo"-town group).

I think we improve on offense....as I said, I was looking for coordination, lack of confusion and crispness...I saw all that. Defense will be fine...encouraged by the DT play.

 

[SR108]

Right....we all know the B/W game isn't much of an indicator, really. You have to read between the lines...so...:

• CJF felt the O needed confidence so tricked up the B/W game
• Team is either sending a message or searching for an O-line
• Staff isn't concerned with defense
• Since CJF and JoeMo were all over each other, this was all about JoeMo and the O. (sounds like a "Mo"-town group).

I think we improve on offense....as I said, I was looking for coordination, lack of confusion and crispness...I saw all that. Defense will be fine...encouraged by the DT play.

Plus we have a junior college guy coming in to help at DT, although it didn't help much last year at OT.

"Staff isn't concerned with defense"

I would be concerned with LB depth. How did Cooper and Bowen look? They played with the Blue, no? Wartman-White and Cabinda play the same position, no?

 

[harbest]

As good as everything looked on Saturday, lets see what happens on Saturdays starting in September. It's hard for me to judge our offense going against our 2nd team defense.

 

[hagberg]

I am starting to suspect that Menet might get a look at RT when he gets to campus and bypass playing G entirely.

I'll be surprised if Menet plays as a true FR. Many here were talking up Connor McGovern as being ready to go (being much heavier than Menet, if reports and my eyeballs don't lie). He started for the White squad at tackle - granted, going against the first team defense - but didn't impress. For example, in one series he was called for holding and then was responsible for the sack in the end zone when he completely whiffed on blocking Schwan.

This should not be taken as bashing McGovern. I'm just pointing out what has been said in this forum many times: OL is the hardest (and least likely) place for true FR to start. I'm also not sure McGovern is a true tackle; I suspect he may have been moved to provide some much needed depth there this year. With Gaia moving to center and Bates stepping up at guard, it wasn't as critical that McG provide interior depth. I expect that if we start bringing in some legitimate tackles, he'll move back inside.

 

[SR108]

I'll be surprised if Menet plays as a true FR. Many here were talking up Connor McGovern as being ready to go (being much heavier than Menet, if reports and my eyeballs don't lie). He started for the White squad at tackle - granted, going against the first team defense - but didn't impress. For example, in one series he was called for holding and then was responsible for the sack in the end zone when he completely whiffed on blocking Schwan.

This should not be taken as bashing McGovern. I'm just pointing out what has been said in this forum many times: OL is the hardest (and least likely) place for true FR to start. I'm also not sure McGovern is a true tackle; I suspect he may have been moved to provide some much needed depth there this year. With Gaia moving to center and Bates stepping up at guard, it wasn't as critical that McG provide interior depth. I expect that if we start bringing in some legitimate tackles, he'll move back inside.

Starting as a true frosh on the Oline is rare indeed.

 

[StinkStankStunk]

Did you watch last year's B/W game?

Or most games over the last 20 years?

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

The fact that he started instead of Palmer and Bates started at guard is just one indication of just how bad the OLine was last year. Guys with a full years experience, and some with two years experience, cannot hold their positions in Spring ball.

Agree with that. I've become more of the opinion that Coach Franklin's statements this spring about the likely starting OL are more for "consumption" than a real evaluation of the likely starting units (e.g., the consumption of opposing coaches). Even if PSU Morehead, Limegrover and Franklin are going to make some significant changes there, they would only be doing their opponents a favor by disclosing exactly how things are progressing in that area. Not only that, you never want to tell either player (the starter or the challenger) that they have lost or won the position - you want both of them to practice 100% and give it everything they have all the way through summer drills. IOW, the 2-Deep could look quite a bit different than Coach Franklin's "canned statements" from this Spring, but we probably won't know until the depth chart is released just prior to the Kent St. game.

 

[bmw199]

I'll be surprised if Menet plays as a true FR. Many here were talking up Connor McGovern as being ready to go (being much heavier than Menet, if reports and my eyeballs don't lie). He started for the White squad at tackle - granted, going against the first team defense - but didn't impress. For example, in one series he was called for holding and then was responsible for the sack in the end zone when he completely whiffed on blocking Schwan.

