Positives from yesterday...

[PaoliLion]

(ignoring the obvious issues that Franklin needs to fix asap if we want to have a good season)

1. Sanders played better tahn I expected. He consistently earned more yards than he should have.
2. KJ is a big time player. No need to comment more about him.
3. Very few penalties (thank goodness)
4. Pinegar hit his FGs and looked comfortable out there
5. Crowd was fantastic
6. Lots of playing time for the 2nd and 3rd team on defense
7. YGM played well
8. Nick Scott

 

[Big 0]

The defense looked really good...

in their uniforms before the game started.

 

[psuro]

I didn't spend 8 hours on the road to watch the game.

 

[AWS1022]

The defense looked really good...

in their uniforms before the game started.

Apparently you missed the first three quarters.

 

[BobPSU92]

My list of what looked good:

1.

 

[psuro]

My list of what look good:

1.

Board Outrage was in mid season form. So, there's that.

 

[papa_ed]

PSU won!!!

 

[lionpride90]

(ignoring the obvious issues that Franklin needs to fix asap if we want to have a good season)

1. Sanders played better tahn I expected. He consistently earned more yards than he should have.
2. KJ is a big time player. No need to comment more about him.
3. Very few penalties (thank goodness)
4. Pinegar hit his FGs and looked comfortable out there
5. Crowd was fantastic
6. Lots of playing time for the 2nd and 3rd team on defense
7. YGM played well
8. Nick Scott

I think the offense will come around. Timing will come. The RBs are strong. The WRs will continue to improve. And Trace is once-in-a generation. The defense has major issues. Our LBs do not set the attitude. The DL is pushed around. The DEs especially fail to set the edge or create pressure. Nick Scott is a bright spot for sure. 21 will be better (his INT at the end was a turning point). But overall the defense that failed us in big games last year is now not as good. Preseason hype and recruiting stars notwithstanding, this D will scare nobody (but us).

 

[srg1]

(ignoring the obvious issues that Franklin needs to fix asap if we want to have a good season)

1. Sanders played better tahn I expected. He consistently earned more yards than he should have.
2. KJ is a big time player. No need to comment more about him.
3. Very few penalties (thank goodness)
4. Pinegar hit his FGs and looked comfortable out there
5. Crowd was fantastic
6. Lots of playing time for the 2nd and 3rd team on defense
7. YGM played well
8. Nick Scott

I agree with everything except for #7. But YGM was used inside a few times which is a tough assignment. Regardless I thought he looked heavy legged as did Wade. I believe it was Wade who particularly froze on the on side kick play. Franklin said the coaches reminded the players to watch for an onsides kick before it happened. Wade also was slow to cover on some throws.

Jarvis Miller looked quick in his short stint. I would like to see more of him.

Where was Barber?

As much as it may have hurt us yesterday I love the rotations. We need to see who can play and who cant.

John Reid was disappointing yesterday. Hopefully it is rust.

Amani missed too many tackles. DTs are a problem.

Oline looked Ok. I wonder if it is a scheme issue more than anything else. Franklin seemed to imply as much in the post game.

Taylor looked Ok overall.

Hamler saved the day.

Thompkins struggled. Missed some key blocks.

Holland seems like the #1 tight end. He looked more comfortable than Dalton. Believe Freirmuth was used as a blocker.

I do not recall seeing Luketa on the field. Brooks looks small on the field.

I am now thinking 8-4 or 9-3 will be a really good season. This team needs work and the coaching has to get better. Less arm tackling. Jeez. App State ran through those all day.

In the post game Franklin mentioned missed assignments on many plays. Is that a player issue or a coaching issue? Or both? On the Hamler TD pass Sanders went out for a screen pass and Fries cut across looking to run block. 2 guys ran free at McSorley. I am not sure what was a mistake and what was by design.

 

[Nittany_93]

New team, new players, same grit! Speaking of grit, I wonder how much of that grit can be attributed to McSorely. Seems like its impossible to rattle him. If anything, it almost seems as if he plays better with the game on the line.

