Paraphrasing Joe, why we are good, maybe great!

[emrtmakesshiteup]

Once Joe stated that a team is really, really good if it had one of two variables. He explained confidence/experience/trust or being close as having the "cement" set. The other variable was having a dominant player. We happen to have both variables working for us. Regarding the first, this team is kind of precocious, in that Joe felt it required several seasons together. If you've watched any of the videos from the locker room, you realize that this may be CJF's #1 talking point. Thanks to his leadership style, this team is tight!
Secondly, relative to dominant players, you have Barkley, Gesicki and McSorley on offense. I also submit that by the quantity of steady performers, the whole receiving core. To that end, once, after a loss, Joe sated our DB's became tired because the opponent had so many WRs.
On defense, at least Sickels from an individual stand point, however, similar to the receiving core, the down personnel rotation makes that whole unit dominant. We also seem to rotate DBs, so I don't see them getting tired.
Anyway, you all can fill in the blanks relative to dominant players as I may have neglected someone like Marcus Allen, Bell or Cabinda!

 

[heckmans]

Once Joe stated that a team is really, really good if it had one of two variables. He explained confidence/experience/trust or being close as having the "cement" set. The other variable was having a dominant player. We happen to have both variables working for us. Regarding the first, this team is kind of precocious, in that Joe felt it required several seasons together. If you've watched any of the videos from the locker room, you realize that this may be CJF's #1 talking point. Thanks to his leadership style, this team is tight!
Secondly, relative to dominant players, you have Barkley, Gesicki and McSorley on offense. I also submit that by the quantity of steady performers, the whole receiving core. To that end, once, after a loss, Joe sated our DB's became tired because the opponent had so many WRs.
On defense, at least Sickels from an individual stand point, however, similar to the receiving core, the down personnel rotation makes that whole unit dominant. We also seem to rotate DBs, so I don't see them getting tired.
Anyway, you all can fill in the blanks relative to dominant players as I may have neglected someone like Marcus Allen, Bell or Cabinda!

Not gonna disagree with your thesis, but respectfully, I don't think you are understanding the definition of a dominant player. I'm not sure PSU has ANY. Barkley is the best RB in the B1G and has homerun capability on any play, but he has been shut down for long periods in multiple games. Does he qualify as dominant? I don't know, but Gesicki and McSorley and Sickels certainly are not

 

[Sviatoslav]

Not gonna disagree with your thesis, but respectfully, I don't think you are understanding the definition of a dominant player. I'm not sure PSU has ANY. Barkley is the best RB in the B1G and has homerun capability on any play, but he has been shut down for long periods in multiple games. Does he qualify as dominant? I don't know, but Gesicki and McSorley and Sickels certainly are not

That's an interesting question. Who would you consider dominant at PSU in recent history?
It's hard to be a dominant RB with the OL we've had recently, but I'd put Barkley in that category. And there are others on the roster who will surely prove themselves, just can't slap that label on them yet. Just wait until next year, I think Barkley will crush with a young talented OL. Other than that, individual dominance or at least single-season dominance over the last 10 years IMHO would be a list like this:
Allen Robinson
Mike Mauti
Sean Lee
Darryl Clark
Deon Butler?
Dan Connor
Poz

 

[emrtmakesshiteup]

Not gonna disagree with your thesis, but respectfully, I don't think you are understanding the definition of a dominant player. I'm not sure PSU has ANY. Barkley is the best RB in the B1G and has homerun capability on any play, but he has been shut down for long periods in multiple games. Does he qualify as dominant? I don't know, but Gesicki and McSorley and Sickels certainly are not

No disrespect perceived, however, respectfully I must reply! Dominant encompasses more than Barkleys individual statistics. The fact that he demands special attention makes something else on the field available. Gesicki does the same. The fact that he is faster than probably 90% of the LBs that would normally cover him, makes something else available. McSorley is the sum of all his attributes that makes him dominant. He rarely gets sacked or throws an int, makes plays with his arm and feet. Just look up Dantonio's post game presser. He talks about how you can't stop TM and how they talked all week about just trying to "manage" him. He didn't even have Barkley Saturday and just took the game over. Lastly Sickels, none of our great DEs sacked every snap. Just think about the replays of him overpowering OTs and getting the sack in critical situations.

 

[PSU.:.]

Barry Sanders would of been shut down with OL play in those games. It's obvious Barkley is a dominant player what ever that means.