This should not be taken as bashing McGovern. I'm just pointing out what has been said in this forum many times: OL is the hardest (and least likely) place for true FR to start. I'm also not sure McGovern is a true tackle; I suspect he may have been moved to provide some much needed depth there this year. With Gaia moving to center and Bates stepping up at guard, it wasn't as critical that McG provide interior depth. I expect that if we start bringing in some legitimate tackles, he'll move back inside.

Starting as a true frosh on the Oline is rare indeed.

The opinion of McGovern being ready was one I didn't share. and Starting OL Freshman is indeed rare, but so are players of Menet's ability. All I'm saying is it is starting to look like nothing is solidified and he will get a long look. I am hopeful he'll play so well that he'll force the coaching staff's hand.

 

[JayWye]

FWIW:
W/r to the LB's,both James and Pry have said they will probably have to play some "4-2-5" scheme due to depth. Post-game James mentioned Farmer as a kid who could play the "star" position ...IIRC, Monroe has also been mentioned as a possibility. Didn't see anything other than 3 LB sets in the B-W, but maybe that's because they were trying to give the backers as many reps as possible.
General

• Weather was WONDERFUL.
• With over 65,000, I was told that many stayed in the parking lot to tailgate. And by many I mean a lot. I am guessing an additional 5,000 to10,000 people but have no idea. Our tailgate buddy said that his lot didn't look that much different before or during the game in terms of party.
• I felt like I watched more of a football "exhibition" than a game. While BOBs weird B/W game was odd, I felt like the kids played. Not sure I've ever seen first team against second team before. I can only assume it was to gain familiarity for the offense, given a radically new offense.
• Had to be a fantastic recruiting opportunity.
• As such, saw Franklin interacting with JoeMo who was on the field, not so much with the defense. Again, more evidence that this was all about the offense. Will be interesting to see if JoeMo is on the sideline or in the booth next fall. I recall he wants to be on the sideline but I get the feeling CJF was telling JoeMo things he saw on the field (he was typically standing behind the O) that JoeMo may have missed. They'll see it on film, of course, but this may have been a test to see how effective it is for JoeMo to be on the sideline.
• Sat on the North goal line behind the bench. Anyone saying Hack wasn't popular is kidding themselves. He got a very warm greeting from the players, coaches and alum. I may have missed it but didn't see CJF talk to him (but he was busy). Cabinda was all over him.
• Sandy Barbour is ubiquitous. Said building a new stadium was kaput, if anyone missed that.
• Can't we just have the QB's play with red shirts on? Very confusing watching a blue QB, being blocked for by white players and tackled by blue defenders.

Offense

• Most encouraging of everything was the crispness of the offense. And this wasn't just White, but Blue as well. Team looked much more confident and comfortable knowing their assignments. Although kids were being moved around and plugged in, I didn't see any real confusion.
• Of course, McSorley was fantastic. He looked bigger than 6' 199 lbs. Reminded of when PSU was looking for a starting QB and McMoxie kind of came out an "Owned It." He didn't play better, but he owned the huddle and the offense ran better under him. Well, not only did McSorley own it, but he was fantastic. Short passes, long passes, read/option, on the run.....looked great. Now, the second team defense kind of phoned it in. (more on that later) Its a lot easier to pass when you know your not going to get hammered, but he couldn't have played better regardless of the situation. Kid throws a tight ball, high in the saddle that is very catchable. Knows how to give it touch or zip it. Good arm strength (not great, but good). He also looked more physical Saturday. He may have put on weight but he looked strong. Very encouraging.
• Stevens looks like a very good runner. We'll see if he matures with his passing but he's a very strong runner and plays the zone/read great. Hard to tell as he was rushed a lot and the refs blew down plays when he would have clearly beaten the defender. So he wasn't able to use his strength much. He may be good "change up" if McS needs a breather.
• Loved the team moving in and out of fast offense. I had trouble watching replays because the offense was at the LOS and you didn't know if it would be quick snapped or if they were going to check off to a play.
• Offense is very athletic. This is the most athletic offense since D-Will days.
  • Mark Allen, although only 5-6 and 180, pushed the pile several times and has serious quicks.
  • Hamilton looks great in the slot. Blacknall and Godwin not only look great, but know how to turn around a DB if the pass is short.
  • We have some really tall WR's. They aren't that explosive off the ball but are fast. We have other quicks. JoeMo will have a lot of flexibility on offense
  • Danny Dalton played a lot for a kid who was supposed to be in high school. He's going to be a good one. Gesicki looked good. I hope he is more confident and doesn't drop passes. He'll be a good one if he can catch the ball. Word is, he never drops a thing in practice and the team was stunned when he had the droppsies last season.
• OK, now the O-line. I am still very concerned. Not only didn't the first team impress me, the second team looked like last year's oline. Paris played on the second team and didn't look good. Several times I saw Dlineman beat their man and kind of let the offense go. At least three times there would have been sacks but the defender let the QB run out of the pocket or step up because he couldn't go full speed lest he flatter the QB. Other times, the QB had room to run but the refs blew the play dead (safety, for example). They, at least, didn't seem to be missing assignments but the defense played a very vanilla game. The good news is that this offense is not O-line dependent. Just getting in a defenders way may be enough. Plus, Barkley didn't play which will help the oline as well.

