Biggest disappointment today was the play of Clifford, the most experienced player for PSU, and I'm still am disappointed that Clifford is returning. This team needs to turn the corner from Clifford who has proven an adequate QB for a 2nd 20 team, but not a QB that could win B10 championships or adequately lead his team in a playoff game. With Clifford back PSU will have an experienced QB that could potentially lead PSU to 9 or 10 wins if the rest of the team fell into place, but not one that could lead PSU to be a title contender. It's time to move on and develop a better QB that has multiple years of eligibility going forward.
I would have at the top of the list of plays that resulted in this loss the overthrow of the wide open TE in the first half that would have been a TD and put PSU up 17-7 at the half. Clifford has consistently overthrown wide open deep targets his whole career and continues to do it at the tail end of his 5th season at PSU. He really almost overthrew the first long TD to KLS - a near perfect pass that he should have slightly underthrown to a wide open receiver to be sure he got the sure TD.
So I'm more disappointed with Clifford coming back than I am with the loss today. But I do believe the team could have shown better today with some better in game adjustments. Even in the 2nd half, the PSU D-line seemed to over pursue to one side leaving the field wide open for the QB or the RB run, almost consistently leaving gaping holes for north/south runs. Sure, the D missed AK, Tangelo, and Smith and Brooks from the front 7 but where was the coaching of the DL to stay in their gaps, coaching my son got at a youngster? The end result was an embarrassing 350+ rushing yards by a mediocre Arkansas team.
It's great that some young players got experience today, but right now I'm not too optimistic about the future of PSU's front 7 on Defense. This defense needs an influx of talent. Great that van den Burg got some PT at DT, but I don't see a difference maker at DT or DE. Who of the young DT's looked particularly strong today? Tarburton had some moments at DE, but too many times this 4th year player was the worst offender in the DL getting pushed or suckered to one side and the play running right by where he should have been. The defense desperately needs Mustipher back and healthy, as well as a top physical DE transfer, and another DT transfer the caliber of Tangelo. A difference maker at Safety would help as well, such as Young or the kid from Northwestern.
On Offense, it starts and unfortunately likely ends with Clifford. The young WR's show promise, Washington had some highlight catches but has some limitations with his stature, KLS will continue to get better, but no 3rd WR showed up today. Meiga had a ball drop right into his hands but couldn't hang on. And the OL played par for the year, a few running lanes but were over matched trying to pass block. Arkansas is not a top 15 team and PSU's QB's will take a pounding against any decent team until Franklin can recruit and develop better olinemen and a cohesive oline.
Sorry for the long vent, considering the game was what I was expecting, but it was not what I was hoping for.......