 

[jerrycalpal]

No disrespect perceived, however, respectfully I must reply! Dominant encompasses more than Barkleys individual statistics. The fact that he demands special attention makes something else on the field available. Gesicki does the same. The fact that he is faster than probably 90% of the LBs that would normally cover him, makes something else available. McSorley is the sum of all his attributes that makes him dominant. He rarely gets sacked or throws an int, makes plays with his arm and feet. Just look up Dantonio's post game presser. He talks about how you can't stop TM and how they talked all week about just trying to "manage" him. He didn't even have Barkley Saturday and just took the game over. Lastly Sickels, none of our great DEs sacked every snap. Just think about the replays of him overpowering OTs and getting the sack in critical situations.

Good points. To me a dominant player is one that changes the focus
Of the other team. Everybody schemes to stop Barkley
So he dictates the other teams strategies. Same with A D lineman
Who has to be double team, a corner who shuts down
A side of the field.

 

[heckmans]

No disrespect perceived, however, respectfully I must reply! Dominant encompasses more than Barkleys individual statistics. The fact that he demands special attention makes something else on the field available. Gesicki does the same. The fact that he is faster than probably 90% of the LBs that would normally cover him, makes something else available. McSorley is the sum of all his attributes that makes him dominant. He rarely gets sacked or throws an int, makes plays with his arm and feet. Just look up Dantonio's post game presser. He talks about how you can't stop TM and how they talked all week about just trying to "manage" him. He didn't even have Barkley Saturday and just took the game over. Lastly Sickels, none of our great DEs sacked every snap. Just think about the replays of him overpowering OTs and getting the sack in critical situations.

What you type is the exact opposite of "dominant". Dominant players directly impact the game, even when the opposition focuses on them.
Trace is a winner, but he is not dominant. You basically state he is "dominant" b/c of everyone around him. That makes him complimentary.

 

[heckmans]

Barry Sanders would of been shut down with OL play in those games. It's obvious Barkley is a dominant player what ever that means.

Barry Sanders was "dominant" with a horrendous OL in Detroit.

Barkley is the best RB in the B1G, but he is not dominant by himself just yet. I believe he will be dominant at some point. To put it another way, Heisman trophy candidates are "dominant". These are guys that put teams on their backs and go win. This is not Barkley today.

IMHO, this PSU team is a collection of young, very talented players that play very very well together.

 

[heckmans]

That's an interesting question. Who would you consider dominant at PSU in recent history?
It's hard to be a dominant RB with the OL we've had recently, but I'd put Barkley in that category. And there are others on the roster who will surely prove themselves, just can't slap that label on them yet. Just wait until next year, I think Barkley will crush with a young talented OL. Other than that, individual dominance or at least single-season dominance over the last 10 years IMHO would be a list like this:
Allen Robinson
Mike Mauti
Sean Lee
Darryl Clark
Deon Butler?
Dan Connor
Poz

Robinson - Yes. He caught every ball within 5 yards of where it was supposed to be thrown. He is the reason Hack 'regessed' as a Soph.
Mauti - No
Lee - Maybe
Clark - No
Butler - No
Connor - No
Poz - Maybe

 

[JoeLion]

I would think if an opposing team has to game plan around one player that one player should be considered dominant.

 

[thebrod1]

Not gonna disagree with your thesis, but respectfully, I don't think you are understanding the definition of a dominant player. I'm not sure PSU has ANY. Barkley is the best RB in the B1G and has homerun capability on any play, but he has been shut down for long periods in multiple games. Does he qualify as dominant? I don't know, but Gesicki and McSorley and Sickels certainly are not

Yes Barkley does! Even when he is stopped, it takes so much of the D's resources that it opens up many other opportunities for the rest of the offense.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Barkley is so good even Buckeye fans admit he's good. Not even Poz got that honor

 

[heckmans]

Yes Barkley does! Even when he is stopped, it takes so much of the D's resources that it opens up many other opportunities for the rest of the offense.

How many "dominant" players do you suppose are in College Football? Just ball park it

 

[Sviatoslav]

Robinson - Yes. He caught every ball within 5 yards of where it was supposed to be thrown. He is the reason Hack 'regessed' as a Soph.
Mauti - No
Lee - Maybe
Clark - No
Butler - No
Connor - No
Poz - Maybe

I admit to not looking at any stats, just peering into the past thru my blue and white glasses when making that list. But come on, surely Poz was dominant? He was a one man wrecking crew.