Defense

• The Dline looks fine, even at DT. We won't have the pass rush we had last year as there is nobody on the DL that looks like a true pass rusher. That will be a problem because.....
• Linebackers simply looked bad. Cabinda was great and we had starters that didn't play, but the linebackers were lost against the zone/read and short passes, defended by the LB, were wide open all day. In a real game, Stevens would have run all over our first team defense. We are going to struggle against zone/read teams next year, especially if anyone gets hurt. This will be, IMHO, the teams "weakest link" next season. Wow, at LBU?! Having said that, Cabinda is the real deal and may have been holding back a little. Also have to factor in that two LB's didn't play, but we are scary thin at LB.
• CB's are good and had their hands full against very athletic first, second and third team WR's. S will need some time. I thought they looked athletic but missed some assignments. They looked like they are thinking and not reacting. This is common for young players wanting to do what the coaches say, and may be part of a practice game, but they don't seem to be following their instincts.

Special Teams

• Hard to determine much as most of it was against no defense. But FG kick at the end was weak and missed by a mile. Kickoffs were inconsistent.
• Punting? I just don't get it. In warmups, our punters were kicking it either 35 yards of 65 yards. One kick was awful, the next was a perfect spiral far over the receiver's heads. I feel like our starting punter wasn't on the field.

Overall, a good day. One funny note, right before the half, 54 (Robert Windsor?) threw up on the five yard line. An attendant watered down the area to sink it into the grass and the refs repositioned the ball to the other hash so the players didn't have to play in it. What I was looking for, a crisp offense, was there. The team looked fit and athletic. However, they are young (outside of LB). Based on B/W, I'd have to say that next season's team will be better than last years but I fear the games with Temple and Pitt early. They key to next season will be those two games. Very happy for JoeMo and the offense. I feel like this game was "tricked up" to let the offense play well..and they did. But am just happy they knew what to do at the LOS, that alone is a huge step up from last year. We may struggle a bit in 2016, but the future is really bright.

 

[thecoolestfish]

I was there....Oline looked pitiful and offense was skittish. Defense dominated but it was left as "defense is always ahead of offense at this time of year). RB's looked weak but quick. Hope was that the Oline could hold off the D until the WR's got open. Temple broke the code early by getting up on the LOS denying the short route and stuffing the run game but also not allowing enough time for long patterns.

Then you have seen first team vs second team.

 

[Ceasar]

Serious question for those in the know - is it time to put the "star LB" discussion to rest? In other words, PSU is going to play a base defense with three true LB, no hybrid LB/S types. I would go so far as to say in the Big 10 conference that is about the only defense that can succeed against teams like OSU, MSU, UM, NU, Wiscy and others that are going to line up and try to run the ball right at you.
Of course a LB will come out in obvious passing downs but that is the way PSU has played for decades. So back to the question, is there any indication PSU is going to change its philosophy at LB? Since CJF arrived he has recruited Cooper, Rivers and Bowen at LB and all three would appear to be traditional LB types. The guys who are/were on the board for this cycle are all traditional LB - Adams, Rivers, Roberts, Anthony...