 

[NJPSU]

I was at the game and just watched the highlights on YouTube. Not happy with the D but we won’t face many QB’s making the kind of throws we saw yesterday. That guy was on fire and his Touch was unbelievable on those throws down the sideline. He was dropping them in there play after play.

 

[NJPSU]

I think Slade looked legit and also Mark Allen looked the best I've ever seen him.

After seeing Slade and Sanders yesterday I don’t think we should run a play without one of those two on the field. There’s no need for a 3 back rotation.

 

[demlion]

Board Outrage was in mid season form. So, there's that.

Baseless Entitlement was also in mideseason form.

 

[aquapong]

Tariq Castro-Fields looked good in the second half. I didn’t see the first. A couple of well timed passes defended and good tight coverage. Even on the pass he got beat on for a big play he had really good coverage...Thomas just made a perfect throw.

 

[jbenedict]

Okay let me stick with the topic of discussion
1. Many young (true Freshman) got valuable experience in a pressurized game atmosphere.
2. Mile Sanders showed some elusiveness and consistently gained positive yards.
3. Jawan Johnson finally started playing with conviction in the waning minutes of the 4th and getting seperation .
4. Trace demonstrated a mentally tough disposition. Quite a leader and I am glad he is on our team.
5. Thompkins fielded punts cleanly. People take this skill for granted until one is muffed.
6. We executed point after and field goals cleanly. Same as above. Nothing is automatic.
7. Pinegar did well for his first taste of the big leagues.
8. Punt coverage for the most part did well.
9. Coaches remained poised in a situation were many would wilt. Franklin was very into the game and on a couple occasions was aware enough to call TO due to backers being out of position before the ball was snapped.
10. No holds on the offensive line.
11. Protected the ball no fumbles or interceptions. Or was there a fumble?
12. We are 1-0 and 5 more wins will be celebrating the holidays with a Bowl

 

[SR108]

(ignoring the obvious issues that Franklin needs to fix asap if we want to have a good season)

1. Sanders played better tahn I expected. He consistently earned more yards than he should have.
2. KJ is a big time player. No need to comment more about him.
3. Very few penalties (thank goodness)
4. Pinegar hit his FGs and looked comfortable out there
5. Crowd was fantastic
6. Lots of playing time for the 2nd and 3rd team on defense
7. YGM played well
8. Nick Scott

 

[SR108]

Pretty much what everyone expected IMO. Offense is still pretty good. Would have put more points up if we did not have some dropped balls. Defense is a work in progress with some young guys getting their feet wet. We still have three games to play before TOSU at home. Need to win them and need to get better on defense. Special teams coverage needs work, but that is also normal considering the youth that was in there.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

I like the offense better than last year's. Moorhead did not use Barkely very well and it felt awkward all season. I like the way they have Sanders running.

 

[BobPSU92]

Board Outrage was in mid season form. So, there's that.

I saw some spelling and grammatical errors. Tom and the other coaches need to clean that up. They also had too many posters demonstrating OUTRAGE. yesterday, including some with little to no experience. You can’t take a chance with inexperience in a close game. Tom needs to decide on a clear starting lineup and stick with it. Make substitutions if a game is a rout or in the case of injury, but otherwise, play your best.

 

[tboyer]

Thank you for this thread.

1) I saw some really nice play from secondary #5, #2, #4, #1 and then obv #21. A lot of mistakes, obv they have some problems but the secondary is athletic and has the potential to be very good.
2) All three TBs looked very solid and made some big plays. Rotation didn't hurt there at all because they all played well.
3) OL blocked well at times, Holland and Friermuth nice blocks in OT.
4) Miller and YGM are going to have a really good year.
5) The rotation has cost but it also has tremendous benefit. They have no choice but to rotate at LBer because they just don't know who they have right now. LBer still has potential to be very good but it will take a few more games before it solidifies.
6) No turnovers, no offensive penalties. A good sign esp. for this early in the year. McSorley, the tailbacks and the OL are settled in and basically know what they're doing. The wideouts and TEs have some catching up to do.

