Well, my prognostications were almost 100% dead on. As such, I am not sure what all the doom and gloom is about. We had two kids in the backfield that hadn't run the ball in a competitive football game at the collegiate lever. Probably more importantly, didn't have to pass block at the HS or collegiate level. We had several defenders held out. And, all of our linebackers had never played against a triple option offense. And, to top it off, it was a rain with wind gusts up to 25 mph.
This was the "perfect storm" for a bad game.
With that, here are my observations:
So I am going to give Donovan and CJF a little bit of a pass here. While we would have liked to see more creativity, they played it very, very conservatively given the circumstances. I have reserved judgement on Donovan since Temple (which was as poorly coached as I have ever seen on O). If this persists against Indy, I won't be as patient.
Speaking of CJF, I loved his rant during the press conference. I suspect this was a deliberate act and calculated. But its a card you can only pull once. What is does is give CJF the ability to say "we are family, have each-other's backs, us against the world (well, press), etc.". I hope this wasn't a "I am going to protect my buddy, Donovan, no matter what..." kind of speech. Its time to show up, no more excuses. (assuming we get back starters; having said that, I still don't expect Nelson or Lynch).
Indy is the lynchpin game for this team, and it has set up that way since the final schedule was releases (and exacerbated by the loss to Temple). Indy is a solid, but not great, team. They've got a chance to have a great season, for them, and know it. A PSU win will result in some momentum and a winning record/bowl. A loss could end up with us winning only one other game. The only game that we will be favored in will be MD. Big game...lets hope these guys play, its good weather (for a change) and everyone has high energy.
This was the "perfect storm" for a bad game.
With that, here are my observations:
- CJF played a "JoePa-esque" game. In the bad weather, with very young ball handlers, he played to NOT turn the ball over and let the defense win the game. IMHO, very smart.
- I never got the feeling we were in trouble...ever. This Army team was scrappy but I felt like it was a matter of PSU playing their best players and coming together.
- Receivers were open down the field all day long. (perhaps for the first time) But PSU didn't go that route, probably due to the possibility of turnovers. When we did, two plays and a TD. (to the birthday boy, as I predicted).
- Linebackers, young and inexperienced, especially against the triple option, were out of position all day long. On top of that, inexperience at the S position ended up with the same result. The D-line ended up with little or no support because the LB's and S were so focused on stopping the outside game. Finally, PSU played our starting line very little. For whatever reason, we rotated the D-line constantly. At one point, I noticed all four were non-starters and one guy who made a tackle, I had never seen play. (White or Brown, can't remember which).
- I feel like the RB's played better than I thought. They were in position, didn't make any bad mistakes (missed blocks, fumbles). They were also a little more physical than they showed against SDSU. (who beat Fresno 21-7).
- The RB screen looks like it's here to stay. Again, effective in its usage this week and played very well. Sometimes you get a play, a timing play between RB and OL, that works. This does.
- Did we run one jet sweep? I believe we did, once to Polk for 14 yards. I didn't even see it faked much, and we faked it a ton in previous games.
- Nice to see Hack run the ball a little. He can run well and is quite a load. I'd like to see him run the ball once or twice on the read-option, if for no other reason to keep the D honest.
- Gesicki is getting his TE legs under him. I think he played much better and, perhaps, just needs some confidence. He didn't play TE in high school so it may still be a little new to him.
- Godwin is now our "go to" guy, not sure why. He's got all of the tools but doen't look like anything special. What he does do is come down with the ball. Many of his catches this year have been "jump balls". The one Saturday was a finger tip catch at full speed (then he came down on the ball and lost his breath).
- When Mangiro went down, PSU crawled back further into our shell. Wendy played well in his absence, I thought, but the C is an important position in calling out defenses. Perhaps the team was afraid of a missed call, an uncovered blitz, and a turnover. Mangiro had a lower body injury, on TV, it looked like an ankle (anybody see this at the game?). The announcers said nothing of the injury after the commercial and, of course, CJF isn't saying.
- By game end, these guys weren't playing: Lynch, Barkley, Allen, Bell, Nelson, Schwan, Gulia, Mangiro + Breneman.
- Looks like Gulia got his bell rung, at the minimum. Hope he's OK. He didn't punt well. Ok, that's being kind. His punting was really bad, with one punt being horrible. Lets hope it was the weather. By the way, we played Robby Liebel as holder on place kicks.
- Klein played, which was great to see.
- The big toe is getting national love....and why not, kid has been automatic. I am a little concerned about the holder if Gulia has a concussion and cannot play against Indy.
- Honestly, it didn't look like anyone wanted to be there. The players, the fans, the students...perhaps the most lackluster game I can recall. PSU just wanted to survive, get out of the cold and move on. And to do that with minimum effort and risk to injury and turnovers.
So I am going to give Donovan and CJF a little bit of a pass here. While we would have liked to see more creativity, they played it very, very conservatively given the circumstances. I have reserved judgement on Donovan since Temple (which was as poorly coached as I have ever seen on O). If this persists against Indy, I won't be as patient.
Speaking of CJF, I loved his rant during the press conference. I suspect this was a deliberate act and calculated. But its a card you can only pull once. What is does is give CJF the ability to say "we are family, have each-other's backs, us against the world (well, press), etc.". I hope this wasn't a "I am going to protect my buddy, Donovan, no matter what..." kind of speech. Its time to show up, no more excuses. (assuming we get back starters; having said that, I still don't expect Nelson or Lynch).
Indy is the lynchpin game for this team, and it has set up that way since the final schedule was releases (and exacerbated by the loss to Temple). Indy is a solid, but not great, team. They've got a chance to have a great season, for them, and know it. A PSU win will result in some momentum and a winning record/bowl. A loss could end up with us winning only one other game. The only game that we will be favored in will be MD. Big game...lets hope these guys play, its good weather (for a change) and everyone has high energy.