 

[dawgduice]

Do any of you REALLY think any of that "game" meant anything???
Well, for me it meant nothing. Actually, I believe the entire season will be made clear against Pitt. After that we will know what we have, it will be last year's Temple game.

 

[Ceasar]

Do any of you REALLY think any of that "game" meant anything???
Well, for me it meant nothing. Actually, I believe the entire season will be made clear against Pitt. After that we will know what we have, it will be last year's Temple game.

I think it meant something and I would ask this question - in the past 3-4 Blue-White games has the offense looked much better than it eventually looked during the season? I would argue that they played at about the same level once the season began. So my point is if the offense only looked good because they played against a second team defense, how come the 2015 and 2014 offenses could not light it up in the BW game? So I do think the game was encouraging.

 

[Obliviax]

Then you have seen first team vs second team.

Oh...I see where you are going....Last year, it appeared the teams were mixed more...kids were switching. perhaps i am wrong here...certainly appeared to be a massive disparity between the Blue and the White teams. I didn't see that last year. i recall, in years past, first team O played second team D and first team D played second team O. Again, I don't remember specifically so will yield to your superior recollection.

 

[Raffycorn]

Serious question for those in the know - is it time to put the "star LB" discussion to rest? In other words, PSU is going to play a base defense with three true LB, no hybrid LB/S types. I would go so far as to say in the Big 10 conference that is about the only defense that can succeed against teams like OSU, MSU, UM, NU, Wiscy and others that are going to line up and try to run the ball right at you.
Of course a LB will come out in obvious passing downs but that is the way PSU has played for decades. So back to the question, is there any indication PSU is going to change its philosophy at LB? Since CJF arrived he has recruited Cooper, Rivers and Bowen at LB and all three would appear to be traditional LB types. The guys who are/were on the board for this cycle are all traditional LB - Adams, Rivers, Roberts, Anthony...

I would wager a strong guess that defenses throughout college football have substantially increased the usage of nickel personnel - I would even wager a guess that based on usage, a relatively large number of schools use nickel personnel as their "base". Particularly against teams like OSU and Northwestern, I would be very surprised if PSU used a traditional 4-3 personnel more than they went nickel.

As for our recruiting, we've also recruited Toney and Cameron Brown at LB who have builds closer to OLB - and Bowen fits more in that mold, as well.

 

[LeatherHelmets]

Interesting comment on the QB's jersey's. My white made the same comment that they should just wear red.

 

[danvillenit]

The spring game means very little, similar to preseason in pro sports. That said the offense looked much better than last year.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

There were more than 5-10k in the parking lot....and downtown was packed, I was at the Lion's Pride at 1:15 and college ave was packed....there had to be 100k in the stadium/downtown area.

My question regarding the game....did Sterling Jenkins play? Forgot about him...

 

[Cletus11]

The teams were obviously rigged to give the first team offense some reps for themselves and the fans without a huge amount of resistance. I don't have anything against that. No coach is going to run anything fancy in a spring game so then the offense is left to a vanilla gameplan which a first team defense will beat up. Especially at PSU where the Oline has issues. So put out the 1st team offense vs. 2nd team defense. Work on a few things. Give the fans a nice show. And try to get a little confidence going for the Oline that they can do something.

 

[uPBRmeASAP]

Some comments:

1) 1s versus 2s has been going on forever in the B/W game. Franklin is just stacking the 1s even more than other coaches.

2) First team o-line played well. Palmer was with the Blue Team and did really well when he replaced Beh. Only sack against Blue Team came from the left side, due to a blown assignment between Nelson/Bates. I thought Mahon/Palmer looked like the best combo on the right side by a small margin. On that 28 yard TD run by Robinson, Mahon pulled and pancaked the cornerback, while Palmer sealed off the edge. Palmer/Beh both stalemated #48 the entire game in pass protection. Palmer must have given up 3 or 4 sacks in last year's BW game, and he looked like a totally different player on Saturday, who is learning that if he just keeps his hands on the defender it's enough for the QB to step into the pocket.