(ignoring the obvious issues that Franklin needs to fix asap if we want to have a good season)

1. Sanders played better tahn I expected. He consistently earned more yards than he should have.
2. KJ is a big time player. No need to comment more about him.
3. Very few penalties (thank goodness)
4. Pinegar hit his FGs and looked comfortable out there
5. Crowd was fantastic
6. Lots of playing time for the 2nd and 3rd team on defense
7. YGM played well
8. Nick Scott

 

[tboyer]

I guess all the PT Hansard and Jordan got at DT is good in terms of their development, but they were not looking strong enough.

 

[psuro]

I saw some spelling and grammatical errors. Tom and the other coaches need to clean that up. They also had too many posters demonstrating OUTRAGE. yesterday, including some with little to no experience. You can’t take a chance with inexperience in a close game. Tom needs to decide on a clear starting lineup and stick with it. Make substitutions if a game is a rout or in the case of injury, but otherwise, play your best.

Too many posters are reading their own press clippings.

If they don't improve their outrage they're gonna get licked.

 

[AWS1022]

Okay let me stick with the topic of discussion
1. Many young (true Freshman) got valuable experience in a pressurized game atmosphere.
2. Mile Sanders showed some elusiveness and consistently gained positive yards.
3. Jawan Johnson finally started playing with conviction in the waning minutes of the 4th and getting seperation .
4. Trace demonstrated a mentally tough disposition. Quite a leader and I am glad he is on our team.
5. Thompkins fielded punts cleanly. People take this skill for granted until one is muffed.
6. We executed point after and field goals cleanly. Same as above. Nothing is automatic.
7. Pinegar did well for his first taste of the big leagues.
8. Punt coverage for the most part did well.
9. Coaches remained poised in a situation were many would wilt. Franklin was very into the game and on a couple occasions was aware enough to call TO due to backers being out of position before the ball was snapped.
10. No holds on the offensive line.
11. Protected the ball no fumbles or interceptions. Or was there a fumble?
12. We are 1-0 and 5 more wins will be celebrating the holidays with a Bowl

And other than the first horrible kickoff, the KO coverage was good the rest of the game.

 

[artsandletters]

There were no runs stopped behind the line of scrimmage except on sweep/pitchout type plays, and then only once I think (Sanders to the right side - looked like Slade made it back to the LOS on the run to the left).

 

[jbenedict]

There were no runs stopped behind the line of scrimmage except on sweep/pitchout type plays, and then only once I think (Sanders to the right side - looked like Slade made it back to the LOS on the run to the left

Good observation. Certainly not like last year. Maybe the big boys are getting better.

 

[artsandletters]

Good observation. Certainly not like last year. Maybe the big boys are getting better.

We had three years of Saquon being wrapped up by tacklers, seemingly right after he got the handoff. That’s a sight that sticks with you, especially since it was so frequent. Its absence was glaring for me.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

We had three years of Saquon being wrapped up by tacklers, seemingly right after he got the handoff. That’s a sight that sticks with you, especially since it was so frequent. Its absence was glaring for me.

I’m sure a lot of it is the OL, but Moorhead and the RB coach are gone. Yesterday I noticed when the QB/RB were lined up in shotgun, Sanders was actually moving before he took the handoff. Not just standing still

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

The handoff is being made with forward momentum from both the QB and RB. That is a difference and a factor in less running losses. After Moorhead's departure it was something that could get put on the table.

 

[We Are . . .]

Noticed Luketa on the coverage units. GoPSUsports has the participation list (follow the box score link). Surprisingly, Tommy Stevens was listed as having played (a mistake?). I would like to have seen Journey Brown just to see if his reputed speed is for real.

 

[LMTLION]

Let’s keep in perspective that this was App State (no disrespect to them) and nowhere near even a midrange conference foe. If that level of play continues we are top 50 rather than top 25. Just about every o or d line we will see in B1G play will be larger and more athletic than App. On the plus side, O-line looking ok and RBs all looked very good regardless of competition.