3) Agree that our linebackers are average. I didn't see any playmaking and Stevens looked like a better runner than he probably is because of our linebackers. When Bell/Wartman-White come back it will look a lot different, but 2017 is scary at that position.

4). For comparison our starting offense only scored 10 points by halftime in last year's BW game, in what was the same setup of White being 2nd and 3rd stringers. They also didn't play with a running clock the 1st half last year either. What I saw on Saturday was the smoothest looking 1st team offense in a B/W game since 2008. The fact that they didn't have any punts and scored TDs on 5/6 drives, even against an FCS level of competition, is a great sign.

 

[Fac]

Obi - tell us about your picture. Your pics are always different but interesting. I enjoy them.

 

[NJPSU]

Some comments:

1) 1s versus 2s has been going on forever in the B/W game. Franklin is just stacking the 1s even more than other coaches.

2) First team o-line played well. Palmer was with the Blue Team and did really well when he replaced Beh. Only sack against Blue Team came from the left side, due to a blown assignment between Nelson/Bates. I thought Mahon/Palmer looked like the best combo on the right side by a small margin. On that 28 yard TD run by Robinson, Mahon pulled and pancaked the cornerback, while Palmer sealed off the edge. Palmer/Beh both stalemated #48 the entire game in pass protection. Palmer must have given up 3 or 4 sacks in last year's BW game, and he looked like a totally different player on Saturday, who is learning that if he just keeps his hands on the defender it's enough for the QB to step into the pocket.

3) Agree that our linebackers are average. I didn't see any playmaking and Stevens looked like a better runner than he probably is because of our linebackers. When Bell/Wartman-White come back it will look a lot different, but 2017 is scary at that position.

4). For comparison our starting offense only scored 10 points by halftime in last year's BW game, in what was the same setup of White being 2nd and 3rd stringers. They also didn't play with a running clock the 1st half last year either. What I saw on Saturday was the smoothest looking 1st team offense in a B/W game since 2008. The fact that they didn't have any punts and scored TDs on 5/6 drives, even against an FCS level of competition, is a great sign.

I don't think a linebacker trio of Cabinda, Bowen, and Cooper will be a detriment in 2017. Cooper and Bowen will certainly be more experienced, better players by 2017. I just hope they stay healthy because the depth will be redshirt freshmen.

 

[SR108]

The opinion of McGovern being ready was one I didn't share. and Starting OL Freshman is indeed rare, but are players of Menet's ability. All I'm saying is it is starting to look like nothing is solidified and he will get a long look. I am hopeful he'll play so well that he'll force the coaching staff's hand.

I'm sure he will get a look. If he is the best he should play.

 

[Obliviax]

Obi - tell us about your picture. Your pics are always different but interesting. I enjoy them.

I work in technology...specifically, applying mobile UI/UX to all online channels. I saw this photo specific to artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and security all combining to create a set of capabilities and challenges. Just thought the gal was "hot" and the robots were kind of intimidating her. just a creepy feel to it, IMHO>

 

[Fac]

Exactly my thoughts - Hot - was hoping you had a name to google.

 

[Obliviax]

Exactly my thoughts - Hot - was hoping you had a name to google.

Sorry...don't know who she is.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Yeah #54 was sucking air several plays before he threw up down near the goal line. He didn't just throw up once, he threw up three times in about 30 seconds, then tv went to a break. When they came back the ball was set over on the right hash mark.....they didn't say anything, hope they got him to the locker room and got an iv into him.

 

[ncgolfer]

Some comments:

1) 1s versus 2s has been going on forever in the B/W game. Franklin is just stacking the 1s even more than other coaches.

2) First team o-line played well. Palmer was with the Blue Team and did really well when he replaced Beh. Only sack against Blue Team came from the left side, due to a blown assignment between Nelson/Bates. I thought Mahon/Palmer looked like the best combo on the right side by a small margin. On that 28 yard TD run by Robinson, Mahon pulled and pancaked the cornerback, while Palmer sealed off the edge. Palmer/Beh both stalemated #48 the entire game in pass protection. Palmer must have given up 3 or 4 sacks in last year's BW game, and he looked like a totally different player on Saturday, who is learning that if he just keeps his hands on the defender it's enough for the QB to step into the pocket.

3) Agree that our linebackers are average. I didn't see any playmaking and Stevens looked like a better runner than he probably is because of our linebackers. When Bell/Wartman-White come back it will look a lot different, but 2017 is scary at that position.

4). For comparison our starting offense only scored 10 points by halftime in last year's BW game, in what was the same setup of White being 2nd and 3rd stringers. They also didn't play with a running clock the 1st half last year either. What I saw on Saturday was the smoothest looking 1st team offense in a B/W game since 2008. The fact that they didn't have any punts and scored TDs on 5/6 drives, even against an FCS level of competition, is a great sign.

Pretty much totally agree with everything in your post. Especially number 2. However, I do disgree some with your number 3. I think the likely starters at LB for 2017 (Bowen, Cabinda and Cooper) will be solid. It's the LB depth for 2017 that's scary to me. One last note, I was not impressed with Shareef Miller at all. It looked like he took quite a few plays off to me.

 

[Obliviax]

Pretty much totally agree with everything in your post. Especially number 2. However, I do disgree some with your number 3. I think the likely starters at LB for 2017 (Bowen, Cabinda and Cooper) will be solid. It's the LB depth for 2017 that's scary to me. One last note, I was not impressed with Shareef Miller at all. It looked like he took quite a few plays off to me.

Something I should have pointed out....it was hot. The kids weren't used to that heat. It especially hit the "blue" team as their shirts absorbed the sunshine and they were typically younger. Finally, I can't recall when, but I recall Miller getting hurt. I know it wasn't serious, but that may have taken some of the starch out.

 

[PSU&Trout]

FWIW:

General

• Weather was WONDERFUL.
• With over 65,000, I was told that many stayed in the parking lot to tailgate. And by many I mean a lot. I am guessing an additional 5,000 to10,000 people but have no idea. Our tailgate buddy said that his lot didn't look that much different before or during the game in terms of party.
• I felt like I watched more of a football "exhibition" than a game. While BOBs weird B/W game was odd, I felt like the kids played. Not sure I've ever seen first team against second team before. I can only assume it was to gain familiarity for the offense, given a radically new offense.
• Had to be a fantastic recruiting opportunity.
• As such, saw Franklin interacting with JoeMo who was on the field, not so much with the defense. Again, more evidence that this was all about the offense. Will be interesting to see if JoeMo is on the sideline or in the booth next fall. I recall he wants to be on the sideline but I get the feeling CJF was telling JoeMo things he saw on the field (he was typically standing behind the O) that JoeMo may have missed. They'll see it on film, of course, but this may have been a test to see how effective it is for JoeMo to be on the sideline.
• Sat on the North goal line behind the bench. Anyone saying Hack wasn't popular is kidding themselves. He got a very warm greeting from the players, coaches and alum. I may have missed it but didn't see CJF talk to him (but he was busy). Cabinda was all over him.
• Sandy Barbour is ubiquitous. Said building a new stadium was kaput, if anyone missed that.
• Can't we just have the QB's play with red shirts on? Very confusing watching a blue QB, being blocked for by white players and tackled by blue defenders.