 

[PSU87]

I was at the game and just watched the highlights on YouTube. Not happy with the D but we won’t face many QB’s making the kind of throws we saw yesterday. That guy was on fire and his Touch was unbelievable on those throws down the sideline. He was dropping them in there play after play.

Problem is, NJ, how many times have we used that excuse over the last 2 seasons?
At some point you have to stop thinking that opposing teams are getting lucky when their QBs have career days against us.
At some point you have to admit it is obviously something we are doing wrong.

 

[artsandletters]

Noticed Luketa on the coverage units. GoPSUsports has the participation list (follow the box score link). Surprisingly, Tommy Stevens was listed as having played (a mistake?). I would like to have seen Journey Brown just to see if his reputed speed is for real.

Journey was clocked at 10.4 in the state finals. That’s for real speed. His 40 should be about 4.4 +/- a little.

 

[marshall23]

I think Slade looked legit and also Mark Allen looked the best I've ever seen him.

Mark Allen isn't the "sexy" choice but he is a competent blocker, good receiver and is an excellent change of pace RB. I think PSU is in good shape at RB for now.

 

[royboy]

Let’s keep in perspective that this was App State (no disrespect to them) and nowhere near even a midrange conference foe. If that level of play continues we are top 50 rather than top 25. Just about every o or d line we will see in B1G play will be larger and more athletic than App. On the plus side, O-line looking ok and RBs all looked very good regardless of competition.

Well actually that was disrespect to App.
PSU can still reach their goals. First game is important but the degree of improvement is the key.

 

[kgilbert78]

Well, my one takeaway other than the ones mentioned is that the game surely has changed--in favor of the offenses. When they are clicking, it's almost impossible to stop them. Basketball on grass, indeed.

 

[AWS1022]

Well actually that was disrespect to App.
PSU can still reach their goals. First game is important but the degree of improvement is the key.

Yeah, I seem to remember a season where we lost to Pitt, got embarrassed by Michigan, and beat Minnesota in OT and still won the Big championship....wait, I must be mistaken because one game always determines an entire season.

 

[RU31trap]

Problem is, NJ, how many times have we used that excuse over the last 2 seasons?
At some point you have to stop thinking that opposing teams are getting lucky when their QBs have career days against us.
At some point you have to admit it is obviously something we are doing wrong.

It comes down to pressuring the QB. Here's the problem. If your interior linemen or Ends can't get penetration on the QB the Linebackers will not fall back into passing lanes, instead they will stay home and protect the middle in the event the QB changes the play just before the snap. This benefited the App State QB because it sometimes left CB's in man to man coverage and it bought him 1 or 2 (very valuable) additional seconds. Listen, I'm not taking anything away from their QB, he was able to throw a very nice pass with quite a touch. In OT he was getting a little pressure and was intercepted in the end zone because he tried to throw a pass into double coverage. There are only a few coaches who are able to land multiple 5* (0 or 1 Technique) DT's and James Franklin is one of them.

 

[BBrown]

Mark Allen isn't the "sexy" choice but he is a competent blocker, good receiver and is an excellent change of pace RB. I think PSU is in good shape at RB for now.

Yea he was a big part of that 90+ drive for the FG to end the half.

 

[GregInPitt]

Mark Allen isn't the "sexy" choice but he is a competent blocker, good receiver and is an excellent change of pace RB. I think PSU is in good shape at RB for now.

I like what Allen brings as well. But if you have a top RB, such as Sanders, and the game is on the line, which this game was for the whole 60 minutes, you should not be trying to change the pace as much as you should be trying to run the ball down a lesser team's throat. When will we ever see that.....

 

[marshall23]

I like what Allen brings as well. But if you have a top RB, such as Sanders, and the game is on the line, which this game was for the whole 60 minutes, you should not be trying to change the pace as much as you should be trying to run the ball down a lesser team's throat. When will we ever see that.....

You are entitled to your opinion. Mine is that issues with who was at RB had absolutely nothing to do with PSU's sub par performance.