Offense

• Most encouraging of everything was the crispness of the offense. And this wasn't just White, but Blue as well. Team looked much more confident and comfortable knowing their assignments. Although kids were being moved around and plugged in, I didn't see any real confusion.
• Of course, McSorley was fantastic. He looked bigger than 6' 199 lbs. Reminded of when PSU was looking for a starting QB and McMoxie kind of came out an "Owned It." He didn't play better, but he owned the huddle and the offense ran better under him. Well, not only did McSorley own it, but he was fantastic. Short passes, long passes, read/option, on the run.....looked great. Now, the second team defense kind of phoned it in. (more on that later) Its a lot easier to pass when you know your not going to get hammered, but he couldn't have played better regardless of the situation. Kid throws a tight ball, high in the saddle that is very catchable. Knows how to give it touch or zip it. Good arm strength (not great, but good). He also looked more physical Saturday. He may have put on weight but he looked strong. Very encouraging.
• Stevens looks like a very good runner. We'll see if he matures with his passing but he's a very strong runner and plays the zone/read great. Hard to tell as he was rushed a lot and the refs blew down plays when he would have clearly beaten the defender. So he wasn't able to use his strength much. He may be good "change up" if McS needs a breather.
• Loved the team moving in and out of fast offense. I had trouble watching replays because the offense was at the LOS and you didn't know if it would be quick snapped or if they were going to check off to a play.
• Offense is very athletic. This is the most athletic offense since D-Will days.
  • Mark Allen, although only 5-6 and 180, pushed the pile several times and has serious quicks.
  • Hamilton looks great in the slot. Blacknall and Godwin not only look great, but know how to turn around a DB if the pass is short.
  • We have some really tall WR's. They aren't that explosive off the ball but are fast. We have other quicks. JoeMo will have a lot of flexibility on offense
  • Danny Dalton played a lot for a kid who was supposed to be in high school. He's going to be a good one. Gesicki looked good. I hope he is more confident and doesn't drop passes. He'll be a good one if he can catch the ball. Word is, he never drops a thing in practice and the team was stunned when he had the droppsies last season.
• OK, now the O-line. I am still very concerned. Not only didn't the first team impress me, the second team looked like last year's oline. Paris played on the second team and didn't look good. Several times I saw Dlineman beat their man and kind of let the offense go. At least three times there would have been sacks but the defender let the QB run out of the pocket or step up because he couldn't go full speed lest he flatter the QB. Other times, the QB had room to run but the refs blew the play dead (safety, for example). They, at least, didn't seem to be missing assignments but the defense played a very vanilla game. The good news is that this offense is not O-line dependent. Just getting in a defenders way may be enough. Plus, Barkley didn't play which will help the oline as well.

Defense

• The Dline looks fine, even at DT. We won't have the pass rush we had last year as there is nobody on the DL that looks like a true pass rusher. That will be a problem because.....
• Linebackers simply looked bad. Cabinda was great and we had starters that didn't play, but the linebackers were lost against the zone/read and short passes, defended by the LB, were wide open all day. In a real game, Stevens would have run all over our first team defense. We are going to struggle against zone/read teams next year, especially if anyone gets hurt. This will be, IMHO, the teams "weakest link" next season. Wow, at LBU?! Having said that, Cabinda is the real deal and may have been holding back a little. Also have to factor in that two LB's didn't play, but we are scary thin at LB.
• CB's are good and had their hands full against very athletic first, second and third team WR's. S will need some time. I thought they looked athletic but missed some assignments. They looked like they are thinking and not reacting. This is common for young players wanting to do what the coaches say, and may be part of a practice game, but they don't seem to be following their instincts.

Special Teams

• Hard to determine much as most of it was against no defense. But FG kick at the end was weak and missed by a mile. Kickoffs were inconsistent.
• Punting? I just don't get it. In warmups, our punters were kicking it either 35 yards of 65 yards. One kick was awful, the next was a perfect spiral far over the receiver's heads. I feel like our starting punter wasn't on the field.

Overall, a good day. One funny note, right before the half, 54 (Robert Windsor?) threw up on the five yard line. An attendant watered down the area to sink it into the grass and the refs repositioned the ball to the other hash so the players didn't have to play in it. What I was looking for, a crisp offense, was there. The team looked fit and athletic. However, they are young (outside of LB). Based on B/W, I'd have to say that next season's team will be better than last years but I fear the games with Temple and Pitt early. They key to next season will be those two games. Very happy for JoeMo and the offense. I feel like this game was "tricked up" to let the offense play well..and they did. But am just happy they knew what to do at the LOS, that alone is a huge step up from last year. We may struggle a bit in 2016, but the future is really bright.

As always I like your stuff.

 

[royboy]

Interesting comment on the QB's jersey's. My white made the same comment that they should just wear red.